This spring in the Pacific Northwest has been a frustrating procession of storms, gray skies, and chill-inducing temperatures but last week, for the first time in what feels like months, the clouds parted to grace us with a shining sun. And just in time for Alex’s and my trip along the Oregon Coast! We’ve been dreaming about driving along this famed stretch of Highway 101 since before we even moved to Seattle, but other trips always took precedence since the coast is so close to home. For too long I’ve thought of the Oregon Coast as “just right there” and figured “we can go anytime,” which is a mindset I’ve learned prevents me from visiting destinations that are nearby under the assumption I’ll make it there someday. Then someday keeps getting delayed until years have passed and I realize that I still have yet to make that trip despite its proximity. So when Alex and I were looking for an early summer trip that could be completed in an extended weekend, I knew just where we should head!

We spent five days on the road, spending two nights in Cannon Beach, one night in Bandon, and one night in Brookings before making one long push back to Seattle on the final day of the trip. This trip was different than most of our trips, which are usually centered on one monster objective in the backcountry where we spend our days on an endless and winding trail and our nights confined to a tiny tent. These trips all inevitably end with us ravenous, exhausted, and smelly. This time we stayed in hotels and never hiked more than four miles, in fact, most of the locations we visited and photographed required only a short stroll from the car. I have to admit it was a nice change in pace from strenuous adventures. It allowed us to slow down, enjoy a fine dinner and a bottle of wine with a beach view, and sleep in king-sized beds overflowing with pillows. This isn’t to say I’m ready to retire my tent and hiking poles just yet, but perhaps I’ll make more of an effort to balance trips between strenuous and leisurely.