Oregon Coast Road Trip

A sign with a green background and the shape of Oregon state transposed in white stands about 25 feet north of the California-Oregon border on the east side of the 101. The other side of the sign bids driver...

A 4-mile hike along the scenic Oregon Coast ends with the spectacular Arch Rock, a geological formation that juts out of the ocean. There is no parking fee and the trails are well-maintained. This hike is a ...

This viewpoint is conveniently located right off the Oregon Coast Highway and you can simply pull into the parking lot and gaze out on the ocean. The best time to go is at sunrise or sunset when the sky is a...

Rock formations in the ocean in the shape of arches make another unique spot along the dynamic Oregon coast. There is a sign on Oregon Coast Highway that guides you to the small parking area. You will see th...

It's a rare thing to see a beautiful waterfall and an oceanside beach at the same time. The trail leading to the beach is reportedly quite steep and rocky so wear sturdy shoes and pack the sandals for when y...

Secret Beach with its sea stacks and tidepools is located just a stone's throw from the waterfall, both right off Oregon Coast Highway. It's best to go when the tide is low so check the tide schedule before ...

1881 steamer Mary D. Hume was built by pioneer R.D. Hume. She was in service for almost a hundred years, hauling freight along the West Coast from Oregon to San Francisco and then as a whaler in Alaska. She ...

Prehistoric Gardens in Portland is a tame experience when compared to the "Jurassic Park" franchise of films. With 23 life-sized dinosaurs and a lush rainforest setting, it's the next best thing to being tra...

A picturesque white lighthouse guides ships with a light beaming from a focal point of 256 feet. Built in 1870, it stands on a cape which is the second (after Cape Alava in Washington State) western-most poi...

Many of the animals at this petting zoo roam free, and you can touch and photograph them up close. The park has a captive breeding program to aid in augmenting the population of endangered species, so you ma...

The conical shaped sea stack and the mystical fog surrounding the beach impart an eerie beauty. This area of Oregon is known for its amazing sea stacks, the Wizard's Hat being just one of them. The best time...

The beach on which this lighthouse stands is of a rocky, craggy, rugged beauty. First lit in 1896, the lighthouse and its adjoining cottage has gracefully weathered over the past century. The walk to the lig...

The first tower was built lower on the island in the 1800s, but the low quality of the light as well as erosion meant that it would need to be replaced. In 1906, the second lighthouse was built higher up on ...

The Oregon Dunes are evidence of a geological history dating back millions of years. Winds and heavy rains created immense promontories making up a stretch of 40 miles of the Pacific Coast. The unique terrai...

Opened in 1936, this moveable bridge is 1,568 feet long and opens to 110 feet horizontally to let boats through. Conde McCullough, the civil engineer responsible for many of Oregon's 101 Hwy bridges designed...

This stunning emerald botanical preserve is dedicated to ensuring the continued existence of an extremely rare…and carnivorous…plant. The innocently named Darlingtonia californica, a.k.a. cobra lily, thrives...

The sea-level caves on the coast of the Pacific is also a protected preserve for sea lions. They breed, hunt, swim, and languish as they please. 14 bucks will get you a close-up view of these blubbery creatu...

Named for a Spanish explorer, this lighthouse is one of the most beautiful on the West Coast and perhaps in America. Overlooking the famous Pacific Ocean from the vantage point of the gorgeous Oregon Coast, ...

Any place magnificent enough to be named after the Norse god of thunder is a must-see on a road trip. A yawning wound on Cape Perpetua along the Oregon Coast, this hole in the ocean seems to be endless but i...

Over thousands of years strong waves cut an inlet into the shoreline creating the violent water movement known as Devil's Churn. The walk down to the shoreline is steep, but thankfully a staircase is there t...

This 800-foot spot is the highest viewpoint on the Oregon coast. From this high visitors have a bird's eye view of the Northwestern forests meeting the rocky shoreline against the backdrop of the sun dappled...

Located on the Yaquina Bay, the Oregon Coast Aquarium strives to educate the public about ocean conservation through interactive, up-close experiences. It's not cheap, but it's beautiful and informative - an...

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This "garden" is actually a glimpse to life on the sea floor of the Yaquina Bay. It may look dirty, but the water in this location is very murky. When you combine your admission with ...

In its infancy, this lighthouse was known as Cape Foulweather Lighthouse. At 93 feet, it is the tallest lighthouse in Oregon. It's also a bit fancy - the head light was made in Paris, and shipped to Oregon i...

Just off the beaten path of the 101, is a sharp, rocky, naturally carved out pool that empties and fills with water via Pacific Ocean waves. When it empties, you can stand on the sandy floor, and admire the ...

Every stop along the Oregon Coastal Hwy is spectacular, but here you have a great view of a particularly jagged shoreline called Cape Foulweather. If the whales are here during their migration, you can easil...

Sea stacks and estuaries lining a system of thick green forests characterizes Siletz Bay. Located in the quaint and historic Taft district this little area of Oregon is one of its hidden gems where vacatione...

An ancient Sitka spruce forest was unearthed in 1997-1998 when violent storms washed away the deep sands and debris they were buried under. Only their stumps remain, probably the result of a cataclysmic eart...

This Sitka spruce was once a ceremonial tree of the Tillamook tribe. Its uniqueness is debated. Some believe the odd shape is purely manmade - the tribe would choose a special tree that had not yet matured a...

This petite lighthouse stands only 38 feet tall, but the first-order Fresnel lens could be seen 21 miles because of its location on a steep cliff. It's in the midst of the beautiful Oregon wilderness with pl...

Located on the Oregon Coast and built on a sandy beach, the Twin Rocks Motel is a series of beachfront cottages. Each cottage is equipped with a fireplace to stave off the chill from nights by the ocean. Thi...

It's one of the best spots to get a bird's eye view of the Oregon coastline. A turnoff conveniently located off the 101 and a few steps from your car is all that you need to do to get a glimpse. But you can ...

Named for the narrow cape that was once used as a stagecoach pass for early settlers, the Hug Point Waterfall is just one of the many glorious sights to be seen at this ruggedly beautiful state park on the O...

You'll understand how Haystack Rock got its name when you see its large silhouette against a twilight sky. A rocky monolith standing upright on the Pacific Coast, it may be the centerpiece of this marine gar...

All that remains of the grand, four-masted barque "Peter Iredale" is a rusted bow. It juts out of the water, a skeleton that looks like the bony remains of a great whale or shark. It's the perfect setting at...