One More Day Along the Oregon Coast

Tuesday was our last full day in Oregon. We were heading home Wednesday, and unfortunately the forecast was calling for another rainy day.

Since the weather wasn’t looking great for outdoor adventures, we decided to head north to Newport and visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. It had been years since we had been there—the last time was when Jaelee was still a kid—so it was fun to go back and see it through different eyes.

One thing I’ve noticed as Greg and I have gotten older is that we appreciate experiences like this in a different way. When the kids were younger, we were usually moving at their pace, trying to keep up and make sure everyone saw everything.

Now we take our time.

We read the signs. We learn about the different species. We stop and really look at things instead of rushing through to the next exhibit.

Of course, Jaelee and Brennan were usually several steps ahead of us. They would explore an area and then wait for us to catch up while Greg and I were still reading about whatever fish or animal had caught our attention.

My favorite part of the aquarium has always been the tunnels where you can walk underneath the tanks while fish swim all around you. There is something magical about looking up and seeing everything moving above you.

I grabbed one of the cards they had available and made it my mission to find as many of the species as I could. We ended up finding quite a few of them, which made it even more fun.

When we made our way back outside, we noticed there was a pelican show about to start, so we decided to stay and watch. It was really interesting seeing what commands the pelicans knew and how they interacted with their trainers.

Of course, that was also when the rain decided to really show up.

By the time the show was over, it was pouring, and we were all pretty wet.

We continued on to the bird area and got to see one of my favorites—the puffins. I absolutely love puffins, and I could have stayed there watching them for much longer.

The aquarium happened to be hosting several school groups that day, so it was definitely a little chaotic. There were kids everywhere, and some of the interactive areas were nearly impossible to get to.

There were these boxes where you could smell different things and try to guess what they were, but the crowd was just too much. Jaelee and Brennan managed to squeeze in and try one before escaping the chaos.

It was similar at the tide pool area where you can touch starfish and anemones. We made it in for a quick visit, touched a few things, and decided that was enough for us.

Even with the crowds, we had a really nice time. We spent a few hours there and then headed out for lunch at a nearby restaurant. The food was delicious, and it was a nice break after walking around the aquarium.

After lunch, we continued exploring the coast.

Our next stop was Devil’s Punchbowl. I think it probably would have been even more impressive at high tide when there was more water moving through it, but it was still fascinating to see that huge natural hole carved into the coastline.

We took some pictures, enjoyed the view, and then stopped at a little coffee shop before continuing south.

On the way back, I really wanted to stop at Thor’s Well.

I’m so glad we did.

Jaelee actually liked Thor’s Well much more than Devil’s Punchbowl, and I can understand why. There is something incredible about standing there watching the ocean surge into that opening and spray back out.

Greg got pretty close to Thor’s Well to get a better look, and thankfully he stepped back at just the right moment. Almost immediately after he moved, a huge wave came in and sent water flying. He would have been completely soaked if he had stayed there another few seconds.

We wandered around for a while, took pictures, watched the waves, and then finally got back in the car for the drive home.

That evening, we ended our last night in Oregon the way so many of our evenings had been spent—near the water.

We all went fishing.

Well…the guys fished and the rest of us watched.

It was such a calm evening. There wasn’t a breath of wind, and the water was peaceful. There were too many clouds for one of those beautiful Oregon sunsets I always hope for, but honestly, it didn’t matter.

The guys caught a few little fish, which we released, and then about five minutes before we were ready to leave, Jaelee decided she wanted to cast a few times herself.

Of course she did.

It was the perfect ending to our trip.

Just standing beside the water with people we love, enjoying the quiet, and soaking in one last Oregon evening before heading home.

This trip was exactly what we hoped it would be—a few extra days together before a busy summer, time with family, beautiful scenery, good food, and memories we will carry with us for a long time.