Oregon Coast Visitors Association » Stories

Life on the ORC!

OCVA — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:47:29 +0000

While growing up in the OC of Southern California, I enjoyed beaches every summer. But, not until I moved to the ORC (Oregon Coast) did I have a chance to explore and enjoy the beauty of the coast up here, which is vastly different and much more interesting than SoCal beaches. While not as warm, it has a ruggedness to it that makes you feel alive while walking on the sand or standing on a bluff overlooking the wild ocean here. While I miss the warmth of sitting on a Calif beach, you will never have the accessibility and beauty there that you have up here. Thanks to some far-sighted lawmakers back in the 60′s! No other coastline has as much going for it as the 363 miles of the ORC!

MEMORIES OF THE COAST

OCVA — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:51:59 +0000

We moved to Coos Bay, to help care for my husbands parents. Washington was my home – but we fell in love with the Oregon coast – and plan on returning. Some of our best memories are of Bastendorf beach, Shore Acres, Sunset Bay, the storms, the sea lions on Cape Arago – and fishing and beach combing. It is absolutely beautiful there – and cannot wait to return! Plus they have absolutely the best seafood/ clam chowder I have ever tasted! It was nice to be able to go out the door and drop a crab pot for dinner!

Motorcycle Ride Along The Oregon Coast

OCVA — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:00:21 +0000

Spent ten spectacular days in Oregon riding my new 2011 CB1000R motorcycle along Oregon Coast Highway 101 staying at Coos Bay and Newport. This was my first time ever along the coast. What surprised me the most was how beautiful the Oregon coast really is and the breathtaking rides across the many bridges designed and built in the 1930s by Conde McCullough – Oregon’s Master Bridge Builder. They are all beautiful and amazing!

50 Years Later

OCVA — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:44:48 +0000

I was born in Oregon, moved to Las Vegas in 1962 – Oregon was my first time “home”. Our parents would take us three boys to the Oregon Coast at least once a month. We camped at just about every camp site on the coast. When dad had the money we stay at cabins or motels, always overlooking the ocean.
October was wonderful due to the storms. We would have a dinner mom prepared while watching the ocean roar and rains pound down. As early as 4 years old I can still recall this memory. Yachats, Newport and Depoe Bay were some of our favorites. Seeing the wreck of the “The Peter Iredale” in Astoria was really fascinating to me. Much more of the wreck was still standing in the 50′s and 60′s.
I just returned to the Oregon Coast after 50 years. All the towns have grown and changed so much as you would expect. The coast line hasn’t changed at all. I’m so pleased and happy I made this trip after 50 years.
Oregon is a beautiful State. No place compares with the Oregon Coast!

So many memories – lighthouses in Oregon

OCVA — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:34:48 +0000

I think we have seen every lighthouse (not able to visit all) in Oregon. Those times are filled with awe and wonder and excitement. Let me tell you about a few.

Cape Blanco: Our kids were tweens when we went to see this lighthouse, I think it was the first time they seen a lighthouse and they were so excited to climb it. We took the tour and at the end the tour guide said if they would like to stay outside, so when it got dark, they could see the wheel of light. The look on their faces was priceless. And the beauty we saw at night a special treat – incredible.

Heceta Head: Our favorite that we come to see is Heceta head. The fullness of the era when lighthouses were used shows up here in Heceta head. The Lighthouse keepers house, and the trail up to the lighthouse, makes me wish I was born in those days. I would have become a Heceta Head lighthouse keeper for sure.

Shore Acres: I know this is not a lighthouse but to live in the mansion right there would be so incredible. The beautiful lights displayed at Christmas time every year has been an awesome site to go through.

We love the Oregon Coast, all the way from Astoria to Brookings. I love the drive by Yachats, and the Devil’s churn.

We will again be coming for Christmas. See you at the beach!

Believe in Your Dreams

OCVA — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:33:10 +0000

Years ago, when my wife and I started going to Oregon for vacations, we knew we would move there when we retire. I can’t remember which beach it was, but on our first trip there, we were walking on the beach. I saw a shiny piece of yellow glass like material on the edge of the water. I picked it up, wiped the sand off, and saw it had words written on it. The words were ‘believe in your dreams’. It was a sign from heaven. We still have the piece we found that day and look at it often. We are about to believe in our dream – as we will be moving to the Oregon Coast in a few months, when I retire.

Yachats Summer Childhood Memories

OCVA — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:42:22 +0000

Every summer I can remember from when I was little, my mother took us to the beach and we would stay in a house in Yachats, Oregon. My sister and I would explore the wooded trail leading to the park, stopping by the library to read books, Shirley’s to buy a toy or two, and maybe some candy from C&K Market. As we wandered this small coastal town, I would always dream of getting married at the Little Log Church by the Sea.

In Memory of Stryker the Wolf Dog and the Oregon Coast

OCVA — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:37:20 +0000

Stryker was a 4 year old Wolf/Husky who needed someone to love him. My daughter needed a soul mate and there came this glorious wolf/dog who understood her. He loved to stand in the rain and let it mist on his beautiful coat with his nose to the sky.

This photo was taken on the last month of his life. We drove an hour to the ocean to Lincoln City. He was sick – but even then he was a magnificent looking animal. He laid down on the beach, and this horse and rider went by. I was fortunate enough to get this photo. What a memory! I have other photos of him in the car, smiling on the way to the ocean. The day we took him to the ocean, his last ride, he was so happy! He was magnificent and a wonder family member, a wolf/dog! And this picture remains as a favorite memory for several of us in the family… Even He, loved to go to the ocean. So many dogs do!

By Songbirdcindy from Oregon Coast

Yachats, Oregon, a delightful experience

OCVA — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:30:17 +0000

My husband and I met in the 50′s when he was an Army officer at Ft. Benning, Ga. and I worked for the Red Cross. We started dating (a very long story, cut short) and as we got serious he was transferred abruptly to California. He married, I married. After 50 years separation, (I never forgot him, I was single again and started looking for him. He was in Portland, Or. He was a widower. We got married. Lived half the time in Oregon – half in Georgia.

Four years ago, we were traveling from Crater Lake to the Coast, heading for Newport where we had a reservation. We stopped at Yachats because we saw a Sunday market. It was a delightful experience. I talked with a lady with the flowers and she said it was too bad we were not staying there because her mother had cottages right on the water. We later drove by and they looked delightful. We went to lunch – and my husband passed out in the restaurant. He had a history of problems of low blood pressure. People in the restaurant immediately responded – the ambulance was there within 5 minutes. A doctor was in the restaurant. He was fine a few minutes later and we canceled our reservation in Newport and stayed in Yachats where we now go EVERY August and had a family reunion there 2 years ago and have made believers of my Georgia family of the Oregon coast is the most beautiful in the country.

OREGON IS MY FAVORITE STATE AND IF I WERE YOUNGER I NEVER WOULD HAVE LEFT.

The ‘Light’ of My Life

OCVA — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:22:31 +0000

We chose the Heceta Head B&B for a romantic getaway weekend to celebrate our long life together (27 years now). The thought of staying in the former light keeper’s cottage and a possible visit from Rue, the resident ghost, was most enticing.

We stayed in the Mariner’s room so we could see the lighthouse out of our window from the bed. It was a great night light! Our private bath across the hall had a claw foot tub that was perfect for a nice long soak and another view of the lighthouse out the tiny window.

We drove to Florence to explore the historic old town shops and have dinner. Afterwards we used the flashlight that was provided in our room and strolled along the path in the dense forest up to the lighthouse. We leaned against the lighthouse and watched the light cast beams in the fog that looked like white wheel spokes twirling in the sky. What a great light show! Back at the cottage we warmed up in front of the fire with a glass of wine to shake off the chill of the night air.

The long, leisurely 7 course breakfast was an experience in itself. The chef would announce each course with a ring of a bell. The dishes included fresh herbs from the garden. I loved the bagel and lox. The frappe to ‘cleanse the palette’ was a treat.

The owners gave a tour of the light keeper’s cottage after breakfast showing us all the antiques and memorabilia. After checkout, we bought a small lighthouse Christmas ornament at the gift shop, then meandered back up to the lighthouse for a tour. The view from up there is stunning. We relaxed a few moments on the cottage porch listening to the sounds of the birds and ocean. It was hard to leave!