Just got back from the coast.... *sigh* (Harbor, Yachats: beach, food) - Oregon (OR) - Page 13 - City-Data Forum

haggardhouseelf · 06-11-2010, 09:55 AM

Nanannie knows what she's talking about, truly.

I remember the first time we ever went to the Oregon Coast. We had come from much warmer climates where you actually wear bikini's and suncreen on the beaches and work on your tans and the cement and hot sands can burn your feet if you don't wear flip flops or sandals and the scent of coppertone or tropicana is always in the air.

So, we had moved to Eugene... and finally one weekend decided to hit the (Oregon) beach! It was August and temps in Eugene were in the 100's. We didn't have air conditioning (not unusual for Oregon but for this Texas native it seemed a crime against humanity and a total shocker! No air conditioning? What the heck are you people nuts!!?)

Anyway - so we loaded up our car - beach towels, beach chairs, flip flops, shorts, tank tops, sunscreen...

I notice as we're getting closer to the coast that the winds are picking up. When we stop in Florence and I open up the car door for the first time the wind nearly knocks the door off its hinges! And... it's freezing. I think it was in the 50's that day, but it was 100 degrees when we got in the car.... so it was quite drastic...

We hit up Fred Meyer for warm clothes... because it was Summer, there wasn't much of a selection. Thankfully, though, they had some sweatpants and fleece zip-up jackets and cozy socks. We had packed rain boots...just in case (thinking we wouldn't need them but we'd never seen a "tidepool" before so we thought what the heck better safe than sorry) so off went the flip flops and on came the boots.

And after that we went out and had an awesome day on the coast. We'd never seen dunes before.... woooo hoooooo... it was a fun day.

(This isn't beach related... but the same hot August month that we experienced our chilly wake-up call on the coast... we also went to Crater Lake... we were surprised to find several feet of SNOW surrounding the lake... August! Needless to say our first year in Oregon was spent completely in awe and wonder... feeling like we had to forget everything we thought we knew and relearn it all. Actually... we kinds of still feel that way even though that was about 8 years ago...)

aroseinrain · 06-11-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

Anyway - so we loaded up our car - beach towels, beach chairs, flip flops, shorts, tank tops, sunscreen...

I love it! That made me laugh! (off topic, it reminds me of my excursions to the Oregon Country Fair - every year you're bound to see at least one bunch of cowboy looking folk walking around with the "what the heck???" look on their faces.)

haggardhouseelf · 09-19-2010, 03:37 PM

Oregon coast-lovers (like me!): check out this link: SOLV | Bringing Oregonians together to build a legacy of stewardship!

SOLV | Beach and Riverside Cleanup (http://www.solv.org/programs/fall_beach_cleanup.asp - broken link)

Saturday Sept. 25 SOLV is working to cleanup our coast and river areas and we can all be a part of it!

Pass it along! Spread the word!

Minervah · 09-19-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

Nanannie knows what she's talking about, truly.

I remember the first time we ever went to the Oregon Coast. We had come from much warmer climates where you actually wear bikini's and suncreen on the beaches and work on your tans and the cement and hot sands can burn your feet if you don't wear flip flops or sandals and the scent of coppertone or tropicana is always in the air.

So, we had moved to Eugene... and finally one weekend decided to hit the (Oregon) beach! It was August and temps in Eugene were in the 100's. We didn't have air conditioning (not unusual for Oregon but for this Texas native it seemed a crime against humanity and a total shocker! No air conditioning? What the heck are you people nuts!!?)

Anyway - so we loaded up our car - beach towels, beach chairs, flip flops, shorts, tank tops, sunscreen...

I notice as we're getting closer to the coast that the winds are picking up. When we stop in Florence and I open up the car door for the first time the wind nearly knocks the door off its hinges! And... it's freezing. I think it was in the 50's that day, but it was 100 degrees when we got in the car.... so it was quite drastic...

We hit up Fred Meyer for warm clothes... because it was Summer, there wasn't much of a selection. Thankfully, though, they had some sweatpants and fleece zip-up jackets and cozy socks. We had packed rain boots...just in case (thinking we wouldn't need them but we'd never seen a "tidepool" before so we thought what the heck better safe than sorry) so off went the flip flops and on came the boots.

And after that we went out and had an awesome day on the coast. We'd never seen dunes before.... woooo hoooooo... it was a fun day.

(This isn't beach related... but the same hot August month that we experienced our chilly wake-up call on the coast... we also went to Crater Lake... we were surprised to find several feet of SNOW surrounding the lake... August! Needless to say our first year in Oregon was spent completely in awe and wonder... feeling like we had to forget everything we thought we knew and relearn it all. Actually... we kinds of still feel that way even though that was about 8 years ago...)

I had the same experience when I first went to the beach. I was expecting the kind of swimming beaches complete with lifeguards, changing houses, grassy picnic areas I had experience in Chicago where I was from.

Imagine my surprise when I saw what was at the coast. No wonder my friends looked at me strangely when I they saw the swimsuit and beach paraphenalia I was bringing. But had told me to bring a jacket so fortunately I had that necessity.

It was quite a surprise but a very nice one.

haggardhouseelf · 10-04-2010, 10:38 AM

Spent the weekend at Honeyman sandboarding and we are so incredibly sore - but we had such a wonderful time! I think my eyelashes are the only things that don't hurt.

The weather was perfect, the dunes are awesome, the campsites were roomy, the showers were hot, the sky was clear and we were amazed to see such a sky full of so many stars even being so close to Florence. We'll do Honeyman again for sure, and I think October is a great time to go so long as it's not raining.

A few weeks ago we tent camped at Astoria. It WAS raining. And cold. Our site was one big puddle. We made the best of it (thanks to lots of tarps and a shovel to dig a canal to route the water away from our site), and we love Astoria (Fort Stevens state park is where we camped)... but we've decided never to tent camp in the rain ever again!!! Ugh! Just get a hotel room and save ourselves the trouble and misery.

Hunter Wold · 10-09-2010, 10:15 AM

Exactly why we are moving BACK to the NW. NM is great, but, oh we miss the coast, the Chalet, the wines, the the the the..
Seen ya soon.

Elizabeth Farrell · 10-10-2010, 03:07 AM

Highway 126 is our favorite route to the coast. I love going past Noti, especially if I have a visitor on board so I can relate the story of how Noti got its name. The general store in Walton is charming as well as the family who run it. It formerly belonged to their uncle and they moved up from California to keep it open. My favorite part of the drive is stopping in Mapleton - at the Alpha Bits Cafe (back to the 60s style but terrific food and the sweets are fabulous) Friday night gourmet dinners are worth the trip.

There are U.S. government camping areas where seniors can camp for half price, one east of Mapleton and one to the west. We tried them both and each one is located by a creek and has its own special charm.

At that point, the Siuslaw river widens and the road opens up to fabulous views. The casino is on the left and you can stay at no charge in the parking lot alongside lots of other rvs. Then, of course, the 1930s bridge at the mouth of the river and Old Town Florence offer magnificent views and photo ops.

mamh · 10-18-2010, 01:54 PM

Question
We just came back from a week in Lincoln city and of course love as its just nice drive from salem
fell in love a certain older motel out there too..
So Where???does one get a good meal in Lincoln city..We have tried lots of places but all are just ok..Thank goodness our hotel room has a kitchen in it so we cooked several meals and had a good time and have already booked the same room for next june.
thanks for any advice

Rob Allen · 10-19-2010, 11:14 AM

The top restaurants in Lincoln City in my mind would be Blackfish Grill on the north end of town, Andaman Thai in the middle, and the Bay House at the south end.

skylark57 · 10-21-2010, 08:42 PM

Thank you so much for sharing your trip. I live in NW Kansas, (moved from Ohio 13 years ago), and have been considering moving to Oregon. I have a daughter that wants to be a marine biologist and Oregon State is suppose to be #2 in the nation for that field. Your description of your trip sounds like a dream! We will be sure to check out your 'hot spots' when we come to investigate. Thanks again,,,,,Skylark57