I don’t think it’s possible to ever tire of driving the Oregon Coast. It’s all about superlatives. The world’s smallest navigatable harbour at Depoe Bay. The largest wooden structure of its kind in the world - the Air Museum hangar - at Tillamook, and at Cannon Beach, the third-tallest intertidal monolith (235-feet) in the world. Then, of course, there’s those heart thumping views of the Pacific Ocean hitting you full in the face time and time again, and great attractions like the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport and the iconic Sea Lion Caves. Then, if you’ve exhausted yourself wandering on the empty beaches, chasing balls of playful sea spume, or taking one of a hundreds of hikes, you can always make a day’s stop at Gold Beach and take one of the mail jet boats up into a wilderness you wouldn’t have dreamed still in existence on such a ‘hot’ coast.
There are scads of state parks along this 575-kilometre coast, many of them having great campsites as well as day use areas. Oregon doesn’t have taxes, which always helps, and we’ve noticed their camping fees are cheaper than their neighbours (Washington and California). They’re actually an amazing deal for what you get (paved spots, no extra charge for power, hot showers, water at the site, and usually wonderful beach access.
Check out this view at the Inn at Spanish Head. We love this place. You can’t build this close to the water any more.
So many beaches to explore, so little time!
It will be on my list of places to visit!