Oregon Coast Tour

Getaway #1: North Coastal Loop tour (Portland to Astoria to Cannon Beach to Portland), offered year 'round, is one option for our Oregon Coast Tour. Astoria, Oregon "the New

York of the West", is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, dotted with Victorian-era homes and an Art Deco-era downtown, set in the backdrop of where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. It is home to the Columbia River Bar-the 'World's Most Dangerous Bar'. Possible stops (we'll choose 2-3 stops in Astoria) include the 100 ton pilot boat, the Peacock and the Columbia River Maritime Museum (VIDEO), Flavel House Museum, the 1885 Queen Anne home of Capt. George Flavel. If your feeling ambitious the historical Astor Column has a great 360° view of the Columbia River/Bar, Astoria, Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. This is a good stop for those who like a great view, are not afraid of heights and are able to climb 164 steps. Astoria is also a place for film buffs where a good number of notable movies were filmed here. Talk with your tour concierge about customizing your tour stops in Astoria. From there we can head south for the military buffs to historical Fort Stevens (VIDEO; For overnight adventurers, the Fort Stevens State Park Campground with tent sites, yurts and deluxe cabins is a nice place to stay.) or for the history buffs, the fort Lewis & Clark wintered over in in the year 1805-6, Fort Clapsop (VIDEO); recently reconstructed. Then Gearhart and Seaside, Oregon's first seaside resort, dating back to the mid 1800s and the boardwalk and the Seaside Aquarium -- the oldest aquarium on the west coast. Next is Cannon Beach & Ecola State Park & the Tillamook Rock Light house with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and whale/wildlife watching and the

volcanic sea stack called Haystack Rock. These are just a few of the many sights on the coast. You can keep heading down to the South and see many more on a multi-day itinerary.

Getaway #2: Mid-Coastal Loop tour (Portland to Seaside to Tillamook to Portland), offered year 'round, is one option for our Oregon Coast Tour. We would start in Seaside, Oregon's first seaside resort, dating back to the mid 1800s and the boardwalk and the Seaside Aquarium -- the oldest aquarium on the west coast. Next is Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park & the Tillamook Rock Light house with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and whale/wildlife watching. Then Oswald West State Park's ancient Old Growth forest in Nehalem and Octopus Tree

through the small towns/fishing villages of Wheeler, Garibaldi and others. While in Garibaldi, we can grab some Gourmet Albacore Tuna, Chinook Salmon, Dungeness Crab, Shrimp and more to go, all harvested from the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean by local fisherman. Or you may do deep sea fishing and Oregon Dungeness crabbing at Garibaldi in Tillamook Bay. Salmon/Halibut/Crab fishing are seasonal, please inquire. Next is the Cape Meares Lighthouse in the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint & Wildlife Refuge. Big Spruce, Oregon's largest Sitka Spruce & the 'Octopus Tree' are more terrific attractions in the area. The Octopus tree is a giant Sitka Spruce that is 50 feet in circumference, and has six limbs that are 12-feet around, and no central trunk! Next is Oceanside, Netarts and we end in Tillamook (trees, cheese and ocean breeze) & the Tillamook Cheese Factory for cheese & and the 38 flavor ice cream tour or the Blue Heron French Cheese Company for some free cheese tasting & almost free wine tasting. These are just a few of the many stops on the coast. You can keep heading down to the South or up North and see many more on a multi-day itinerary.

* Hiking any trails on the Oregon coast is not for the faint of heart. Trails may be muddy and marked by steep drop-offs. Trails may or may not be easy; wear layers for wind and/or rain and have a waterproof/windproof jacket and sensible shoes and headgear. Bring binoculars!

Getaway #3: Mid-Coastal Loop tour (Portland to Tillamook to Lincoln City to Portland and includes the 3 Capes Scenic Route: Cape Mears, Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda), offered year 'round, is one Octopus Tree

option for our Oregon Coast Tour. We would start in Tillamook (trees, cheese and ocean breeze) & the Tillamook Cheese Factory for cheese & and the 38 flavor ice cream tour or the Blue Heron French Cheese Company for some free cheese tasting & almost free wine tasting. Next is the Cape Meares Lighthouse in the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint & Wildlife Refuge. Big Spruce, Oregon's largest Sitka Spruce & the 'Octopus Tree' are more terrific attractions in this area. The Octopus tree (to the right) is a giant Sitka Spruce that is 50 feet in circumference, and has six limbs that are 12-feet around, and no central trunk! Next is Oceanside, Netarts Bay and Cape Lookout State Park. Hikers can visit Cape Lookout for a 3-4 hour RT hike* through old growth forest to the Pacific Ocean and harbor seals, sea birds and the best seat of the house for migratory grey whales parading past. (For overnight adventurers, the Cape Lookout State Park Campground with tent sites, yurts and deluxe cabins is a nice place to stay.) Next we'll visit Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, Pacific City and Bob Straub State Park to Lincoln City (shops, restaurants, glass blowing and beachcombing along one of the longest stretches of beach on the Oregon coast) and Cascade Head, The Nature Conservancy's 270 acre preserve. This spectacular coastal headland is a haven for rare plants, wildlife and grassland communities.

Getaway #4: South Coastal Loop tour (Portland to Lincoln City to Newport to Portland), offered year 'round, is one option for our Oregon Coast Tour. We would start in Lincoln City (shops, restaurants, glass blowing and beachcombing along one of the longest stretches of beach on the

Oregon coast) and Cascade Head, The Nature Conservancy's 270 acre preserve. This spectacular coastal headland is a haven for rare plants, wildlife and grassland communities. Then Depot Bay -- 2 boating options, the 1st is at Depoe Bay and is known as the whale watching capital of the Oregon coast. Add a 1-2 hour whale watching cruise at Depoe Bay for a nominal charge*. We may

stop at Cape Foulweather, a popular whale-watching spot, for the 500 foot above sea level view of the great Pacific. Next is the Yaquina Head lighthouse and Newport. You can learn more about sea creatures at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport or the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Or check them out in their natural environment in Yaquina Bay on a sea-life cruise with the floating classroom Marine Discovery Tours for a nominal charge* (we'll pull crab pots, plankton nets, hang out with the naturalist, chat with the captain and even drive the boat!). VIDEO ON Marine Discovery Tours & the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Get a locally crafted brew or grab a bite to eat, shop the boutiques and check out the seals on the boardwalk and docks of the Newport bayfront. You'll end at just a short walk away from the bayfront at the Yaquina Bay lighthouse; it's a work of art where you'll visit the lighthouse museum, explore the tide pools at Quarry Cove or the hiking trails above. Observe the harbor seals, whales and flocks of seabirds visible from shore year-round or visit the interpretive center with its exhibits about the local habitat. These are just a few of the many stops on the coast. You can keep heading up north or down south and see many more on a multi-day itinerary.

Robins are the harbingers of spring for some, but here in Oregon, our seasonal messengers are bigger, grayer and wetter. Spring is marked by the great gray whale migration, when approximately 19,000 of these magnificent mammals make their way past the Oregon Coast on a 12,000-mile journey from Baja, Mexico, to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. The annual spring Whale Watching Week, sponsored by Oregon State Parks & Recreation Dept. and part of its Whale Watching Spoken Here program, takes place March 24-31. It’s the perfect time to learn about these large sea creatures.

* 1 & 2 hour cruise options are available; $18 & $30 pp respectively (costs not guaranteed) and advance reservations are required. Pricing will need to be confirmed. Senior, teen and child discounts apply. A stop at the Spirit Mountain Casino on the trip back is a discounted (25-50% off) hourly rate in addition to the tour price.

Getaway #5: Portland to the Coast (Astoria) Fall Wildlife Getaway (Portland to Astoria to Portland), principally offered in the Fall/Autumn for the wildlife/bird watching, but offered year 'round, is one option for our Oregon Coast Tour. Our Highway 30 to the Coast getaway would start in Portland along the road less traveled, scenic byway Route 30. A bit of a whistle stop tour, we will visit the wildlife/bird sanctuaries at Sauvie Island Wildlife

area, Trojan Pond & Wetlands near Rainer to watch for Tundra Swan, then the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary in Cathlamet Bay-100 acres of wetlands and forest lands. Last is Astoria and the 100 ton pilot boat, the Peacock and the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

Astoria, Oregon "the New York of the West", is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, dotted with Victorian-era homes and an Art Deco-era downtown, set in the backdrop of where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. It is home to the Columbia River Bar-The 'World's Most Dangerous' Bar. Possible stops include the Flavel House Museum, the 1885 Queen Anne home of Capt. George Flavel. If your feeling ambitious the historical Astor Column has a great 360° view of the Columbia River/Bar, Astoria,

Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. This is a good stop for those who like a great view, are not afraid of heights and are able to climb 164 steps. Astoria is also a place for film buffs where a good number of notable movies were filmed here. Talk with your tour concierge about customizing your tour stops in Astoria.

This tour is usually about 8½-9 hours long (7-8 hours for the Getaway #5 option); 8-9AM to 5:30-6:30PM. Multi-day itineraries are available. Any admission fees to any tour stops are the responsibility of the tour group. Museum or aquarium stops are self-guided or staff guided, as our tour guide does not accompany your party inside these stops. Your private tour may be customized as needed or desired. Just let us know what your interests are (from the sublime to the wacky, we don't care) and we will do the rest for you. You can make it a 2 or 3 day event with our multi-day itineraries by combining any of the tours above, please inquire.