TRVL Journal: Road-Tripping the Oregon Coast with Caley Vanular
Travel
TRVL Journal: Road-Tripping the Oregon Coast with Caley Vanular
2023 / 5 mins
Snowboarder and travel photographer Caley Vanular has the kind of far-reaching perspective most of us can only dream about. She describes herself as “living out of a suitcase” and lucky for us, she takes her followers along on her adventure-steeped travels to places like Baja, Vancouver, Wyoming and more. Travel along with Caley as she takes us on an action-packed day road-tripping the Oregon Coast. From the best ice cream to the best waves, she’s got the tips you’ll want for your next travel adventure. Read on for more from Caley:
There's something undeniably magical about the rugged beauty of the Oregon Coast, with its dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and charming coastal towns. The lure of the Oregon Coast was irresistible to me and my two adventurous friends, Sarah and Sophia. With some free time and a good weather window we embarked on a memorable road trip along the stunning Oregon coastline. It all began in the early hours of the morning as we loaded up my Landcruiser in Portland. After a few hours of driving, we found ourselves in the charming town of Cannon Beach, a hidden coastal gem. Our first stop was the best coffee shop on the coast: Sea Level Bakery, a cozy spot that offers Heart Roasters’ coffee and fresh baked pastries. We savored every sip of our coffee and mapped out our day's adventures.
Feeling caffeinated, the three of us decided to hike down the awe-inspiring bluffs of Manzanita. A hike along the Neahkahnie Mountain trail treated us to panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the rugged coastline below. It’s incredible to see the rugged coastline and the turquoise waters so up close and personal.
After taking it all in we headed to Oswald West State Park, a beautiful, protected beach known for surfing and amazing hikes. We unstrapped our boards, hiked a few miles down to the beach and paddled out. It wasn’t the best morning for surfing but the water was glassy and there was a slight haze over the rocks that was just so beautiful to be immersed in. I love surfing in cold water so much—it’s clearer and there are less people.
After a fun morning of surfing, we made our way to Nehalem for a well-deserved lunch at Buttercups, a local organic ice cream parlor and cafe. It is so hard to time hitting Buttercups when its open, so we decided to satisfy our sweet cravings by ordering ice cream for lunch.
The next part of our journey took us to Kelly's Brighton Marina in Brighton, Oregon where we rented a boat for a crabbing expedition. Armed with crab traps and overflowing enthusiasm, we set out onto the calm waters of Tillamook Bay. The excitement of pulling up traps filled with Dungeness crabs brought joy and laughter to our faces. We even learned how to measure the crabs to ensure they were of legal size before keeping them. With a bucket full of crabs, we returned to shore and cooked our freshly caught lunch. The satisfaction of devouring succulent crab legs, paired with the salty sea breeze, was so delicious. It felt extra great that we had to work hard for our meal.
Our road trip continued south to Pacific City, a place renowned for its towering sand dunes and stunning beach vistas. Hiking up these massive dunes provided a unique perspective of the coastline, and we marveled at the breathtaking scenery. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we sat atop the dunes, reflecting on our incredible jam-packed day road-tripping along the Oregon Coast.
