By the time we left Salishan, we were ready for lunch. Just as my stomach began to grumble, we drove by dairy heaven, the Tillamook Cheese Factory! I heard the angels sing.
We sampled their cheeses and ordered sandwiches with a side of mac n' cheese from their cafe. This is when the angels sang off key. The bread crumbled apart and the mac n' cheese tasted like the kind you get at KFC. If you ever find yourself at Tillamook, skip the cafe.
Following the 101, stopped in Cannon Beach, Oregon. To me, one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast. Maybe it was the 75 degree warmth upon my face, the shallow tide pools reflecting the sun, or my barefoot feet in the sand, but this place made me feel alive.
It may also have to do with those rocks. Do they look familiar to you?
GOONIES! One of my favorite movies as a kid. This is the beach where Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, Andy, Stef, Brand and Data emerge after finding the loot on One-Eyed Willie's pirate ship.
30 minutes north in Astoria, we found a few more Goonies film locations: the county jail, complete with bullet holes in the prop Jeep parked outside, and Mikey's house, where a Jewish family lives who kindly allows nosey film nerds to Truffle Shuffle in front of their gate.
Eventually, we arrived at our final resting place. Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria, which rests on the 100 year-old cannery pilings 600 feet into the Columbia River. We were warmly welcomed with complimentary wine & cheese and given the key to the top floor corner suite with insane natural light. From our balcony, I couldn't imagine a better place to watch the sun go down.
When we were ready for dinner at T. Paul's Urban Cafe, the front desk summoned a chauffeur to drive us to the restaurant in one of Cannery Pier's classic cars!
Freshly baked cookies were waiting for us back at the hotel. We snuck more than a few up to our room and snuggled in bed to watch a movie. Guess which one?? I think Cyndi Lauper was the soundtrack to my dream that night.
Bright and early the next morning, we took the hotel bikes out for an invigorating spin along the boardwalk. And rode back for a blissful chocolate orange body wrap and aromatherapy massage at the spa. Cannery Pier treated us right!
Before leaving Astoria, we browsed the Maritime Museum and one final must-see monument. The Column! It's a Roman tower that sits atop Coxcomb Hill, commanding a stunning 360 degree view of the countryside, the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River.
Of course we had to climb to the top. All 164 dizzying steps.
We left Astoria on a high. It might just be my new favorite small town. A few more sleepy hours north on the 5, and we were back home, sweet home.
Thank you, friends, for following along on our road trip up the west coast. It felt like you were in the back seat the whole time!
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 03 - Legget, California to Wildspring Guest Habitat
West Coast Road Trip 04 - Port Orford, Oregon to Salishan Resort
This post sponsored by Cannery Pier Hotel. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!
