Oregon Lighthouses

On our trip to the coast, we decided to try and see as many lighthouses as possible along our way.  We did not try to see every lighthouse along the coast because we didn't want to drive the entire length of Oregon.  Visiting the lighthouses was a nice way to take a break from the car and do some exploring.

Here is the list of them from North to South
Tillamook Rock
Cape Mears
Yaquina Head
Yaquina Bay
Heceta Head

TILLAMOOK ROCK

Tillamook rock lighthouse is near Cannon Beach, and there is a state park with an overlook on a cliff where you can look out over Cannon Beach to one side and the lighthouse on the other side.

 The boys getting ready to look at Cannon Beach.

 Cannon Beach

 Tillamook Rock Light

CAPE MEARES

 For some reason I love pictures of the boys looking out over a fence.  Whether it is a cliff over the ocean or over a waterfall or anything.  I don't know if it is because I know they have stopped to observe and look at something new and interesting or that they are contemplating what is really down there.  It looks like they are having really deep thoughts, when they are probably actually wondering if they could spit from the fence to the ocean.

The better side of Austin at Cape Meares

Can you guess who the four silhouettes are?  Who knew lighthouses were so exciting?

Cape Meares is a short and stubby lighthouse compared to what I would consider a traditional light house.  

The path is actually at the height of the light until the very end when it takes a couple switchbacks down to the level of the light, it made for a pretty cool picture of the boys. 

YAQUINA HEAD

 Speaking of traditional lighthouses.  Yaquina head looks pretty typical. The park also has tours that take you through the house and up to the light.  We didn't know that it required tickets and planning ahead to get inside, so we just took pictures at the front of it.  This was a pretty rough day, since Clayton, Tanner, and I had gotten up at 5-ish for fishing and were all pretty tired.  The other boys were a little burned out on pictures in front of lighthouses so I got Clayton.

On the fishing trip we passed by Yaquina head and after many attempts on a moving boat to get a straight picture, I got this one. 

YAQUINA BAY

This is the only lighthouse we were able to get into, the rest either didn't have tours or we were too late to get in.  So we learned that this lighthouse was in service for only 3 years before it was replaced by Yaquina Head.  Also, in the early 1900's the town must have thought it was an eyesore or a waste of land it was nearly torn down. But eventually it was saved as a piece of history.  The bottom house has been set up to look like the late 1800's.

 Another lighthouse we saw on our way back from the fishing trip.

HECETA HEAD

This lighthouse is the one I wanted to see the most.  Mainly because I like how it looks perched up on its overlook.  It is also on the edge of the bay, so as the road wraps around the bay it is an amazing thing to see. 

 Another family lighthouse picture

 We were too late for the tour of this lighthouse, but that was ok because we hit the area at low tide.  Fortunately there were enough rocks to explore and find little creatures.

 Tanner won the prize for the best find with this starfish.

 Quentin and Austing looking at and touching the many green sea anemones.

Family picture in the bay for Heceta head with the bridge for the highway in the background.