As we push through the last week of summer, my friends and I decided to do a last minute road trip along Highway 101 or the Coast of Oregon. The day was perfect. It was 80 degrees warm, the middle of the week (so not too many people), and I was with good company. It took us 13 hours to visit 4 cities, to enjoy and relish the last days of summer. During our drive back home to University of Portland, we caught a glimpse of the beautiful sunset which enthused me to write an exciting guide to an Oregon Coast road trip.
Seaside
The first time I visited this city was last summer, where I fell in love with their mini-downtown area. Seaside has the cutest shops where you can find the coolest and most interesting items ever. It was also the first time I ever had Elephant Ears. If you check in at Shilo Inn, not only do you get a nice view but also an easy access to a hot tub in case your legs were too numb from the icy cold water.
Cannon Beach
Have you ever heard of the movie “The Goonies”? The opening scene was filmed here. The most popular attraction is the Haystack Rock, which is basically a 235-foot rock right by the ocean. It’s a pretty famous tourist destination, where people merely take a picture with the rock. It’s a little "basic," but it’s also a must if you visit the area. Oh, and Downtown Cannon Beach is pretty cute!
Cape Kiwanda
Located in Pacific City, I would say Cape Kiwanda is one of Oregon's hidden gems. My friends and I decided to slide down the big dunes. Right across the Pelican Brewery and Pub is a cute market where we rented sand boards. It was so hot, but we managed to climb the top of the dunes. It got too hot, that we finally took a dip in the ocean.
Lincoln City
Lincoln City is the first city I visited in the coast when I moved here. It's the best place to take a break for food or leg stretch. I recommend eating at one of the Coast's famous Mo's Restaurant (which is really bomb). When you're really full, you can either take a walk along the beach OR go shopping at the Lincoln City Outlets.
Depoe Bay
Depoe Bay is one of my favorites. I heard whales were really active here, so we tried to find the right spot for an awesome view. To do so, you simply just turn in to Inn At Arch Rock, go straight and you'll see a bunch of residential houses. You'll then see this:
To the left, it's a little tricky to get down, because the ground is soft and you have to climb a rope down and to get to the beautiful rock. But to the right, there's another scenic area which isn't as dangerous. It's just beautiful and you can definitely catch a glimpse of the whales. Just be careful with the rocks, I cut my toe when I was there.
Thor’s Well
I've only ever seen Thor's Well in pictures, and it was smaller than I thought! Nevertheless, it was still really cool to see a different water-rock formation. It’s a little difficult to find, but the best way to find it is to get a bird’s eye view before going down. The best picture you can get is when the waves hit the rocks and it creates a huge splash. My friends and I stayed there till sunset, and the sky was just breathtaking.
P.S. Credits to my
really good friend Justin Low for driving us and for providing me with these
amazing pictures!
