Driving down the South Coast of Oregon

Once we left the town of Yachats we entered what is considered the South Coast of Oregon. We passed the towering sand dunes of the Oregon Dunes National Park and lots of little coastal cities. The views are just amazing, ocean views, rocks, mile after mile of beauty.
The last couple of lighthouses on our list were all along the way.

Umpqua River Lighthouse - Winchester Bay (mile 215.6)

Cape Arago Lighthouse -  This one gave us a wild goose chase. We had to leave 101 and drive 12 miles to where is was suppose to be located but we did not see any lighthouse. We went to the viewing spot before Shore Acres but saw nothing. Its a mystery

Dining in the town of Yachats

 The town of Yachats has some good restaurants and some with interesting stories. The Drift Inn being one of them. We had a wonderful lunch here plus got to read the story of Lester who once owned the inn, along with the continuing story of the inn today. Want to go where the locals go, this is the place, good food, good drinks, friendly people, and good music.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

The next lighthouse to see going down the coast from Yachats is the Heceta Head Lighthouse. It sit on top of Heceta Head 1000 feet high.

This was one of my favorites, you got a little hike to get to it 1/2 mile and wonderful views.

There are some nice trails around the lighthouse, the hobbit trail being on of them.

Cape Perpetua Park & Yachats

One of my favorite areas so far on this trip has been Cape Perpetua, which is just 2 miles south of Yachats. There has been many beautiful locations along the coast but for some reason this spot just seem to capture it all.

  There are hiking trails, tide pools, lava rock, beach, 500 year old spruce and a lookout point which is the highest in the Oregon coast.

Yachats known as the "Gem of the Oregon Coast.

The next place we are staying on the trip down the coast is in the town of Yachats (mile 164.4). It is a small little town, population 703 located in the Central Coast along the Yachats River.

Before arriving Yachats we passed through the town of Newport Beach which is a large town compared to where we have been so far. Everything you want is located there. I enjoyed visiting the  the historic district of Nye Beach, which dates back to the 1800's.

Yaquina Bay Bridge

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is located just passed Newport beach.

Whales, Wine, & Sunset Depoe Bay

Our last night in Depoe Bay we sat on our patio overlooking Boiler Bay with a wonderful bottle of Oregon wine while watching the whales as the sunset. Doesn't get much better than that here.

 They were so close to the cliffs just circling around.

Cape Foulweather Lookout, Otter Rock, & Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Depoe Bay OR

 Lookout at Cape Foulweather

Yaquina Head Lighhouse

Whale Watching with Dockside Charters in Depoe Bay, Oregon

 Crazy as it is I have never seen a whale. Yesterday was the first time I saw one spout but I really wanted to see one up close. The best way would be to go out on a boat but I also get sea sick in the ocean but I was willing to give it a try. The weather could not be better for this time of year, high 60's, no wind, and the sea looked very calm making it the perfect day to go whale watching.

We boarded the F/V Samson at 12:45pm and left the harbor at 1:00pm.

Devil's Punchbowl - Otter Rock

Devil's Punchbowl

This was an awesome place.

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Interesting tidbit about this bridge - It was in the movie One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest when Jack Nicholson's Character escapes the hospital and commanders a fishing boat.

The Central Coast of Oregon starts in Lincoln City (mile 112) to Florence (mile 190). The quaint fishing village of Depoe Bay is where I picked to stay a few nights. Depoe Bay is said have the smallest harbor in the world. It is also a place to for whale watching. It really isn't the time of year for the whales to be here but I was hopeful.

  After getting settled in our condo we headed into town to the whale watching center to find out about getting a boat tour the following day.

 Good thing we got there when we did because they were just getting ready to close for the day, 4:00pm and would be closed the next 2 days. The women who worked there was very helpful. We asked about seeing the whales and she said "Oh let me show you some now." Sure enough right outside the center in the bay were 3 whales off in the distance, we could see them spouting.  There are about 60 whales that make their residents here year round.