Haystack Rock | Going West Coastal

Haystack Rock

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August 13, 2013

life around portland

I love spending time on the Oregon Coast. It’s so very different than the East Coast beaches that Kenny and I frequented in younger years. The Oregon Coast is almost always cool, the water is freezing (to my old feet; Gavin and Grace don’t seem to mind – haha.) and the terrain is very rustic. Yet, at the same time, it’s easy to re-create many of the same experiences that shape our view of ‘going down the shore’. (Except instead of saying they are going ‘down the shore’, Gavin and Grace will probably said ‘heading to the coast’. 🙂 )

Sure, in Oregon, you can’t fully submerge yourself for a swim in the ocean (if you are in your right mind!), and the Fudgie Wudgie purveyors are seemingly absent, but a day spent on the beach in Oregon can very much be like those on the Jersey shore. Each provides its own charm – and I hope our kids will get to experience the wonder of both during their childhoods.

In Oregon, walks on the beach are fantastic – there are so many tide pools to find and explore, and the quick nips of small waves running over your feet while you walk along the edge of the ocean provide just the perfect touch of the freezing water. There’s plenty of sand to mold into castles, and plenty of “treasures” – like seagull feathers and crab shells and clam shells to unearth with which to decorate said castles. And given the monoliths rising from the sea floor, mountain backdrop behind the town, and old shore homes dotting the edges of the beach leading into town, there’s a lot for your eyes (and camera!) to take in. And bonus, if you’re like me – it’s usually way too cold to rock a bathing suit – automatic win right there! Another bonus is that the beaches don’t seem to get as crowded as I remember the Jersey shore being – probably because it’s cold – haha. But, on the positive side, you have plenty of room to spread out, relax and enjoy the day with your family.

We’ve been to Cannon Beach a few times now, and we always enjoy our time there. This time, we drove a bit further into the town, parked somewhere new and camped out near Haystack Rock. Yes, the rock from the early car chase scenes in The Goonies where the Fratellis hit the beach during the getaway.

It’s awesome – especially during low tide, when you can reach it by foot and explore the rocks and tide pools and check out the birds that make their home on the rock – like seagulls, terns and puffins. (We only saw – or should I say recognized – seagulls – haha.)

Before we discovered how fun exploring tide pools is, I had never seen many of these creatures in real life. I think the closest I ever got to a starfish was seeing Peach holographed onto the tank window at the end of The Seas with Nemo and Friends ride in Disney World. She’s funnier, but actual starfish are much more interesting :).

Here are some shots from a recent trip.