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