AND I QUOTE, "BEST BURGER EVER!"

Larry got a burger from the Pilot Butte Drive-In Restaurant in Bend. Not just any burger, he got the 50/50 burger.

The 6 oz patty is made up of 50% beef and 50% bacon. It is topped with pepper jack cheese grilled onions, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato and chipotle mayonnaise on a pub style bun.

He was full for the rest of the day and still talking about the burger. My man was one happy camper.

WHO KNEW ICE CREAM AND MONKEY WOULD BE IN THE SAME SENTENCE,

without talking about Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey. I took the man clan to a cute little burger joint for some ice cream and to meet it's resident monkey, Elvis. Elvis is a family pet that hangs out at the restaurant during the day. He has a zip-line, rings, a hanging car and toys that makes for a super cute monkey playground. He was sleepy when we were there and I thought the boys might be disappointed in not seeing cute monkey shenanigans; but they weren't. There were a lot of giggles and ahh's as Elvis ate snacks from his snack tube and kept snuggling up with his blanket.
Malts, Sundaes, Monkey - this cracked me up!
You will find Alf's on the corner of Baker and Clairmont in McMinnville. It is a small diner with indoor and outdoor seating. It is decorated old school in black, white and red with a lot of fun retro tchotchkes and monkey paraphernalia.

I've heard mixed reviews on food and service, but when we were there service was very friendly and my man clan devoured the homemade ice cream. They want to go back and try the burgers and fries.

FINDING A VEGAN RESTAURANT IN GRANTS PASS WAS A CHALLENGE,

until we found Orchid Grill. They are not a vegan restaurant but they were so nice to accommodate my crazy food allergies, double check ingredients and their food is delicious!
My clan loved every bite of their food. You should have heard the mmmm, mmmm's at our table.

Between the kalua pig, banzai burger, pupu platter, sweet potato fries, passion fruit lemonade and mango lemonade, and for me, the teriyaki veggie stir-fry with yakisoba noodles, we all left with full bellies and happy taste-buds.

Next time we are in Southern Oregon, we will definitely be stopping here again.