Looking for a relaxing, yet adventurous getaway before the arrival of your new baby? Or just purely a nature getaway? The Oregon Coast is the perfect destination for either of those goals! The Pacific Northwest is full of stunning coastal landscape, hikes, waterfalls, and more. You can’t go wrong on which state to visit, but we fell in love with Oregon. There’s a reason they are called the Portland Trailblazers! This guide is the perfect road trip itinerary for an Oregon Coast babymoon. For those not expecting, we suggest this trip regardless!

Oregon Coast Babymoon

How Long Should the Trip Be?

Ideally, if you’re planning on exploring the entire Oregon Coast, you should allow at least one week of travel time. Most destinations are over an hour apart, so this allows enough time for you to enjoy each location without feeling rushed. This itinerary is based on an 11 day road trip, but can be done in one week. Our itinerary will start in Portland and take you down the Pacific Coast Highway (U.S. Route 101). The return trip will cut through the state and back up to Portland via I-5. This length was perfect for a mix of hiking and relaxation for an Oregon Coast babymoon.

11 Day Oregon Coast Itinerary

Day 1 Portland to Cannon Beach
Day 2-3 Cannon Beach
Day 3-4 Lincoln City
Day 4-6 Coos Bay
Day 6-9 Brookings
Day 9-10 Vida
Day 10-11 Portland

Day 1-3 Cannon Beach

Highlights:

• Haystack Rock
• Oswald West State Park (Cape Falcon trail, Arch Cape, Short Sand Beach, Devil’s Cauldron)
• Hug Point State Recreation Site
• Ecola State Park
• Tillamook Creamery
• Cape Lookout State Park

Where to Stay

• Hallmark Inn
• Surfsand Resort
• Stephanie Inn & Dining Room
• The Ocean Lodge

Cannon Beach has to be one of the most adorable towns along the Oregon Coast. It is full of driftwood homes, local restaurants, cafes and surf shops. Cannon Beach has everything you need without the chain stores and restaurants. Although small, it is definitely a tourist hotspot. Expect long wait times if you don’t have a reservation. Even the coffee shops had long lines. Granted, during COVID 19 not as many people are allowed inside and I’m sure the staffing wasn’t as adequate as usual.

If you want to stay as close to the Haystack Rock as possible, Hallmark Inn is your best bet! Almost dead smack in front of the rock, this hotel location was perfect. It is located in the center of town, which made walking to restaurants very doable and driving to famous landmarks easy.

Hallmark Inn

From the moment we arrived, our experience was unforgettable. We had immediate coastline views driving up to the front desk. The staff secretly upgraded our room for free and even gave us an adorable doggy bag with treats, a water bowl, a frisbee and more for our precious Remi. We felt so welcome as if we were home. The room itself was super cute and cozy! We had ocean views, a fireplace, and a balcony. This was a big upgrade from our previous view-less room.

The Beach

Both nights were spent on Cannon Beach with a bonfire, s’mores, and a sky full of twinkling stars above us. The night sky was incredible during our stay. We saw countless shooting stars, planets, and constellations. It was truly one of the most romantic parts of our trip. We could not believe how many people were on the beach with bonfires enjoying the crisp night. So relaxing!

During the day, the beach was packed with locals and tourists. Luckily, Cannon Beach is massive, so even though it was busy, we never felt like it was too crowded (or uncomfortable during COVID). The beach is dog friendly and there were furry friends all over the place. Leashes did not appear to be required, so keep that in mind. If you are like us and wanted to go into the Pacific Ocean, you may rethink that decision once you put a foot in. LOL! We thought August would bring warmer waters, but boy were we wrong!

The Spa

There’s nothing like a nice spa treatment on vacation! I was in need of a prenatal massage after the plane ride and hiking that we did. The spa at the Hallmark Inn was even nicer in person than I expected. It was peaceful and smelled amazing from the minute you walked in. There were no crazy views and nothing spectacular about the space, but they did a great job making it feel relaxing and cozy. The masseuse made sure I was positioned comfortably and safely through out the service. I would highly recommend getting a treatment during your stay! Make sure to book an appointment in advance.

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Cannon Beach was by far our favorite town on the Oregon Coast. We originally went back and forth on whether to stay here. In retrospect, it is an absolute MUST do. Below are restaurants and cafes that we highly recommend checking out during your stay.

Tip: Make a reservations during high season (Summer). Many places, even cafes, have quicker to-go online systems.

Recommended Restaurants & Cafes:

• Pelican Brewing – Beers & Food
• Crepe Neptune – Breakfast crepes
• Insomnia Coffee
• Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters
• Sea Level Bakery + Coffee

Hug Point State Recreation Site

Hug Point was a lovely last-minute addition to our Oregon Coast itinerary. The beach is about a 5 minute drive from Cannon Beach, but well worth checking out. We arrived early in the morning, which to our surprise, was completely dead. There were only a couple other people walking the beach at 8 am. It was misty and refreshingly cool outside, which made for dramatic scenery. The only thing that we wish we had was two hot coffees in our hands!

The beach is wide open during low tide and full of large rock formations and caves for exploring. Just be careful not to get stuck here during high tide! We even saw some people setting up camp in the caves when it began to warm up. Remi loved chasing his ball and other dogs around here. It was one of our favorite memories from the trip. The peace and quiet compared to Cannon Beach was incredible.

We highly recommend checking this beach out early in the morning or even if you’re looking to escape the chaos of Cannon Beach one day. The parking lot is small, so we suggest arriving early to guarantee a spot. Later in the day, the beach fills up, so for a more serene experience, check it out in the morning.

Oswald West State Park

Oswald West State Park was full of amazing hikes and lush greenery. We loved that it was a 10 minute drive from Cannon Beach. Our favorite hikes were the Cape Falcon and Devil’s Cauldron trails. The first morning we completed the 2 hour hike on the Cape Falcon Trailhead. The second morning we stopped by Devil’s Cauldron on our way to Tillamook. This trail was only about a 5 minute walk.

Cape Falcon Trailhead

Cape Falcon trailhead is known for its stunning Oregon coastal views. This 2 hour, 4.6 mile roundtrip hike is worth the scenery for sure! The trail itself was green as could be and you could hear waves crashing in the distance. The second half of the hike had peeps of ocean views for added drama. At the end, the trail opens up to the beautiful coastline. You can catch glimpses of Short Sand Beach and see all of the surfers. We were fortunate enough to get the perfect spot to set up our hammock and enjoy some snacks.

Remi’s hiking backpack –> K9 Sport Sack Air

This trail is a must do for those visiting Cannon Beach or the Oregon Coast. Majority of the hike was very easy, even a pregnant lady could handle it!

Devil’s Cauldron

This crazy cliffside trail is in a random spot off the side of Highway 101 leaving Cannon Beach. It’s worth a quick pitstop for the views alone. A short quarter-mile hike will lead you to the drop-off point with large crashing waves. It is a gorgeous photo op. Just be careful when taking pictures and admiring the scenery. People have died from accidental falls off the cliff. If you go across the fence, please be mindful and don’t get too close to the edge!

PS – this is an epic aerial footage spot for our fellow drones

Tillamook Creamery

Ok, so we almost didn’t visit the creamery, but boy are we glad we did! Especially for a pregnant lady, indulging in ice cream instead of alcohol was awesome. This is a must do for any Oregon Coast traveler or babymooner. Due to COVID-19, the creamery only allows visitors with reservations inside the creamery. There is an outdoor access that had a long line for those without one. We were glad we booked it in advance, as it was a pitstop on our way to Cape Lookout Trail.

The facility is small, but modern and informative. We loved watching the cheese making process and the store has tons of goodies for you to purchase. Guests with reservations can order food (can you say mac and cheese and tomato soup, YUM!) inside. Unfortunately, to skip the line, you have to order food and ice cream simultaneously or go back outside and wait in line afterwards. We didn’t want our ice cream to melt, so we went back in line for it after lunch. Luckily, it wasn’t a long wait and the weather was gorgeous, so we didn’t mind.

Tip: Try the Marion Berry and Cookies & Cream flavors! Don’t forget to try the mac n’ cheese with tomato soup too!

Cape Lookout Trail

After our visit to the Tillamook Creamery, we headed about 30 minutes south on 101 towards Cape Lookout State Park. This was one of the prettiest hikes we completed. It was fairly easy and had scenic ocean views for a large part of the trail. The hike was about 4.7 miles and took us a couple of hours to complete. We took our time enjoying the fresh, clean air and stunning cliffside views from the final tip. This hike was much needed in order to burn all of the calories we consumed at Tillamook Creamery 🙂

Day 3-4 Lincoln City

Highlights:

• God’s Thumb
• Lincoln Beach
• Yachat’s – Thor’s Well
• Devil’s Punchbowl
• Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center
• Heceta Head Lighthouse

Where to Stay

The rest of the day we spent driving south towards Lincoln City. We arrived late, but we were happy to stay in a cozy hotel. The Salishan Coastal Lodge is located outside the hustle and bustle of Lincoln Beach. The property grounds were stunning and surprisingly large. It is located on a golf course, has a spa and gym, as well as the option to rent a golf cart for transport. Unfortunately, we did not get to experience the resort due to time constraints, but we were impressed with what we saw.

The room had a lodge-feel to it with a fireplace and views of the woods. The bed was extremely comfortable and was all that we needed for the night! We would recommend staying in Lincoln Beach for two nights to experience the area completely.

Lincoln Beach has plenty of nearby activities, but sadly, we did not have time to see them all. A couple of the viewpoints (e.g. Devil’s Punchbowl, Thor’s well) are best during certain times of the day. We had to choose between completing the God’s Thumb hike or the others due to tide and sunset timing. If you’re lucky, you can hike The Knoll, head to Thor’s Well for high tide, and then head to Devil’s Punchbowl for sunset. Our timing did not work out that well.

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God’s Thumb Hike via The Knoll

By far our favorite hike (and view) was the God’s Thumb trail. It was a gorgeous, yet intense hike with the ultimate rewarding views at the end. The beginning and last bit of the trail are steep, but the rest was easy. It was also not nearly as busy as the other hikes we did in Oregon, which made it more enjoyable.

To find the trailhead is kind of confusing. There are two main trails to get to the thumb. We took the longer of the two via The Knoll. The parking is in a small neighborhood that does not look like what you would expect. You will pass a small parking lot prior to arriving at the base. This was deceiving and would have cost us an unnecessary walk if we had parked there. Our GPS lost signal once we hit the parking lot and we had to drive back to the main road to make sure we were headed the right way. Below is a map of where to park and begin the hike. Park where the arrow points, not the red X.

The second option is a much shorter hike (about 45 minute straight shot). We didn’t know about this trail until after, but were happy with the path we ended up on.

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After our awesome God’s Thumb hike, we hit the road and headed towards Coos Bay. This drive was not as scenic and took about 3 hours. Hopefully, if time permits, you will be able to stop at one of the above highlights along the way. We wanted to get to our cabin in time to enjoy dinner by the fire pit, so we did not stop anywhere else.

Day 4-6 Coos Bay

Highlights:

• Shore Acres State Park
• Cape Arago State Park
• Bastendorff Beach – surfing beach

Coos Bay is an interesting town and has a serious port vibe to it. Honestly, the downtown area wasn’t our favorite, but we had an amazing stay in our modern cabins at Bay Point Landing. The surrounding state parks were beautiful and definitely worth the stay.

Bay Point Landing

One of the coolest parts of our trip was staying at Bay Point Landing. The brand new, modern cabins were the ultimate glamping getaway. We stayed in a Drift cabin overlooking the water. The property is home to RV sites, airstreams, and cabins. It was well maintained, full of up-to-date technology, and the customer service was superb. There is a general store with almost anything you could possibly need during your stay. The facilities include a gym and pool overlooking the bay, a laundry room, and showers (for RV campers). Each cabin has it’s own fire pit with wood, fire starters, and a s’mores kit included. The rest of the property had tons of available fire pits for the RV sites and airstreams as well.

Bay Point Landing offers three types of modern cabins: Dune, Drift, and Kamp Haus. The Drift cabins are the most romantic and luxurious of them all. If you can, try to request one of the end units for more privacy. Cabin 122 appeared to have the best location on site.

The Drift cabin had everything we needed. It felt spacious enough for us and the pup, yet had the most adorable layout and decor! It basically was like a tiny home with a full kitchen, shower, bedroom, and living room space. The cabin had a TV with access to netflix (not that we ever used it). There are grills available for use that we recommend reserving ahead of time. The bathrooms were stocked with clean towels, toiletries, and a blow dryer. We loved the extra gestures of the puppy gear they provided. This included a leash, dog treats, and clean linens to protect their white bedding.

We loved the fact that you could text the front desk for anything you needed. They would come deliver to you items from the general store, more firewood, etc. This customer service was awesome! We would highly recommended staying in these amazing cabins.

Recommendations: Provisions Market Pizza – try the Fromaggio trio wood fired pizza!

Shore Acres State Park

One of the most peaceful areas of our trip was Shore Acres. This state park was only about a 10 minute drive from Bay Point Landing. We loved it so much that we went two days in a row! The park was not very busy and the easy trails led to incredible panoramic views. We found the perfect spot to hang our hammock and enjoyed the sounds of the seals barking and waves crashing.

Cape Arago State Park is another popular spot for trails and hiking. We loved Shore Acres so much that we didn’t make it there, but both are highly recommended. The Cape Arago loop hike includes shore acres and is about a 4 mile trail. (Side note: All trails app says it is only 1.2 miles. Be sure to confirm which hike you prefer).

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Sadly, we had to leave our amazing little cabin and head to our next most exciting part of our trip, Brookings! This drive was about a 2 hour and 15 min trip from Bay Point Landing. However, this was the most scenic drive of all. Hello California coast-style views!

Day 6-9 Brookings

Highlights:

• Floras Lake State Park (Blacklock Point)
• Samuel H. Boardman State Park (Natural Bridges, Secret Beach, Arch Rock)
• Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (California)
• Oregon Redwoods

Brookings is a cute coastal town in the southernmost region of Oregon. It is the last major town before Highway 101 enters California. We absolutely adored our time in Brookings. The last hour of our drive from Coos Bay was incredible. We had cliff side views with massive boulder formations along the shore for miles. It was one of our favorite parts of the trip. Many people skip this part of the Oregon coast because it is so far, but it is 1000% worth the drive.

Blacklock Point

On the way to Brookings, we stopped at Floras State Park to capture some epic shots of Blacklock Point. It was confusing to find this cliffside beauty, but after some unmarked detour paths, we finally found it!

To get to the trail, you will park at the end of an airport road (random, we know). Take the trail towards Floras Lake (path will divert to the right) to reach Blacklock point. The trail is about 4.2 miles out and back and takes roughly an hour and half to walk. There were definitely moments where we questioned whether we were on a true path. Use the All Trails app to help with directions. Basically, if you keep heading north once you get close to the water, you will find the outlet. The cliffside views are insane!

The rest of the drive will take you a little over an hour to reach Brookings. This was one of our favorite parts of the road trip. Almost the entire southern coast is cliffside. There were so many crashing waves and boulders along the beaches. Take off the roof top and enjoy the scenery on this part of your road trip!

Where to Stay

Beachfront Inn

Beachfront Inn was the perfect, centrally-located hotel for our trip. We stayed here for two nights as it made for a great base point. The hotel had a cozy, coastal feel to it. Our room was beachfront with a large balcony that we spent both nights stargazing. You could hear the Pacific Ocean waves crashing even with the doors closed. The room had a fireplace, a large king bed and was dog-friendly of course! They even gave us a better room for my birthday 🙂

Day 7 – Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

The Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is located just over the California border about 20 minutes south of Brookings. We decided to have our maternity photoshoot here for obvious reasons. The Redwoods made for an epic backdrop and screamed Mother Nature. Shout out to Aly of Hazel Eye Photography for capturing the most magical moments of our pregnancy! Below is a preview of the photo shoot.

Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor

After our photo shoot, we napped and picked up a couple of smoothies from Tropicália Brazilian Cuisine before checking out Cape Sebastian. We arrived later in the afternoon, and to our surprise, we’re the only ones on the trail. Although we raced sunset, we had just enough time to enjoy the hike and the views at the end. It was the perfect drone spot and the clouds cleared up just in time.

The trail is about 2.7 miles, 1.5 hours round trip and of moderate difficulty. The hike back was the steepest portion of the trail, but wasn’t terribly hard. The weather in the evening was perfect, even with some light sprinkling. We highly recommend making time for this hike! It was a gorgeous trail and end point.

Day 8 – Samuel H. Boardman State Park

A beautiful location to celebrate my 28th birthday was in Samuel H. Boardman. There are multiple scenic viewpoints and trails. However, we decided to spend the majority of our day visiting Secret Beach and the Natural Bridges (iconic state park photo).

Secret Beach

This trail down to the beach is easily accessible from a small parking lot off of Highway 101. It was about a 15-20 min walk down to the beach. We brought a couple of açaí bowls to enjoy when we got down there. You will have to climb down a pretty large boulder to access the beach itself. At first, we were concerned about that being the correct path, but it’s the only way down! It was deceivingly steep, but when we saw older people making the slide, we manned up.

Secret Beach is best accessed during low tide. The water was not as freezing as the Pacific Ocean up in Cannon Beach. People were actually swimming in it, but we chickened out! You could easily camp out here all day and enjoy the magnificent beauty of the rocks and waves crashing.

Natural Bridges

One of the most instagrammable spots of the entire Oregon Coast is easily Natural Bridges in Samuel H. Boardman. This is an absolute must see if you’re visiting the state park. That being said, the hike down to the famous photo spot is quite frightening and steep.

Being pregnant and carrying our little dog all the way down was probably not the smartest idea. Especially for two fairly novice hikers. Unfortunately, it took us awhile to figure out which trail lead to the bridge. We walked down a few steep trails before finding the right one. We contemplated turning back multiple times.

To find the right trail, head right from the parking lot towards the elevated viewpoint. The path will eventually bifurcate. Take the trail leading to the left. It will look steep and as if you’re heading straight down to the water. It was nerve wrecking, but doable. This will be your best photo op spot in Samuel H. Boardman. Just be careful and don’t attempt if not a fit and experienced hiker.

Tip: Wear hiking boots if walking down to the bridge

Day 9-10 Crater Lake National Park & Vida

Highlights:

• Crater Lake National Park

This part of our trip was the only disappointing day. We drove about 4.5 hours from Brookings to Crater Lake National Park (the deepest lake in the U.S.). Unfortunately, the smoke from the fires in northern Oregon at the time covered the whole lake. We didn’t notice the smoke until about an hour away from the lake and it was too late to turn back at that point. We were forced to pay and go through Crater Lake to avoid tacking on an extra hour of driving. Sadly, you could barely catch a glimpse of the lake, but we could tell it was impressive.

If not for the smoke, this would be a must visit. I wish we researched the smoke conditions prior to leaving Brookings, because we could have enjoyed a beautiful drive back up the Pacific Coast Highway. The drive through the countryside was long and boring (sorry, Oregon).

Tip: Check wildfire locations and air conditions before traveling through the Pacific Northwest

From Crater Lake, we drove about 2.5 hours to the town of Vida. This was a convenient midway point between Crater Lake and Portland to spend the night.

Day 10-11 Portland

Highlights:

• Wineries
• Columbia River George National Scenic Area (Multnomah Falls)
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Mount Hood
• Silver Falls State Park

Portland is a small city with many highlights to visit surrounding it. Due to the recent protests in downtown Portland, we only stayed here one night and spent most of our time outside of the city.

On our way to Willamette Valley and Oregon’s beautiful wine country, we stopped off at Silver Falls State Park. We walked a short ways to view the glorious Silver Falls waterfall. Escape the crowds and go to the bottom of the falls for the best photos. 

On the way to Portland from Silver Falls, we stopped at two vineyards. There are TONS of gorgeous vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. One of the roads that we drove on had probably 10 different wineries on it.

We first visited the Sokol Blosser Winery, about 45 minutes from Portland. It was a beautiful vineyard that overlooked acres of grape vines. We were greeted with two glasses of champagne (sadly, I had to give mine to Gregg) and toured the stunning facility. The wine tasting was excellent, as was the food. You’ve got to try the Mac n’ cheese!

Right down the road was the stunning Domaine Serene Winery, about as elegant and boujee as a vineyard comes. Unfortunately, we did not make it there in time before closure, but we got to visit the cutest vineyard across the way instead, White Rose Estate. It was absolutely the perfect way to end the afternoon.

The views from the winery were incredible. The inside of the facility was dark and rustic, yet the outdoor circle garden felt like a fairytale. Everyone sat outside indulging in their delightful vinos. Even Remi was living his best life under the trees and in the perfectly maintained green grass. Our Mexican connoisseur was hysterical as he entertained the group. He even gave us restaurant recommendations for the area. I wish we could remember his name, because he was awesome!

Tip: Try the White Rose Estate Pinot Noir

After an enjoyable day at the wineries, we hit the road and headed to downtown Portland for our last night. We stayed in a cute area of the city down by the water at the Hyatt House Portland Downtown. It was a great location and within walking distance to many places. We wound down with some good ole Chinese food from Duck House (a must try!) and passed out.

The morning before our flight, we walked alongside the South Waterfront Park. We grabbed a delicious rose vanilla late at Upstream Coffee & Eatery and walked to breakfast. To our disappointment, the French Toast Connection food truck (highly recommended by a friend) was closed on a Tuesday, so we ended up at Little River Cafe, which was still very tasty. Afterwards, we enjoyed a stroll through the park. Remi loved every minute of the cool weather chasing the birds.

Must Try Restaurants & Cafes:

• Kiss Coffee – try the Toasted Coconut Iced Latte – THE BEST EVER
• Upstream Coffee & Eatery
• French Toast Connection
• Duck House Chinese

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The Oregon Coast should be added to your US bucket list, if it’s not already on there. It is a must see location for anyone who loves nature, scenic views, good food and coffee, and kind people. This hidden gem in the Pacific Northwest was one of our favorite trips yet.We don’t often travel to the same destination twice, but Oregon will be one that we visit again in the near future! Our Oregon Coast babymoon couldn’t have been more perfect. We can’t wait to take our daughter there next time!