We are super excited to be visiting Oregon after watching a number of other people who have visited this state. It was a tough decision on whether to follow the coast road (up Route 101) or to come inland and visit some of the amazing National and State parks. We decided to take the coast road since we will be soon heading inland crossing West to East so this would be one of our last chances to take in some sea air until we hit Maine.
There is so much to see and do along highway 101, I think the items we have called out in our plan are probably just a few key ones to watch out for, I expect we will find a lot of hidden coves, amazing beaches, artistic rock formations and various other interesting things to do. We will try to capture it all as we go along!
| State: | Oregon |
| Towns of Interest: (FB) = Firebreak | Portland
Newport |
| National Parks: | Crater Lake National Park - not visiting |
| State Parks of Interest: | N/a |
| Places of Interest: (N) = Night Stay | Oregon Coast Highway (Route 101)Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (scenic view of the offshore rocks)
Port Orford (Major fishing center and one of the oldest settlements on the Oregon coast. Among its attractions are the Sixes and Elk rivers, the Thousand Island Coats (a series of offshore rocks that are favored by harbor seals and sea lions) and Battle Rock City Park)
Bandon (Cranberry Capital of Oregon)
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (N) (Best sight along the drive - 32,000 acres of Sand Dunes)
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park (Pretty lighthouse built in 1892. Oppose the lighthouse is a whale watching station, here you can get panoramic views of the dunes)
Sea Lion Caves (Popular attraction - From the top of the cliff, a high speed elevator takes visitors 208 feet to an observation deck that looks into the vast sea caves at water level. Inside the caves are hundreds of sea lions)
Thor's Well (natural hole that seems to be draining the sea)
Newport (N) (Pictursque port is a good place to get out of the car and take a stroll. Amble along the old bay front to glimpse fishing fleets and admire fresh fish displays by some of the best seafood markets on the coast. Saunter along the sea shore in search of semiprecious agates washed by the waves. Or wander to the south end of town to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, the only one remaining in Oregan that combines a tower with keeper's quarters)
Three Capes Scenic Loop (Cape Kiwanda State Park for the red and yellow sandstone cliffs, Cape Lookout for the views of Tillamook Head which is 42 miles north and Cap Meares with a lighthouse over 100 years old, sea lions, rockeries and reefs. Check out the tree in the parking lots for the lighthouse, its nicknamed the Octopus Tree)
Canon Beach (Dazzling ocean view from lookout points on the road. Towering over the beach is the 235 foot tall Haystack Rocka bullet shapped monolith that is one of the most photographed sights on the coast and features in the Goonies)
Portland (N)
Powell's Books (It's the largest independent chain of bookstores in the world, and when you visit the aptly named flagship shop, Powell's City of Books, you'll need a map to find your way around)
International Rose Test Garden (One of Portland's nicknames is the City of Roses, and this town has long been an incubator for the scented beauties. Nearly a century ago, a farsighted citizen convinced the local government to set up a rose test garden during World War I to preserve the species of European roses that might be decimated by the bombings. Thus, in 1917, the International Rose Test Garden was born)
Tom McCall Waterfront Park (30-acre park stretches alongside the Willamette River in downtown Portland and provides some of the best views of the city's skyline)
Smallest Park in the World (At the intersection of two streets in Southwest Portland, located in the center divide, you will find Mill Ends Park. At a whopping 452 square inches it is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the smallest park in the world)
Rose City Rollers (Roller derby - hard hits, fast feet and sometimes accented with alterations between the female players)
Japanese Garden (next to rose garden - 5.5 acre Japanese Garden is influenced by Shinto, Buddhist, and Taoist philosophies)
Glow in the Dark Mini Golf (Glowing Greens is a black light miniature golf adventure)
Voodoo Doughnut (Bacon doughnut!) |
| Routes of Interest: | Highway 1 |
| Useful Links: | http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/oregon-usor.htm |
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