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