To the coast

My wife has a long week-end next week and she was reading the sunday travel section and said let%26#39;s go to tghe coast. and maybe we should try something different,. So we are

After listening to several here talk about Manzanita thats where we are going. I don%26#39;t think I have ever been in the town part, just passed by on 101.

Is it bike friendly?

If it is a decent day may run up to Ecola.

More later after we get back

To the coast

Phirl,

Manzanita is not really bike friendly, but, for the most part, it is pedestrian friendly. The main street (Laneda) has new, wide sidewalks. Most of the side streets area narrow without shoulders.

I%26#39;ll be interested to know how you like Manzanita. We will be returning to our ';family house'; for the New Years weekend with all of our boys and girlfriends. We can hardly wait!!

Den

To the coast

Manzanita if fine.

You might also want to visit Nehalem Bay State Park almost next door.

Not neccessarily to camp, but the beach is nice if the winds in not strong, and there are bike paths all over the place. Day use area to park, both at the end, and near the registration booth.

This page gives an idea of that place...

http://www.mdvaden.com/nehalem_bay.shtml

Ecola Park is one of my favorite parks to drive through and walk around in, even if I don%26#39;t walk down to the coast.

I%26#39;ve been taking an interest in forest mushrooms, and that started in Ecola State Park. Many images on this page are from Ecola State Park in the autumn / winter...

http://www.mdvaden.com/album_OregonFung.shtml

I liike Cannon Beach there too.

Do you like biking around the most, or do you spend quite a bit of time in shops and restaurants?

den

Thanks for response.

My wife the bike rider, and she may say lets take bike. but will try to suggest she not. She is not serious bike rider,

Last time we went to Depoe Bay we and son%26#39;s family took bikes but she agreed not worth effort. we did take them to Newport which was OK, but not real easy. we had two grandsons riding 9 and 12.

Only place taking bike worth it was Seaside which is very bike friendly

Looking forward to trip. think only other coast paces of any size where we have not spent night is Port Orford and Cannon Beach.

I will report back.

phirl,

The bike trail at Nehalem Bay is a little over a mile long and basically flat. Takes you right along the bay and around the airport. The beach from Neah-Kah-Nie Mt to the north jetty at Nehalem Bay State Park is about 6 miles long!!

If you%26#39;re up for a short hike (1/2 mile) stop at Oswald West, 4 miles north of Manzanita, and hike to Short Sands Beach. IMO, the scenery is just as good as Ecola.

Den

I enjoy that forest walk at Oswald State Park too.

Oswald State Park is a must-see! The short walk down to Short Sands Beach is very scenic and pretty. I have some photos posted here of our visit last summer.

Cannon Beach is a great coastal town to spend time in! Take your wife to Bistro, Gower St. Bistro or the Wayfarer for a nice dinner. Enjoy your trip! :)

I think it is always fun to try new places when travelling. We all have our favorite spots, but it is fun to be more adventurous. Have a great trip!

sheez, I may have to play hopscotch to get to manzanita, had hoped to see new Forestry Center east of Tillamook but OR-6 closed in 4 places and so is 101 at Tillamook

I had also thought to take the OR 53 form US26 to Wheeler and it is closed. 101 closed at Seaside. 101 may be closed near Hebo Down to US-26 to 101 then Cannon Beach. and south to Manzanita. at least today. I will keep watching.

I kind of know how to avoid high water on central coast, but not so on north coast.

Well Phirl, maybe this will make you feel better. Mistletoe is at Bandon, trying to play golf in this weather! I hope it eases up for him, as well as you:)

Phirl,

Hwy 101 is closed to small vehicles south of Seaside at Beerman Creek and further south at the Necanicum River (the usual spots), but that will not effect you getting to Manzanita. If hwy 26 is open to hwy 101, you have it made. You will head south on hwy 101 at the Cannon Beach jct, just b4 the closure. Unless there are slides, it%26#39;s clear sailing to Manzanita from there.

BTW, there is a ';flood detour'; around Tillamook now, so if hwy 6 opens up, you can make your way north even if hwy 101 is closed. This is an ';offical'; detour and is well marked. You%26#39;ll just need to avoid Nehalem a couple hours b4 and after high tide.

As for hwy 53, there really are not any places that flood, so if it%26#39;s closed, it must be due to slides. ODOT has done a much better job maintaining it since hwy 101 began to slide up on Neah-Kah-Nie Mt some 12 years ago. They get it open as soon as they can. It can be a pretty dangerous drive after dark, so only plan to take this route if you have plenty of daylight.

Don%26#39;t let a little Oregon shower slow ya down!!

Den