The Oregon Coast is so very fantastic!!!! Driving the 101 is magical, with the views of the sea, from craggy cliffs to long sandy beaches; forest and greenery everywhere; and all those cute, wonderful towns with so much to see and do!! This trip we traveled from Cannon Beach to Florence. Although we have been to the Coast many times, it was mostly piecemeal. Actually spending time to enjoy so many spots added to the magic!
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach, a mere one and half hour from Portland, is such a wonderful get a way! The town is as cute as they come, and known for great food, art, long beach, and Haystack Rock, which juts from the beach and dominates the skyline! While here, it was cold and wet! The clouds were so low, most of the view was obscured, and it rained that very cold, heavy, non-stop drizzle that soaks everything. But- so what! Walking on the beach with the roar of the ocean was magic!
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| This is a little out of the box photo:-). But i thought it was brilliant!!! Hotel showers always seem to make you get wet as you turn on the water. This hotel actually solved that problem!!!! The shower had a hole to reach in, turn on the water, and wait to get in when it is warm! Brilliant!!!! |
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| Nanookians braving the cold and rain to explore the beach! |
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| Sea Gulls on a split of land |
The town of Cannon Beach is cute and filled with art!!
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| Finally, the clouds lifted |
Tilamook
Tilamook- center of cheese in Oregon:-). As you enter town from the north, the cheese factory has a free cool tour, milk product-oriented cafeteria, cheese at great prices, and ice cream!!!!
Newport, Oregon
Newport, about center on the coast, has so much to see and do, it was a pleasure to stay here!!! So very many things to do and see!!!!
Oregon Coast Aquarium! (http://aquarium.org/) We love aquariums!!! In cities, aquariums represent the local wild life and environment- the Oregon Aquarium is not different. Both beautiful to look at and educational, we love this aquarium! The tide pool area provided both a touching pool, and viewing area. After the aquarium, we went to actual tide pools, so we actually knew what we were looking at and how the environment worked.
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| OTTERS! The cutest of all animals:-) |
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| Sea Lions |
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| birds!!! |
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| divers feeding the fish |
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| The aquarium has transparent walkways to view fish from all sides- really fantastic!!! |
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| Megladon- ancient, giant sharks:-) |
Jelly Fish- so majestic, so deadly:-)
Tide Pools
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| Piranha! The horror movie favorite:-) |
After the aquarium- lunch at Rogue Brewery!
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| Tsunami warnings and information were everywhere |
Yaquina Lighthouse and tide pools (https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/yaquina). With our senior life-time national park pass (no plug here:-)), we entered the Yaquina lighthouse and grounds for free! Although we did not tour the lighthouse, it is beautiful!!!
Newport Oregon itself, is a fantastic town! From the Nye Beach area to the historical bay front, there are great restaurants and shops and walking areas to spend days!
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| Wyland Murals |
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| Old Bay Front area |
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| Dinner at Mo's! Fish and Chips, onion rings, clam chowder!! |
Nye Beach area- tribute to whales and the Vietnam war
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| Wall Art |
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| Yaquina Bridge- really beautiful park and awesome sunset location |
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| And dinner after the sunset:-) |
Haceta Head lighthouse
Haceta Head lighthouse is a wonderful stop for beautiful grounds and an interesting lighthouse! (https://www.hecetalighthouse.com/). Built in 1890, the light refractor is all original (with the exception of a few pieces replaced). Made in England, it is the only remaining glass from that era. The views are spectacular! It is a half mile walk uphill from the beach parking area to the lighthouse, but such a beautiful walk!
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| I so wanted a picture of just the lighthouse, but these children were having too much fun to move out of my pictures:-) |
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The staircase is freestanding!!! Meaning it is secured only at the top and bottom!
It was build flush with the circular wall of the lighthouse. |
About a mile south of the Haceta Head lighhouse, the Sea Caves!!! The largest sea cave in the US, filled with sea lions- it is FANTASTIC!!!! (http://www.sealioncaves.com/). I had never heard of this sight, but once I read about it, we had to go. From the first entry point, I realised this is another of America's gems to see!!!
From the roadside, you take an elevator into the cave- there is an excellent viewing area of the cave and the 300+ sea lions in the cave, all laying around barking, playing in the water, chasing each other, and sea birds flying around! The sound of the barking is deafening, but this is a fantastic sight!!!!
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| Sea Lion remains found in the cave |
At the mouth of the cave, waves wash in- the sea lions ride these waves, swim through them, and frollick! Just couldn't get enough!!
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The Sea Cave is one part of the sight, sea lions on the beach is the other.
According to information, there are about 600 sea lions in the area- and it sounds like it:-) |
After the sea caves, off to Florence, Oregon for lunch, then spent the night in Ashland, and home the next day. What a great vacation!!!!
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| Mt. Shasta! |
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| A small stop with old farm equipment |
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