Breathtakingly beautiful, the Oregon Coast offers many opportunities for sightseeing, so I’m going to share with you my favorite 5 amazing stops along the Oregon coast.
You know how there are just some sights that one will never forget? Well, the beauty of the Oregon coast is one of those sights for me. Every beach is more gorgeous than the next, and there are just so many sights to be seen along the expansive coast. This was my second trip to the Oregon coast, and I can say that it will certainly not be my last. Like my last visit, my husband and I did the trip road-trip style, and I love that way of traveling. It lets one see so much, at one’s own pace.
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- The first amazing stop I’m going to tell you about is the Face Rock Viewpoint in Bandon, OR. At first when you pull into the parking lot you might think that it is just another random viewing spot, but then upon going up to the viewing point, you can see that there are steps down to the beach (pictured above) and you can see face rock itself (below)
The face is a silhouette of a girl on her side- it’s really kind of creepy/cool once you see it. It took me a while too, so I did an overlay for you here:
See it now? Creepy- right? There is an American Indian legend about this spot that some can hear a maiden’s voice on the wind from the viewpoint. The viewpoint and beach are both beautiful, but the beach is what I really loved. We even saw a starfish – props to my husbands’ good eyesight for seeing it!
- Shore Acres State Park – The whole time I was in Oregon I would spot these beautiful flowers – in such vibrant colors – and would point each one out. I’m sure my husband looooved it (haha). After a little drive we pulled off into this parking lot for another viewing point, I thought nothing of it until he told me we were going to a botanical garden! Shores Acres State Park has a Garden House and Pavilion (pictured below) that had all the brightly colored flowers I was ooing and aahing over (and a gorgeous fountain to boot!)
- The next amazing stop is the Sea Lion Caves. They are the largest sea lion caves in America and are a true ‘experience’. You walk into this little building and then pay (a little much if you ask me ($14 a person), but whatever, it’s a cool ‘experience’) and then take a little elevator down to see the sea lions in the caves. Well, it was a beautiful out the day we went, so all the sea lions were sunning themselves. On the other side of the building you can take this path to a viewing point to see the sea lions sunning themselves – do you see them?
What I loved the most was the sounds they were making. It was kind of like a groan and a snort, just listening to them made me smile. Also – watching them get in and out of the water and onto the rocks was super funny. After we finished seeing them we got got some popcorn, and I joked that it was like being at the movies because the scenery was so pretty- oh, and they had a fun sea lion statute – it was a life size sea lion – I didn’t realize how big those bad boys (and girls) were
- Just a little ways down from the Sea Lion Caves along the coast is Cape Perpetua which has some pretty amazing tide pools that one can just go and walk on!
Yup, you can just go walk on those rocks – crazy, right?
We were being extra careful because in that area there is something called Thor’s Well, like the Huffington Post said – it’s like something out of a comic book (<– there are pictures of what it looks like too, I’d suggest checking it out because it really is cool to know something like that exists). The tide wasn’t in our favor to see Thor’s Well, but the path and tide pools are just beautiful to look at and walk around on.
- The last stunning stop along the coast we visited was the Yaquina Head Light House. The picture above is the beautiful scenery looking out from behind the lighthouse.
The 93 foot tower, Oregon’s tallest lighthouse, is located on a narrow point of land jutting due west into the Pacific Ocean north of Newport, at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.
The Oregon coast is, in one word, is stunning. I was captivated by the scenery and cannot wait to continue my travels. If you follow me on any social media (instagram, facebook, twitter or snapchat – username Sweetphi) you’ll know that when I travel I always include the #sweetphijourneys hashtag, so if you want to see more photos of past trips, just look through the hashtag – I’d love for us to virtually travel together!
Have you ever been to the coast of Oregon?
Rhiannon Murphy says
You did an amazing job capturing the beauty of the Oregon Coast! What a great story, thank you for sharing! 🙂
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much Rhiannon, so glad you enjoyed this post – the Oregon Coast is so gorgeous!!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
Saving this for April – thank you!!
Sweetphi says
You’re welcome, thank you for saving it. You’re going to have SO much fun, Portland and the surrounding area is just so beautiful and amazing!
Little Cooking Tips says
Wow. What a lovely trip that was. And you guys look so cute!:)
Our favorites were the face rock and the sea lions.
But it’s a pretty amazing place in general, we didn’t know this about Oregon. We didn’t even know it had a coast line, since in our minds it was right next to Colorado for some strange reason:)
Moreover, we didn’t know there was such beauty at the north of S. Francisco. Now we are curious as to how Seattle beaches look like:)
Thank you for the wonderful trip to Oregon dear Phi. It was so great reading about this!
Hugs,
Panos and Mirella
xoxoxo
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much, the coast line on the pacific northwest is just beautiful! We went up to Seattle once and it was equally beautiful there too 🙂
cheri says
Hi Phi, we live in Yachats just a few miles north of Cape Perpetua, next time you come email me and we will show you around and feed you.
Sweetphi says
Hi Cheri, wow, your neck of the woods (or stretch of coast I should say) is gorgeous! I’d absolutely love to eat together next time we’re in the area!!
KCole's Creative Corner says
Your picture are SOOOOOOOOO gorgeous! It totally makes me want to visit Oregon! Thanks for sharing, Phi! 😀
Sweetphi says
You’re so welcome, thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂 And I definitely think you’d love Oregon, it’s such a cool state!
Ashley says
So so pretty! I’ve always wanted to visit Oregon… someday someday! And that starfish – so cool!!
Sweetphi says
You totally need to plan a trip out to Oregon, the whole state is absolutely gorgeous (and has such a great food scene!)
Dani @ Dani California Cooks says
This looks absolutely beautiful!! I travel up to WA for work every week, and in live in CA, so I am horribly embarrassed that I have never been to Oregon…
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, you definitely need to take a detour to the coast!!! It’s sooooo pretty, you’d definitely like it 🙂
andrea rentea says
These are stunning photos, that actually make one want to see these beautiful places! Thank you so much for sharing.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
This has come at the perfect time. I actually posted on my blog the other day about a 6 week trip to the U.S and Oregon is one of my stops. Thanks for the tips.
Sweetphi says
You’re so welcome, I hope you have an amazing trip!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
I looove driving up and down the Oregon coast and I’ve never been to any of these places!! I have a couple favorite spots, mostly around Gold Beach. So spectacular there!! Need to add these to the list for next time I take that road trip 🙂
Sweetphi says
Isn’t the Oregon coast so pretty? I have never been to Gold Beach and now am wanting to make another trip to check it out- it looks amazing!
Denise E. says
My husband and I visited the Oregon coast (Seaside) in 1996. It was there he fell in love with the ocean and with the Northwest. He’s been back (to Seattle, WA), but so far I have not. I would love to go again!
Sweetphi says
Isn’t the Oregon coast magical? I am so in love with it and am hoping to make it back there one day too 🙂
Shawnna says
Oh it looks so pretty there!! I’ve never been!
Sweetphi says
It is SO gorgeous, the whole state is so pretty – thank you so much for commenting 🙂
wearenotmartha says
What gorgeous photos! I’ve always wanted to go to Oregon- it’s such a beautiful place!
Sues
Sweetphi says
It is soooo beautiful in Oregon, you’d definitely love it!