RVentures with Doug and Chris: The Oregon Coast: Where Every Stop is a Photo Op

We’re often asked what tops our list of favorite places to visit in the United States.

Hmmm …

That's a tough question as we’ve been able to travel to so many incredible areas, each with its own kind of magic. And since we love variety, we rarely take the same route twice.

The one beautiful exception?

The Oregon Coast.

After leaving southern Washington state, we decided to head down the spectacular 363 miles of Highway 101 that hugs the Oregon Coast. Once again this route captured our hearts with its simple and enduring beauty.

From stately and solitary sea stacks,

to tide pool treasures,

to thunderous wave action,

to the expansive beach and cliff scenes,

every stop is a photo op when one travels along the Oregon Coast.

We fell in love with the Oregon Coast during our first trip down the 101 in September of 2020. It was right in the middle of the covid shutdown, so portions of Oregon's state park campgrounds and various shops and restaurants were still closed. But Mother Nature's spectacular beauty remained wide open. We were grateful to see that five years later, the shops and restaurants ... and breweries, much to Doug's delight, have reopened. The tourists have returned. The campgrounds were teeming with laughter as families and friends gathered around campfires. And the pristine coastal beauty that we remembered and loved ... still remains!

Astoria, Oregon

Similar to our first Oregon Coast road trip, we started our week-long journey down the magical Highway 101 at the point where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean. In the years following the discovery of this outlet by Lewis and Clark, Astoria became an important area for maritime travel and trade.

Stately Victorian houses still stand proud,

... as well as the iconic "Goonies" house ... if one is inclined to hunt it down.

Having never seen the movie, we weren't inclined, so thank you, Google, for the photo.

Along the water's edge, former marine warehouses have been transformed into cute shops that attract tourists above the waterline while housing noisy sea lions below. The day we arrived was a "typical" drizzly coastal day, but we were delighted to find a very cute and walkable downtown area as well as a quiet boondocking spot under some spectacular street art.

Fort Clatsop Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Astoria is considered the oldest settlement west of the Rocky Mountains as this is where Lewis and Clark ended their famous "cross-country" quest in November of 1805.

Because winter was quickly approaching, they chose a piece of land just south of Astoria in order to build their winter encampment. They stayed there until the following March when they headed back east to share the tales of their amazing discoveries with President Jefferson and the rest of the country.

Fort Clatsop has been rebuilt and is the centerpiece of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park ... and I'm always happy to add another piece of history to my travel map.

While it was interesting to learn about all that the Corps of Discovery accomplished during their quest to find a route to the Pacific, I was more impressed with the story of Sacajawea. This Native American teenager served as an interpreter and guide for the expedition. From Clark's extensive journals, historians have learned how this young woman not only educated the group on the natural history of this land, but also served as an important liaison between the explorers and the native people that they encountered ... all while carrying her infant son on her back!

As we walked through the tall forested area, I'm so glad that this lush natural area that she must have loved is being preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Seaside, Oregon

Just down the road from Lewis and Clark's winter encampment is the first of many classic beach resort towns that line the Oregon Coast. Seaside became the official "end of the road" for the expedition as that was where Lewis and Clark established their salt works operation. The salt that they were able to extract from the sea water helped preserve their food over the winter.

Today this roundabout marks the official "end" of their journey and the beginning of an oceanside promenade that leads past many beautiful beach homes.

At the end of this promenade we found a very unique beach.

Painted Rock Beach is the "quirky" creation of locals and visitors alike. Colorful painted rocks are left there by visitors and affirm to all who make it to the end of the promenade that ...

yes, this beach rocks!

Cannon Beach

Probably the most famous of the Oregon Coast sea stacks lies just off shore in Cannon Beach. Haystack Rock gained widespread fame when, I'm told, a scene from the 1990's movie, The Goonies, was filmed there.

Doug, however, was more interested in starting his Oregon Coast brewery tour, since he had to bypass them all in 2020.

Newport, Oregon

Colorful beachside murals

and reconnecting with good friends made Newport a fun "halfway" stop on our coastal journey.

Bandon

Nature's artists hang out further down the road in Bandon, Oregon. This town became one of our favorites during a previous visit when we discovered the "recycled" art at a local coffee shop.

Washed Ashore Gallery creates large scale marine life sculptures out of ocean debris collected from area beaches and waterways. These colorful creatures travel the country raising awareness of the need to care for our earth's oceans.

Unlike our previous visit, the sun decided to shine and the winds stayed away this time, so we were able to get outdoors and take a walk along the beach to enjoy some of Mother Nature's artwork.

The sea stack formations at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint encourage visitors to use their imagination to spot a famous person, family member, or perhaps ...

Marge Simpson!

Other Fun Stops

Of course, there are so many other cute towns and "must see" places as you make your way down the Oregon Coast including ...

Enjoy ice cream or fresh cheese at Tillamook Creamery

Watch for whales at Depoe Bay or Cape Arago

Visit picture-perfect lighthouses like the one located at Heceta Head

Take a dune buggy ride along the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area ... still on my bucket list!

Take a hike, check out the natural bridges, or just enjoy the sea stacks along Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

Enjoy tide-pooling and a final Oregon Coast sunset in Brookings, the last town before the California border

Oregon State Park Campgrounds

While the Oregon Coast has some spectacular boondocking areas, I can happily say that I was quite spoiled this time around by the Oregon state park campgrounds. The fifteen state park campgrounds that are situated along the coast offer "luxuries" like large wooded sites, indoor plumbing, and hot showers while also treating campers to ...

friendly wildlife greeters,

expansive beaches for that early morning hike,

and tide-pools for that sunset starfish treasure hunt.

Random Roadside Stop? Another Photo Op!

Sure, the charming little towns and comfy campgrounds make traveling down the Oregon Coast a breeze, but it’s the jaw-dropping views that make this our all-time favorite drive. We suggest starting in Astoria and driving south on Highway 101. That way, the ocean views and all those sudden “Honey, pull over!” viewpoints will be on your right side. I strive to keep my chauffeur happy!