Category: travel
Posted May 22nd, 2007 in Family Outing, Hiking, Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel |
A while back we posted a list of some of our favorite Gorge Hikes. Here is another quick reference list for family hiking on the Oregon Coast. There are PLENTY more to choose from but hopefully this provides a few ideas. Listed from North to South:
Tillamook Head: This trail gains quite a bit of elevation (about 900 feet) so it can be challenging for the kids but you will be following in the footsteps of the Lewis and Clark expedition! You can access this trail from the north in Seaside (parking is free) or from the south in Cannon Beach at Ecola Park (day use fee). Really a great trail but be prepared for many rest stops and it is recommended for older kids who may enjoy the historical connection as well as the natural beauty.
Cape Falcon and Neahkahnie Mountain Trails: Both of these hikes can be accessed from Oswald West State Park. The hike to Cape Falcon leads through a coastal forest and ends at the top of the cape. It is about 3 miles round-trip.
Neahkahnie Mountain is the only peak on the north coast that rises directly above the sea. You can travel on the trail through the woods and past the Devil s Caldron back to the highway. If you make the return trip from this point the total hike is about 2.5 miles. If you want to continue up the mountain, cross the highway and be prepared for an elevation gain of about 1200 feet over the two miles to the top. But you will enjoy spectacular views of the ocean when you get to the summit (do it on a clear day!). Take US 101 to Oswald West State Park (about 10 miles south of Cannon Beach). No fee.
Munson Creek Falls: Not right on the coast but only about 8 miles from Tillamook this is the highest waterfall in the Coast Range. Dropping over 300 feet, the falls are a dramatic sight and the hike is an easy mile each way. Take US 101 about six miles South of Tillamook and then head east on Munson Creek Road for 2 miles. No fee. If you like waterfall hikes, check out this recent article in Oregon Coast Today.
Cape Lookout: Cape Lookout is one of the best whale-watching sites on the Oregon Coast. The ideal whale watch season is winter but there are hundreds of gray whales that stay off the Oregon Coast in the summer, so you may still see one this time of year. The hike is about 5 miles round-trip. Go to Cape Lookout State Park located off of US 101, 11 miles southwest of Tillamook to access the trail head. Day use fee.
Cascade Head Trail: This one is on our to-do list. Mainly because it offers access to an area that is home to the threatened Oregon silverspot butterfly as well as a variety of rare wildflowers. The trail is six miles one way and can be accessed from the north or south. Both trail heads are off of US 101 a little south of Neskowin, Oregon.
804 Trail: This is an old road that is now part of the Oregon Coast Trail. It starts at Smelt Sands Park in Yachats. It passes a lovely rocky coastline that is great for exploring especially at low tide and ends at a seemingly endless sandy beach. Level, easy and about 1.5 miles round trip. Turn west on Lemwick Street just after you enter Yachats on US 101. No fee.
Cape Perpetua Hikes: There are many to choose from in the area. All are perfect for kids. Take the St. Perpetua Trail up to the lookout (about 3 miles round trip). Although up hill, there are plenty of views early on to keep the motivation going.
Other trails in the area provide access to the blowhole near Cooks Chasm (plan your trip for high tide) and to a giant sitka spruce. Both of these hikes are level and easy and only about two miles round trip. All of these trails can be started from the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center located 2 miles south of Yachats on US 101. Day use fee.
Heceta Head Lighthouse: This area is just a little north of the Sea Lion Caves. The beach next to the parking area is a great spot for a picnic, wading in the water, and kite flying. The trail to the lighthouse is only mile (1 mile roundtrip) and you may be able to enjoy a tour of the lighthouse at the top. On US 101 about 13 miles north of Florence. Day use fee.
Happy trails!
Photos: Tony and Gael at Heceta Head. Mila at stone house on top of Cape Perpetua overlook. The house was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the depression.
Posted May 19th, 2007 in Family Outing, Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel, Wildlife |
About two weeks ago we returned from a wonderful stay on the Oregon Coast. We stayed in a small beach house in Yachats, Oregon. Yachats is a cozy coastal community of about 600 souls half way between Newport and Florence.
It was our first time spending an extended period in the area, and I must say that we will definitely be back. No TV, no telephone, no internet, no other kids but no one was ever bored on this trip.
Yachats is the last outpost before you encounter a 20+ mile stretch of Oregon coastline that is free of development. The recreation opportunities were endless. Since the coast is primarily National Forest and state park land, we can only hope that it will remain pristine for many generations to come.
Among other activities, we spent a few mornings exploring local tide pools in the area. We checked out tide pools at Smelt Sands, Cape Perpetua, and Neptune Beach. Our favorite were the pools at Neptune and the photos included here are from that day. At every location we encounted sea stars, anemones, barnacles, mussels, crabs, fish, snails, and much more. But Neptune had the most abundant displays.
If you are going to explore tide pools, be ready to get wet, wear some sensible shoes – maybe even some gloves, and be ready to do some scrambling on rocks to find some wonderful surprises!
Consult a tide table and plan your exploration to coincide with low tide. Watch out for exposed animals as you walk along. For the best viewing, head for the lowest tide pools that are closest to the ocean. In the lowest pools, you are likely to see the most activity as well as the greatest variety of animals. But be mindful of the tide location and of the ocean at all times – don’t let yourself get stranded or surprised by a rogue wave.
When viewing the pools, tread lightly and be respectful of the animals. Don’t pry any animals from their locations. A gentle touch on a sea star by a curious little girl (or excited adult) is not entirely out of line but try to avoid touching of the animals as much as possible.
When you are ready to go, leave everything where you find it – except for garbage! Pack out any trash that you find (or any trash that you brought). It is never too early to instill some outdoor ethics in your kids.
After the fact, it is fun to learn more about the animals you encountered by consulting a field guide or the mighty internet.
But most of all enjoy the view and your time together, and just HAVE FUN!
Posted April 1st, 2007 in Milagros News, travel |
We LOVE New Zealand! In fact, Gael was conceived there. NZ is a stunning country with wonderful people and it is a very family-friendly destination. Although flights are expensive, once you are there lodging and food is very affordable.
Air New Zealand is having and incredible deal LA to Auckland with stopover in Fiji or the Cook Islands from $798. So you can break up the trip to NZ by staying a few days on a lovely island.
It’s fall in that part of the world right now but definitely still well worth a few weeks of travel. We can’t do the trip right now but maybe you can…
More info or book your trip on the Air New Zealand website.
This is a photo of us on top of Mt. Eden. Downtown Auckland is in the background.
Posted March 27th, 2007 in Milagros News, Parenting, travel |
There is a lot of confusion and concern over traveling with expressed breastmilk.
Luckily if you are traveling with a nursing child, you can take as much breastmilk as you would like. Of course the possible irony is that you won’t be traveling with a lot expressed milk if you are traveling with a nursing child.
But what about mamas traveling WITHOUT a child and pumping to ensure that supply continues? This is where things get tricky.
Mothering Magazine has an article that addresses this situation and provides some sound tips on how to make sure your breastmilk comes home with you:
Click here for the Mothering article
Posted February 13th, 2007 in Family Outing, Hiking, Milagros News, Outside of Portland, travel |
We took a break this weekend. It was long overdue. Life has been hectic for too long and promises to remain hectic until….well, I am sure it will slow down at some point…Anyhoo, we were the high bidders at our church’s annual auction a few months back and ended up with a house in Seaside for five days….Not just any days mind-you, those five days had to be February 8 – 12. It was a pretty good sized house and we invited along some friends – including Jon Maus and his family, who gets credit for the fun photos from the trip.
We headed out on Thursday and hit Sweet Tomatoes in Beaverton for lunch. Sweet Tomatoes is a salad and soup buffet – very affordable and family friendly. Before long we got set-up in our beach rental which was a block from the beach and the Seaside Promenade – aka The Prom.
The Prom is a seaside walkway that was constructed in 1920. It is a little over 8000 feet long and provides a paved stroll with views of the ocean as well as connections into the “tourist commercial” area of town. It is perfect for a walk, bike, or roll with little ones.
Among other attractions on The Prom is the small but homey Seaside Aquarium. The main attraction here is being able to feed the seals. Kids under 5 are free, adults are $7 and fish for the seals is an extra buck.
Another diversion we took advantage of was the historic carousel ($1.50 per person). This is situated in a mall of shops that, as was remarked by our friend Jamie, “is like the island of misfit toys for shops.” Shop located there include The Aspirin Store, Mostly Hats, MaryAnn’s $12.99 store….you get the idea, memorable but odd names…
Of course, this is the type of “tourist-trap” thing I have always associated with Seaside and has resulted in me avoiding the area until now. Having spent some quality time there, I see that the commercial area is actually quite small and easy to avoid. Finding some solace on the beach was no problem.In addition to sandplay and walks on the beach the hiking in the area was a special treat.
On the southern end of the beach looms stunning and dramatic Tillamook Head. In a journal entry Captain William Clark described his view of the Oregon Coast from the top of Tillamook Head in 1806 as well as the native villages in the area – home to the Tillamook tribe. You can take in that view and much more by hiking the Tillamook Head Trail which begins in Seaside (at the end of Sunset across from the Whaler’s Point development) and ends at Ecola Park in Cannon Beach.
The hike offers an combination of “peekabo” coastal views, the seclusion of walking through a dramatic coastal forest, and unique views of how the area has been shaped by humans. Hidden among the second growth canopy are tremendous stumps with notches where loggers had placed springboards to fell ancient giants. From Seaside to Ecola Point the trail is 7 miles one-way.
Another local feature that I will come better prepared for in the future is the Necanicum River. This flat water river begins its journey at Saddle Mountain in southern Clatsop County and ends it journey at the ocean on the northern end of Seaside. It is definitely kayak-friendly.
Our last day on the coast was spent visiting some of our favorite nearby areas: Mazanita and Oswald West Park. This is getting more than a little long so we’ll give details on those areas another time.
Seaside is about 80 miles west of Portland. Take US 26 west to US 101. Take US 101 north about 6 miles to Seaside. Parking for day trippers can be best found north or south of Broadway rather than right on the main strip. The rental company for the home we stayed in was easy to remember: “Beach Realty.”
Posted December 23rd, 2006 in Milagros News, travel |
We were visited at the store today by some fellow members of the Educator’s Bed and Breakfast Travel Network (EBB). They were delightful folks and hopefully we can host them in our home next time they are in town.
What is the EBB? The EBB is a network of educators and former-educators around the world that open their homes to fellow network members. Membership is open to all current, former and retired educators. As a member of the network, you can reserve a room at the home of other network members for only $36 per night – plus a small booking fee. This rate covers two adults and any children under 18 using the same room.
The host will provide you with a place to sleep and a breakfast in the morning. There are also opportunities for home-stays in the network for a little more per night. If you host someone in your home, you receive a $10 travel credit that you may redeem for use in the network.
We have been active members on and off for more than five years (first traveling as a couple and then as a family). We have stayed at homes in Hawaii, the Bay Area, New England, the Seattle-Area, Los Angeles, and more. All of the experiences were enjoyable and the hosts were very welcoming.
When you book a trip, you can review a detailed description of all hosts in a given locale. The descriptions usually tell a little about the host, the type of accomodation they have to offer, any pets that are present, smoking policies, etc. So you generally know what to expect when you arrive at a host’s home.
A couple things to keep in mind. You can’t book last minute – in fact the longer lead time the better. There are also no guarantees that you will get your first choice of a host. And sometimes you will not find an available host at all – this happened to us in Boston.
But the great thing about traveling like this – other than the bargain price – is getting to meet local folks and gain local knowledge and recommendations on what to see and do. We have made some lasting connections traveling this way that wouldn’t have happened using traditional lodging.
Does it work for family travel? Absolutely but there are some limitations.
You don’t have the full flexibility and privacy of a hotel stay and some hosts do not accept children (it will note this in their profile). Also you clearly can’t count on a crib or other special sleeping arrangement. Co-sleeping made this type of travel easy for us. Now that Mila is bigger, packing a thermarest and sleeping bag works well for her.
It is also important to recognize your child’s limitations. If your child is in a “high needs” stage, it is probably better not to burden a host with this type of challenge.
Overall, the travel tips, friendships, and company we have enjoyed far out weigh any negatives for us. Interested in finding out more? Go to: Educator’s Bed and Breakfast Travel Network. Happy Trails!
