| One minute I'm cruising around this really | | | | small mountain hovers over the sleepy little |
| cool new website about the Oregon coast, and | | | | beach resort, and on its north face lie some |
| the next I'm cruising around Highway 101, | | | | wild, weird slopes. The website said it |
| taking in all the clean air, the beautiful | | | | resembled Ireland in some spots, and scenes |
| sights, gobbling some wowing food and | | | | from "Planet of the Apes" in others. Somebody |
| visiting a lot of funky secret spots I found | | | | nailed it on the head. You walk down these |
| online. It's a wondrous trip that's hard to | | | | steep, grassy areas to come across a strange |
| forget.It begins with this site Oregon Coast | | | | seascape of jagged, freaky rock structures |
| Beach Connection: rather new, but already | | | | and boiling surf. It was absolutely |
| huge and all-encompassing in its coverage of | | | | remarkable.I again follow the website to a |
| the upper half of the coast. I started by | | | | place called Hug Point, near Cannon Beach. |
| goofing around the virtual tours (not all of | | | | I'd been here before, actually, but never |
| them are completed), which have on average 60 | | | | seen the array of veiled pleasures and |
| different stops along various areas of the | | | | interesting details tucked away in one rocky |
| coast. I found some interesting hidden | | | | area or another. There's a waterfall, a few |
| beaches near Cannon Beach, down in Newport | | | | sea caves (one has some intricate structure |
| and near Manzanita.The site has this | | | | inside that's fun to crawl), and this rather |
| awe-inspiring, sprawling news section, where | | | | mysterious road going around the point. |
| I discovered some great restaurants and | | | | According to Beach Connection's site, the |
| hotels. I used their weather page to check | | | | state had dynamited this road out of the rock |
| the forecast just before I left on this | | | | in the early part of the century so old horse |
| really sunny weekend in February - and just | | | | 'n' buggies and Model T's could make their |
| like one of their stories about "winter | | | | way around during high tides.The area is a |
| weather secrets" said it would be - it was | | | | geologist's wonderland too - but that's |
| exceptionally warm in February. See their | | | | another story.Next up, I wander Cannon Beach |
| news section at I head out for the coast, | | | | and wind up in this tiny little wonder called |
| first gobbling up insane seafood on the | | | | Fultano's Pizza. I ordered the penne pasta |
| scenic, pristine Tillamook Bay at Pacific | | | | with meat sauce - and meatballs, of course. |
| Oyster. They have this cioppino to die for. | | | | These meatballs are exceptional, with a |
| It's thick, hearty and so stocked full of a | | | | marvelously multi-layered taste to them, like |
| variety of fish it puts a hatchery to shame. | | | | the subtleties you find in fine wine. The |
| The oysters are like tender little chunks of | | | | meat sauce is partially responsible for this, |
| beef: extremely rich and flavorful, quite | | | | also with a few layers of goodness all its |
| powerful for their miniscule size. The smoked | | | | own. This place is a truly gourmet discovery, |
| salmon burger was wonderful as well, and the | | | | yet not only is it totally kid friendly but |
| view of the bay was magnificent. 5150 Oyster | | | | thoroughly has a romance element as well.I |
| Drive. (503) 377-2323.That night, I stayed at | | | | came back here for dinner too, having this |
| the Old Wheeler Hotel: a wildly romantic | | | | seriously delectable pizza with a sauce made |
| hotel in the tiny town of Wheeler that was | | | | from mashed grapes. This was fabulous, and I |
| carved out of an old building once ready to | | | | must say I've never had anything like it. 200 |
| fall apart. This was totally amazing to | | | | N. Hemlock and Second Street. (503) |
| discover, as the place has an extremely | | | | 436-9717.That night, I bed down at a real |
| manicured, old world charm, with hard wood | | | | charmer of a motel called the San Dune Inn in |
| floors, chandeliers, clawfoot bathtubs and | | | | Manzanita, where I'm joined by my lady friend |
| views of the untouched and pure Nehalem Bay. | | | | and her dog. This place is super dog |
| It's been nicknamed the "Westin-Benson of the | | | | friendly.They have a large selection of |
| Oregon Coast." I'm addicted and will be back. | | | | movies, as well as other unique things I've |
| Hwy 101 and Gregory. | | | | never seen at a motel, like bikes for use of |
| 877-4theview.Practically next door, it's pure | | | | guests, volleyball gear, beach balls and |
| pizza heaven at a fairly new eatery called | | | | other beachy equipment. Wow. We had a blast |
| Guido's Ristorante. The staff here was | | | | biking down to the beach (only a few blocks) |
| constantly hilarious - a little like watching | | | | and laughing as we got stuck in the sand. |
| the cast of "Seinfeld" interacting. But it's | | | | That night, after drinks at Guido's |
| the grub that was the real star of the show, | | | | beautifully hip little retro bar (just a few |
| with a thick, even juicy crust beneath a | | | | miles away), we dragged the bikes out again - |
| forest-like covering of innovative | | | | although I'm not sure if this what the owners |
| ingredients. The main chef there (he called | | | | had in mind for these. 428 Dorcas Lane. |
| himself Guido, but I think that was part of | | | | 888-368-5163.In the morning, we scarf down a |
| the gags of the evening) said he'd help me | | | | combo of leftovers from Guido's and |
| decide on my pizza selection and just make | | | | Fultano's, and slowly make our way north |
| something up for me.I shyly asked about | | | | towards home. We stop at a castle-looking bed |
| meatballs on my pie, and he not only said | | | | & breakfast called Arch Cape House and take a |
| "yes" but eventually brought me a masterpiece | | | | look around, completely awe-struck. Antiques |
| with various kinds of cheeses, a delicious | | | | filled these rooms, and the place looks like |
| marinara sauce drizzled on the meatballs and | | | | something between a castle and a ski lodge. |
| some kind of garden of vegetables which I | | | | We make a vow to the owners to be back and |
| can't even remember. This place also had an | | | | stay here next time. East Ocean Rd. - S. of |
| outstanding view of the bay. 675 Hwy 101, | | | | Cannon Beach. 800-436-2848.For more |
| Wheeler. (503) 368-7778.The next day, I | | | | information on the Oregon coast, make sure |
| wander up just north of Manzanita to check | | | | you go to You'll find virtual tours, |
| out one of the incredible hidden spots I'd | | | | weather, lodging, dining, and as they claim, |
| found at A set of grandiose cliffs and a | | | | loads of "beach secrets. |