Another Oregon Coast Happy Traveler

My Portland online pal has penned an excellent article about a recent Oregon trip and Ma Petite Maison, a charming looking vacation rental along the wonderful Southern Oregon Coast at the city of Port Orford. He notes:

Port Orford is a sleepy fishing village on the South coast of Oregon that is home to some of the most stunning beaches and ocean vistas in North America. In addition to the beaches, Port Orford includes the lighthouse at Cape Blanco, the Western-most point in Oregon
Read his full article here.

Port Orford is easy to miss as you travel Highway 101 North or South, but you'll want to stop at Battle Rock State Park for at least a short time. If you like unspoiled spectacular coastline and an excellent connection to the history of the coast you'll want to spend a lot more time in Port Orford.

Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat

Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat
Originally uploaded by Tidewater Muse

Station Depoe Bay, Oregon. Oregon Coast Lifeboat

This Oregon Coast Guard Lifeboat heads from the Depoe Bay harbor entrance out to sea. Many of the rescue missions on the Oregon Coast are in the winter when the weather is harsh and waves can reach 30 feet or more. Oregon's rocky coastline often combines dangerously with high seas and some difficult to navigate entries to ports. Commercial fisherman bravely challenge these conditions to bring in Salmon, Dungeness Crab, "Snapper" (actually a rockfish here on the west coast), Sole, and more. Thanks to the coast guard disabled vessels have a chance of surviving Oregon's stormy coastal seas.

USCG photo by BMC Chris S. Sparkman.

The Oregon Coast

The Oregon Coast has the greatest name recognition of Oregon's travel destinations, though few outside of the state could probably name more than single coastal city. Portland, Oregon's metropolitan region, is indeed a port but it not located along the Oregon coast, rather about 50 miles upriver along the mightly Columbia. Ships can pass from the Oregon Coast to Portland and back making this a thriving inland port city despite its distance from the actual coast.

Attractions include all the following and many more along the Heceta Head Lighthouse,

Among the most popular attractions along the 300+ mile Oregon Coast and Oregon Coast National Scenic Byway:

Fort Clatsop | near Astoria
Oregon Coast Aquarium | Newport Oregon
Newport Old Town
Cape Perpetua (hiking, views, interpretive center)
Devils Churn (hiking and picnic area)
Sea Lion Caves (a privately owned sanctuary for sea lions, well worth the admission)
Florence Old Town | Florence
Reedsport Ocean Interpretive Center | Reedsport
Bandon Old Town | Bandon
Brookings
Azalea Park | Brookings

Dozens of splendid Oregon State Parks are found along this route. Click here for the official Oregon Coast State Parks Website.

Seven lighthouses are found along the Oregon coastline and Highway 101 which is designated as the "Oregon Coast National Scenic Byway".

Also found along the coast route are several historic bridges, many designed by Conde McCullough.

Mileages from city to city along the coast vary, but generally you'll be under 30 miles to the next city along the coast. Here is a list of all the cities along the Oregon coast with mileages between them:

• Astoria to Seaside – 17
  
• Seaside to Cannon Beach – 9
  
• Cannon Beach to Nehalem Bay – 21
• Nehalem to Rockaway Beach – 1
  
• Rockaway Beach to Tillamook – 15
• Tillamook to Lincoln City – 44
  
• Lincoln City to Depoe Bay – 13
• Depoe Bay to Newport – 13
• Newport to Waldport – 16
• Waldport to Yachats – 9
• Yachats to Florence – 26
• Florence to Reedsport – 21
  
• Reedsport to Winchester Bay – 5
• Winchester Bay to Coos Bay/North Bend – 23
• Coos Bay/North Bend to Bandon – 24
• Bandon to Port Orford – 27
• Port Orford to Gold Beach – 28
• Gold Beach to Brookings – 29
  

The Oregon Experience - Welcome!

Welcome to Oregon!

This is the blog for "The Oregon Experience", an insider travel tips website that will help you plan and enjoy your trips to Oregon, a state we honestly feel offers more incredible travel experiences than you'll find in any other part of the USA - in fact more great travel experiences than you'll find in most entire countries.

Oregon is uniquely qualified to offer hundreds of miles of unspoiled Pacific coastline, the magnificent peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range, raging rivers like the Rogue, Columbia, and Klamath, the nation's finest and most extensive lush forestland with pristine mountain lakes and streams teaming

It's no wonder that Oregon is home to more miles of National Scenic Byways than any other region in the USA.

The Oregon Experience lies in the magnificent pounding surf of the Oregon Coast to the sparkling blue waters of Crater Lake National Park to the underground adventures at Oregon Caves National Monument. From the tide surging in to Devil's Churn at Cape Perpetua to the rushing rapids of the Rogue River to the spectacular waterfalls of the Umpqua Valley and along the Columbia River Highway (I'll have a lot of pictures from there in a few weeks after my trip North to spend some time in the Columbia River Gorge). From the world-class Shakespearean theater in Ashland to Portland's quiet sophistication - big city amenities with small town charms.

Oregon is a masterpiece of nature, history, and culture. Native Americans have lived here for tens of thousands of years and you can still share those remarkable cultural traditions at gatherings, Pow Wows, Salmon BBQs, exhibitions and Museums like Warm Springs Four Rivers, the Tamastslikt.