The Oregon Coast...the best kept secret in the Pacific Northwest!

We drove down to Portland, OR in the rain. As we arrived at the Shilo Inn in Newport (ocean-view accommmodations) the sun came out. What a spectacular sight!

We could see the lighthouse at Coquille River off in the distance.

We missed "storm watching" by one day but the waves were gorgeous. Storm watching is so intriguing that it is easy to get hooked on watching the breathtaking sights of the ocean surf dancing unpredictably in these storms. Especially during the fall months. We played Dominos in our room while watching the waves, the sunset, and went to bed with the windows open and the sound of the surf humming us to sleep!


The next day we drove north on 101. The entire coast has mile after mile of dazzling, empty beaches punctuated by stretches of rocky outcropping and spectacular headlands.
Awesome!
We saw many birds, pelicans....

and seals that make their home on the Bayfront in Newport. They can be heard from miles away. Noisy guys!

Rocky shore by the lighthouse!

The Lighthouse at Coquille River

Next stop was Depo Bay. This is the end of the unique sea wall the runs the length of the downtown area where we ate breakfast. Ever-changing oceanviews can be seen from the seawall. Whale watching is a favoite activity for visitors to Depoe Bay. The resident pod of grey whales that makes its home just offshore may be spotted here between March and December. But none showed up for us! ) :

The tidepools were awesome!

At Pacific City we took the Three Capes Scenic Loop to Tillamook.

Here we are on Cape Kiwanda in Oceanside, with the spectacular sight of towering 400-foot-high Three Arch Rocks, preserved as a seabird refuge shared by sea lions and seals. And I don't have a picture of the rock posted. ) : All along the sandy beaches people were clamming. This loop is definitely worth the trip!

We moved on and stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Visitor's Center where you can observe cheese production.

However it was Saturday so not in operation. There are so many things to do and see that one could spend a week on this drive. We will have to return in the summer!!

Cannon Beach is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Range. We arrived just as it was starting to cloud over. Not bad since an all day rain was predicted.

There was time to walk on the beach and see the kites flying near the Haystack Rock.
Haystack Rock is one of the largest free-standing rocks in the world, towering 235 feet above its glistening tidal pools and vast shoreline. It is home to a diverse community of birds and aquatic wildlife. The waves smashing against the rock are so picturesque!

It wasn't long before the sun disappeared and the fog moved in.

As the tide moved out there was still time for Jim to get his exercise running on the beach before dark. ( :

One more picture before going to "The Lumberyard" for dinner!