Oregon’s coast was perhaps the biggest surprise on my trip. I didn’t know how beautiful it was.

​

My journey along the coast begin in Reedsport and ended in Astoria. Laidback and cozy towns lined the coast. Restaurant options in these towns were vast, but I ended up eating halibut fish and chips for pretty much every meal.

​

The beaches were extremely clean and seemingly stretched forever. Huge rock formations emanated from the water not far from the shore creating sanctuaries for birds and marine life. Rocky cliffs occasionally made an appearance. Dense forests were a constant companion though.  Each evening, the horizon dazzled us with outstanding sunset.

​

The availability of state parks was very impressive. It seemed as if you could throw a rock from one to the other. This made finding a campsite very easy and there was no need to rush to a campground in the early hours of the morning. In addition to being numerous, they were clean, well maintained, and decently priced. Unlike in California, many of the campsites were electrified and, when they weren’t, the generator hours were reasonable.

​

Of all of the parks, Cape Lookout State Park was the highlight. The beach was only a short walk away. A few great hikes were also nearby. But most importantly, the Tillamook Cheese Factory was only 15 minutes can away. A tour of the factory is a must. Be sure to go hungry and order the fried cheese curds and the mac ‘n’ cheese.

​

Be sure to spend a few days in Astoria. Fort Stevens is a fantastic historical stop. There you can see remnants of World War II defenses. Did you know that the Japanese bombarded this fort? I though Pearl Harbor was the only place in the United States that was directly attacked. Additionally, there is the Lewis and Clark National Historic Site where you can learn about their unbelieve journey to the Pacific and see replicas of their boats and cabins. And, finally, you can see the home featured in the 1985 movie, the Goonies. Prepare to be disappointed though as the house is down a private drive and is only partially viewable from the public road.

​

If you’ve never been to Oregon, do me a favorite and discard every preconception you have of the state. Replace it with the images below and those of Crater Lake in a previous post. Or better yet, get out from behind that desk, jump on a flight to Portland, and go personally explore the state, particularly the coast. You will not be disappointed. It is beautiful, relaxing and inspiring.