Best time to go to the Oregon coast is on a weekday in May. The crowds are much smaller. The traffic is less. The weather is great, usually.
Hubby and I played hooky from work for his birthday and drove to Lincoln City. We used PTO because we’re lame and feel bad if we call into work (insert eye roll).
To have a lengthy day at the coast we left early in the morning, not too early because it is also a day off, so around 7:30am, which is still too early so say the children. We drove down I-5 and at Salem took a right for highway 22, but first breakfast. After we crossed the Willamette river we arrived at Annette’s in West Salem for a hearty, delicious breakfast. From there it’s back to highway 22 and on to the junction at highway 18. That junction is weird, proceed with caution just don’t stop. It’s a left there and then straight on till Lincoln City. Easy peasy except in the summer weekends when everyone is going to the beach and then coming back home, expect delays.
Borrowed Oregon map from google
First stop for us was Chinook Winds Casino for some birthday luck perhaps. Not for me although it wasn’t my birthday so I guess there’s that. We’re not much of high-rollers anyway, $60 is plenty enough for us to be satisfied to play and not also break us. Still sad when I leave it all there though. (Sad sigh)
To the beach! It was a gorgeous day. Sunshine. Where is the car sunscreen and hats? Found under the car blanket next to the rock I’ve been carrying around for the last three years in the trunk. We walked around, found shells, skipped rocks on the sand (it does not work as well as water). I touched the water and already knew it would be cold but I feel like it’s necessary. There were brave souls playing in the small waves, a couple of children and dogs. Every other Oregonian was wearing their hoodie or raincoat with pants and boots. We felt extremely lucky to have been there on a clear day. Still bring a sweater, it never ceases to be breezy at the beach.
Moving on down highway 101, we made our way to Depot Bay. A lovely small town with tourist shops and great whale watching in the spring. We saw no whales that day but there had been some spotted the days before. Park on the right when you just come into town, if you can, and walk down to the Whale Watching Center. They have great information and a board with how many whales had been spotted in recent days. They also have binoculars available to use there. While there we watched boats go in and out of the harbor and saw some seals. Cross over the street and then hit all the shops on the way back to your car. I did find a cute hoodie I wanted but left there for another time.
By this time we were ready for lunch so we got in the car and headed back up to Lincoln City to a favorite burger place of ours. It is in the southern part of town called Taft, Highway 101 Burger. I get the 101, a single patty cheeseburger, with grilled onions and hubby gets the 202, double patty cheeseburger, with raw onions. They have a 303 and 404 burger also on the menu but three and four patties on a burger is too much for us. The meals come with fries (and secret sauce) and a drink. There are pictures on the walls of people who have ten patties on their burger, so maybe there’s an eating challenge there or people are extremely hungry.
After this delicious meal we walked down to the glass blowing studio and watched them create things for a while. I looked into doing it because they have 30 minute slots where you can create something yourself to take home but they have to let it rest overnight before you can do that so it will will take planning a weekend trip (coming soon someday?). We walked a little more through town but were ready to head home and relax. So we took the Devils Lake cutoff (not for people with car sickness) and got back on the highway to head home. There was only minimal traffic but when we got to Salem we hit the “people leaving work” traffic and then freeway traffic.
Look for the smiling face in the trees, better seen in fall when the leaves are yellow.
I had gotten hubby his favorite cake and ice cream, German chocolate cake and Tillamook Marion berry pie ice cream. They don’t go together but it’s his day. Some of our little people (they’re really all big people but always the babies) came over and celebrated with us. It was a great day.
