Month: October 2018

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Oregon Coast – Depoe Bay to Florence

You’d be hard pressed to find a prettier coastline than Oregon’s. A big part of this is the 1967 law that gives ownership of all beach land to the State. As a result, the Oregon coast has not been carved up by condos and hotels, leaving miles of pristine natural vistas and a continuous chain of parks and recreation areas for the public. A drive down US 101 takes a lot longer than you expect, purely because you will find yourself pulling over every few miles to enjoy another spectacular view.

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Northwest Oregon – Tillamook

Blimps, Cheese, and a Waterfall

Tillamook Creamery

If you recognize the name Tillamook at all, no doubt it is because of their cheese. In 1854 some dairy farmers in Tillamook formed a cooperative to build a sailing ship to transport their goods up the Columbia to sell them in Portland. Somewhere between now and then these farmers figured out the magic formula for what is now called agrotourism. Today there are about 90 family farms that make up the collective, and the Tillamook Creamery hosts over a million visitors each year.

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Northwest Oregon – Fort Stevens

Fort Stevens State Park

Based on Dave’s recommendation, my first stop on the Oregon coast would be Fort Stevens State Park. It was a pleasant introduction to the very fine Oregon State Park system, a well run and well funded operation in stark contrast to what I had experienced in Washington.

Touting a sprawling campground billed as the “largest public campground West of the Mississippi“, there are over 300 sites sprawled throughout the  woods here. Unfortunately, every single one was reserved for the coming weekend so I settled for a single Thursday night stay. It meant there wouldn’t be time for a side trip into the quaint town of Astoria to check out the big maritime museum there, but it’s always good to save something for next time. Continue reading “Northwest Oregon – Fort Stevens”