Our love for the Pacific Northwest is still going strong! If you enjoy road trips, we have found August to be the very best time of year and it’s best to start in the north and head south on Hwy 101.
This time we flew into Portland and rented our car and headed out, first to Astoria, OR. This city is right at the mouth of the Columbia River as it flows into the Pacific Ocean. If you’re a history buff this is a fun city to visit. My family took a day trip and visited here when I was young. That started my love of history, specifically learning about The Oregon Trail. During the winter of 1805-1806, Lewis and Clark stayed at Fort Clatsop, located along the Lewis and Clark River about 5 miles southwest of Astoria. Nearby is Fort Stevens State Park, home of the Wreck of the Peter Iredale. It makes for a great photo op.
While playing the tourists in Astoria we figured no trip here would be complete without trying out at least one of their 6 local breweries. We went with the oldest one in Astoria, The Astoria Brewing Co. We enjoyed an outdoor table with a beautiful view of the Columbia River and, while the local favorite is the Strawberry Blonde brew made with fresh Oregon strawberries, my husband found his choice to be Astoria Amber because it’s brewed with minimal use of hops. He enjoyed his beer while chowing down on Halibut Fish N Fries. I enjoyed the Halibut Tacos. If you make this trip, don’t skip out on the seafood!
Our next stop along south Hwy. 101 was a drive through the beach town of Seaside. This town is known for its pastel-colored houses and white sandy beaches. It’s also known for The Tillamook Lighthouse. Although it isn’t open to the public, the lighthouse is visible about a mile offshore from Tillamook Head.
The drive through town was aimed at Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. This was one of my favorite places as a child, so I was eager to get there! I remember running out to Haystack Rock at low tide and seeing the dark-bodied but brightly beaked Tufted Puffins. Part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Haystack Rock is a protected marine environment. If you enjoy birdwatching, you will not be disappointed.
In our opinion, the Oregon coast is by far the most beautiful coastline in the west. There are small towns all down the coastline, like Manzanita, where Hwy. 101 leaves the coast and weaves east. Hwy. 101 north to south is the best way to easily pull over for the fantastic vistas you will see continuously. Progress is slow, however, as you will constantly want to stop to take it all in!
We stayed on 101 all the way to Florence, OR. Here we took a dune buggy ride and, wow, what an adventure! We used Sandland Adventures. They offer a variety of rides; fast, slow, big group, small group, just about anything to fit your needs. Hang onto your hats, because if you don’t, you’re liable to lose it!
If you are planning a road trip soon, add Drive Time® Aromables® to your shopping list. These vent clip air fresheners come in a variety of scents, perfect for any road trip. I chose Ebony Forest for this trip as the notes of patchouli, sandalwood and musk matched the sea air we were enjoying. If you’re renting a vehicle, these are the perfect addition to perk up the stale air (or counter any lingering odor) because it doesn’t use messy liquids or gels so it won’t leak and ruin the car interior.
Lori Herr for The Gift of Scent