West Coast Road Trip: Finale-Part 6 – Oregon!

Hi guys I can’t believe we’re at the final stretch! This is the last post of our West Coast Road Trip and I am sad to see it end. This trip was a once in a lifetime whirlwind and we had the best time. I think something I took away from this whole experience was being able to spend 2 full weeks in a car with John and not having fights or disagreements. We truly are great travel companions and I think that is so important to have, especially since we LOVE to travel.

With that being said, let’s jump right into it! After the Redwood National and State Parks you can read by clicking here, we were off to John’s grandparent’s Ranch that is located in Oregon. I was SO excited to arrive because John talks about his grandfather’s ranch all the time and truly looks to him as an inspiration of how he wants to live his life. He always spoke and still does speak of his grandfather in such a high regard that I felt so blessed to accompany him on this journey.

Driving to his grandfather’s had amazing beaches. West coast beaches look SO much different than the East Coast. The first random beach we drove past in Oregon had HUGE rock formations all over the sand. It was so unique and very different than anything I have been use to seeing on the New Jersey Shore.

Again, look how big!

The beach itself was actually FREEZING. You can’t tell in this photo but I definitely had two sweaters on and John was wearing a hat.

I mean, just look how stunning this view is! I really couldn’t have taken enough photos of this view as it was gorgeous. John had been telling me about these beaches and how unique they are compared to New Jersey the whole car ride so actually seeing them in person was so awesome.

We headed over to Florence, Oregon for the night before fully making our way to his grandfather’s ranch. In Florence we stayed at a place called “Park Motel and Cabins.” I thought it was super cute but you have to like cabins to agree. They have a bunch of different types of cabin styles to stay in that is actually close to the downtown of Florence with all the restaurants. This was a fun way to go “glamping.” I actually give this place a lot of credit because they have a washer and dryer on site and it broke. When we told management who lived onsite about this they personally took our clothes and finished washing/drying them for us at no extra cost. They really were so kind and personable!

Side Note: This location IS dog friendly for all you dog lovers like myself.

For dinner that night we went to a restaurant called “Los Compadres Taqueria.” This was a tiny little spot we thought could be a bust by the way it looked but turned out to be a nice hole in the wall. My burrito was great and the margarita was even better. I recommend!

For breakfast the following morning, we ate at this place called “Little Brown Hen Cafe” which funny enough ended up being right next to the Mexican Restaurant we ate at the night before!

After grabbing a bite to eat and checking out of our hotel we headed over to “Sea Lion Caves.” Sea Lion Caves is America’s largest sea cave and the year-round home of the Steller Sea Lion, which I think is pretty cool. Once you arrive and survive the cute gift shop/buy tickets you can walk around outside and view the ocean and you might even see a whale. We did!

After viewing around for a little bit we decided to go see the seals! For this process you actually took an elevator that brought you down into the cave itself. The elevator could only hold around 10 or less people at a time.

After we saw the seals we headed over to “Oregon Coast Aquarium.” This was a small Aquarium I think we could have passed on our trip. During this trip at the Aquarium John realized he confused this Aquarium for a different one and so we were not as captivated as we had hoped.

One thing about here I did enjoy was a room full of birds you could close and personal too.

There were also sea otters which I really love because they are just so cute.

Once were done with the Aquarium we were FINALLY off to see John’s grandparents. Don’t worry guys we are almost there! It felt like forever until we reached this final destination but we are so close. Before getting to his ranch we took a detour as John wanted to show me a little town near by (and when I say near by I mean 20 minutes away) that he remembered visiting as a child. When we got there he noticed so many places changed/were updated and he almost seemed sad but understood as he had not been here in several years.

We even grabbed a bite to eat with a view of the ocean at this small restaurant and it was some good eating. Unfortunately I can’t remember the name of place, I’m sorry ya’ll! To be honest I don’t even seem to remember the name of that small town either.

FINALLY we were headed to the ranch. The suspense at this point had been killing me. I remember being so paranoid driving there wondering if I would be accepted or approved. John spoke so highly of his grandfather I wanted nothing more than to make a good impression.

We made it! John’s grandfather has acres and acres of land consisting of a bay, horses, chickens, a donkey, and cows. Here you can see the field and his house in the background that he hand built himself (In the photo above).

This is a view from their kitchen window. Could you imagine waking up every morning to this stunning view? Overlooking your pasture of horses with the bay right at your finger tips? It’s just so serene and calming.

Here’s a picture of John and his grandfather that I keep meaning to frame. He was such a great character to meet. Hard working, caring, ambitious, and definitely always had a joke up his sleeve. The most memorable times at the ranch with him was not only them inviting us into their home and making fresh food every morning and night but playing games such as cards. There was so much joy and laughter shared in the room and it was truly special memories I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life. These were some of the kindest hard working people I had the honor of meeting and feel so blessed to become a part of their family. I can see why John looks up to his grandfather and aspires to be like him, he is truly an amazing person.

This is the bay you see out of the kitchen window. It was SO gorgeous to walk around at sunset. If I’m being honest I thought John was going to propose to me here and so did everyone else I knew. That clearly did not happen as we got engaged back home in Pennsylvania, which was just as special but damn look at this view!

Everything about this bay just looked unreal. The skies were almost as if someone painted them. It was a perfect sunset stroll.

Another great time on this exact bay John taught me how to make a boat out of green strong grass and flat wood. His sister and him use to do this as children and as dorky as it sounds it was such a cute moment. I loved learning more about his childhood and all the silly little things he use to do/things we will eventually teach our kids. Believe it or not this boat actually did float! Not for long, but for a little.

We did so many fun little day trips around this area but before I dive into that I really want to talk more about the ranch. I haven’t been around horses in a very long time but these horses were so friendly! They were so humanized that, just like a dog, they would want you to go up and pet them because they liked affection. This included the donkey who I really grew attached too. He was just so precious!

Every morning we would let the horses out and then call them back in for feeding, including the donkey. I would get the brush the horses and pet them as well. At first I was a bit intimidated since I am so small but over time you grow use to the horses and it isn’t as scary as it seemed.

We also got to meet the cows and chickens which I was really looking forward to, especially the cows!

2 of the cows were actually raised in their front lawn and taken care of on a humanized level. With those 2 cows you could tell they wanted to be by humans, following them around, seeking approval. The one thing I would always forget to remember is that this is a working ranch. When I say working ranch I mean these cows will be sold for meat which made me sad because they are so adorable! But this is the circle of life and how people make a living. I know I could never do it for the sole purpose that I would become too attached to let them go so clearly this wouldn’t be a good lifestyle choice for myself but I really enjoyed learning all about it.

It was fun working on the ranch and helping out with whatever needed helping. I can see how a ranch is a never ending project with a list of things to do. Definitely not the career for everyone, possibly including myself, but I know I could easily give all the animals all the love and attention they needed.

One of the days we did decide to go into the town of Tillamook and explore. We headed over to the “Tillamook Creamery” which is a MUST. Not even exaggerating but some of the best ice cream I have ever had can be found here.

This is also an educational building to see how they made their cheeses and ice cream. As interesting as that was one of my favorite parts was the free cheese they were giving out. I mean come on guys, FREE CHEESE!

John isn’t the biggest cheese person so obviously I made him get some anyway so I could eat it. After the cheese samples we had to try their ice cream. I had been previously told it is the best ice cream ever so clearly we had to put this to the test.

There were so many other places to check out town down too such as a small winery, petting zoo, tiny shops, etc. We did a few of these as well and it was a great way to fill the day with small activities.

We actually were here during the week of the 4th of July and went with John’s grandparents to see the firework display on the beach. We arrived a whole hour or so early just to find good seats. Being this was on the beach, next to the ocean, there were definitely some dicey winds so we made sure to bundle up and bring jackets!

On the way to the fireworks, before we determined we were going to head over to the beach, we tried to find a high location away from the crowds. There was a housing complex up on a hill where his grandparents remember seeing fireworks from before but we couldn’t find it. However on this mini detour we saw a man feeding a ton of male deer. I just had to throw that into this trip because it was SO crazy to see! Usually around this age they get aggressive and aren’t so friendly as they become “protectors” but these guys were just hanging out enjoying life!

Right before the firework show we were blessed with the most beautiful sunset I had to capture on my phone.

Not so funny story about this show was that some of the ashes actually fell into the tall grass near us and started a fire. We had to call 911 and have the firetrucks come. Definitely made for an interesting night!

We also did some hiking while we were here. One specific place we went to was called “Munson Creek Falls.” This was an extremely short hike of about half a mile, so I guess you could call it a nature walk. Unfortunately when we went there must have been a storm because trees were down and you weren’t able to access the falls. We still got up as close as we could.

There were also hallowed out trees that split in half we got to climb inside which was kind of fun. We weren’t suppose to be in the area we were in because of the tree damage but what’s life without a little risk?

Before leaving the ranch I actually got to ride one of the horses. To be honest I was slightly nervous. The only time I have ever been horse back riding was at a stable ride with groups of people so this felt more personal and unpredictable.

I also learned that horses don’t like to be ridden which I always thought they did because of the movies and trails people take them on. John’s grandfather explained it as “work” for them and I can completely understand this now. His horses don’t get ridden that much anymore instead they get to live their lives freely, eat grass, and do as they please. There truly is something so beautiful in their lifestyle.

John went riding on the same horse as me I just found it funny because he’s literally SO BIG on that horse. Poor girl.

The horses are truly bonded with John’s grandfather and it was a magical relationship to see. They trust him with their guts and hearts and it is one of the most special bonds I think anyone could have seen. I know it was for me.

After such a fun filled week of memories and adventures our West Coast trip was coming to an end. It was incredibly sad. We played one last night of games with fresh home cooked food and then the next morning we were on the road to Portland, Oregon. We did stop for breakfast on the way called “Alice’s Country House” and honestly it was the only thing we were able to find in miles in the middle of the woods.

It was a really cute building and the breakfast was decent enough to fuel us up and get us back on the road for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, we decided to check out one more waterfall called “Multnomah Falls.” There was A LOT of traffic to see this waterfall. It is Oregon’s most visited sites.

It really was a stunning view but getting pictures are hard as so many people are jumping in the way for selfies and group shots. I would definitely try to visit here on an off season such as fall or winter if you really want to avoid the crowds.

I am really happy we got the chance to go here as I am low key obsessed with waterfalls. I mean…John and I got engaged in front of a waterfall! To hear that story click here.

After spending some time here and checking out their gift shop we headed into the heart of Portland, Oregon and took the Portland Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley. In all reality this wasn’t my favorite thing we could have done but we had an awkward time gap from lunch until our flight was going to take off that this was a good filler. Without having any real plans we decided this would be the best way to get to know Portland a little bit. There were cool shops, gardens, monuments, and restaurants.

If we ever go back we definitely need to try this ice cream place called “Salt & Straw.” The line was HUGE and the tour guide even made mention of it.

After our tour ride it was time to return the car, eat airport food for dinner, and fly home. Words cannot express how amazing this whole adventure was. We both had the best time and if anything I think it bonded us even closer together. I mean 2 weeks in a car and not get sick of each other? That’s love. We did so many things it’s hard to remember every single detail but I hope these posts really captured our time here and can be a useful tool for you if you ever explore any of these areas.

Oregon in general was especially special because I really got to see into John’s childhood and why he is the way he is today. Just seeing what he use to do during his summers and how much he looks up at his grandfather is heart warming. They were some of the kindest people I have met and beyond welcoming. I still think about and miss their home cooked meals all the time! John’s grandmother would make fresh cakes/brownies and put fresh berries on top of them from her garden. It was such a simple dessert but yet here I am still thinking about it all the time. The laughs we shared playing board games and hearing stories of their lives was some of the best parts of this trip and I am so blessed John loved/trusted me enough to show me into this part of this life and introduce me to such wonderful people.

Now…before I get too sappy, I want to share the links below of the trip in order in case you need a reference!

West Coast Road Trip: Part 1 – Sedona, Arizona: Click here.

West Coast Road Trip: Part 2 – The Grand Canyon: Click here.

West Coast Road Trip: Part 3 – Horseshoe Bend and Lower Antelope Canyon: Click here.

West Coast Road Trip: Part 4 – Utah & Las Vegas!: Click here.

West Coast Road Trip: Part 5 – California!: Click here.

There are so many more pictures I could have included and so many more stories I could have told but you would have been reading for days! Thank you all for reliving this journey with me. It was such a special one and I will always cherish it. Though we won’t be doing a crazy road trip like this again soon we have so many other trips coming up I can’t wait to share with you all! They will be posted shortly as they come.