Gulch Guides for the Good Life

The world is big. Really big. You won't believe how vastly mind-boggling big it is. Listen . . .

Gulch Guides! @ MentalWanderings.com

Welcome to Gulch Guides. In the summer of 2003, My girlfriend Jen and I set out to see some other parts of the world. We traveled non-stop for ten months and barely saw a fraction of what's out there. Yet, the small part we saw, we liked - and wrote about in our other blogs.

During our travels, we read a lot of different guidebooks and found ourselves enjoying the writing in them. Then, after we got back home, we noticed that our blogs were getting a lot of search engine hits from people looking for places to eat, drink, or sleep. This site grew out of our guidebook enjoyment combined with the idea of letting people know where to find our favorite places for cold beers or tasty food without making them read through all of the rambling on our blogs.

Our recommendations here on Gulch Guides come straight from our own skewed perspectives. Everything we list on the site is highly recommended – no need to look for the four stars or the thumbs up – everything here is our favorite. Being thrifty, budget travelers all restaurants we write about are under $15 USD and all bars serve beer.

We will be constantly adding to this site - please use the contents section on the left hand gray sidebar to navigate. You can also browse the complete index of everything on this site.

Gulch Guides! @ MentalWanderings.com

You can get a peek behind the screen by reading my small biography page, which also includes contact info. Got a suggestion, recommendation, or tip for a cool place we need to check out? Drop us a line and let us know.

Enjoy the good life.

Recent Additions

The Index

This is it - our evergrowing master list (now semi-alphabetical!) of the best stuff on the planet. We will be constantly adding to this site - please use the content section on the left-hand gray sidebar for easier navigation.

About Gulch Guides
Introduction
Recent Additions
The Index

Helena, MT Guide

Helena, MT Places and Day Trips
Archie Bray Foundation
Holter Museum of Art
Norris Hot Springs
MacDonald Pass Ski Trails
Mt. Helena
MT Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Myrna Loy Center
Ridge Trail
South Hills Trail System

Helena, MT Pubs and Cafes
Blackfoot River Brewing Company
General Mercantile
Millers Crossing
Morning Light Coffee Roasters
The Pattern House

Helena, MT Restaurants
Coney Island
Emilianos
No Sweat Cafe
The Parrot Confectionery
The Silver Star Steak Company
Taco del Sol
The Windbag Saloon

Mayan Riviera Guide
Introduction
Getting Around
Cancun
Playa Del Carmen Accommodations
Playa Del Carmen Restaurants
Playa Del Carmen Bars and Clubs
Playa Del Carmen Diving and Snorkeling
Cozumel
Tulum Introduction
Tulum Accommodations
Tulum Restaurants and Food
Outings and Adventures - Cenotes
Outings and Adventures - Chichén Itzá
Outings and Adventures - Izamal
Outings and Adventures - Valladolid
Outings and Adventures - Puerto Morales
Outings and Adventures - Snorkeling at Akumal
Outings and Adventures - Xcaret and Xel-Ha
Other Advice

Olympic Peninsula Guide
Introduction
Getting Around
Dungeness Recreation Area
Elwha River Valley
Hoh Rain Forest
Hood Canal Area Sights and Stops
Hurricane Ridge
Joyce General Store
La Push & Mora
Lake Crescent
Lake Ozette
Olympic Hot Springs
Port Angeles Guide
Port Angeles Accomodations
Port Angeles Restaurants
Port Townsend
Port Townsend Accomodations
Salt Creek Recreation Area
Sol Duc Hot Springs
Other Advice on Visiting the Olympic Peninsula

Portland, OR Guide

Portland Day Trips
Ape Caves
Bagby Hot Springs
Evergreen Aviation Museum
Marsh's Free Museum
Shallon Winery

Portland Movie Houses
The Baghdad
The Kennedy School
The Laurelhurst
The Mission

Portland Places
Arcades, Best of
Backspace Cafe
Eastbank Esplanade
Forest Park
The Kennedy School
McMenamins, Best of
Multnomah Counter Library, Central Branch
Pioneer Courthouse Square
Portland Farmers Market
Portland Aerial Tram
Powells City of Books
Title Wave Used Books
Washington Park
Waterfront Park
The White Eagle Saloon and Hotel

Portland Pubs
Beulahland Ale and Coffee House
The Bridgeport Brewery
The Lucky Lab Brew Pub
The New Old Lompoc
The Pub at the End of the Universe
Tube

Portland Restaurants
The Delta Cafe
The Farm Cafe
Pambiche
The Paradox Palace Cafe
Queen of Sheeba
Saburos
Sushi Takahashi
Taqueria La Sirenita
Voodoo Doughnuts

Victoria, BC Guide

Victoria Day Trips
Cowichan Bay
East Sooke Regional Park
Goldstream Provincial Park
Merridale Cider Estate
Salt Spring Island
Sooke Potholes
Thetis Lake
The Three Hour Bike Tour
Witty's Lagoon
Other Day Trips

Victoria Places
Buchart Gardens
Capitol Iron
Centre of the Universe
Chinatown Trading Company
The Crystal Pool
Fisherman's Wharf and Beyond
Global Village Store
Jimmy's Barber Shop
Tourist Traps: Wax Museums, Undersea Gardens and More....
Moksana Yoga
Mount Douglas
Panacea Imports' Bubble Tea Bar
The Parliament Building
Rave "N" Iron Art Gallery
Royal Roads University
Saanich Commonwealth Pool
Silk Road
Vancouver Island Brewery
The Westsong Walkway
How to Get There By Bus

Victoria Pubs and Cafes
Bean Around the World
The Bent Mast
The Blackfish Cafe
Christies Carriage House
The Garrick's Head Pub
The Solstice Cafe
Spinnakers Brewpub
Swans Brewpub
Union Pacific Coffee Company

Victoria Restaurants
The Blue Nile
The Dutch Bakery
Ebizo Japanese Restaurant
Ferris' Oyster Bar and Grill
Fujiya Market
Hernande'z Taqueria
Green Cusine
Jamaican Jerk House
Kim's Vietnamese
Lotus Pond
The Mint
Pagliacci's
The Reef
Sabri Naanwich

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