Two Secret Places
(on the oregon coast)
1. Camp (for free) at the trailhead of Cummins Creek Road, right across the bridge from Neptune Beach (about 5 miles South of Yachats.)
2. Stop to hunt Agates (and hang out on the beach) on the secret beach at Seal Rock (about 7 miles South of Newport.) (there is a geocache on the secret path.)
Although I love the littls shops in Lincoln City, the historical area in Newport, and the scenery all the way down the coast (and I although I love the Clam Chowder at Mo's) I especially like the food a at the Crab Shack just South of the main bridge in Newport. And you can get a little tide table for free from the store next to (attached to) the Crab Shack.
But the best place for me on the entire coast, is right on the beach in Seal Rock, an awesome meal in Yachats, and the camping a few miles South.
When you are hunting Agates, keep in mind that sometimes the beach is only sand, and sometimes is has rows of pebbles -- depending on the time of year -- and the day of the week. So if you don't see rows of pebbles, it's just the wrong timing. Also... try to hit it at low tide. You can still find agates, at the tide line, but you can find millions of them when the rows appear.
Here are the details:
1. You can't miss Neptune Beach. It's got signs all over the place. And right across the bridge (100 feet) from the entrance to Neptune Beach, is the turn-off for Cummins Creek Road. Follow that road 1 mile to the trailhead, and camp there. You'll probably be the only one camping there. There are no ammenities. It's just a flat area for the trailhead.
2. Then I head North, eat at Yachats (any of those places in Yachats has good food)... and then head North to Seal Rock where I DON'T park in the bead store parking lot, but rather, behind it (they don't like it when you take up their parking spaces) and then walk down the hidden trail to the secret beach (you can get to the same beach walking a couple of miles South from Ona Beach, but I like the trail as part of the adventure to the beach.) Also, there is a GeoCache under the bridge on the secret trail, if you want to "take something and leave something" and sign your "handle" (your geocaching name)... it could be your first geocaching experience. You'll may very well get addicted! I certainly did!
Here are instructions I made for a friend once...
