Spring Break Part 2 - Oregon Coast

The drive to Oregon from Washington was AMAZING! It was so beautiful and glowing spring green. Jared wanted me to take a picture of Mount Hood. He got so excited when he saw it, all covered with beautiful white snow.

 It was fun to stop along the way at the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery and explore.

They had some huge ugly sturgeon's that were really old. I believe they said about 90 years old. They were impressive and ugly...did I mentions that they were ugly??? Gage is trying to look as cool as the fish!

We were also able to go to the Portland Zoo. The animals seemed a bit sleepy and nonactive, sadly. Gage would have like more action, but it was still pretty awesome. Gage thinks he is funny, trying to have a "wow" face, even though he wasn't feeling that wowed.

Gage's favorite part was definitely the penguins. We got there at feeding time and it was a blast watching them dive into the water and grab a fish.

Finally, what we all had been waiting for...the Oregon Coast. It exceeded our expectations for sure. If only the weather had cooperated it would have been better, but we dealt with it and had a great time exploring. Gage found a cool purple starfish while exploring some tide pools.

We were able to stay with our good friend from Iowa, Jodi and her new husband. They live in Forest Grove and he is going to Optometry School there. Jodi fed us well and they let us explore the Oregon coast as much as we wanted. They were wonderful hosts.

So this is the weather we were dealing with. Now we had been warned that the Oregon Coast is usually cooler weather, but this was crazy. The wind was so strong that was literally blowing us around and then on top of that the rain pelting us. It was crazy and so fun! Jared had taken off his shoes to keep them dry and he and Gage raced along the beach and played in the wind. Can you tell that Gage is using every ounce of strength he has to stay in one spot? 

Jodi and I with the breathtaking Oregon Coast scenery. Wow!

 

This is the famous Haystack Rock. Sadly we couldn't explore around it because the tide wasn't low enough yet, but it is supposed to be pretty cool to explore.

We are headed to my favorite spot that we visited along the coast. It was a beautiful trail that led us over a bridge and to the ocean.

Gorgeous!!!

Gage found a garden of muscles on the rocks.

 

It was so cloudy and rainy that the pictures we took just don't do the coast justice. I have never been much for the ocean really. I love my mountains and pine trees! But I have to admit that the Oregon Coast stole my heart, with its beautiful trees and greenery, boulders and water. It was so enchanting. It was an amazing trip.

On our way home we stopped at this amazing water fall, Multnomah Falls. It was so misty, that I had a hard time getting a picture. It kept getting my lens wet. 

I must say that it was hard to go home, back to every day life after this trip. But we have some great memories!