The Perfect Oregon Coast Day

I use this blog for many things - to share funny stories, to document memories for my own perusal in future years, to post pictures of beautiful and unique places. What I less frequently do is tell others what they should do with their precious weekends and vacation days. This post might be an exception. For real, if you live in Oregon, if you like gorgeous places and (mostly) easy hikes, if you just like cheese and wine (and if you don't, I'm not sure we have much in common), you should do exactly this. In fact, what follows is a step by step guide to having a perfect day on the Oregon coast. 

Step 1: Choose a sunny and not too windy day. Good luck with this endeavor. Brandon, our friend Chelsea, and I set out for the coast on a sunny June day. The stunningly blue sky met the slightly deeper blue of the ocean, the soft white clouds provided depth to the vastness, but no threat of rain. It was also very, very windy.

Step Two: Stop at Face Rock Creamery in Bandon for picnic supplies.

I feel a bit ashamed to admit that we spent a rather ridiculous $100 (or so...) on cheese, wine, and various accompaniments. And yet, I have no actual regrets as I recall the delicious picnic(s) that followed later that day. With so many wonderful options to choose from, it's rather surprising that we did not spend more.

I'll just go ahead and take one of everything, please.

No need to plan ahead - Face Rock Creamery has everything you will need for a gourmet picnic. Well, assuming you keep a wine bottle opener in your hiking gear. Or maybe that's just me...

Moving on.

Step 3: Drive further south along the Coast to Cape Blanco State Park. Follow the signs for the Hughes House and then turn off down the gravel road to a small parking lot. Park here. Have Picnic #1. Our first thought was to have a picnic next to the Sixes River, but the relentless wind made this a futile goal. We settled for the somewhat sheltered, if less scenic, picnic tables.  

I'm already telling you how to live your life today, so I will just add this: Get the Cranberry Honey Fromage. You're welcome. 

Step 4: Enjoy the nice 4-mile loop trail that begins at the parking lot, continues through a meadow, turns left along the beach, climbs up the side of the cliff (supposedly...), offers a chance to see the southernmost lighthouse and the westernmost point in Oregon, and then returns through the woods and over the meadow. 

This short trail takes you to the spot where the trail divides - just keep going toward the sound of the waves.

Once we got to the beach, the mouth of the Sixes River to the right, we began to meander toward the lighthouse to our left. It was one of those lovely days with no agenda other than to be and to move vaguely toward the goal ahead. To me, there are few things more relaxing and healing than walking along the beach. 

And this is where things got somewhat less relaxed and healing. In theory, there is a trail from the beach up to the top of the cliffs. We did not find it. What we did find was a steep ascent up the hillside through thick green grasses and wildflowers, some as tall as me.

At one point I fell into an indentation from which I could not remove myself. Chelsea looked on helplessly as I managed various iterations of an I'm-still-not-getting-out-of-here posture. The hilarity of the situation only increased as I literally grasped at straws and fell back yet again onto my rather sore behind. Somehow, I eventually managed to pull myself out and continue trudging up the hill, reaching the top while gasping for air and sending ill thoughts toward my husband who had abandoned me to my fate in his quest to no longer be climbing up the hillside.

On the bright side, I did get a nice close up view of the flowers.

The views from the top would have taken my breath away if the hike up the hill had not already done so. 

We walked along the road from the lighthouse, past the campground, and eventually took a left to rejoin the trail that would take us back to where we started. 

Before really beginning the second half of the hike, we stopped for a well deserved Picnic #2. We opened the apple wine and brought out what was left from Picnic #1. I hope everyone has moments like this - surrounded by beauty, perfectly at peace, sharing wine and laughter with your people. There is a tangible happiness in moments such as this that is simple, yet sustaining. 

We carried the lightness with us as we entered an unexpectedly dark wood that seemed to be something out of a fairytale. I imagined that any moment we would catch a glimpse of the evil witch's cottage or stumble upon the trapped heroine, just waiting for the curse to be broken. 

The eeriness of the woods made subsequent views of the coast even more astounding. 

I would probably blame the wine...

We eventually made our way through the cliffside woods and back to the meadow where the hike began. And what a hike it was. 

If you need better directions, they can be found in the 100 Hikes book for the coast. Honestly, I recommend purchasing the book given that I couldn't find the trail from the beach to the lighthouse even with directions. And a literal lighthouse for a guide. When it comes to navigation, I wouldn't trust me either. 

Step 5: Return to Bandon for a fabulous and fresh seafood dinner. When on the coast, one must eat seafood. At least that's how I live my life. In fact, the chance to eat freshly caught seafood is alone an adequate reason to go to the coast. A couple of my favorite spots in Bandon are Tony's Crab Shack and Bandon Fish Market. Both are located along the water in Old Town Bandon; sometimes it is a literal tossup as to which one to choose. On this particular day, the urge for fish and chips (or shrimp and chips in my case) won out. Also, the salmon chowder was fantastic. 

Step 6: Go to Face Rock Creamery. Again. This time for ice cream. Because the day had not already been decadent enough, we made one last stop before making the drive home. 

I had the most lovely day full of wonderful things. Best of all was the time spent with my husband (I still love saying that!) and my friend. Relationship, in whatever form, is the magic of a perfect day, the exact replication of which is impossible and the addition of which is up to you. Of course, such a fun and food packed day might leave you feeling a bit like this: 

So maybe skip the ice cream. Other than that, go forth and do all of this. Also, may I suggest sunscreen.