Suggestions for Must see places along Oregon Coast: We are in the early planning stages of doing a road trip next summer that will include driving from Seattle down the Oregon Coast.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

We are in the early planning stages of doing a road trip next summer that will include driving from Seattle down the Oregon Coast. Any hotel tips, photography sites to shoot etc would be greatly appreciated. Most likely the trip will take place sometime in August.

Thanks

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

Virtually the whole Oregon coast is full of photo ops, but since you are starting in Seattle, north to south, Astoria is an old fishing town, Cannon Beach has amazing rock formations on the beach, with a park just to the north which has a great lookout, including Cannon Beach, and, further south, some very nice lighthouses, airplane museums, sand dunes, etc. You can drive from Seattle to Astoria in 3-4 hours and then meander south along the coast.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Fstop12 wrote:

We are in the early planning stages of doing a road trip next summer that will include driving from Seattle down the Oregon Coast. Any hotel tips, photography sites to shoot etc would be greatly appreciated. Most likely the trip will take place sometime in August. I also forgot to ask about the interior of Oregon, Must places to see, etc. Once again, Thanks in Advance.

Thanks

Preachdude Loc: Geneva, OH

AntonioReyna wrote:

Virtually the whole Oregon coast is full of photo ops, but since you are starting in Seattle, north to south, Astoria is an old fishing town, Cannon Beach has amazing rock formations on the beach, with a park just to the north which has a great lookout, including Cannon Beach, and, further south, some very nice lighthouses, airplane museums, sand dunes, etc. You can drive from Seattle to Astoria in 3-4 hours and then meander south along the coast.

I agree with your assessment of Cannon Beach. I've made quite a number of good images there.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The most upscale place I've found is the Stephanie Inn near Cannon Beach. http://www.stephanie-inn.com/ If you are on a budget, consider the very well managed Oregon State Parks. If you don't like tents, they have "Yurts". The entire range of motels to B&Bs is available.

The Oregon coast part of the trip is better than Washington. The Oregon highway has endless turnouts for scenic photography. The hard part of a single trip will be spending enough time on one or two stretches of beach to "learn" them.

I started to write that my favorite town was Newport. Then I looked at a map and remembered that all of the towns on the Oregon coast are favorites!

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

There is so much beauty along the Oregon Coast I have a difficult time picking out only a few. It's about 363 miles of fantastic views. My recommendation is simple. Stop by a Visitor Center and pick up a free publication called "The Original Highway 101 Mile-by-Mile Guide." Spend some time going through the publication, it will give you lots of ideas of where to stop.

Just take your time and enjoy a wonderful drive.

MtnMan Loc: ID

All good suggestions. A few years ago we thought we'd do the whole Oregon coast in a week in our camper. It took a return engagement the next year to finish.

BTW IMHO the best is the first bit of the nothern CA coast, especially the Redwoods.

But I too was going to recommend Astoria to start. The maratime museum there is delightful. You can take great images of the wonderful tower from the parking area as I recall. The images on the tower are very cool.

The nearby Lewis and Clark winter quarters restoration is also neat.

Also if you haven't been there and have the time an eastward excursion to Crater Lake isn't too far. Also the short excursion to the Oregon Caves well worth it.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

Fstop12 wrote:

We are in the early planning stages of doing a road trip next summer that will include driving from Seattle down the Oregon Coast. Any hotel tips, photography sites to shoot etc would be greatly appreciated. Most likely the trip will take place sometime in August.

Thanks

What a great trip!
We did the same thing, then we moved there!!!

I have lots of favorite places to see and shoot.
Mostly on the South coast, and I agree, dropping a little farther south into California is well worth it.

There are bridges, bridges, waterfalls, shipping ports, lighthouses, amazing rock formations

If you preferences, let us know and I can be more specific!

I really like the Coquille lighthouse in Bandon, Face Rock is there, and if you're in the neighborhood in September, they have the Cranberry Festival
http://tourism.bandon.com/events/details/bandon-cranberry-festival-154

GT

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

My favorite: Devils Churn, U.S. 101, Yachats, OR

Google this for some great example photos...

And be careful of the waves: http://youtu.be/N3O6kmL8x0Q

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

The Oregon Coast is chock full of great photographic sites, everything from spectacular sea stacks to quaint fishing harbors and lighthouses. You will have no problem finding beautiful shots along the entire length of the coast. Since you are starting in the north, your biggest challenge will be pacing yourself so as to hit major spots along your trip southward, but not short changing yourself and being too rushed when you get near the southern coast. Be sure to get as far down the coast as Bandon Beach and try to get both a sunrise and sunset there before you head back northward. Bandon is unique in that it has some great sea stacks and a very wide flat beach where you can get great shots of the stacks shooting from the beach when the tide is out. Some of the stacks will be rising right out of the beach at that time making for some great compositions. Enjoy.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Thanks EVERYONE for the responses. I am bookmarking each and everyone of them. Also, I mentioned earlier that we are thinking about exploring the interior portion of Oregon, away from the coast, so any suggestions on that part of Oregon would also be appreciated.

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

Fstop12 wrote:

Thanks EVERYONE for the responses. I am bookmarking each and everyone of them. Also, I mentioned earlier that we are thinking about exploring the interior portion of Oregon, away from the coast, so any suggestions on that part of Oregon would also be appreciated.

Here's some old scans of slides I took of the ghost town: Richmond Or, in 1970... and the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Google either one to find the locations...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allenteam/albums/72157657841606971

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Fstop12 wrote:

Thanks EVERYONE for the responses. I am bookmarking each and everyone of them. Also, I mentioned earlier that we are thinking about exploring the interior portion of Oregon, away from the coast, so any suggestions on that part of Oregon would also be appreciated.

Covered bridges! Oregon has a great collection of covered bridges and most are being preserved and maintained by local historical societies. There are good guides available on the Internet or from Oregon chamber of commerce or visitor centers.

If you are not aware, there is a good photographers guide for Oregon available through Amazon. It is Photographing Oregon by Greg Vaugn. Lots of good info arranged by regions. About $19. Worth carrying as a resource.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

Highway 138 out of Roseburg to Crater Lake is a great drive with LOTS of river views with small waterfalls. Diamond Lake near Crater Lake and of course, Crater Lake!!!

Lots to see and do, good idea to try and get a little bit of a handle on it before you go... So much to see, so little time!!!

GT

Fstop12 wrote:

Thanks EVERYONE for the responses. I am bookmarking each and everyone of them. Also, I mentioned earlier that we are thinking about exploring the interior portion of Oregon, away from the coast, so any suggestions on that part of Oregon would also be appreciated.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Fstop12 wrote:

We are in the early planning stages of doing a road trip next summer that will include driving from Seattle down the Oregon Coast. Any hotel tips, photography sites to shoot etc would be greatly appreciated. Most likely the trip will take place sometime in August.

Thanks

The Pacific Ocean is nice.