Northern Oregon Coast
I swapped waterfalls for the ocean this weekend and headed to the northern Oregon coast. The Oregon coast is home to rugged cliffs, secret coves, seemingly endless beaches, and amazing marine life. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, enjoy relaxing on the beach, a history buff, or prefer a good meal, there is something for everyone along the 101. As with any trip to Oregon you need to be prepared for the rain. I was lucky there was a light drizzle throughout the weekend and my rain coat that I haven’t need in many years was used in abundance that weekend.
One thing I noticed as I was driving up the coast, on one side of the road there are mountains playing home to luscious trees climbing towards the sky and on the other side the roar of the wild Pacific with white sandy beaches spanning for miles. I’ve taken many road trips, but none have ever shown me two vastly different ecosystems living within feet from one another.
The weekend trip I took started halfway through Oregon’s coastline at Tillamook and headed north to Astoria.
During this trip I stayed in two hotels, I know in these crazy COVID times it might not be the best decision. But I did look into different options, hotels, airbnbs, and B&Bs to see what my best options were, and the hotels were the best option. They both were clean enough for single night visit, both accomplishing their goal.
It was a full weekend of fun, so brace yourself for a lot of information and a lot of pictures!
Agenda:
Friday
Head to Cape Meares State Park to watch the sunset
After a long work week my first stop was down to the light house and watch the early sunset. After Daylight Saving Time, sunset is now at 4:45pm. SO EARLY!
Accommodation: Garibaldi House Inn & Suites
Pros: Cute hotel and the only non-motel option. Front staff was helpful and warm chocolate chip cookie were available at check-in! Great to-go breakfast options and called my room when it was ready so it wouldn’t get cold.
Cons: All dinner places close at 6pm! Granted I was there during the off-season and COVID, but still…luckily I packed snacks and had lovely night in watching The Proposal.
Saturday
Since the Tillamook Creamy didn’t open until 11am, I needed to kill some time in the morning. Luckily, the Tillamook Air Museum opens at 10am and there is plenty to see.
The free self-guided tour is quick but you have to take it in order to shop in the gift shop; followed by food! Grilled cheese, tomato soup, and mint chocolate chip ice for dessert. Dreams!!
Stopped here for a quick minute to relax on the beach and use the bathroom. Gotta use them when you can. Beautiful beach with miles of coastline to walk along.
One of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks. Haystack Rock is home to colorful tidepools and diverse bird life, or so I read. What I experienced was heavy winds, difficulty holding onto my phone to take a photo and many layers wrapped around my head to protect me from windburn. When I went to Haystack it was also the day Biden/Harris officially won the election. Guess the elk like Biden too :)
Astoria
By the time I arrived in Astoria and check-into the hotel, dusk was approaching and I didn’t have enough time to tour the town. I was able to get a quick drive in to the Astoria Column. Beautiful view, even with rain clouds rolling in. Astoria is a town that could fulfill any activity for a person, hiking, water fun, food, beer, history, and even pop culture! Check out all things Goonies! Hey you guys!
Dinner at Bridgewater Bistro
Probably one of the top-5 most expensive meals I’ve treated myself to, without alcohol, and 100% worth.
Appetizer: Oysters
Dinner: Seared Wild Pacific Salmon
Dessert: Special of the Day, apple pie cheesecake
Accommodation: Astoria Riverwalk Inn
Pros: Reasonably-priced and great views of the marina (see photo below). Very helpful and kind front-desk personnel. 24/7 security.
Cons: Bedroom and bathroom were a bit run-down.
Sunday
Breakfast at Coffee Girl — It’s like it was named for me
Located at the end of Pier 39 and right on the Columbia River, it’s a unique coffee shop with beautiful views, kind people, and delicious coffee and pastries.
With caffeine pumping through my veins, I headed to Washington for a hot minute and drove over the Astoria-Megler Bridge
I spent the most amount of my time here. Fort Stevens, where the epic Columbia River meets the mighty Pacific, is a crown jewel among Oregon’s State Parks. There is bit of mystery about Fort Stevens, between the shipwreck, the old armaments, and Army buildings, a lot of history was experienced in last 100+ years.
Places to Visit: Wreck of Peter Iredale, Battery Russel, Jetty Observation Tower (where the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean meet), and Coffenbury Lake.
By the time I finished with Fort Stevens, I needed to make up time and get back on the road to my tiny home.
I made a pitstop in Seaside at Mo’s for lunch. Wasn’t overly impressed, reminded me a bit of Joe’s Crab Shack, made me appreciate the good seafood I had the night before.
I finished my weekend trip at Ecola State Park, and I was so happy I ended here. The park offers views of sea stacks punctuating the shoreline to the south, forested headlands, a historic lighthouse and pristine beaches. This place is a hikers paradise, and I’m kicking myself for not packing my hiking boots. The drive alone to access the coastline is an adventure. A “two-lane” road winding through a beautiful Sitka Spruce Forest suddenly releases you out onto a grassy bluff overlooking the coastline. How to better prepare for next time? Bring hiking boots and a picnic. Sunny skies for miles.
As I headed back to the Tiny Home, listening to my crazy murder-mystery podcasts, I felt fulfillment and joy from the weekend. I explored and experienced many ‘news’ over the entire weekend, which is exactly why I took this leap. I would not have been able to see all these places if I was still in my Sacramento apartment.
When I plan my trips, full weekend or afternoon trips, I have a general agenda in mind of the places I want to visit. Do I normally stick to that plan? No. That’s why I’m a terrible group traveler with friends and family; I will change my mind at the drop of a hat and forget to consult with the other person. This weekend’s adventure came from recommendations of friends, research, followers on social media, and Reddit. The best part about sharing my adventure on social media or Reddit, other than the negative folks who have nothing nice to say, are the local recommendations I wouldn’t normally check out.
Check back soon for more Oregon adventures!