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O R E G O N  C O A S T
We took a drive up HWY-5 to Portland, stopping in Eugene and visiting the campus on the same afternoon as the UCLA/Oregon football game. After a couple days in Portland and meeting up with some friends, we drove out to the coast on HWY-26 and spent the next five days driving along some of the most beautiful coastline imaginable. We wanted to pull over every five minutes on the stretch from Newport to Florence, the highlight being the World's Smallest Harbor, Depoe Bay. Over the four days down the coast we caught four awesome sunsets, and were treated to good weather throughout most of the drive (the one exception being some rain at Bandon Dunes, but that only prevented us from spending $265 on a round of golf). We did manage two rounds of golf at Sandpines G.C. in Florence and Salmon Run G.C. in Brookings, then drove through the Redwoods on our way home.
Date Start ~ End Stops Sights
S A N  F R A N C I S C O  T O  M E D F O R D  (+/-)
October 13, 2006 SF ~ Medford Redding Drove from San Francisco to Medford, Sundial Bridge, 45th Parallel
SF ~ Medford Mt. Shasta Mt. Shasta
SF ~ Medford Medford Motel 6, Big Bear Restaurant
M E D F O R D  T O  P O R T L A N D  (+/-)
October 14, 2006 Medford ~ Portland Eugene University of Oregon, "Animal House" house
Medford ~ Portland Salem Costco
Medford ~ Portland Portland Downtown Portland, Steel Bridge, Burnside Bridge, Pearl District
P O R T L A N D  T O  B E A V E R T O N  (+/-)
October 15, 2006 Portland ~ Beaverton Portland Nike Factory Outlet, Lloyd Center, Pearl District, Washington Park (downpour)
Portland ~ Beaverton Beaverton Big Bear Restaurant, Burger King, Comfort Inn
B E A V E R T O N  T O  N E W P O R T  (+/-)
October 16, 2006 Beaverton ~ Newport Beaverton Nike
Beaverton ~ Newport Cannon Beach HWY-26 to Seaside, Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock
Beaverton ~ Newport Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi Old Smokestack
Beaverton ~ Newport Tillamook Tillamook Cheese Factory
Beaverton ~ Newport Neskowin Beach
Beaverton ~ Newport Lincoln City Tanger Outlets, SUNSET on Lincoln Beach
Beaverton ~ Newport Depoe Bay
Beaverton ~ Newport Newport Days Inn, Bayfront, Whale's Tail
N E W P O R T  T O  F L O R E N C E  (+/-)
October 17, 2006 Newport ~ Florence Depoe Bay Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center, World's Smallest Harbor
Newport ~ Florence Cape Foulweather Otter Rock
Newport ~ Florence Newport Yaquina Head State Park, Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
Newport ~ Florence Newport Nye Beach, Newport Bayfront, Yaquina Bay Bridge, Rogue River
Newport ~ Florence Yachats, Seal Rock
Newport ~ Florence Heceta Head Heceta Head Lighthouse, Cape Creek Bridge
Newport ~ Florence Heceta Beach Safeway, Drifwood Shores, SUNSET on Heceta Beach
F L O R E N C E  T O  B A N D O N  (+/-)
October 18, 2006 Florence ~ Bandon Heceta Beach Morning Walk, Oregon Dunes
Florence ~ Bandon Florence Sandpines Golf Course (Mas-98) the day before the Oregon Coast Open, Siuslaw River Bridge
Florence ~ Bandon Florence Florence Bayfront, Mo's Restaurant, Siuslaw River Bridge
Florence ~ Bandon Reedsport Umpqua River Bridge
Florence ~ Bandon North Bend, Coos Bay Coos Bay Bridge
Florence ~ Bandon Bandon Bandon Golf Shop, Ray's Supermarket, Old Town Bandon, Bandon Inn
B A N D O N  T O  B R O O K I N G S  (+/-)
October 19, 2006 Bandon ~ Brookings Bandon Dunes Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails
Bandon ~ Brookings Bandon Old Town Bandon, Bandon Fish Market, Bandon Coffee Cafe, Bullards Beach, Coquille River & Lighthouse
Bandon ~ Brookings Bandon Beach Loop: Bandon Rocks, Face Rock, Bandon State Natural Area
Bandon ~ Brookings Port Orford Ocean View of Port Orford Port, Humbug Mountain, Nesika Beach, Otter Point
Bandon ~ Brookings Gold Beach Rogue River Bridge, Gold Beach, Cape Sebastian Scenic Corridor, Pistol River, Thomas Creek Bridge, Natural Bridges Cove
Bandon ~ Brookings Brookings Harris Beach State Park, Spindrift Inn, SUNSET at Harris Beach
B R O O K I N G S  T O  A R C A T A  (+/-)
October 20, 2006 Brookings ~ Arcata Brookings Starbucks, Chetco Community Library, Salmon Run Golf Course, Chetco River, DQ
Brookings ~ Arcata Crescent City Del Norte Coast Redwoods Park, Big Lagoon
Brookings ~ Arcata Moonstone Beach SUNSET at Moonstone Beach, Luffenholtz Beach
Brookings ~ Arcata Arcata Downtown Arcata, Motel 6, Mazzotti's
A R C A T A  T O  S A N  F R A N C I S C O  (+/-)
October 21, 2006 Arcata ~ SF Arcata Wildberry's Market, Downtown Arcata Farmer's Market
Arcata ~ SF Avenue of the Giants
Arcata ~ SF Garberville Calico's Cafe
Arcata ~ SF Mendocino Mendocino Valley and Vineyards
Arcata ~ SF Windsor 50,000 miles on the Toyota!
Arcata ~ SF San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge
N O T E S  (+/-)
Approximate Driving Times
North to South
2hrs HWY-26 (East to West) Portland/Beaverton to Canon Beach HWY-101 2hrs HWY-101 Canon Beach to Tillamook
1hr HWY-101 Tillamook to Lincoln Beach 15min HWY-101 Lincoln Beach to Depoe Bay
10Min HWY-101 Depoe Bay to the Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint 10min HWY-101 Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint to Cape Foulweather
10min HWY-101 Cape Foulweather to Yaquina Head State Park 5min HWY-101 Yaquina Head State Park to Newport
1hr HWY-101 Newport to Florence 2hrs HWY-101 Florence to Bandon Dunes Golf Course
10min HWY-101 Bandon Dunes Golf Course to Old Town Bandon 3-4hrs HWY-101 Old Town Bandon to Brookings-Harbor
10Min HWY-101 Brookings-Harbor is approx. 10min from the California border
Haystack Rock Closer access is South on HWY-101. There is a parking lot across the street from the Canon Beach Surf Shop.
Lincoln City Beach The beach access near the South end of town is very cool. Easy parking and path to the beach is near Siletz Bay on SW 51st St.
Bandon Rocks You can't miss Beach Loop Drive in Bandon. Take the 101 through Old Town Bandon to Beach Loop Drive. Stop off at Bandon Rocks, Face Rock, and the Bandon State Natural Area. The drive will take you right back to HWY-101, a little South of Bandon.
Golf: Sandpines G.C. Sandpines is a fantastic course located in the dunes of Florence. Hole No. 7 was one of the most beautiful holes I have ever played, an uphill Par 5 where you want to stay out of the dunes to the left. The finishing three holes are spectacular, with water coming into play on each hole. However, my favorite hole was No. 10 and all the trees. I hit a good tee shot and had a 9-iron into the green.
Golf: Salmon Run G.C. Salmon Run is a very narrow course and will test you out mentally. No. 2 will make you sweat with OB to the left and right and a narrow fairway to hit from an elevated green. Take 2 balls with you to the tee. No. 4, Par 3 features an island green and seems to play it's length even though you tee off from an elevated green. No. 9 and No. 18 share a large green next to the clubhouse. The staff here are very friendly and accomodating.
O R E G O N  C O A S T