Tag: south jetty

5 Things to Do on the Oregon Coast

What makes a visit to the Oregon Coast so great is that there’s so much to see and do and it’s pretty easy to see it all on one memorable road trip thanks to the easy coastal route from the tip top of the Beaver State down to southern Oregon.

From a glamping standpoint, there are several stops along the Oregon Coast road trip route that allow you to take the time to drive the coast and stop off for a night or two to explore the quaint towns and great beaches and all there is to see and do there. Pacific City in Cloverdale would be the northern most spot for accommodations, followed by South Jetty, in Florence; Seaside in Seaside; with Whalers Rest in South Beach being the southernmost spot to stay. All are conveniently located to the area highlights and offer a mix of cozy cabins and yurts.  

After settling in to your glamping accommodation, check out these 5 things to do on the Oregon Coast.

Cabin at Pacific City RV & Camping Resort, Cloverdale, OR
Cabin at Pacific City RV & Camping Resort, Cloverdale, OR

Lighthouse Tours: There are 11 remaining lighthouses along the rugged Pacific coastline in Oregon and several allow tours. One great way to see these structures is a drive along the Oregon coast, taking photos when you can and visiting where allowed.  A great map of the lighthouse’s locations can be found at theoregoncoast.info/Lighthouse/Map.html. A click on each pin provides location details and whether the lighthouse is open for visitors.

Cape Perpetua: This scenic area is like a quick primer on all things Oregon. There are the rugged cliffs, the waters of the Pacific, tide pools, and marine life. Don’t miss Thor’s Well, an old collapsed sea cave that is continually thrashing and spewing the ocean waters. Heading about 15 miles south of Cape Perpetua, another must-see is the privately-owned Sea Lion Caves that serves as a wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary. In winter, hundreds of sea lions shelter in the cave and when spring arrives, they move outside to the rock ledges.

Yurts at South Jetty RV Campground
Yurts at South Jetty RV Campground

Three Capes Scenic Route: This route connects three of Oregon’s famed capes, Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, and Cape Kiwanda and provides road-trippers an off-the-highway path full of all kinds of delights, including beach views, forestlands and dairy pastures, plus the little towns and sights along the way. In total, it is a 40-mile loop and downtown Tillamook is the best place to start this scenic drive.

Culinary Fun: Seafood is the name of the game here, but there are also opportunities for some cheese and ice cream to fill out the culinary adventures when you’re driving the Oregon coast. The Tillamook Creamery in Tillamook is a great place to start the dairy adventure and is open 7 days a week. Did you know Oregon is the only state to grow marionberries, which are considered the king of blackberries? According to onlyinyourstate.com, one of the best places to enjoy a piece of marionberry pie while in Oregon is in Newport at the Chalet Restaurant and Bakery. From a seafood perspective, oysters, salmon, and crab are just of few of the fresh fish found here. If you’re visiting Cannon Beach, check out Ecola Seafood, which has proudly served up seafood to the community since 1933.

History and Highlights: Starting north in Astoria, there is the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, which commemorates the historic expedition of these two explorers, as well as the Fort Clatsop National Memorial. The Heceta Head Lighthouse, standing since 1894 and Oregon’s most photographed lighthouse, is just north of Florence. The charming town of Seaside has both the Lewis and Clark Memorial statue and the historic Seaside Promenade, which provides a great place to stroll along the ocean and view the town. And Cannon Beach has the iconic Haystack Rock, the photo worthy 235-foot sea stack.

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The Year of the Yurt

Interior yurt photo from Tranquil Timbers in WI.

If yurt camping has been on your travel bucket list for a while, why not make 2020 the Year of the Yurt? Luckily, Petite Retreats has more than enough yurt locations so you can choose a different spot to yurt every month of the year!

If you’re not familiar with yurts, there are a few things to keep in mind. Our yurts typically feature either two double futons and one set of bunk beds or one double futon and two sets of bunk beds. Some also have a functional kitchenette with a stovetop and microwave (no oven), upright refrigerator with small freezer, and a dining table. Kitchen amenities include an electric coffeepot, a toaster, pots and pans, as well as dishes, glasses, and utensils. Oh, and also a private restroom with shower! They also feature satellite television, a propane fireplace and gas barbeque on the outdoor deck. If you’re looking to rough it a bit more, we do also feature a few yurts that are much more rustic, without a restroom or kitchen, at Snowflower, Mt. Hood, Long Beach, Paradise, Tall Chief, Grandy Creek, and Tranquil Timbers.

Circle M
Yurt so good! Check out these cozy yurts at Circle M in PA.

California yurt options include Lake of the Springs, in Oregon House; Snowflower in Emigrant Gap and Yosemite Lakes in Groveland. Lake of the Springs is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains and nearby attractions include the New Leaf Llama Farm, home to 30 friendly llamas. Snowflower puts you near Tahoe National Forest and all its activities, including hiking, fishing, swimming, climbing and bicycling. Yosemite Lakes is of course the perfect spot to stay when exploring Yosemite National Park as the entrance to the Park is just five miles down the road. The campground itself offers fishing, swimming and panning for gold thanks to the Tuolumne River that runs right through Yosemite Lakes.

Heading north from California to Oregon, there are four yurt opportunities – two along the Oregon coast, one in beautiful Bend and one in Mt. Hood Territory in Welches.  South Jetty (Florence) and Pacific City (Cloverdale) provide great locations for coastal excursions that could include Florence’s Heceta Head Lighthouse with its beautiful coastal views or wine tours of Cloverdale’s many vineyards. Bend-Sunriver is great year-round and Bend is always full of activity, indoors and out.  Bend’s Oregon Winter Fest is set for February 16, 2020, and summer brings the Bend Summer Festival, set for July. Mt. Hood in Welches is a great place to stay when catching the area’s most famous festivals, including the Mount Hood Huckleberry Festival in August and the Mount Hood Salmon and Mushroom Festival in September. Worth noting, the yurts at Mt. Hood are rustic and don’t have a restroom or a kitchen. That said, they’re conveniently located near a bathhouse. Both Bend and Welches offers skiing and sledding fun in winter and plenty of hiking, biking and fishing come summer.

Photo by @three_amigos_x from the yurts at Yosemite Lakes in CA.

On to Washington State, where five locations offers yurt accommodations.  Starting in southern Washington, there is Long Beach, located on the scenic peninsula with its boardwalk and beaches, and the world Kite Museum (because kite flying is excellent here), which features our more rustic yurt offering. Paradise is in Silver Creek and is surrounded by the mountains, including Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. The campground has two stocked fishing lakes, too! The yurts at Paradise are rustic, and located near a restroom facility. Tall Chief is just outside Seattle and is the perfect spot to explore Seattle’s offerings, including the towering Space Needle, the lively, and historic, Pike Place Market and the offbeat Museum of Pop Culture. (The yurts at Tall Chief are also rustic.) Mt. Vernon and Grandy Creek, both located in northern Washington, complete the yurt options in Washington and each offer different opportunities. Mt. Vernon, located in Washington’s picturesque Skagit Valley, is a wooded wonderland with activities like hiking and fishing topping the list. The San Juan Islands are just a ferry ride away. Grandy Creek is in Concrete, in Mt. Baker territory, making the North Cascades National Park your playground. Plus, Baker Lake is great for fishing and swimming.

Tranquil Timbers is located on the beautiful Door County Peninsula of Wisconsin in Sturgeon Bay, which was voted one of the Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns in the U.S. by Coastal Living magazine. Summer is the best time to enjoy yurt camping here as well as the world-famous bass fishing for which the bay is known. The charming towns dotting Door County are another plus to summer in Wisconsin.

Make 2020 the year of the yurt at Yosemite Lakes in CA.
Make 2020 the year of the yurt at Yosemite Lakes in CA.

Finally, the rolling hills of Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County are home to Circle M and their yurt accommodations. Lancaster County offers plenty of Pennsylvania Dutch hospitality from authentic Amish dining experiences and buggy rides to interesting museums (check out the York Barbell Weightlifting Museum and Hall of Fame or the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania). All kinds of family fun, including loads of chocolate, are available at nearby Hershey Park.

Summer Cabin Fun

Cabin at South Jetty, Florence, OR

There’s something about a rustic cabin that brings you closer to nature, along with evoking memories of carefree summer camp days gone by. Make it a summer you won’t forget, and experience the joys of nature, by planning a stay in a Petite Retreat cabin.

Enjoy an island getaway in Bar Harbor which is located on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. Both Mt. Desert Narrows Camping Resort (in Bar Harbor) and Narrows Too Camping Resort (in nearby Trenton) offer summer cabins perfect for your island stay. Both offer wooded locations with views of the oceans, plenty of amenities and are family and pet-friendly. Both camping resorts are close to all that the Bar Harbor area has to offer, including the harbor towns and Acadia National Park.

Narrows Too Camping Resort, Trenton, ME

Acadia National Park offers 47,000 acres of woodland wonderland to explore from hikes and climbs to rocky beachfronts. This park is also home to Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the East Coast.  The park offers guided hikes, cruises, and nature programs including birding and creature “meet and greets.” Visit nps.gov/acad for more information.

The town of Bar Harbor offers shopping and dining as well as events on the “Village Green” which serves as the gathering place in the center of town. Summer weeknight concerts are offered free each Monday and Thursday evening from 8 to 9 p.m.  There are also several museums that feature the history of the area including the Great Harbor Maritime Museum and Mount Desert Oceanarium. Ocean cruise options include whale-watching, island tours and a chance to learn about the life of a lobsterman on the Lulu Lobsterboat Ride. Speaking of lobster, don’t miss a lobster meal at Stewman’s Lobster Pound, an authentic oceanfront lobster pound.

On the Pacific Coast, Oregon offers multiple cabin retreats, including Seaside RV Resort, South Jetty RV Resort, and Mt. Hood Village RV Resort.

Mt. Hood’s location provides the perfect opportunity for a mountain getaway and the chance to explore Mt. Hood National Forest. Spend the day hiking the trails that include Tamanawas Falls, a five-mile loop along the Hood River complete with waterfall views or the longer Timothy Lake trail that covers 13 miles and offers plenty of swimming spots along the way to cool off! Spend the day fishing or taking in one of several birding trails to see the migratory birds that make their home in the forest.  Nearby Portland offers big city fun including the Portland Art Museum (current exhibits include Art from the 1980s, running through August 18) and the Oregon Zoo, which features a set of summer concerts (oregonzoo.org).

Mt. Hood forest trail

Enjoy a cabin stay at Seaside RV Resort and enjoy the town of Seaside’s picturesque 1.5 mile oceanfront Promenade via bicycle or a long stroll.  Or get up close and personal and feed the seals at the Seaside Aquarium, also located along the Promenade. Roll into town the weekend of September 6-9 and enjoy the Seaside Wheels and Waves Car Show, Oregon’s premier auto show that showcases cars dating from pre-1965.

Wherever you choose to stay, Petite Retreats has cabins for you! Find out more at petiteretreats.com.