Day Trip Sights

While working our way down the Oregon coast, we did a few day trips from both Waldport and Winchester Bay, Oregon.  Some of the pictures that I am going to post are just random pictures that we may have taken while at a pull off spot along the coastal highway, or while on a specific day trip.   I am also including some things that were interesting to me or just plain caught my eye!  We have seen so much at this point that unless it was a specific day trip I can't remember the who....what....when.... or where:)

 We were headed up the side of the mountain that looked down on the coast.

While traveling down Coastal Hwy. 101, we saw a lot of people down at the beach, so we stopped to walk down to the tidal pools.  Unfortunately, the tide was already coming back in and we were too late to see any creatures.

The tide was out enough for us to walk down around the rocks.  During high tide you cannot access these rocks.

See the person to the left on the beach........that is how far down we had to walk to get to the beach from the pull off on the highway.  There was a makeshift path that led downward. 

Friendly seagull......I guess he thought we were going to feed him.  They are actually a lot bigger in person than what the pictures show.

Items still wash up from the Japanese tsunami on the beaches along the west coast and there are signs posted at county and state parks telling people what to do with tsunami debris. 

This is definitely Dungeness Crab country!  The bays are full of people throwing their crab pots.  I think the limit is 12 per person and everyone we saw had their limit.  Some were huge!  At McKinley's RV park you can rent a boat furnished with 3 traps and bait and go out and get your own crab. 

These people got their limit!

You can clean them yourself, or one of the campground workers will help in the cleaning.

 

And then.......

the lady from the office at McKinley's RV park will come out and cook the crab for you. 

Crab Stuff everywhere!  These buoys on the outside wall of a restaurant looked like a potential painting.

Instead of "shrimp cocktail"......try the Dungeness "crab cocktail".  It was delicious!

From Waldport, we headed up the road to check out the Sea Lion caves.  They are located about 11 miles north of Florence, OR. 

They are the largest natural sea caves in the world according to the Guiness Book of World Records.  The cave soars to the height of a 12 story building and stretches the length of a football field.  It's the year-round home for Stellar sea lions. 

You walk down this path to the elevator that takes you down to sea level......about 200 feet.  The elevator ride takes about 50 to 60 seconds.

 

 

You are not allowed to use flash photography, however, enough light comes in that you can get a picture of the sea lions.

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There were only a few sea lions in the cave this day.  The cave houses hundreds of sea lions in the winter time.   It also houses plenty of bats.....you could hear them flying around.

The Heceta Head Lighthouse is located just a few miles north of the Sea Lion Caves.  The Oregon Parks and Recreation run the lighthouse facility and besides giving tours it is also a Bed and Breakfast facility.

 

 

 

This is an natural attraction called "The Devils Punchbowl".  At low tide you can walk from the beach into the center.  You can see the people below.  At high tide the "bowl" fills up.

This is a really pretty bridge coming in to Florence.  It is lighted at night and said to be really beautiful.

While in Newport, we had to have some clam chowder from Mo's.  It is supposed to be the best in the area.  It was very good!

Real buoy tree ornaments!

We took a drive out of town to see this old covered bridge.  Oregon has around 51 covered bridges and is said to have the most covered bridges west of the Mississippi.

You can still drive through to the other side.

We  walked along the waterfront in Newport and saw these sea lions sun bathing on the docks. 

We drove a few miles out of town to the Elk viewing area.  This is where a herd of Elk live.  There are feeders in the area for them.  That's one way to keep the around. 

 

 

Oh, look.....more buoys!

 

 

 

 

This little Harbor Seal came by several days while we were camped  along the water in Winchester Bay.  They are about 3 to 4 foot long and are grey with dark spots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was taken from our motorhome Saturday night before the super moon on Sunday night.

I'm glad I took this picture on Saturday, because it was cloudy Sunday night.