After our time Washington, we headed for the epic grandeur of the Oregon Coast. Come along with us for part two of our bucket list Pacific Coast roadtrip (Stops 5-9): Oregon.
O R E G O N
Highlights: sunset and tidepooling by the stacks, sandboarding, boat-themed hotels, horseback riding on the beach, sea lion caves, prehistoric gardens, oh, and that epic coastline.
Fifth stop: Cannon Beach, OR
We have a dozen photos but this is by far my favorite. Because we were trying to cover so many miles each day, we made it to Cannon Beach just as the sun was setting. It's bookmarked as a return spot for us, ideally with at least 1/2 day to explore the town as well as the beach, but even if you only have the fleeting time around sunset as we did, it is definitely worth a stop. It's an epic spot for photos, a natural playground, and has easy tidepooling if you happen to hit it when the tide's going on. We have friends who've even reported seeing elk on the beach!
Sixth stop: Newport, OR
We've posted about Devil's Punchbowl before (click here for that article) so we'll just give you a brief overview here. Devil's Punchbowl, 8 miles north of Newport, is the sort of epic nature you have to see to really get. It's mesmerizing from above when it turns into a whirlpool at high tide, but for the full experience, we recommend visiting at low tide so that you can explore the inside of the Punchbowl. Find 2024 tide tables here or, of course, you can do an internet search for predicted tides for Devil's Punchbowl specifically. We were so set on exploring this wonder inside and out that we planned this entire portion of the trip (including where we stayed) around when low tide would hit.
If you have time to explore, check out Cliffside Coffee and Sweets and Pura Vida Surf Shop & School atop the cliff that houses the Punchbowl.
We spent our night in Newport at Moolack Shores Inn, where we were stayed in the Nautical room. The portholes and bunk beds were a big hit with our little one, while the roar of the waves throughout the night and the wow factor of waking up to find that we were on the beach (we arrived late at night under a pitch black sky and didn't get even a glimmer of the view until the morning) made our grownup hearts feel the youngest and most carefree they'd been in ages.
We would have lingered on this part of the coast if we could have, so if you have more time, give yourself the chance to walk the windswept coast and build sandcastles and take in the endless views. Because we had a fairly tight schedule, this ended up being one of the most astounding days of our trip. We started with Devil's Punchbowl, moved on to the Sea Lion Caves, then went sandboarding, horseback riding on the beach, and even took a jaunt to the prehistoric gardens all in one day (see below).
Seventh stop: Florence, OR
Our next stop was Sea Lion Caves. Located right along the 101, it's kind of hard not to stop when you realize it's directly on your path, self-paced, and one of the few places you're practically guaranteed to see Steller sea lions (some 200 call the caves home!) If you've roadtripped further south, you may have seen the elephant seals near Hearst Castle (by some counts, they number around 17,000, though they tend only to be sighted in January, April, and October). Sea Lion Caves in Oregon and San Simeon in California are the only two places I've ever seen such great numbers of sea lions and seals. It's certainly a sight to behold! As of February 2024, tickets to Sea Lion Caves were $18/adult, $12/child ages 5-12, and free for those younger than 4 years of age. Parking is free. Be warned that the gift shop is full of adorable plush sea lions that make realistic sounds when squeezed. We couldn't make it to our next stop without adopting one, so go in prepared!
When we were planning this trip, we came across an article about sandboarding, which, to be honest, we didn't even know existed. As soon as we learned about it though, it was added to the bucket list. I think we would've driven right past Sand Master Park if we hadn't known what was hiding out of sight of the freeway. We only had about an hour to play with all we were trying to fit in (so not many photos), but it was so much fun. It was less than $20 for a full 24 hour board rental, so if you're staying longer, be sure to take advantage of the deal. Returning to Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area for some more extensive exploring was on our Oregon wishlist before we'd even left the state. If you go, let us know your favorite spots.
Eighth stop: Bandon, OR
Bandon was one of my favorite stops because I love horses and beaches and combining the two is always magic. This was also our first family shoreline ride, and sharing something that makes you feel alive with your favorite people makes the experience exponentially more wonderful. Bandon Beach Riding Stables took excellent care of us and also let us run wild. That second bit is another reason this was such a stand out experience. If you're accustomed to trail rides, you know that you're generally only allowed a trot, but on this expedition we were permitted to canter much of the time and even to gallop at times. As of February 2024, pricing is set at $85/person/hour.
Ninth stop: Port Orford, OR
There's a point at which you can't imagine fitting more into your day...until you come across something as wondrously unexpected as Prehistoric Gardens. We arrived about an hour before closing, already tired in the best way from a whirlwind of a day, but since there was no going back on this trip, we decided we had to stop. We were certainly glad that we did! Prehistoric gardens (also right off the 101) is a short jaunt through Pacific Northwest jungle that just so happens to be full of life-size dinosaurs. Part of its charm is how doable it is in a day full of other adventures. We also had the Gardens to ourselves, which made it easy to pretend we'd gone back in time, fulfilling our Land of the Lost dreams.
After our unforgettable time in Oregon, we headed further south to take on California. Come along with us for the final piece of "Driving the Pacific Coast: A Bucket List Trip from Seattle to Los Angeles" - California. And if you missed the first leg of the trip, check it out here.
Happy journeying!
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