Kranz Co. Life in Bloom

I had a work trip to Seaside, Oregon in 2025 and completely fell in love with the Oregon Coast. One of the hikes I did there remains one of my all-time favorites, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. For the next year, I couldn’t stop talking about it to my husband, so we decided an anniversary trip and babymoon to the Oregon Coast was in order.

Since we were traveling without kids, we covered quite a bit of ground by car. If our boys had been with us, we definitely would have slowed down and spent more time in fewer places.

Day 1

We flew into Eugene and rented a car, landing around 11 a.m. Before heading to the coast, we grabbed lunch in Eugene and then began the drive south. It took about four hours to reach Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, where we stayed in a cabin overlooking the Rogue River.

The lodge was absolutely stunning—easily one of my favorite places I’ve ever stayed. The property felt peaceful, secluded, and luxurious without being pretentious.

That evening, we drove into Gold Beach for dinner and were recommended Groundlings Pizza Co. It did not disappoint. The pizza was great, but the real highlight was the view of the Rogue River. There’s something special about eating pizza while watching seals swim by as the sun starts to set.

Day 2

We started the morning with breakfast at Indian Creek Café before heading south to explore more of the coastline. One thing we quickly learned is that you could spend days exploring the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. There are countless pull-offs, viewpoints, and trails, and honestly, you can’t go wrong no matter where you stop. Every turn seemed to reveal another breathtaking view.

We made a stop at Whaleshead Beach and spent some time walking along the shore before continuing south to Brookings for lunch. We ate at Zola’s on the Water, which I would highly recommend. The food was great, and the waterfront setting made it even better.

After lunch, we strolled along the marina and grabbed coffee from Bell & Whistle Coffee House before making our way back to Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge for a relaxing afternoon.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was simply slowing down. Josh spent the afternoon fly fishing while I found a quiet spot to read. We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather, and the peaceful setting along the river made it easy to settle in and enjoy the moment.

The lodge itself offers so many amenities that we easily could have stayed a few more days without ever leaving the property. That evening, we had dinner at the lodge restaurant, which was thoughtfully curated and absolutely delicious. We ended the night with a game of Yahtzee by the fire—a simple but perfect way to wrap up the day.

Day 3

We packed up from our cabin and began the long drive north along the Oregon Coast. One thing that surprised me throughout the trip was how low-key and sleepy many of the coastal towns felt. Granted, we were visiting during the off-season, but it was refreshing compared to some of the more crowded beach destinations we’ve visited. The towns felt authentic, relaxed, and never overly touristy.

We made plenty of stops along the way, but one of our favorites was the Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail. The hike itself was beautiful, and as an added bonus, we were able to spot a whale while taking in the views.

We also decided to skip paying for the Sea Lion Caves and instead pulled off Highway 101 at a lookout just north of the caves (Google Maps lists it as the Lighthouse & Sealion Beach Vantage Point). Y’all…this was incredible.

From the overlook, you can peer down the cliffs and see hundreds of sea lions gathered below. At the same time, we spotted whales offshore, bald eagles soaring overhead, and countless other birds. It honestly felt like stepping into a National Geographic documentary. Everywhere I looked there was something amazing to see, and I didn’t know where to focus my attention.

By late afternoon, we arrived in Pacific City and checked into Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa. The hotel was absolutely beautiful, and our room offered incredible views of the ocean. We spent the evening relaxing on our porch, whale watching from a distance and enjoying the constant activity of the fishermen and surfers below.

After a full day of driving and exploring, it was the perfect place to unwind and take in the beauty of the Oregon Coast.

Day 4

We had been told by several people to wake up early and head to the beach during low tide, and I am so glad we listened. The tide pools were absolutely incredible. I have never seen so many starfish in my life! We spent at least one to two hours wandering through the pools, carefully exploring and discovering all kinds of marine life. It felt like stepping into a completely different world.

After our tide pool adventure, we made the hike up the sand dune to Cape Kiwanda Viewpoint. It isn’t a long hike, but trekking through the sand definitely gets your heart rate up. The views from the top were worth every step, offering sweeping views of the coastline, the ocean, and Haystack Rock in the distance.

For breakfast, we found ourselves returning to Stimulus Coffee & Bakery both mornings we were in Pacific City. The coffee was excellent, the pastries were delicious, and it quickly became one of our favorite stops. We also enjoyed a meal at Pelican Brewing, which is conveniently located right on the beach next door.

The rest of the day was exactly what we had hoped for—a slow day with nowhere to be. We spent our time walking the beach, relaxing at the lodge, and keeping an eye out for whales offshore. At one point, I settled into a chair overlooking the ocean, finished my book, and listened to the waves roll in.

It was one of those rare days where time seemed to slow down. Peaceful, simple, and exactly what we needed before heading home and preparing for life with baby boy number three.

Day 5

After soaking in every last minute of the coast, we reluctantly packed up and made the beautiful (but slightly sad) 2.5-hour drive back to Eugene for our flight home to Colorado. It felt like we had just started to settle into the slower pace of life on the Oregon Coast when it was already time to leave.

Overall Favorites

Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge
A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sleeping in a glass cabin along the Rogue River, fly fishing, reading by the water, and enjoying the incredible food made this one of the most memorable places we’ve ever stayed.

Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa
The views, atmosphere, and location were hard to beat. Watching whales from our room and falling asleep to the sound of the ocean was pure magic.

Lighthouse & Sealion Beach Vantage Point
If you’re driving the coast, do not skip this stop. Seeing hundreds of sea lions below the cliffs while spotting whales and bald eagles overhead was one of the coolest wildlife experiences I’ve ever had.

Any Coastal Hike or Beach
Honestly, some of our favorite moments weren’t planned at all. Pulling off Highway 101, exploring a beach, or hiking a random trail often led to some of the most stunning views of the trip.

A Few Downsides

Lots of Driving
We knew this going into the trip, and we were completely okay with it. In fact, some of the drives were beautiful. That said, I would not plan this exact itinerary with young kids. There was simply too much time spent in the car.

The Coastal Towns Weren’t What I Expected
Many of the small towns we passed through felt much quieter and sleepier than I anticipated. For some travelers, that may be part of the charm. I think I was expecting more of the classic “cute beach town” vibe. Pacific City came the closest to what I had envisioned. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’d also recommend researching Cannon Beach or Seaside farther north.

Final Thoughts

I’d love to hear from anyone else who has explored the Oregon Coast! Before my first trip, I rarely heard people talk about it, but it is truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited.

The rugged coastline, wildlife, peaceful towns, incredible hiking, and endless ocean views make it feel completely different from many of the beach destinations people typically think of.

We barely scratched the surface of everything Oregon has to offer, and there are already so many places we want to come back and explore. One thing is for sure—we’ll be back.

XO,

Chloe