Wabi-Sabi Sole

Hiking Pilgram’s Pass

On June 16, 2026

In 2026, Azores, Ferry, Hiking, São Jorge, Wabi-Sabi

Monday morning we caught the ferry from Madalena on Pico Island to Velas on São Jorge Island. The process of checking in, checking our luggage, and then boarding the ferry was incredibly smooth and efficient.

Boarding selfie. You might notice a theme in our selfies today… crazy hair!

The ferry took about and 1.5 hours. Although the seas appeared calm, the ferry was a bit rocky!

We arrived in Velas around 11:15. Collected our luggage and meet our taxi driver without issue. We were not supposed to begin our hike until 1:30pm. We asked Antonio, our driver, if we could start as soon as possible. He had another group going as well and arranged with them to go early. He was so kind and accommodating. He dropped us at the hotel and went to get the group while we checked in. Our accommodation is a Bed and Breakfast, Casa de Antonio. Our host, Antonio, had our room ready and helped us check in and then showed us to our room. The hospitality was top notch. Our driver, Antonio, returned and off we went on our 5.6 mile hike!

The Pilgram’s Path hike is known to be one of the most beautiful on the island. It begins at Topo, one of the island’s crests, and descends down to the north coast. It was used by pilgrims to reach the wild north coast which is still very isolated.

“The Walker” statue tributes all who hike trails in the Azores

We had been given many warnings the trail is very steep especially in the beginning. The warnings were validated as we descended! But, first – the view!

If only we were a few weeks later, we would see all the hydrangeas in bloom.

The views were incredible. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it before. It was so quiet and peaceful.

As we descended, the trail would change and close in and yet remained very rocky.

About 2/3 of the way down we stopped to enjoy our picnic lunch. Perhaps our peanut butter and crackers and an apple weren’t gourmet… but, the view certainly was!

As we continued down, we caught up with a river and a little waterfall.

Plus, at lower the lower elevation we started to see blooming hydrangeas.

We saw this roof from above and it looked tiny. Obviously, human size once we were next to it. And our first view of the island’s north coastline.

Fajā Santo Cristo is a one of a kind sight. Only accessible by foot (or now also 4 wheelers) it has a beautiful church and lagoon. This was my first time actually walking through a hamlet!

The north coast is protected and now considered a surfer’s paradise. As we climbed back up it was easy to understand why. The wave train had perfectly timed crests.

We continued our “relatively” flat climb for the second half of our hike. The dirt/ rock trail had lots of ups and downs with more amazing views.

One of my favorite pictures of the day. My mom celebrated her 77th birthday today and here she is at trail marker 77!

We made it to the finish line a bit later than we hoped. We truly “savored” the experience. I called Antonio earlier and let him know we were running late. He was so kind and understanding. We also met up with the other hikers he was transferring. They had used the extra time to swim in the lagoon. On our way home, we ran into a cow jam. The farmers walk their cows to the milking building and then walk them back to their farm. Truly happy cows make the best cheese! São Jorge is known for their delicious cheese!

We returned to the hotel, showered, and went out to dinner!

It was an amazing day. The hike was one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done. I would also rate it as a moderate challenge with the amount of descent we did. As always, thanks for reading!

Tales of Whale Tails

By wabisabisole

On June 15, 2026

In 2026, Azores, Dolphin, Sea Turtle, Sperm Whale, Wabi-Sabi, Whale watching

Sunday morning we had a chance to sleep in a little bit. This was much needed because jet lag hit me hard Saturday night. Quick side note about our first two nights on the islands. Granted, it was a Friday and Saturday night… that being said, the Azoreans LOVE to party – LATE and LOUD! Both nights the party wasn’t shut down until 2am. Last night even included at least 3 maybe 4 rounds of random fireworks at 11ish, 12:37, and 1:47. I think there was another one in there… They play the music extra loud and the drunk voices are sometimes even louder especially once the bars shutdown. Cheers, to island life! Live it out LOUD!

Now back to Sunday’s adventure. Our tour package included a whale watching tour with CWAzores. We were scheduled for the 8:20am tour. We received a very informative briefing about the types of whales we might see and a safety brief prior to boarding the Zodiac. It was so good even the former Oceanography Teacher learned something. Did you know – Sperm whales have suction cups on the roof of their mouth? Yes, they do! The main creature of the Sperm whale diet is giant squid. 🦑 Sperm whales are toothed whales and when they bite the giant squid it is all gushy. The suction cups help the whale “slurp” the squid into its mouth.

The tour was very well organized and the crew very knowledgeable and efficient. They helped us board the boat. We rode the zodiac as if we were sitting on a saddle. The ocean was a bit rough and we felt like cowgirls riding the waves! No doubt my sitz bones will be tender tomorrow.

To “find” the whales, the Captain uses the help of Spotters who are stationed on land. They use high powered binoculars to locate the blow (the whale exhaling). The Spotter then communicates via radio to the Captain with coordinates. Here are a few pictures as we left the harbor. This is the coast we hiked yesterday.

During our hike yesterday, Mt Pico was hidden in the clouds. We didn’t even know it was there! It showed out for us today!! Couldn’t help but think back to Mt Fuji – and how many times we heard “on a clear day.”

The Captain took us out beyond the islands and we sat idle waiting for directions from the spotters. Once coordinates were communicated, the Captain would race off in the direction of the whale’s blow. It was quite exciting!!! And then he would position the boat for us to watch the whale. These are pictures are of the first Sperm whale we spotted. It was a mature male.

The Sperm whale can dive 800m and hold its breath for 45 minutes. It has to dive this deep to find the giant squid. Before it dives, it fills its lungs and a portion of its head with air. When it is on the surface it takes big breaths for about 3-5 minutes before diving. Pictures of the whale taking its last breaths before diving.

The Captain and Guide were experts at alerting us when it was about to dive. They would say “get ready” and then “tail” – it was so exciting!!! Here’s my first ever whale tail! By the way – all images are captured with my iPhone.

Here’s a video of the dive.

The collective excitement happened each time

Once the whale dives, we move on because it won’t be back if a while and probably not in the same spot. We idled for a bit. Then the Spotters alerted us again and off we went. Turns out, we saw science in action. We spotted two juveniles and two mothers. The juveniles are too young to dive and are still nursing. The mothers take turns diving (to eat) or watching the juveniles. The juveniles are able to nurse from either mother!! The Captain didn’t get too close to the juveniles because he didn’t want to scare/ stress them.

Another video…

We idled again… and then we were off! This time to see a pod of dolphins! And there were so many!! They were so cute swimming and playing in our bow wake. The Captain said when they show their white belly they are mating. They were giving us quite the show!

Unfortunately, the idle time made one of our passengers quite sea sick. We felt terrible for them. In my dolphin video you can hear them retching in the background…

We stayed with the dolphins for a while. The guide then informed us that we were going to start our return to port and maybe see things along the way because one of the passengers was so sick. They were so compassionate. Several dolphins swam with us as we sped away. They were faster!!!

Along the way, our Captain spotted a Portuguese Man of War floating on the ocean. They are extremely dangerous jellies. Their tentacles can reach lengths of 20-30 meters! He told us “don’t try this at home” as he reached over and grabbed the top of the creature! The Portuguese Man of War is a staple in the sea turtle diet. It looks like a piece of plastic floating on the surface. It’s easy to understand why sea turtles mistake plastic for jellies and end up dying with their belly full of plastic.

As we continued to port, the spotters alerted us to another Sperm whale. Our Captain steered the boat in the direction of the whale and again we watched as he filled his lungs preparing for his dive.

One final video of another Sperm whale diving. They are so graceful and majestic.

We had one final sighting before we reached port. A young Loggerhead Sea Turtle. The captain again kept his distance because he did not want to scare the turtle.

The trip was another Science Teacher’s dreams come true. A picture as we return to port. Notice the church in the foreground bottom left. That is the church where we started yesterday’s hike. We couldn’t see Mt. Pico yesterday because of the clouds. Honestly, we didn’t even know it was there!!

We had the afternoon to enjoy. We went to get lunch at a delightful burger restaurant overlooking the harbor. My cheeseburger was amazing. The island of São Jorge (we travel there Monday) in the Azores is known for their “happy cows.” They produce delicious cheese and obviously burgers. All washed down with an Azores IPA.

After lunch, we did a little shopping and then wine tasting. Pico island, as I mentioned yesterday, is known for their grapes and wine. The grapes are mostly used to make white wine. I tasted 4 whites and 1 red. The final white was unexpectedly delicious. So good, I want to ship some home… but, tariffs. Instead, I bought a bottle to enjoy over the next couple days.

The Azoreans have been nothing but kind, gracious, and happy to assist us. They speak English very well and much better than I speak Portuguese. Several times they have used extra words to say or ask a question because they don’t know the exact English word to use. For example, one cute story. I was purchasing bevvies at the hotel bar and the bartender asked me, “would you like the little paper that comes out of the machine?” I smiled and said, “yes, please.” I will do my best to always refer to a receipt as “the little paper that comes out of the machine…” so, cute.

The streets on Pico also have the cobblestone decoration. Pictured here are Sperm Whales.

If you made it to the end of this long post – as always, thank you for reading!

Hiking Church to Church in Pico

By wabisabisole

On June 14, 2026

In 2026, Azores, Hiking, Pico Island, Wabi-Sabi

Our Saturday started early with a 4:15 reveille in order to catch a 7am flight from Porta Delgado to Pico. The flight was quick – about 45 minutes. The plane was cute but not terribly small.

Like most islands you cross the tarmac to board

Our transfer dropped us at our hotel. We were prepared to drop our bags and start hiking while we waited for our room. However, to our delight, the room was ready and we were invited to enjoy breakfast. Yes, please! After breakfast, we headed out for our 7.6 mile coastal hike. The hike started and ended at a church.

The hike took us along the beautiful coastline.

The hike hugged the coast in the beginning and gave us so many beautiful views of huge rocks and Faial Island. We will visit Faial island towards the end of our trip.

We have been hoping to see hydrangeas in bloom. And we did! So many and so many colors.

The other interesting part of the hike was all the grapevines and the creative way they have adapted to grow them. To protect the vines from wind and weather, they use the basalt rock to build half circles around them. This blocks the wind/ weather and also provides the vines with support as they grow.

We followed the trail provided by Macs Adventure and it was also well marked with horizontal red and yellow lines. There would be a yellow and red X if you went the wrong way and a red turn if you needed to turn.

One of my favorite parts of the hike took us between the grapevine and down a rocky corridor. So unique.

Along the route there were several natural swimming holes. We were tempted to jump in for a swim… but, the morning was still cool and we kept on stepping. Plus, the waves were pretty intense.

The trail took us inland a couple times and the temperature would warm and the breeze would stop. Also, we had quite a few up and downs. Eventually, we had one final uphill push to our finish line church.

We had a taxi pick us up and returned us to the hotel. Our hike was 7.67 miles and took us about 4 hours. It was a good hike to work off the jet lag and help us get acclimated. We picked a Tapas & wine bar for dinner. We ordered tuna tataki, shrimp bao bun and tempura veggies. Plus wine. And dessert. Crème brûlée and cheesecake. Absolutely, delicious.

It was a very delightful day and I was definitely ready to sleep by the end. As always, thank you for reading.

Florida to Ponta Delgado

By wabisabisole

On June 13, 2026

In 2026, Azores, Hiking, Wabi-Sabi

Summer vacation! My mom and I left Florida Thursday morning. Our destination- Ponta Delgado in the Azores. We had a slightly long layer over in Boston before catching our red eye flight to the big island of São Miguel.

The Azores are a collection of nine islands off the coast of Portugal. We are using the same company, Macs Adventure, as we used when we went to Greece a couple years ago. They arrange all of our transfers, accommodations and hikes. We will spend the week hopping around four of the nine islands.

Our arrival was too early to check into our hotel. So, we dropped our bags and grabbed breakfast. A delicious bowl of yogurt and fresh fruit and scrambled eggs plus an assortment of Azores bread.

A few shots of the gates to the city and the reflection pond.

After refueling, we set out for an hike to the botanical garden of José do Canto. He lived during the 19th century and was an avid arborist. He planted a unique assortment of trees around his mansion and property. We enjoyed a nice stroll admiring his eclectic green thumb.

We wondered back to city center. The streets of Ponta Delgado are made of black Basalt and White Limestone. They are lovely. Different streets have different designs.

By this point, we were running out of steam. Jet lag is real! We decided to have lunch and a beer. Priming ourselves for a nap. Pizza and beer!

Our timing was perfect. Right as we ordered, I received a call from our hotel informing us our room was ready! Yay! Nap time!

We woke up somewhat refreshed and wondered out to get provisions for our hike in the morning and a small snack. Dinner consisted of a cheese board, olives, and local wine from the island of Pico.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel because in the morning we have a 7am flight to Pico followed by a 7 mile hike. Adventure awaits! As always, thanks for reading.

Crystal River, FL

By wabisabisole

On February 1, 2026

In 2026, Crystal River, Florida, Manatee, Wabi-Sabi

Visiting Crystal River, in the winter, has been on my Florida bucket list since we moved here. Besides being a cute little Florida town on the bay, it’s the Manatee Capital of the World! And you can go swim with them!!

I arranged for us to go on a snorkel trip Saturday morning with Go Local tour company. The captain and guide, Dylan and Derick were fantastic. We had a small group tour. Only 3 of us got in the water because the air temperature was extra chilly!

The manatees come to Crystal River to stay warm in the springs. The springs stay 72 degrees year round. Here are some fun facts about manatees. Considering their size, they have very low body fat – 4-5%. Also, their metabolism is very slow and it’s difficult for them to stay warm. So, they migrate to the warm water springs to get warm. The leading cause of manatee death is hyperthermia. This occurs when they are in water less than 68 degrees.

Watch for the baby at the end

Manatees have no predators and are not scared of humans. In fact, they are very curious and gentle giants. Did you know their closest relatives are elephants!! Adults average 10-15 feet long and weight 900-1500lbs!

They use their arms to crawl along the bottom

It was incredible to be in the water with them. They were so curious and got so close. I had to remind myself they were friendly!! This video shows one surfacing to breathe. They can hold their breath for 20 minutes when they sleep.

I loved how they would give me the side eye when they swam by.

This video was right at the end of our swim. The one at the end came up to breathe right in front of me. The guide then got my picture with him!! I think he looks like he’s smiling!

After this picture, the guide asked if I was ok. The other two ladies in our tour swam back to the boat about 20 minutes before. I said I was good and he saw my blue lips! He declared it was time for us to go back! Dave told him they would have to drag me out! That’s exactly what he did!

Dave shot this video of one eating stuff off the boat lines.

It truly was an incredible experience. I highly recommend it! Crystal River is a cute old Florida town. I didn’t take pictures of our meals. They were delicious. We went to St. Johns Tavern Friday night. The Rueben was yummy. Saturday we went to BubbaQue’s BBQ. Another delicious meal and the brisket was fantastic. We stayed at The Retreat at Crystal River. Lovely hotel. I highly recommend!

As always, thanks for reading!

Bird is the Word

By wabisabisole

On September 30, 2025

In 2025, Beer, Oregon, Rainy Day, Road trip

Monday we left the coast and drove to Eugene, OR. It rained the entire drive and day for that matter. We’ve been so fortunate to have sunny days along the coast we didn’t complain. Our drive took us south to California and then west along the Redwood Highway. Yay! Big Trees!

Once we made it to Grants Pass, we hoped on the I-5 and worked our way north. Beautiful scenery along the curvy interstate.

Our reservation for the night was at the Graduate Hotel. If you ever get the chance, stay at a Graduate Hotel. They are the cutest. We stayed at one in Bloomington, IN a few years ago and loved it. We knew we would enjoy this one as well. Staying in Oregon Duck country, the room hit the mark.

Meanwhile in the Lobby….

For dinner we went to Silver Falls Brewery. We shared a pizza and salad.

After dinner we went to a fun speakeasy. After ringing the bell, you have to share the password to be let in. Unfortunately, we didn’t know it. However, on a Monday night, the bartender was happy to let us in & share the password. “Bird is the word.”

Inside the speakeasy had a well stocked bar and cozy seating.

Eugene was a great town to stop for the night and no doubt we could enjoy even more if we had more time. Final stretch back to Portland today. We catch the red eye home. Thanks for following along! Thanks for reading.

Coos Bay to Brookings

By wabisabisole

On September 29, 2025

In 2025, Beach, Beer, Google Map, Lucky, Oregon, Sake, Sushi

Before leaving Coos Bay, we drove over to Sunset Bay State Park. Another lovely state park with a beautiful beach and lighthouse.

Our drive south along the 101 from Coos Bay to Brookings was a little over two hours. Since we didn’t have Alfred to accompany us, I used another app called Autio. Autio has short 2-3 minute stories about places near you while you’re on a road trip. We used it a lot during our nomadic adventures in 2022. The stories are usually historical and informative. It was fun to learn about the small towns we were driving through. For example Bandon, OR is known for cheese and cranberries. Did someone say cheese? We decided to stop and check out the creamery and the free samples. While we were stopped, we walked through town and found Tony’s Crab Shack. Its very unassuming appearance was a sure sign the crab would be delicious.

After confirming with a local, we decided to have lunch.

After lunch, we were back in the car heading south. Next planned stop was the Prehistoric Gardens. But, wait! I see rocks in the water! Pullover so I can take a picture! The view never gets old. These were taken near Port Orford.

Now, for the Prehistoric Gardens. Even Autio had something to say about this road side attraction. The Prehistoric Gardens was the vision of E.V. Nelson. He moved his family to Oregon in 1953. He decided on using the southern Oregon rainforest as the location to build his dream. The Gardens opened on January 1, 1955. The Prehistoric Gardens is still family owned and there are 23 life-size, cement dinosaurs. The rainforest is the perfect setting for the massive creatures. Here are a few of my favorites.

After returning from our time- travel, we were back in the car searching for more rocks in the water! Easy to find! These pictures were taken at Golds Beach. Perfect spot to stretch our legs.

Our next rock spotting was at Meyers Creek Beach.

We stopped at Arch Rock State Park to view the Arch Rock and others.

Down the road a little further was Natural Bridges.

Before we knew it, we had arrived in Brookings. We checked in early and went to find a cold beverage. Chetco Brewing was the solution.

Dave picked sushi for dinner. What’s not to love?

Our hotel is right on the ocean and our room is on the third floor. We enjoyed another night of sleep with the slider door open and the waves crashing. The beach has so much driftwood. I wish I could bring home a couple big ones for the backyard!

It’s rainy this morning, messing up our hike plans. We’ve had amazing luck with the weather up until this point. We’ve head away from the coast today. Destination Eugene. See you soon! Thanks for reading!

Alfred Day

By wabisabisole

On September 28, 2025

In 2025, Beach, Camping, Oregon, Road trip, Sea Cave, Sunset

We had so much fun taking Alfred’s suggestions Friday we decided to make Saturday “Alfred Day”. We had a three hour drive down the coast from Lincoln City to Coos Bay. I already had a few spots marked and Alfred recommended all of them plus a few fun surprises. Off we go!

One final picture from our room in Lincoln City

Alfred’s first suggestion was to stop at Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area. Here we had a lovely view of the Pacific Ocean and Rabbit Rock.

We continued South on the 101. Our next stop, Boiler Bay, was also Alfred’s recommendation. The wave action was incredible.

The perfect Oregon Coast sunrise picture

Those are giant waves!!

Back in the car heading south, we drove through Depoe Bay. It is known for being the world’s smallest navigable harbor and whale watching adventures. Unfortunately, whale watching is best in the winter and early spring. We just had spanning views of beautiful Pacific Ocean!

Stopping at the Devil’s Punchbowl was on my list and also suggested by Alfred. Alfred had a hidden way for us to arrive. It was a little one- lane back road with a bike lane through Otter Rock. I took a video and Alfred is actually talking in it!

Devil’s Punchbowl was really cool and not what I was expecting. About 15-20 million years ago, the roofs of two adjacent sea caves collapsed as a result of erosion from waves and wind creating a large “Punchbowl”. The sea cave entrances are still there and can be accessed during low tide. Our timing was during high tide so we weren’t able to access the Punchbowl.

Once we were back on the 101, Alfred offered us a detour through the coastal town of Newport. We decided to take the detour. One reason was, we have seen “Mo’s” restaurants along the way and it has never been a good time for a meal. It was about 10 at this point and it opened at 11. Second reason, I thought we could shop for a bit and then eat lunch. Little did we know what awaited us! Sea lions!! They are so stinky and absolutely hilarious.

For your enjoyment- a short video. without the odor.

We shopped around and when Mo’s opened at 11 we were the second party seated. I need to tell you another Alfred story. Yesterday, as we were driving, he brought up food and specifically Oregon Coast clam chowder. Each day, we have shared a cup of chowder. Our favorite was at the Pelican in Cannon Beach. Alfred told us about Slumgullion. It’s Oregon clam chowder with Oregon pink shrimp on top. Mo’s was the first place Slumgullion has been on the menu. I felt compelled to order it. In a sour dough bread bowl. Seriously. It was delicious and our new favorite. The Caesar salad was good. We shared both.

After lunch we were back in the jeep heading south. Our next stop was at Seal Rock. Another of Alfred’s suggestions. The Oregon Coast views never get old or boring!

Wave Power!

The next stop was one I had marked and also one Alfred suggested. Devil’s Churn. It lived up to its name. Plus, we had a chance to walk a little around the other side of the cove. Again, beautiful.

Our next planned stop was one we were very excited about. Sea Lion Cave. I had it marked and Alfred mentioned it a couple of times. Apparently, sea lions hang out in the cave which you access via an elevator. It costs $18 a person. Except when the sea lions are out in the water preparing for winter and eating. Such was our experience. You can pay only $16 which includes a “rain cheque” for another entrance in a year. Whomp whomp. No sea lion caves for us. At least we had the joy of seeing them in Newport!

The credit goes to Albert for our next stop. Darlingtonia Wayside. It is a small area that has been set aside as a botanical preserve. It protects the fragile habitat of the Darlingtonia califorinica. Also known as the cobra-lily or pitcher plant. It is a carnivorous plant that attracts insects with its sweet smell and traps them, then digests them with bacteria juices in the stem. So cool. And oh so many! Thanks, Alfred. My science teacher heart was so happy.

Driving down 101 we were stuck in traffic for a quick minute. Only to realize a truck pulling fish crates toppled. Check it out. Notice the fish in the back of the truck and on the pavement. The guys were working so fast to get the fish in the truck!

As we rolled through Florence, OR, Alfred bid us farewell. We both were so sad to say goodbye to our friend. The Oregon Coast tour stopped after the central coast. Seriously, if you’re planning a road trip, check out GuideAlong. It is a really fun way to explore and learn about the area you’re exploring.

And finally, we arrived in Coos Bay where we are staying for the night. Based on the reviews and a couple bloggers, I picked Bay Point Landing. It’s an RV and glamping venue. Funny story. When we arrived, I went in to check us in. The receptionist tells me about the amenities- pointing in the direction of the indoor pool and she says also that’s where the showers and restrooms. Hmmmm… not sure how I feel about this. I thought we had a bath in our container… but, I didn’t say anything. I asked about laundry facilities. Yes, and she shows me on the map. And says there are also showers and restrooms (same building as laundry) that are closer to your cabin. Oh, no. We don’t have a bathroom? How did I f-k this up. I walk out to the car and say to Dave… I don’t know how I fu-ked this up but I did. Why, he asks. And I proceed to explain. He says, so very calmly, basically we are camping. Yeah… with a roof. And then I say “it’s only one night”. We drive around and look at the facilities. It’s very nicely kept. Then come to our container. I walk in and the kitchen is amazing. How in the world is there no bathroom. There is and it’s lovely. I’ve never been so happy! We’ve been laughing ever since. Our guess, the receptionist is new and didn’t know the difference between the containers. Some are smaller and probably don’t have a bathroom. Anyways, we are good, happy by the fire pit and did a load of laundry. Enjoy a video.

Campfire dinner. We picked up some smoked salmon and tuna for dinner. Plus crunchy curls and an apple from Trader Joe’s. Simple can be delicious.

We were hoping for another amazing sunset. Mother Nature had other plans. Dave told me to snap a picture before the fog completely rolls in. Sure enough…. Foggy fire pit night.

I appreciate you taking time to read to the end. That was a long one. As always, thanks for reading.

Cannon Beach to Lincoln City

By wabisabisole

On September 27, 2025

In 2025, Hiking, Oregon, Plank, Road trip, The Beach, Travel

Before leaving the northern part of the coast, we went to Ecola State Park for a lovely morning hike. Ecola SP has been the filming location for several movies. The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, Point Break and Twilight. The rocky coast line and dramatic cliff make it perfect for the big screen. Our hike was a 3.5 loop with 1000ft of elevation.

After our hike and check out, we started our drive down the coast. Our final destination was Lincoln City.

We are using the GuideAlong app again. Alfred our narrator, is like having an old friend in the car. Plus, he has so many stories and knows where all the fun places to stop are located. Like Pronto Pups! We wouldn’t have stopped for a Pronto Pup if Alfred hadn’t told us it was the original Pronto Pup location!

Our next stop was at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. We completed the self guided tour, sampled cheese and decided to enjoy some ice cream!

Alfred gave us two options for the drive. We could hug the coast or go more inland on the 101. We decided to take the scenic coastal drive. We had so many fun places to stop. The first was Cape Meares to see the light house and Octopus Tree! The Octopus Tree is a 300 year old Sitka Pine and there is still debate as to how the Octopus Tree formed. Naturally or was it created by humans. We may never know…

Our drive continued along the coast with a stop for some salt and salted caramels at Jacobsen Salt Company. (Another suggestion by Alfred) They harvest the salt from the Pacific Ocean and ship to chefs all around the world. The caramels made a lovely addition to our car snacks.

The last stop along this part of the coast was Pacific City. We hopped out to see the beach and were amazed at the giant sand dune.

We made it to Lincoln City in time for check in. The inn is right on the ocean. It’s so lovely. We slept with the sliding door open listening to the waves all night. Nature’s natural sound machine.

We enjoyed another amazing sunset. We walked the beach for a bit and then came back to the fire pits at the hotel.

More adventures await! Thanks for reading!

Cannon Beach

By wabisabisole

On September 26, 2025

In 2025, Beach, Beer, Cannon Beach, Oregon, Sunset

We had an early morning flight to Portland. Our flights were uneventful, which is always a good thing. Unfortunately, it took two hours to get our rental car! That ate our afternoon hike time. After a stop at Trader Joe’s (YAY!) for road trip snacks, we made it to Cannon Beach right in time for check-in.