Portland Coast // Day 2 // Sea Lion Caves // Mile Marker 179.3

One of the most touristy things on the Oregon Coast and I felt the NEED to check it off my list.

There is this cave where the sea lions go and one can pay to watch them.  You take an elevator down in the side of a cliff to get to the cave.

Which, we went the wrong time of the year, because there were no sea lions, not a single one.  Well, there were fake ones and a skeleton of one.  Nonetheless, we paid the $17 per person to go down to the cave.

When will we ever be able to ride an elevator into a sea lion cave area? 

Never.  Besides, we saw a whale.

We went on a super cool hike.

Plus, we got to look out the original entrance to the cave.  It's worth going down if you ask me.  It was beautiful.  They have this old picture of how they used to climb hundreds of wooden stairs down into the caves.  It looked amazing.

Portland Coast // Day 2 // Sand Dunes, Beaches and Little Sambo

Did you know Oregon had sand dunes?  A lot of them?

Also, Lincoln City has a Lil Sambo's Restaurant.  Had we not just eaten our complimentary breakfast at our hotel (the traveling must for the husband.), we probably would have eaten there.  

We literally had to stop and turn around to get a photo of it.

I think this is somewhere around mile marker 129, but I could be wrong.  I believe this is also the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in the distance.

Bridge designed by McCullough.

I probably should have written down our every spot.  It's been so long I can't remember anymore.

Portland Coast // Day 2 // Carnivorous Plants // Darlingtonia State Natural Site // Mile Marker 185.2

Have you guys ever seen the movie "The Labyrinth?" Well, this place kind of reminded  me of the stinky swamp in it...although, it didn't smell.  It's totally worth stopping and getting out for a 5 minute walk.

It just has carnivorous plants.  I kind of felt like if I got too close they would release their toxins and suck me into their beauty.  But we lived, so it must have been okay. 

Portland Coast // Day 2 // Agate Beach State Park // Mile Marker 138.5

I wish I was a beach person.  I truly wish I was.  Had I known how much little Aiko would love the water, sand and wind I would have planned more time.

Little Aiko could care less.  She loved the freezing water rushing up her tiny little legs.

Makes you wonder how toddlers aren't just terrified of the world.  It seems SOOOO much bigger when you see these photos with my tiny almost two year old girl.

As much as I hate the sand, I did love this beach.  It was pretty secluded, easy to get to and just a picture perfect day. 

I'm not a clean freak by any means, I don't even care about Aiko getting sandy, I just hate it on ME.  This water was SOOO cold.  I believe it was runoff from the mountains that went to the ocean. 

It was definitely worth the sand.

Portland Coast // Day 2 // Lighthouse // Mile 141.9

After our hike, we got in the car and started back for the highway, I was just settling in when the husband turned to me and said "What's next?" 

I was kind of blown away.  

What's next?  This is usually where we would go home take naps.  We just somewhat survived a hike (see here and here) with babies and I had for a slight moment forgotten that we were driving the Pacific Coast Highway all through the state of Oregon into California.  We still had so much to see.  After my moment of shock, I pulled out my new favorite magazine and read on. One of next stops was the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.  

Since both babies were still soundly sleeping, we took turns getting out of the car.   I headed up to the lighthouse for a quick tour, while the husband sat outside next to the car. 

The views, were to say the least, spectacular.  

What's this blue water you say?  Well, here my friends, was a whale.  That's right.  We saw quite a few actually.

Do you guys ever feel ever so awkward in photos.  Like what are you suppose to do with your arms...legs?  Hair?!

Doesn't this look like something right out a Pinterest picture?  Funny how styles come and go. 

Apparently, the PCH is known for their bridges.  Which, they were absolutely beautiful, but recently I saw this and wished I had researched the bridges themselves before going.