Oregon — Ad-van-tures

10 Essential Stops on the Southern Oregon Coast

We ended our Oregon Coast Highway 101 vanlife road trip on a high note on the southern border of Oregon. With rugged cliffs, natural arches offshore at Samuel Boardman Scenic Cooridor, 19th-century lighthouses at Cape Arago, and strange formal flower gardens that once belonged to a lumber baron at Shore Acres State Park, there are lots of great spots to discover in the southwestern corner of the state.

The John Dellenback Dunes Trail is the Best Day Hike on the Oregon Coast

Ian and I have been traveling for almost a year now, and we have hiked thousands of miles of trails across the country. The Oregon Coast was one of the most unexpected places that we have discovered during our travels. The biggest surprise of all was the John Dellenback Dunes Trail, which is one of our favorite day hikes we have ever done.

4 Destinations We Love in Western Oregon

We love western Oregon and the Oregon Coast. Heceta Head Lighthouse and the Siltcoos Lake Trail in the Siuslaw National Forest are great destinations on the coast. There’s a lot to love inland too! Take the Umpqua River Highway inland to spot some elk in the Dean Creek Elk Viewing area. Then get your bike out for a ride on the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway.

A Day of Vanliving on the Central Oregon Coast

The central Oregon Coast is one of the most unique and surprising places that we’ve visited. We explored the solitude of sandy beaches and investigated colorful tide pools and polished black rock at Seal Rock State Park. We discovered some cheap eats on Walport’s Main Street. At sunset, we watched the Pacific drain at Thor’s Well. Plus find our recommendation for camping for free on Highway 101.

Cape Kiwanda State Park and Hart’s Cove at Cascade Head

With sandstone cliffs sculpted by wave action and Oregon’s largest sand dune, Cape Kiwanda State Park should not be missed on any Oregon Coast road trip. Nearby Cascade Head and the Harts Cove Trail is the perfect experience to discover a mossy, green coastal rain forest and to hear sea lions barking.

Strange Trees and Secret Beaches: Cape Meares State Park

While Tilamook might be most famous for its cheese, Cape Meares is also well worth a visit while in the area. Cape Meares like many Oregon Coast state parks has a beautifully preserved historic lighthouse, and just a short walk from the lighthouse is a very oddly shaped tree called the Octopus Tree. Before we left we even saw a pod of gray whales that were feeding and breaching fairly close to shore!

Stopping to Smell the Roses at the International Rose Test Garden in Portland

Portland might be known for hipsters, coffee, and bicycles, but just up the hill from downtown, there is a formal English rose garden that would surprise any visitor. The International Rose Test Garden is tucked into the sprawling Washington Park and has more than 10,000 rose bushes!