I spent three full days driving the 350 miles up the 101 freeway (the freeway that lines the entire Oregon coast), pulling over time and time again to gape at various panoramic views. The Oregon coast is a delight for any traveler. There are dozens of State Parks, hundreds of rocky beaches, and thousands of espresso huts dominate the coastline. Below you’ll find my favorite stops along the trip.
6 Must Stops Along the Oregon Coast (traveling South-North)
1). Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes have their own appeal. Budded between a forest and an ocean, these sandy hills offer diversity and seclusion. After a short walk through tall trees along Taylor Dune Trail, I was met by an ocean of dunes sprinkled with yellow flowers and thickets of brush. A few deer could be seen grazing amongst the flowers. You could spend an hour or even an entire day getting lost in this oasis.
2). Spouting Horn & Devil’s Churn
I traveled in style with my rolling Tiny Home. Stopping at campgrounds along the way.
After passing a few quintessential lighthouses, I pulled over at Cape Perpetua around 2 pm, which was the perfect time to see the spouting horn (high tide). The horn sneezed violently into the air, projecting a salty spray that, moments later, showered my upturned face. I imagined the oceanic geyser was Poseidon (the god of the sea) spitting on all the tourists.
After I was good and wet, I continued down the trail to Devil’s Churn, which resembles the inner battle of an upset stomach. So that’s why Poseidon keeps spitting on everyone…his tummy hurts!
3). Cape Kiwanda
This beach offers hiking, whale watching and beer tasting at the Pelican brewery. Just off-shore there is a gigantic rock sticking out of the water like an island, called “Haystack Rock.” Unfortunately, it was raining when I arrived at Kiwanda, a black cloud looming overhead, therefore too treacherous to hike up the slick sandstone cliff. Instead, I watched a whale breach again and again near Haystack Rock. She seemed to be putting on a show, and I felt the need to clap or cheer! Kiwanda’s beautiful scenery was only magnified by the furious ocean storm and the elated whale. I could have sat there, gazing out to sea, for hours.
4). Short Beach
It was the morning of my 29th birthday, and the sun was finally out. I heard about a hidden beach nearby, so I went early to check it out. With three waterfalls (one man-made and two natural), huge boulders and tide pools, “Short Beach” was literally alive!
I saw all sorts of tiny marine creatures, clinging to rocks and hiding in crevices. As the tide washed over their spongey bodies, they opened up and drank in the nutrients. It was really informational. I learned something! I think all elementary students (and 29-year-old women) should take a trip to the beach.
5). Tillamook Cheese Factory & Blue Heron French Cheese Company
Tillamook Cheese Factory is a tourist stop, but I’m a sucker for free cheese. They also offer a free self-guided factory tour which took about ten minutes. Afterward, I waited in line for some average tasting cheese and some surprisingly delicious Tillamook ice cream.
Just down the road, the Blue Heron French Cheese Company offers wine tasting and free samples of: cheese, barbecue sauce, dips, homemade horseradish and more yummy items! I ate a lunch of free samples and then washed it down with a wine tasting. Personally, I preferred the experience at Blue Heron over Tillamook, but mostly because Blue Heron was “french” and Tillamook was too crowded.
6). Fort George Brewery
I’m sure there are a lot of things to see and do and Astoria, but it was my birthday and I wanted to go beer tasting! Fort George came recommended by a friend, so we headed over there and enjoyed a flight of beer samples.
Where did you park your tiny house overnight in the astoria area? We were out at Christmas and found their zoning to be very unfriendly towards tiny houses. (We were looking at property to park a tiny on not towing one).
We didn’t… We were only there for an hour or so for beer tasting…
You two are such an inspiration. the idea has crossed my mind once or twice about doing what you do. how did you get started?
We want to start a homestead and are trying to figure out if vloging could help supplement the cost of it.
how long did it take to get some followers?
Thank you! It took a little while and quite a bit of work! We were working as hard on our website as we were on our house. We started with some savings though. Today, after almost two years of this project, we still don’t make enough money through YouTube, ads and Amazon to sustain ourselves on the road, but we’re working toward it.
Happy birthday to you !!!! What a great way to spend your 29th year. Just keep on trucking.
Happy trails, SteveP
I love the Oregon coast. We did the 101 trip in 5 days and stopped everywhere. What a heart opener.
Such incredible photos as always. I love that at night I get to settle in bed and read your blog. So much better than anything on TV. Happy Birthday Jenna and continued safe travels to you both and Salies of course. Your hair is so much longer that when I met you in the Orlando Tumbleweed Conference. Looks great!
What a spectacular coast! And great pictures!
Hi guys,
I have a couple of questions for you. How are your Onduvilla shingles holding up? I’ve been looking into them and can’t find any reviews on them.
Also, I’ve heard that composting toilets smell. How do you like yours? Any problems with it?
Our daughter plans to build a tiny home so any advice would be welcome.
Thanks,
Lori
The roofing is holding up just fine! It looks great with our house and resists branches like a champ!
Composting toilets do not smell as long as you know how to use them. They are a bit of a learning curve but such a no brainer for tiny houses. So much easier to deal with than black water and so much better for the environment. We love ours!
Use “no sent” lamp oil. An 1/8 inch rides on top of your compost and blocks all smells. WW2 answer to todays problem.
I have to agree that the Oregon coast is an adventure seekers paradise. I am lucky enough to live here. With your permission may I print out the Pit Stop Java photo and drop it by the shop while I am on my way to my job just up the road? Come visit us again. Save travels. Cant wait for your Alaska trip. My dream trip!
Absolutely! Share the fun and thank you for asking!
Your photos are UNREAL! I am so jealous! 🙂 I only wish I could look at them in a bigger size. And Oregon scenery actually looks pretty dramatic in rainy foggy weather.
Happy, happy birthday. Sounds like you had a great day.
the Oregon Coast looked amazing…you are having the time of your lives.
The Oregon Coast is amazing. I live in Cannon Beach during the summers. I visited Blue Heron with friends for a day trip. The goat there ate my friends hair.
Wait until you get to Alaska, you can’t throw a rock without hitting a coffee cart. Our Tiny had a previous life as a farm stand!
Great read…cool mini-house but the Amazon pitch at the end was just uber-lame. Ruined it for me.
Glad you like the post, though I’m sorry the Amazon pitch bothered you so much… But hey, we have to make a living too.
If you’ve value our work, why not support it? This is our job, our careers, many articles nowadays paid require subscriptions, just like magazine you purchase from the newsstand. We work just as hard creating those stories as we used to work in our previous 9-5 careers. We spend enormous amounts of time processing footage and have many expenses related to the creation of those articles, including gas, lodging, insurance, website maintenance, equipment maintenance, etc etc etc. Yet you can still read them for free if you want to.
We are asked a lot by people how they could help our project so we just give them the option if they feel like it, there is no obligation. And with Amazon links, it’s virtually free for the person shopping! Whatever you’d already buy on Amazon, just do it through our links. It doesn’t cost you a penny more, but it sends a small percentage our way. Again, you don’t have to do it if you don’t believe in it.
What’s so wrong with system?
I’ve finally caught up with your blog after starting to read it from the beginning about a week ago. I love the adventures and all the hiking! It amazes me that you can live in such a small space…i’m impressed with everything you have done so far with the tiny house & the travels! Please keep posting….I can’t wait for the next story.
p.s. I like the amazon pitch and I love your dog!! 🙂
Thank you so much! That’s very nice of you to say. We’re glad you think what we have to share is entertaining 🙂
Same as above. Great posts. Beautiful photography. Looks like fun traveling in your little home. I look forward to reading your posts.