Lots of areas need improvement on the Oregon Coast (home, camping)

[haggardhouseelf]

Originally Posted by tiffela74

theres thousands of areas to park at along the Oregon coast where it doesnt cost anything at all. We just parked at a small park area yesterday, it was a simple gravel parking lot, with probably 15 picnic tables scattered about, each with either an incredible view of the ocean, or nestled in the shelter of trees. Well maintained and totally free. And I know of many many many areas just like this. Of course theres the other parks and all that do cost. IMO, most of them are well worth the minimal fee. And if you dont want to pay the fee, go park up the road a few miles either way, the beach itself is free.
Theres miles and miles and miles of coastline where there is no developments. No grocery, no condos, no hotels, just clean beautiful coastline.
One thing I love about our coast, is theres pretty much a coastal town for any taste. If I want to do some serious shopping and get some great deals, I go up to Lincoln City to the outlet malls. Then take a break to go watch some of the totally cool kites that people are flying by the hundreds at times, just a few miles down the road. Then its off to beachcomb for the handblown glass floats that are placed along the sand. Havent found one yet, but I'll never tire of looking.
When I was teen, I loved the fair atmosphere of Seaside. The arcade, the crowds, the beach volleyball. Now that Im older, I prefer the solitude of 80% of the coast has to offer. Yachats was my happy place this weekend. We sat and watched the water shoot up in sprays from the blowholes and cheered with the handful of other people who were there watching too. We went hunting for agates and came home with pocketfuls, including a red one as big as my sons fist. Spent probably 2hrs down on a pristine beach and never saw anyone outside our own family. which was a REALLY good thing since i lost my footing at one point and slid ALL the way down a muddy hillside on my butt. We stopped off at probably 15 different places EASY along the stretch between Waldport and Florence and not once did we see garbage anywhere. Most people take personal pride in our coast, and we want to keep it clean. So we do. Homes along the way vary from houses I couldnt afford on my wildest dreams, to tiny shacks Im amazed to see survive winter after winter. And where not all of them would go on the cover of house beautiful, none were any place I would fear knocking on a door. Nothing I would be ashamed of certainly.
Each town, city, and wild desolate area along our coast is beautiful to someone. To some of us, ALL of it is wonderful and has its own draw.
for me, I wouldnt want to live anywhere else.

Hey Tiff! We prolly passed you yesterday! We were camping on the coast... and then cruising 101 and stopping here and there and running amuck. It was the perfect weekend! I'm pouring sand into my jar now... and my hair still smells like campfire and salty ocean air... wanted to stay so bad!! I know I've told you this before - but you are so dang lucky!

Oh hey - do you know what the deal was with all the coast guard helicopters that were going up and down the coast over the weekend? We'd never seen so many... was it just because it was a holiday weekend or what? We also saw a lot of people whale watching! We didn't see any, though, but we got a late start. We always sleep late when we camp on the coast. We all sleep so good there! I think for good whale watching you gotta get up a bit early...

[mdvaden]

Seems the coast towns look better in some spots.

Don't recall who said the "30 years" thing.

Some spots better - some maybe not. Seaside has cute flower beds now down the main drag, but never did before. Too bad the old theater is gone though.

You want to see tacky?

Orick, CA !!

Now, this Hawg Wild below in the image ...

Note that it's very decent on the inside. Great food and very friendly people.

But I thought that almost any spot along Oregon's coast town-wise, beat anything from Cresent City to Eureka. Trinidad, CA is salvaged only by a few nice homes and the harbor.

ORICK, CA for comparison ...

[boodhabunny]

Eeek!

[tiffela74]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

Hey Tiff! We prolly passed you yesterday! We were camping on the coast... and then cruising 101 and stopping here and there and running amuck. It was the perfect weekend! I'm pouring sand into my jar now... and my hair still smells like campfire and salty ocean air... wanted to stay so bad!! I know I've told you this before - but you are so dang lucky!

Oh hey - do you know what the deal was with all the coast guard helicopters that were going up and down the coast over the weekend? We'd never seen so many... was it just because it was a holiday weekend or what? We also saw a lot of people whale watching! We didn't see any, though, but we got a late start. We always sleep late when we camp on the coast. We all sleep so good there! I think for good whale watching you gotta get up a bit early...

Hey! Im glad you had such a terrific time. Where'd you guys camp at?
Believe me, I know how lucky I am, I lived the first 30yrs of my life inland, always craving the beach and even when i did love where i lived, and each place had its own charm, the ocean always called me. Moving here, was like a huge sigh of relief that never has ended.
Nah, you dont have to get up early to see whales. I went on a whim last week in the early afternoon and saw spouting, tales, AND a jumper!! So cool
Im not sure about the coast guard. Probably extra duty cuz of the weather and holiday, but they might have been out on practice manuvers w/new crew. Funny story, when we first moved into a house on the bay, i happened past our front window to quite a sight. I look out, and theres a coast guard heli. up above the water, a CG boat in the water, search lights on, and as Im watching, this guy jumps OUT of the heli. and into the sea!!! Then, another follows him!!! So I call the nearest station, and find out, theyre just doing drills! We got to watch this scene at least once a month. Sometimes during the day, sometimes at night. It was pretty cool to watch. When we had company over from inland, and if they were lucky enough to catch it too, we'd pull up the chairs, and sit on the front lawn and watch the show. Very impressive.

[haggardhouseelf]

We camped at Devil's Lake, which we probably won't do again if we can help it. It was a last minute spur of the moment sort of trip for us - it was my husband's birthday and he suddenly decided he wanted to go to Lincoln City... and the yurt at Devil's Lake was the only one I could find. We thought about tent camping but because of the recent storms and flooding, I thought a yurt might be better. The campground itself was very noisy because it's right in the city and they are still recovering from some flooding and the storms. It was so wet, we weren't the only ones who had trouble keeping their campfire going. Most people just gave up. I saw a few with those logs you buy at the grocery store that come in the paper bag that you just light? Cheaters! (just kidding...) I think, also, being a holiday weekend... it was just noisier than usual, and we were hearing lots of sirens and hwy 101 noise (the campground is right off the hwy)... anyway... not to be negative about it, but as far as our yurt camping experiences, Devil's Lake is one we're glad to have under our belt, so we know now to try to avoid it for future coastal jaunts!

Everything else was wonderful though. We spent most of our time at the Rocky Creek viewpoint area, Agate Beach, and the D River wayside area.... shortest river in the world! 120 feet from Devil's Lake into the Pacific! We did some tide pooling and other fun stuff... Hey and thanks for the info about whale watching. For some reason I thought you had to watch them early in the day or you'd miss them. I'm happy to know you can see them anytime! Cool! We had some other things planned, but the crowds deterred us. We don't like crowds and it was super crowded I guess because of the sun and being a holiday weekend... so we stuck to the beach and enjoyed it. People were having bonfires on the beach at sunset and there were lots of kites flying and just good times. Good memories.

[vnodak]

You want to see tacky----try the Washington coast. Even the view of the ocean does not help and makes Oregon look like the a diamond. Nothing compares to the beauty and the quaint small towns. If you prefer to see bigger and better, then go further south. Small towns can not support all the high end stuff.

[Kathleenh54]

Originally Posted by tiffela74

I spent several weekends going from Coos Bay, to Newport, back down to Coos Bay again this summer (I live in CB and Newport is the drop off point for when the kids go visit grandparents/ uncle/etc. ) anyhow, this thread got me thinkin....so the FIRST time, i looked and looked, to try and see all these burned out vehicles/couches/huge garbage pits along 101. Didnt see any....so, I thought, very possibly, Im being too objective. Its too personal for me, maybe Im just missing it!! besides, im driving, this cant be safe or smart!. So, I enlisted my kids. ages 6-14, and offered them cold hard cash for any of those items they saw along roadside/beachside. Kids bored on a road trip....offered money for spotting items?...oh many, I thought, there goes MY piggy bank!! Guess what, after all summer of traveling up and down and up and down that stretch, none of them made any $$$ at all!! They got close one. there WAS a burned out moterhome along side the road. And I though, "crap, thats a dollar item!!" but then I realized, it was actually in the lot of a tow/fix it place! So, there went that!
anyhow, I just wanted to share my little experiment.
Oh, only one bad note. We had stopped off at a viewpoint area because my boy was carsick, another car w/some out of state visitors had stopped as well. They had appearently stopped to have lunch and enjoy the spectacular view, but then, just took their fast food bag, full of garbage, and tossed it out their car window!!! OMG! RUDE!! So, before I can stop her, my little one says "Youre not supposed to litter!! Mom says so!!" and where I was mortified that she spoke to strangers like that, their response really ticked me off. The guy looked at her and says "F*&# Off.....you dont like it, YOU pick it up!" then called her a dirty name, flipped her off and then off they went. OMG!! This is to my 6yr old!! I was NOT happy. So, calmed her down, got a bag out of the back of my car, and stuck their garbage in in too to toss when we got home. and heck ya, I used a baggie to pick it up. So anyhow, that was the garbage we dealt with. Unbelievable how some people will talk to a child. jeez.
but hey, no fridges/couches/etc. all the way.

That's despicable. It's also assault, since the dirtbag cursed at your daughter. Next time, get the license plate number. Even if the cops can't do anything, they might think twice before littering and being abusive to a kid.

Don't get me wrong, you guys - I love the coast. We DID see blight and the DH took pic's. It was sad to see but won't keep me from going back to the most beautiful coast in the world.

[Kathleenh54]

Originally Posted by Nexis

Would Brookings and Gold Beach fit this classification? I'm thinking of vacationing there but if those towns look ugly & run down maybe not...

No, not at all. In fact, most of the towns along the coast are very nice. It's junk on the outskirts of some of them along the 101 which was the impetus for this thread.

We were in Bandon for three days. The Bandon Motel was doing a two-nights-for-one-night-at-the-summer-rate. For fifty bucks per night we had a clean and comfortable room with a partial view of the ocean (there was an enormous mansion directly across the street). We were right on a cliff overlooking Table Rock and the beach. It was just wonderful. The town really perked up on Saturday because the weather was so nice. We had fish and chips from the little gray building on the harbor. Perfect day. It was hard to leave.

[Oregonbeachlover]

Haggardhouseelf, that's too bad about the Devil's Lake campground. But, glad you were still able to enjoy your stay!

[boodhabunny]

Sorry to hear that you were disappointed, haggardhouseelf. I always thought that the middle of town was an odd place for a campground!