As far as beautiful scenery is concerned, the Oregon coast is up there with the best. The coast offers a mixture of sandy beaches, dunes, rock formations,  rocky cliffs and forested hills.
(Click on the pictures to make them bigger, then use your back button to come back to this page.)
The blue of the sea really complements the blue of my plumage don't you think?
Pristine deserted beach
Near Florence, we found the Sea Lion Caves. In order to get into the caves, we took and elevator down 280 feet into the largest Sea Lion caves in the world (according to Guinness)
Sea Lion Cave
This is home for the wild Steller Sea Lion, they live in and around the caves year round.
The bull can weigh up to 700 pounds and they bark like dogs.
Sea lions on the rock, see the big bull?
They seemed a bit short-tempered and on top of barking really loudly at each other, they didn’t seem to mind having a good fight once in a while.
Sea Lion fighting
If you ever find yourself in Florence OR, don’t miss going to eat at the Waterfront Depot Restaurant, you will get out-of-this-world food for a very down-to-earth price. We especially enjoyed the crab-encrusted halibut. Reservations are highly recommended because it is very popular.
Best restaurant in Florence
Old Town Florence is a really cute shopping area, about two blocks of boutiques and restaurants.
Old Town
About 15 miles north of Florence we saw the Heceta Light House, built in 1894, its 0ne million candles beacon can be seen from 20 miles at sea. It is claimed to be the most photographed lighthouse in the world, although we heard the same claim made about the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia, and if you ask me, Peggy’s Cove wins… but that’s my humble opinion.
Heceta Lightouse
Wildlife is abundant on the Oregon Coast, it was the first time we saw Black Guillemots, really cute black and white bird with amazingly bright red feet.
Black Guillemot Sea Bird
We took advantage of the scenery and had a wonderful on-the-road breakfast by the sea 🙂
Breakfast with a view
This afternoon in the campground, I saw my first ever “in person” beaver!
My first beaver encounter!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Hmmm. DOwntown here looks a lot like Laramie. You guys sure that you didn’t take a turn a wrong direction?
I know that you are getting ready for your cruise , which is going to make you very excited and happy, but I hope to talk to you before you set sail.
It is suppose to be 100 degrees here tomorrow. I think that you are going the right way. If I do not talk to you before you leave, here is a big ol’ hug!
Love ya,
Have fun.
Paula
June 18th, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Wow, looks beautiful! As for the beaver, he/she looks like the one that is living in my backyard!
Glad you are having a wonderful time.