Two days, one very happy dog, and a deliciously winding journey along the Oregon Coast.

We had just two days for a little Oregon Coast escape, but Mother Nature rolled out the red carpet with some spectacular October weather. Sunshine, temperatures in the 70s, and even flirting with 80 degrees! Not exactly your typical autumn day at the coast.

Our destination was Yachats, one of our favorite little coastal villages. But rather than taking the quickest route back to Portland, we decided to follow scenic Highway 101 north, all the way to Astoria.

A few favorite places, a few new discoveries, plenty of good food, and absolutely no reason to hurry. As it turned out, the journey home became an adventure all its own!

The Mermaid Has Arrived!

Ihana wasted absolutely no time announcing our arrival at the beach. Out came her famous mermaid song, accompanied by enthusiastic barking and sand-kicking with practically every step. There’s just something about the ocean that brings out her inner mermaid!

And with weather like this, who could blame her?

Our home away from home was the wonderful THE FIRESIDE MOTEL where Ihana quickly claimed her favorite ocean-viewing spots. More about this very special dog-friendly destination in my upcoming PAWSWORTHY travel blog feature! A special gift from amazing friends made this stay possible! Thank you!!

A Room With a View…and a Feast for Dinner!

Dinner was at one of our longtime Yachats favorites, THE DRIFT INN (built in 1929). We’ve never had a disappointing meal here, and this visit was no exception. Steve tackled an enormous French-cut pork chop and Seafood Chowder while I enjoyed a bowl of delicious Caribbean Cache seafood stew. And that Marionberry Cobbler…. INCREDIBLE as always!!!

Our server, Jordan, couldn’t have been more friendly or helpful, and we arrived at the perfect time to enjoy the sunset over the ocean from our window-side booth.

After a great nights sleep to the ocean lullaby, we headed out for breakfast…. back to The Drift Inn for delicious Eggs Benedict, bacon, and excellent coffee. What a treat to have Dorothy as our server again! With her beautiful smile and amazing memory, she even remembered the owl necklace I’d given her on one of our visits, after she’d admired it. Such a lovely reunion and the perfect start to our long day ahead!

A Little Shell for Lil

Before leaving Yachats, we took one more walk along our beloved 804 Trail, winding along the sea cliffs with the crashing Pacific below. We had a special little mission.

Years ago I carved Lil’s name into a sandstone berm along the trail, refreshing it whenever we returned. Wind, waves, and time have nearly erased her little spot, but there was still enough left for one more visit.

This time, we left a tiny seashell I decorated for her, with her name tucked inside and a little glass starfish attached. A small remembrance in a place that holds so many memories.

Northbound…and Our First Oyster Stop!

With Yachats in the rearview mirror, we headed north through Newport, and views of the beautiful Yaquina Bay Bridge. Newport is known as the Dungeness Crab Capital of the World, and its commercial marina is home to one of the West Coast’s largest fishing fleets

Perched above the harbor, the historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was glowing in the afternoon sunshine, too. First lit in 1871, it served for just three years before the larger Yaquina Head Lighthouse took over in 1874.

Then came our first new food discovery: CRABBY DADDY’S in Lincoln City! What a fun little seafood shack! We were pacing ourselves, so I ordered a couple of fresh oyster shooters while Steve went for a bay shrimp cocktail. And that cocktail sauce! Some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Definitely a place we’ll be visiting again.

Ghost Forests, Donuts & More Oysters!

The drive north was gorgeous, with wildlife sightings along the way, including elk, eagles, and a gathering of egrets keeping company with dairy cows in the Tillamook countryside.

One stop we never tire of is Neskowin, home to the fascinating Ghost Forest, where ancient tree stumps emerge from the sand under the right conditions.

The tide wasn’t cooperating this time, but the beach was beautiful, with that mysterious marine mist drifting across the water and hills.

Ihana enjoyed another beach adventure, Steve found his beloved donuts at NESKOWIN PROVISIONS, and I found an excellent cup of coffee. Everyone was happy!

Our next stop was JANDY OYSTER COMPANY, where we found one of the most charming little spots to enjoy fresh seafood! Their dog-friendly outdoor garden, surrounded by greenhouses and plants, was the perfect place to relax for a bit. More oyster shooters for me, a bowl of chowder for Steve, and Ihana happily joining us for another delicious stop along the way!

Cheese, Fog & a Little Detour

With our oyster cravings thoroughly satisfied, we continued north to Tillamook, where we decided to make a quick stop at the famous TILLAMOOK CREAMERY. We hadn’t visited in years, and it seemed like a good excuse to stretch our legs and take another peek at the fascinating cheese-packaging process.

But as we approached town, something magical happened. An enormous blanket of fog settled over the landscape, practically swallowing Tillamook whole!

The rest of our journey north became a slow, misty adventure as dusk began to fall. Towering trees appeared as dark silhouettes through the fog, disappearing again almost as quickly as we’d spotted them.

It was eerie, beautiful, and a completely different Oregon Coast from the sunny one we’d been enjoying all day.

Pizza, Pints & One Last Stop

We rolled into Astoria around 6 PM, hungry and more than ready for our final food adventure. Our destination? FORT GEORGE BREWERY!

Named for the historic Fort George, a fur-trading post established in Astoria in 1811, the brewery has become one of our favorite places to stop for some of the PNW’s best beer and a great pizza.

We ordered a tasting tray of beers to share and one of their fabulous wood-fired pizzas. After a day of oyster shooters, shrimp cocktails, and clam chowder, that pizza really hit the spot!

Full, happy, and thoroughly satisfied, we climbed back into the car for the final stretch home to Portland. Thankfully, most of the fog had lifted, making the nighttime drive a little easier.

Take The Long Way Home

Two days, hundreds of miles, wonderful food, old favorites, new discoveries, and memories to last a whole lot longer than our little getaway!

Somewhere along Highway 101, Cheap Trick’s Take The Long Way Home came on the radio, and Steve and I couldn’t help singing along. How appropriate! We arrived home exhausted, happy, and already dreaming of our next coastal escape.

And Mz Mermaid Ihana.?……After two days of serenading the Pacific with her famous mermaid song, we’re pretty sure she’s come home with laryngitis! Apparently, even little mermaids need to rest their vocal cords sometime!

Our little getaway reminded us why Yachats holds such a special place in our hearts. With its dramatic Oregon Coast scenery, dog-friendly lodging, wonderful restaurants, and peaceful trails overlooking the Pacific, it’s a place we never tire of visiting.

And it’s the perfect starting point for exploring the little towns and unexpected treasures along Highway 101. There’s always something new to discover, even along roads we’ve traveled many times before.

The post TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME-Yachats to Astoria first appeared on THE ARTFUL WORLD OF SANDRA MILLER.