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