Portland and the Oregon Coast 2024

Our Itinerary on Google My Maps

Check out this game-changing tool for planning your next adventure! I used it for the first time to organize our entire trip, and it turned out to be the perfect spot for keeping track of all the must-see places on our list. Plus, you can share it with others, making it super easy for you to follow in our footsteps and use it as your own guide for an unforgettable Pacific Northwest getaway!

Day 1 Portland

1. Late Lunch at EEM.

A must try dish is the white curry with burnt ends washed down with an Alpine Passion Fruit Cider. Smoky, salty, creamy, it is a 10/10 dish.

2. Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop

The first two miles are STRAIGHT UP.  I wasn't ready for that kind of hike after traveling all day, so we gave up two miles in. My calves were on fire and I needed to save my legs for day two. (And I was glad I did!)

3. Multnohmah Falls/ Latourell Falls/ Horsetail Falls

Beautiful waterfalls can be seen from pull outs that require little to no hiking. 

4. Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint

This is THE place you want to make sure you arrive just before sunset and watch the sun go down. The view is incredible and stretches for miles. 

Day 2 Salem

1. 10 Star Breakfast Word Of Mouth Neighborhood Bistro

Best Omlette of my ENTIRE LIFE and the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes were INCREDIBLE. It was the best brunch of the trip!

2. Silver Falls State Park

The Trail of Ten Waterfalls was one of the most beautiful trails I have ever been on. 9 Miles, 1000 ft of climb, ten different waterfalls. Several of them you can walk behind. It was stunning. 

3. Xicha Brewing

After nearly 5 hours of hiking, we were in desperate need of some medicinal spicy margaritas and tacos. It's a great, laid-back spot where you can relax in your hiking boots after a long trek.

Day 3 Rockaway Beach

1. Crab Rock Pizza

The wood-fired pizza was decent but a bit light on the toppings. We're pizza snobs, though. Just a heads-up: restaurants close at 8 pm this time of year, so it’s tough to catch the sunset and have a late dinner. Plan accordingly!

2. Rockaway Beach

With calves screaming and shin splints from the day before, we decided to stay close to our Airbnb and enjoy the sunrise and sunset at Rockaway Beach. There’s nothing more soothing to my crabby Cancer soul than a long walk on the beach with my Scorpio (he’s a very patient man willing to stop for photos every ten feet! I know, I hit the jackpot with him). Rockaway is an affordable place to call home while exploring the Northern Coast.

Day 4 Cannon Beach

 

1. Haystack Rock

My love affair with The Goonies in the 80s inspired this trip, so we had to visit the mecca—Haystack Rock! It was stunning at low tide and again at sunset. The scenery is so breathtaking that you don’t even notice you're walking ten miles a day!

2. Ecola State Park

WOW! Ecola State Park offers stunning bird's-eye views of the rugged coastline, featuring dramatic cliffs, lush forests, and sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean and iconic Haystack Rock. You have to go! There are plenty of picnic tables at the top, so pack a lunch!

3. Bell Buoy Fish and Chips

Had to! After the twisty detour we took due to the main highway being closed, I ended up tossing my cookies in a porta potty (I know, super sophisticated over here). My empty belly cried out for grease, salt, and vinegar, and the crispy local cod with salty fries doused in vinegar truly restored me.

3. The Wreck of the Peter Iredale

It's a short walk from the parking lot and pretty underwhelming. Not sure it was worth the extra miles to get there.

3. Hug Point State Recreation

There is a STEEP walk down to the beach. The sun was shining, so not much of a photo op, but it is a beautiful stretch of coastline. 

Day 5 Arch Cape, Oswald West, Devil's Cauldron

 

1. Arch Cape!

We stumbled upon a dead-end street with a secret entrance and managed to find stellar parking. The beach was blanketed in fog as we walked along the coastline at low tide. It was the perfect time to see all kinds of wildlife, like crabs, starfish, and anemones. In typical Ninya fashion, I raced out to a group of starfish and got caught in the waves, getting soaked up to my belly button. But it was worth it! This beach was my favorite of the trip, and we only saw a handful of people there. It had my favorite rock formation, so I had to plant one on the mancake in front of it.

2. Elk Flats Trail and the Devil's Cauldron

Parking is easy, and the trail to the vantage point for Devil's Cauldron is steep but very short. It’s a great spot to enjoy a sandwich while overlooking another mesmerizing sea view that stretches for miles.

3. Oswald West

Great hiking and beautiful views! We were too exhausted to take full advantage of it, but it was also a surfer's paradise. It was fun to watch everyone in their wetsuits dragging their boards, especially the few kick-ass women I saw who were over 40!

 

Day 6 Pacific City & Depot Bay

1. Cape Kiwanda Pacific City

Pristine Beaches with Rock Formations and Dune Sledding. This gorgeous stretch of coastline is a must-see, with far fewer jellyfish and bugs in the sand.

2. Depoe Bay

As you drive through this quaint town there are gorgeous ocean views right off the main drag. 

3. Devil's Punchbowl & Otter Crest Marine Gardens

After checking out the Devil's Punchbowl (by this point in the trip, we had explored all of the Devil's goodies), we thought we might have taken a wrong turn. Reaching the marine garden requires a climb down, and we spent some time searching for sea lions in the ocean. Just as we were about to give up and head to dinner, a sleek black head popped up and stared right at us. Holding our breath, we watched as it swam away. We lingered for another thirty minutes, and it resurfaced, even bringing along a friend! We were hoping it would come ashore, but no luck!

4. Georgie's Beachside Grill

We splurged on creamy seafood pasta and a trio of tender beef medallions with gorgonzola—10/10! No wonder this place was packed and required a reservation for a 5:00 pm dinner. Although it was foggy and rainy, preventing us from seeing the view, I bet it was gorgeous! The food was outstanding, and the chocolate lava cake with Tillamook vanilla bean ice cream helped us endure the two-hour drive back to the Airbnb.

Day 7 Lincoln City & Depot Bay

1. Lincoln City

It rained for most of our final full day of traveling, so we picked up a few souvenirs and drove around, hoping the rain would stop. It didn't, but that was okay.

2. Depoe Bay

In the rain, we got to see a different view, the lime green moss on the rocks really popped and the moody fog surrounding the pine trees was stunning in an entirely different way. 

3. Beachcrest Brewing Company

This was a fantastic stop, located in an adorable courtyard with other shops and restaurants. The cider was delicious, and the margarita wood-fired pizza made for a tasty snack. Adding hot honey to it was a game changer!

4. Mother's Bistro and Bar

Smack dab in the middle of Downtown Portland, I would have loved to explore the city more—especially since parking was an outrageous $12 for the 45 minutes we were there. Voodoo Doughnuts was across the street, with a line a mile long! The food was great; we tried the stuffed frittata, but the crunchy challah French toast stole the show. Was it worth the parking and the hassle to get there? Debatable.

Then we headed to the airport, where our direct three-hour flight turned into a nineteen-hour nightmare that we're still recovering from. At least it happened on the way home!

Overall, it was an amazing adventure, and the Oregon Coast captured my heart. It will definitely be the setting for a future book. This trip was a wonderful way to celebrate completing a huge goal and recharged my batteries for my next project.

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