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We left Cannon Beach and headed south toward Newport with no rush and no strict timeline, which is exactly how this stretch of the coast should be done.
Our first official stop became Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint. Kira had hoped to stop at Hug Point State Park and Ecola State Park but both were temporarily closed due to erosion at the beach. While the views were undeniably beautiful, and it was a great stop for stretching our legs, we would not necessarily prioritize this stop again. There are honestly so many pullouts and opportunities for photos that if I let Kira stop at each one, we would still be in Oregon. So, if you miss one do not worry you will have plenty of opportunities for another!
The real highlight of this portion of the drive came when Kira and I both realized where we were …. Tillamook country!
Now, dairy may not love us, but we love dairy!
So naturally, we made our way to Tillamook Creamery. Tilly stayed in the car, perfectly content after two beach walks and ready for a nap. Inside, you can do a guided tour or like we did the free self-guided option, where we watched the cheese making process, and leaned fully into the free samples like we had earned them.
We headed to the cafeteria and ordered grilled cheese and tomato soup, which was absolutely the right decision. We definitely should have split one and did not. And then, because we have no self-control, we still ordered dessert. Kira picked one flavor, and I opted for an ice cream flight because committing to one option felt unreasonable.
We left with snacks, leftovers for Tilly, and zero regrets.
Before we went headed to our hotel for the night, we stopped at Devil’s Punchbowl. This area honestly looks like the ocean carved out a giant crater just to show off. At the right tide, it churns like a washing machine you absolutely would not survive. At low tide, you can walk down into it and even though we timed it right, the walkway to get there would have required parkour to get onto the beach so we opted to view from the lookout.
We had a relaxing trip down to Newport and it was a great stop off before we continued our trip. Stay tuned for our continued adventures into Bandon and the Redwoods!
** Written by Emily **
