Cottages at Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon Coast

Something new coming to the Oregon Coast are the Cottages at Cape Kiwanda, which are expected to be available in June 2007. This summer you can take a mini vacation at your new oceanfront condo in Pacific City.

A part of the Inn at Cape Kiwanda, these cottages wrap beautifully around the Shorepines hillside and slightly above the beach, providing gorgeous views of the Cape and also Haystack Rock. These furnished and decorated "fractional-ownership, vacation homes" are being built in a simple yet elegant style with high-quality touches.

It sounds like a relaxing place to be for a weekend with warm fireplaces, watching dory boats land on the beach, and soaking up the rays of the most gorgeous Haystack Rock sunsets. When you decide it's time to explore, catch an early-morning latte from Migrations Espresso Shop, walk the beach, take in the quaint shops, and then visit the nearby Pelican Pub and Brewery for lunch and dinner. This will be a great place to get away from your busy metropolitan lifestyle.

Tours of the new vacation condos are available and they are taking reservations. If you've got some time, check them out through their tour packages that include an overnight stay at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda and dinner at Pelican Pub & Brewery.

Visit the Shamrock Lodgettes in Yachats, Oregon Coast

Looking for a good place to hideaway in a cozy cabin? Check out Yachats where the Shamrock Lodgettes fits the bill perfectly. Within earshot of the Oregon Coastal waves crashing on the beach, these units are near the beach and the downtown area.

Guests enjoy one of six log cabins that contain knotty pine-wall bedrooms, kitchenettes, jetted tubs, wood or propane fireplaces and great views.

Sip a glass of wine from an adirondak chair, walk to The Drift Inn for a yummy omelette, or visit Raindogs for an unusual collection of gifts -- these are just a few of the fun things to do in Yachats. Look for a previous posting in which I listed the many outdoor activities available nearby. Yachats is also a perfect place just to relax in the small-town atmosphere and soak up the salt air.

From Reedsport, it takes about 40 minutes to drive there. It's a perfect distance for us. From Portland, it's about a three-hour drive down the beautiful Highway 101 or take Interstate 5 over from Corvallis to Newport and then down the coast. No matter which way you travel, there's some beautiful scenery to behold.

Central Coast Reedsport, Winchester Bay & Gardiner mini vacation

Last weekend our own backyard was the place for a mini vacation. The Reedsport Chamber put on the first annual Wine, Beer, Seafood & Music Festival in nearby Gardiner, Oregon.

More than 1,300 people attended this event from as far north as Corvallis and as far south as Roseburg along the I-5 corridor. On the Oregon Coast, it was visited by those from Florence to Coos Bay and beyond.

Out in Winchester Bay, the campgrounds were full, the restaurants were hopping, and the Sportsmen's Cannerywas doing a bang up business. There were beautiful sunsets, clean-smelling air, plenty of fishing and crabbing, and other things to do and experience while visitors were here.

The Chamber will hold this event annually and the central coast is quiet this time of year. If you're looking for some quiet, restful nights, fun on the dunes, and walks on undisturbed beaches, come to the Reedsport, Winchester Bay, and Gardiner area.

Drive the Three Capes Loop Highway on the Oregon Coast

The Three Capes Loop beginning at the north end of Tillamook is a scenic drive that's worth taking on a mini vacation to the North Coast. At the Cape Meares Lighthouse location there stands the shortest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast. At only 38 feet high, it is justifiably short due to its proximity atop a 217-foot headland that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Cape Meares is the farthest north of the three capes.

For an odd, local attraction, make sure to visit the Octopus Tree, a spruce with tentacle-like branches. Viewing this amazing tree from different angles is a worthwhile activity. Photos of the tree are also a useful conversation starter.

At Cape Arago, another of the three capes, can be found by following Tillamook Bay on the north branch of this scenic route. Cape Lookout can be found on the highway past Netarts Bay. Farther south travelers meet another cross-peninsula shortcut at Sand Lake. From Sand Lake, it follows the coastline past Cape Kiwanda to Pacific City, after which it rejoins Highway 101 a few miles south.

Throughout this route, there are gorgeous views and attractions worth checking out. While this route can be taken over the course of an hour or less, it is worth staying the night at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda and take it slow.

Hikes to vistas on the Oregon Coast

If you're interested in taking some good hikes along the Oregon Coast, there are a couple of mountains where you can hike up for a grand view. The best view is from Saddle Mountain, 14 miles east of Seaside of Highway 26. There's a three-mile hike with a 1,600-foot elevation gain that takes you to a place where you can see the Pacific Ocean, Columbia River, the Cascades, and the Coast Range.

Another is Humbug Mountain, south of Port Orford. This one is a little higher, about 1750 feet up, and the view is not as open, but it's still worth the effort if you're feeling athletic. For many years, there was an annual race to the top called the Bah! Humbug Killer 8K. Only the most die-hard athlete would be foolish enough to participate in the run. Evidently they ran out of die-hards and stopped holding the race.

Cape Perpetua has a great hike from its Interpretive Center up to the top of an 850-foot mountain. Overlooking the coastline, visitors can view 150 miles north to south (from Cape Foulweather to Cape Blanco) and 40 miles out to sea. Truly it is one of the most spectacular views of Oregon's rugged coastline that can be found anywhere.

Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast

Fort Stevens is a great place to take a mini vacation on the Oregon Coast. Located near Warrenton, Fort Stevens is more than a campground. It features close to 600 campsites of all types -- tent and electrical sites, full RV hookups, and even yurts. Additionally, there's the historic Fort Stevens area, with remnants of the days when Fort Stevens guarded the mouth of the Columbia River against America's foreign enemies. The wreck of the Peter Iredale is another popular feature, gradually rusting away on the beach.

The largest state park campground west of the Rockies, Fort Stevens also features a couple of swimming spots on Coffenbury Lake, miles of hiking and biking trails, viewing platforms overlooking the south jetty of the Columbia River, and more.

Just to give you a little history, Fort Stevens was originally commissioned as a Civil War fortification in 1863. It was deactivated as a military fort shortly after World War II. With all its amenities and historical significance, it is definitely worth a trip the next time you visit Oregon's North Coast.

Visit Cannon Beach for a Breath of Salt Air

There's much to see in Cannon Beach. Soaking in the sheer beauty of the North Coast in Cannon Beach will help ease the wrinkled brow and its salt air will cause deep breathing to be restored.

Following are some highlights of the beauty of Cannon Beach: Ecola Creek is the small creek on the north edge of Cannon Beach. It was here that the Lewis and Clark party encountered the Indians who were processing a beached whale and obtained from those Indians some useful products. North of Ecola Creek is Ecola State Park. The view looking south from the picnic area by the parking lot is one of the most recognizable on the Oregon Coast. Looking out to sea, you can get a glimpse of the Terrible Tilly, the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. It was built in 1880 and maintained until 1957. Now privately owned, you can make arrangements to be buried there for a fee.

There's also a beautiful view of Haystack Rock. Beautiful coastal sunsets are experienced there. Cannon Beach is one of the best mini-vacation destinations on the Oregon Coast.