NORTH HIGHWAY 101, OREGON
trip planner
EAT Bell Buoy, Seaside www.bellbuoyofseaside.com Firehouse Grill, Seaside www.firehousegrill.org Pelican Brewing, Cannon Beach www.pelicanbrewing.com Public Coast Brewing, Cannon Beach www.publiccoastbrewing.com
Day
Mo’s, Cannon Beach www.moschowder.com
SURF • ANTIQUES • RAILROADS
The Bistro, Cannon Beach www.thebistrocannonbeach.com Big Wave Cafe, Manzanita www.oregonsbigwavecafe.com
STAY McMenamins Gearhart Hotel www.mcmenamins.com Tolovana Inn www.tolovanainn.com Stephanie Inn www.stephanieinn.com Old Wheeler Hotel www.oldwheelerhotel.com Coast Cabins, Manzanita www.coastcabins.com
PLAY Oregon Coast Railriders www.ocrailriders.com Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad www.oregoncoastscenic.org Antiquing in Wheeler www.visittheoregoncoast.com/ cities/wheeler Visiting the state parks www.oregonstateparks.org The Winery at Manzanita www.thewineryatmanzanita.com Kayak in Nehalem www.tbnep.org/water-trails.php
96 1859 OREGON’S MAGAZINE
After a hearty breakfast at the greatest tradition on the northern coast, Pig ’n’ Pancake, head south on 101 for more beautiful state parks. First up, Hug Point State Recreation Site, which offers a cove beach and a seasonal waterfall, as well as caves and tide pools. Before there was a highway along the coast, stagecoaches traveled this area of the beach, and you can still see wheel ruts in the rock here along the original road. But be aware— when the tide comes in you could get stuck, so check tides before you explore this area. Continue your tour of Oregon’s wonders at Oswald West State Park, which is named for the governor who established the beach highway law that protected our state’s beaches as public land. It features Short Sand Beach, a favorite for surfers and just a half-mile walk through old-growth forest to the stunning sands. If you’re a surfer, you can rent the gear at Cleanline Surf in Seaside and join the party, or hike up Neahkahnie Mountain or Cape Falcon. There are more than a dozen miles of hiking trails through rainforest here. Lunch in Manzanita, a perfect example of the laidback Oregon coastal town. Here you can grab lunch at Wanda’s Cafe & Bakery (just finishing up renovations), then sit on the patio at The Winery at Manzanita and indulge in a glass of wine and s’mores by the firepit. Or try the Big Wave Cafe for fresh seafood such as crab cakes and razor clams. You could explore Manzanita for the rest of the day, but if it’s time to move on, don’t miss Nehalem Bay State Park. Wind through a forested area to reach this secluded destination, with its paved bike paths and a great beach area. Head inland to Nehalem and Wheeler, both of which have adorable “main street” locations MAY | JUNE 2019
FROM LEFT Neahkahnie Mountain is a perfect hiking spot. Rockaway Beach’s Twin Rocks are a photo-ready formation.
along Highway 101 that feature boutiques and antique shops. Wheeler has two neat antique shops—Wheeler Station and Wheeler Treasures—filled with strange and glorious finds. You could call it a day and stay the night at the Old Wheeler Hotel, the historic center of town with rehabbed rooms that face the beautiful bay. If you keep going, you’ll be rewarded with more adventures. New this year, the Oregon Coast Railriders offers a two-hour pedal along the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad tracks (the other option starts in Bay City, just north of Tillamook). Travel past the Nehalem River, through trees and across a steel bridge. You can also kayak on the water in the Nehalem Watershed, thanks to the Tillamook Estuary Partnership, which operates water trails throughout Tillamook County. Or head down to Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach. The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad runs trains all summer between the two cities. The trains run along tracks once owned by the Southern Pacific and Port of Tillamook Bay railroads. Both Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach are charming towns to check out once you’re off the train. In Rockaway Beach, head down to the beach to see Twin Rocks, an interesting formation in the water. In Garibaldi, check out the port, where working fishermen make a living. The port also has restaurants with tons of fresh seafood and a public boat launch for those who want to charter a boat and head out crabbing or fishing. Finish off your day with a trip to the Garibaldi Maritime Museum to get a bit more context for the beautiful, and dangerous, seascapes you’ve been admiring.
