Florence Ideal for Central Oregon Coast Stay

The Oregon Coast needs no introduction for people familiar with the scenic wonders of the Pacific Northwest. With its jagged shoreline, beaches, forests and natural beauty, the coast has long been a favorite for Northwest getaway travelers.
The central Oregon Coast is no different - except that you start to encounter some things you don't see a lot of along the northern part of the coast. Sand dunes, for example, stretch for 40 miles south of Florence, Oregon, providing a recreation paradise for the ATV crowd as well as nature-lovers. Throw in a quaint historic downtown and 17 lakes and you can see why Florence, Oregon is a popular destination.
We stayed at the Driftwood Shores on our most recent trip to the area, enjoying a room that almost seemed like a room on an ocean liner because of the expansive ocean view. But in between the hotel and the ocean are seemingly endless beaches where it's easy to wander off and just become totally lost in the moment as you listen to the crashing surf and explore the beach for sea creatures and oddities that may have been brought in by the tides.
The Driftwood Shores offers condo-style rooms with kitchen facilities - although the resort has an excellent restaurant with gorgeous beach views if you don't want to cook. The complex is designed so that most if not all the rooms have excellent coastal views.
Our trip was in early spring when temperatures were still winter-like and the stubborn coastal clouds would only occasionally give way to sunshine. As often happens along the coast, the clouds opened up and gave us some fairly significant rainfall off and on over our two-day stay. But no matter - you don't visit the Oregon Coast in winter for the sunshine - you come here to get in touch with Nature and to feel a little more alive as you experience the storms and winter weather that Nature may have in store.
While it's easy to just hang around the Driftwood Shores, walking the beach or reading a good book as you enjoy the view out your window, there is plenty to explore just a short distance away. There are parks all along this section of the coastline - places you can drive to, park, and then get out and explore the local beach and terrain.
If you head a little bit south, you encounter the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area, which runs 42 miles between Florence and North Bend. If you can imagine, you'll find dunes here more than 300 feet high -- especially appealing to visitors who take dune buggy tours or rent ATVs. It's also possible to see the dunes on horseback.
Come back into Florence and just on the northern side of the Siuslaw River you'll enjoy spending a few hours at Historic Old Town Florence, a charming part of the city where you can explore art galleries or visit antique stores or savor a tasty lunch or dinner at one of the local restaurants specializing in regional foods and wines. It's fun to walk along the Siuslaw River with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate in hand, marveling at all the old buildings and the fascinating shops many of them house today.
North of Florence, a must-see is the famous Sea Lion Caves attraction, a place that allows you to descend from the high bluffs down a set of stairs to caves where you will see sea lions in just about the most natural habitat you can imagine. Supposedly, this is the only remaining home of the wild stellar sea lions on the North American mainland.
Another attraction in this area is the Heceta Head Light and Keeper's House, high above the churning and turbulent waters of Devil's Elbow tide pools and Cape Creek. You can walk up to the lighthouse and keeper's house and take a tour (offered only on weekends in winter).
A little further north is the highest point on the Oregon Coast - Cape Perpetua, where you can learn more about the area in the visitor's center and, during winter, watch the whales as they migrate off the coastline.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Florence, Oregon is along the central part of the Oregon Coast, due west from Eugene on Highway 126.

WHAT: The Florence area offers many of Oregon's most spectacular natural resources and is a popular place for visitors who enjoy the scenic beauty of the Oregon Coast.

WHEN: Anytime of the year. During winter, the temperatures will drop quite a bit and there are occasional winter storms. Roads and accommodations will be more crowded in summer.

WHY: This area might be a little quieter than the northern part of the Oregon Coast, especially during peak travel times. Easy access from Eugene makes this an attractive loop route traveling south on I-5 to Eugene, 126 over to Florence and then north on the coast until you take one of several highways east to I-5.

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Sight Viewing on the Oregon Coastline

Nicely, Cannon Seaside is the location to go! It is situated 70 miles from Portland, Oregon and provides a spectacular seashore with extraordinary sunsets and the sand there will feel great on your feet for your daily walk alongside the Or coast. And, don't overlook about seeing the world well-known Haystack Rock because it is situated right here at this premier seaside holiday destination.
Besides the typical tourist attractions there are a range of tours that you can take about specific items of interest and several are alongside Freeway 101.
At Cannon Seashore you can enjoy days full of adventure and excitement. Plan a trip to see the extraordinary nearby wildlife, museums, or the historical parks. Go to neighborhood pubs, bakeries, beautiful spas, wineries, bars & grills, lounges, alongside with a relaxing boat ride along the Or coastline. You will be lucky sufficient to watch and hear the waves gently landing alongside the base of the Haystack Rock and you will take pleasure in an instant relaxation.
You might want to start your sight viewing with one of the well-liked points of interest. If you are into airplanes or history, you will want to visit right here to see one of the top five privately owned naval collections in the nation.
Seeking for memorable lodging? Try out The Ocean Lodge and you will be glad you did. This lodge together Cannon Seaside in Oregon delivers a distinctive 1940's type and is a very renowned resort. Yet another fantastic lodging concept is the Arch Cape Inn & Retreat. You will adore it from the moment you enter the front doors.
To appreciate animals in their normal habitat you can travel off the coastline freeway and go inland to the Wildlife Safari in Winston, OR. Just bear in mind that they are still wild and don't get out of the automobile!
Whilst staying at Cannon together the Oregon coastline don't forget to check out all of the antique shops, go surfing, or rent a bicycle for the day. If you adore live theater, then Coaster Theatre Playhouse is certain to be a stop on your list. The Picnic Basket delivers homemade fudge and cotton candy for the sweet tooth in anybody.
Stepping back in time to 1885 will take you to the Flavel House Museum, a Queen Anne fashion Victorian House in Astoria, OR. You will see period furnishings and it will give you an concept of what Astoria was like in this time period. The shopping at Cannon is endless. You will surely run out of time before you run out of shops to visit. Don't overlook about Cannon Beach being known as a great art community, so be positive to save time on your trip for a unique art gallery stroll.. Lots of couples have been married on Cannon Seaside and then enjoyed a romantic honeymoon there, as nicely. It makes for a special destination wedding, too.
After seeking at these normal attractions you might want to go to some of the particular wonderments in architecture. Remember the movie Pete's Dragon and all the work close to the lighthouse? Well, together the Or Coastline you will locate eight lighthouses that you can actually tour.
These light houses are historically preserving the maritime heritage of the Or Coastline. Although the lighthouses aren't utilized today as they as soon as were simply because of modern technology, they are a component of the normal landscaped. Most are positioned on the prominent headlands or near major estuaries that supported maritime activity they now are becoming preserved for historic displays so you can see what life was like for the light keepers.
An additional architectural tour you'll want to discover is the Freeway Bridges together US 101. Conde B. McCullough was a master bridge builder who started building bridges In Or in 1919. You can find a brochure of all the bridges on-line.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/sight-viewing-on-the-oregon-coastline-3544692.html

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