Adventures in Oregon: Depoe Bay, Lincoln City and Cannon Beach

At the end of August, we visited Newport, and now, we are headed to Lincoln City, Depoe Bay and Cannon Beach. Lincoln City is about an hour drive from Monmouth on the Kings Valley Highway, which is a beautiful drive through the mountains. My mom is always amazed by the trees…. (she hasn’t lived here very long, so, the excitement and beauty of the landscape here is fresh…. the trees are one of her favorite things about living here, after all, San Diego is mostly desert.) While I love the trees, the moutains to me are spectacular, and the drive from home to the coast certainly gives you an incredible view of both. The first photo is of the beach and the Pacific in Lincoln City. We actually drove south to Depoe Bay, and we’ll come back to Lincoln City a little later.
More about Depoe bay from Online Highway:

Depoe Bay is located in Lincoln County, nine miles north of Newport, between Gleneden BeachOtter Rock along Highway 101, near Cape Foulweather. Along the sea wall north of Depoe Bay’s harbor, natural rock tubes are flooded by the incoming tide and spout geyser-like sprays. At times, these streams arch over Highway 101, dousing vehicles and visitors alike. Five state park or wayside areas are nearby on Highway 101. All afore mentioned sites offer spectacular coastal views. The harbor (if you can call it one), exits to the Pacific Ocean underneath the highway a very short distance away. Depoe Bay itself is reputed to being the smallest harbor in the world. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains a station at Depoe Bay. Fishing is in abundance for Depoe Bay; salmon, halibut, flounder and many other species of bottom fish are sought throughout the year by sport & commercial fisherman alike. There are also charter boats available to the public for fishing, crabbing and whale watching excursions. William Depoe a.k.a Chief Depoe was Charley’s grandson who resided in the bay until his death a few years ago. William Depoe is buried right next to the founder of Depoe Bay , (Online Highway’s contributor), Autumn DePoe’s great-great-great grandfather…Charley DePoe at the Confederated Tribes of Siletz tribal cemetery on Government Hill in Siletz, Oregon.

The Bridge Photo is of Hwy 101 which is the main street through Depoe Bay. The coastline along this stretch of the famed highway (which begins in San Diego by the way, and winds all the way up the Coast of the Pacific Ocean through 3 states, California, Oregon and Washington and ends in Olympia.) is beautiful, the eroded sandstone rocks and shoreline is so worth the drive. We spent some time watching the Whale watching boats leave the harbor and fishermen carve their catch on the deck below. There were many seals swimming in the tides of the harbor as well. While we were there during low tide, it would have been something to watch when the tides came in, as there are many spouts and geysers in the rocks along the shore near the harbor. The following photos are of the coastline along Depoe Bay. There are shops and restaurants as well as photo galleries and a Whale Museum along the waterfront. On our way North toward Cannon Beach we stopped once again in Lincoln City at the Jennifer L. Sears Glass Blowing studio, where you can make an appointment to blow your own glass float or paperweight. We would like to go back sometime to try it. The studio gives demonstrations to visitors who walk in off the street, as well as offering time for those who would like, to try blowing a float on their own. Taylor and Emma thought it was the coolest thing to watch. We took lots of photos, but, if you would like to learn more you can visit their web page: http://www.lcglasscenter.com/floatprocess.html Here are some of the photos we took of the Glass Art Studio.

As a photographer, I have always seen these beautiful photos of the Oregon Coast…. you know, the ones with the big rock like things that are a little ways from the beach… in the ocean? Maybe you don’t have any idea what I am talking about, but, I have always wanted to go there and photograph them in person…. Well, today, for the first time, we were able to drive to Cannon Beach. We were hoping for bright sunshine and a great sunset on the beach, just like Depoe Bay, where it was blue sky and beautiful… but instead we got fog and clouds and generally dreary looking weather. The coast weather is so unpredictable, you never know what you’re gonna get. Sometimes, its beautiful and other times, not so. Maybe we’ll be able to get there again when the weather is more accomodating. But, for now, here are some cool shots of the fog at the beach, and “Haystack Rock”. Here are some facts about Cannon Beach from Northwest Magazines.com: “There are many reasons why Cannon Beach is popular, but it’s famous for Haystack Rock, the third largest monolith in the world. Towering 235 feet over the beach, Haystack Rock is a geological wonder. The fragile environment in the Haystack Rock Marine Garden and National Wildlife Refuge is brought to the public’s attention through the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. Volunteers and staff offer free interpretive programs throughout the year for two hours before and after low tide, says city manager Rich Mays. Visitors need to obtain a tide table and be at the area around the rock at the appropriate time to explore the colorful sea stars and delicate sea anemones in the tide pools. Viewing scopes offer a close up view of the birds that nest on the rook during the summer. Among the nesting birds is the tufted puffin, the adorable bird that some say is dressed like a clown—brightly colored bill, orange feet, and the namesake tufts drooping over the back of the neck. Late June through July is a good time to spot them with their young.”

Here are some really great photos of Haystack rock and Cannon Beach. I love the way the fog settles in a heavy line above the water . Enjoy these photos… I certainly enjoyed taking them.