After our adventures in the Redwood Forest, we waved goodbye to California and greeted Oregon with anticipation. This portion of the coastline is phenomenal. It very much reminds us of Big Sur, with it's dramatic winding cliff top views of the ocean.
The photo above is an outtake from our unsuccessful self-timer experiment!
In Port Orford, the oldest town on the Oregon coast, we checked off one thing on our must-see list. The Prehistoric Gardens! Remember my desire to visit a dinosaur park? My dream came true. We spotted the (very happy) T-rex from the 101 and slammed on the brakes.
The dinosaurs themselves were a bit cartoony and we weren't allowed to climb the life-size replicas, but I couldn't complain. The fact that this park still remains, is a miracle. So many of these quirky vintage roadside attractions have been torn down over the years. The park has been owned and operated by the original sculptor's family since 1955.
12 miles further north, we arrived at WildSpring Guest Habitat, a luxury boutique bed & breakfast eco-resort. This place is unreal, friends. There are 5 cozy cabin suites on the property, each one fit for royalty with radiant-heated floors, slate tile showers, feather beds and scented candles. We stayed in Earthsea, named after the Ursula Le Guin fantasy series.
At the communal guest hall, there are complimentary snacks, drinks, games, puzzles, and a 500+ dvd library. That night, we made ourselves some hot cocoa, cozied up in bed, and watched Return of the Jedi. Ewoks in the Redwoods, yo!
In the morning, we woke up to an impressive home-cooked breakfast buffet waiting for us in the kitchen. Bellies full, we explored the grounds and walked the labyrinth in quiet contemplation. There's a beautiful energy in these woods. The cabins are surrounded by 5 acres of ancient Native American forests.
Around every corner was a new surprise. Whimsical signs and faces in the trees. Animal figurines here and sun god sculptures there. From the open air spa, there's an incredible view of the ocean.
We had a nice long chat with WildSpring's owners, Dean and Michelle. Fascinating people, these two. Following a long-held dream, they fell in love with the Oregon coast and left their house in the Hollywood Hills to build this enchanting retreat together from scratch. Their story and dedication is truly inspiring.
Meet Miss Scarlett. She adopted Dean and Michelle (smart cat) and is now queen feline of the WildSpring kingdom.
It was difficult to leave such a magical place, but the road beckoned. We mosied around Port Orford for awhile, visiting art galleries and admiring the picturesque waterfront. And after many goofy attempts, we finally mastered the self-timer.
Tomorrow, we're getting dirty in the sand dunes! Stay tuned...
West Coast Road Trip 01 - Los Angeles to the Madonna Inn
West Coast Road Trip 02 - San Luis Obispo to the Trees of Mystery
West Coast Road Trip 04 - Port Orford, Oregon to Salishan Resort
West Coast Road Trip 05 - Gleneden Beach to Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria
This post is sponsored by Wildspring Guest Habitat. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!
