For Dilshad’s birthday, she decided she wanted to see the Oregon coast hwy 101; so we flew into Portland, Oregon, rented a car and drove around to find a nice hole in the wall place for lunch. We found Angel Food & Fun, where we had Panucho’s, which are a Yucatan specialty. They are similar to a Gordita or a stuffed Tortilla, and they were good, as we were hungry 🙂
After lunch, we started driving west to Seaside town, a drive of about 90 mins. On the way, we noticed a sign for Scenic routes and wineries, so of course, we had to take a detour. Driving down very nice country lanes, we stopped at Willamette Valley Vineyards, which was basically a shop/café in the winery, with wine tasting. So starts our travelog with a glass of the their white wine, as they say below
After a nice relaxing afternoon in the wine country of Oregon, we drove back to the highway and onto Seaside town, on the Oregon coast Hwy 101, where we had booked at the Holiday Inn. This location was under remodel, but the management gave us a nice refinished suite complete with a bottle of bubbly Apple cider; as I had informed them we were celebrating a birthday. A good start 🙂
Temperatures were in the high 60’s which was fine, but there was a strong breeze which made it feel cooler than it was. After a long sunset walk on the beach in Seaside, we went looking for a restaurant. Since this is a small town, there were not too many restaurants open past 9PM, so we ended up at the local Pizza joint, Angelina’s Pizza, which served up a great Pizza. Lights out.
Next morning, we started driving south on Hwy 101, along the Oregon coast, and see where it took us. Below are some scenes along the way.
We came to a small town called Bay City, where there were many cars parked outside the Pacific Seafood restaurant, so we stopped here for lunch.
Turns out, this Fish Peddler at Pacific Oyster restaurant is actually an Oyster processing place, with many people working shucking oysters out of their shells, behind set of glass windows on one side of the restaurant. Since specialty here was Clam chowder, we had that, and Fish & Chips of Haddock, which we were looking forward to, complete with tartar sauce and malt vinegar 🙂
This place was quite busy and lively, with the show of the oyster processing in the background. Very nice lunch.
After lunch, we got back onto Hwy 101 and started driving. Next stop was in Tillamook, where the famous Tillamook cheese comes from. And so after a stop at this Tillamook Cheese center for homemade ice cream, we drove off to do a hike at the Cape Lookout State Park nearby. We took the Cape Lookout Trail, which is a 4.8mile round trip trail to the end of the peninsula that is Cape Lookout. Below are some scenes along the way.
At the end of the trail, was a high lookout over the bay, where there must have been many whales who make this place their home; as we saw many of them playing in the waters off this Cape.
From here, we hiked back to the Trail head
At the trailhead, got in the car and kept driving down the Oregon Coast Hwy 101 Freeway along the coast to Pacific City, where we stopped on the beach at the Pelican Pub & Brewery for a glass of wine on the beach
The Oregon coast along Hwy 101 is very beautiful with forests of evergreen trees just off the coast, and the coast is beautiful with very nice beaches and lots of State Parks everywhere along Hwy 101. There is logging going on, but they do this in small patches, and then regrow the confers, so the logging is sustainable. I believe the State of Oregon had decide a long time ago to keep this area of the coast for the people, and so they limited large scale development. So you see very few of the chains of hotels and stores here, and the developments along the coast are small towns, not huge mega-cities. The stores and restaurants are mostly small mom & pop stores. All this was very refreshing after coming from commercial America.
We kept driving south along the Oregon coast
We stopped in Lincoln City for a fabulous meal of Clam Chowder and a Haddock dish at the BlackFish Café; another local restaurant.
Decided that since it was now late evening, we needed to find a place to stay, so we booked the Holiday Inn (at a decent rate) nearby in Newport. Drove to Newport, and called it a day; a very nice wonderful day.
Next day, we continued driving south past Holiday Beach, Seal Rock, Bayshore, Walport and stopped at Yachats; below are some scenes from this section of Hwy 101
We then turned back to go up north back to Cannon beach area as we had not spent much time there, and so we drove back to Newport, where we had seen a nice Fish & Chips place for lunch. However, we missed the turnoff, and instead, ended up in Newport harbor, which was where all the fishing boats sheltered and tied up in the Bay. This area turned out to be very nice with a working fishing port, with nice restaurants and shops.
After walking around a little, we stopped at the Clearwater Restaurant, where we got a table outdoors on the patio, overlooking a colony of sea lions sunning themselves and grunting away; and had a great Haddock Fish & Chips lunch
After lunch, we go back on the road, and arrived at Cannon Beach, and had an early dinner and then went to the beach for a walk and to witness the sunset
After sunset, we drove back to Portland, and caught the Red Eye flight back to reality.
This stretch of the Oregon coast we visited was very nice, clean, and not commercialized, which was refreshing. Definitely recommended.
Pretty awesome Ali. Did you visit the Tillamook cheese factory? They have a factory tour and the icecream there is yummy
HI Akshay, Yes we did stop at the Tillamook Cheese factory, and went thru their exhibits, and yes, we did have their ice-cream outside on the benches. I agree the ice-cream was delicious 🙂
Amazing pictures and descriptions… I felt like I was there with you! Keep on traveling, my friends! And share more pics 😘
Hi Shermin, thanks for the nice comments; always appreciate your encouragements. Next trip is coming up soon… 🙂
Great pictures and story Ali. Keep it up. The trips you take are they sponsored or taken by yourselves as tourists? Just wondered.
Hi Mansoor, thanks for the encouragement and feedback.
The trips we do are not sponsored or organized; we plan and organize it ourselves. It does take a lot of time, but is well worth it. I need to find out how I can get sponsored trips; that will certainly help the pocketbook 🙂
Very beautiful Ali; hope you brought some wine samples. U know I love buzzing
Only drank lots of wine while we were there 🙁
Beautiful coastline!
Thanks Khairun
GORGEOUS PLACES
MORE LIKE COMBINED HONEY MOON AND BIRTHDAY. BELATED BEST WISHES TO DILSHAD
Appreciate the good wishes, thanks
What a magnificent way to celebrate Dilshad’s birthday! Even the sun smiled upon you both as you cavorted along that sumptuous coast—and sun is not always a given there. Ali—Your gorgeous photos chronicled your adventures so enticingly. They lulled me into thinking of the two years I taught 5th grade in North Bend, Oregon—a small coastal town south of where you visited. You know in Oregon we go to the “coast” vs. the “beach,” since the raucous weather often prevents sunbathing on beachtowels. And did you hear how coastal Oregonians describe their summers? it goes: “we don’t tan, we rust!”
😉🐳 jane
Hi Jane, Thanks so much for the wonderful insight into Coastal Oregon. I do agree that the weather was always touch and go; and we got lucky 🙂
Lovely scenery. Thanks for sharing. We have only done part of the route. Will have todo this soon
Hi Fatima; yes it is a beautiful coastline and worth visiting
Thanks Ali for sharing. I just told Amir i also want to travel this places and he agreed. Please keep sharing
Hi Farida, So glad you liked my blog; and so happy that it has inspired you to travel to some of these places also. Enjoy
Nice choice! Enjoy ;).
We have driven on highway 101 several times (from San Fran) when Salim attended Stanford Business School in Palo Alto, and after that too. Very very beautiful…… Sure Oregon must be similar.
Keep up with your continuous passion in all your travels :). Doing a great job, we appreciate all your effort and sharing with us. Pics are amazing…..
Yes, the CA coastline is similar; though the Oregonians claim their coastline is more beautiful that the CA version 🙂
seems beautiful place. I plan on going one day; thanks for sharing
Akber, you will not be disappointed here; make sure to spend time at some of the nice state parks dotting the coast. Enjoy
Hi Ali,
0400am in the morning I’m reading your blog..am I hooked or what?
What a beautiful place to choose for a birthday! All the best to Dilshad and to you as well…just lovely, God bless you and keep on traveling and enrich us with your journeys. We travel with you virtually.. peace!
🙂
Thanks so much for the feedback Shemin, really appreciate the encouragement
Hi both of u Ali/Dilshad
Very inspired w/this article. Keep on rocking.
Sharifa
Thanks Sharifa; appreciate your feedback and encouragement
Looks like fun!
Hi Ali
Nicely done; great pictures. Now I know where the good cheese comes from
thanks shiraz
Thanks Shiraz
I need to go back there. It looks amazing.great summary as usual.
What do they do with discarded oyster shells?
Hi Mohammed; I too am still wondering what they do with the discarded shells; They did have a notice that they recycle, but there was not mention of where/how they recycle; sorry