A Day at Cannon Beach, Oregon

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Some of my favorite childhood memories were weekends spent at my grandparent's house at Tolovana Beach, Oregon.  We would walk the long coastline, build sand castles with moats around them, and visit the Cannon Beach bakery for a maple bar and loaf of Haystack Bread.  Now, as an out-of-state visitor, I try to visit the vacation spot of my childhood whenever I am in Oregon.

On this summer day, Matt and I drove to Cannon Beach from Portland for a day of beach walking, tide pooling, and magnificent views.

Here is how to recreate this adventure...

Camp 18 - As I shared in a previous blog post (Oregon Coast Day Trip), I always stop at this
restaurant for breakfast.  I enjoyed my flapjacks with marionberry syrup while sitting in the grand log room.  Afterwards, Matt and I explored the outside grounds that is a museum of logging equipment.  Interpretive signs gave information about the machines and equipment.

Interior of Camp 18 Restaurant

Short Stack with Marionberry Syrup

Camp 18 Logging Museum

Tolovana Beach - Instead of parking in Cannon Beach, we took the Tolovana Beach exit and parked at (free) public parking next to Mo's Restaurant.  Matt and I planned to arrive around 10 am since the low tide was around 10:15 am.  It was a clear, beautiful day and we enjoyed our walk north to the iconic Haystack Rock - known to some from its role in the 1980's movie "Goonies".  It was about a mile and a half walk to the rock from Tolovana Beach.

Tolovana Beach

Tillamook Lighthouse at Cannon Beach

Haystack Rock - Haystack Rock is a basalt monolith that towers out of the shallow seas at Cannon Beach.  The site is a marine preserve due to its impressive tide pools and sanctuary for rare marine birds.  Matt and I strolled around the rocks at low tide - viewing the large sea stars, barnacles, mussels, and sea anemones.  Wildlife volunteers walk the area at low tide and are willing to share information and give advice.  On this day, we also saw many sea birds, including tufted puffins, nesting on the rocks.

Tide Pools

Sea Anemones

Town of Cannon Beach - Matt and I walked another mile further and ventured into town.  We visited the public restrooms and went for coffee, donuts, and a loaf of the famous Haystack Bread at the Cannon Beach Bakery.  Afterwards, we strolled around town window shopping and enjoying the quaint village.

Cannon Beach Bakery

Haystack Bread

Ecola State Park - We walked back to our vehicle via the beach and drove via 101 N up the coast to Ecola State Park. This is accessed just north of Cannon Beach.  There is a $5 fee per vehicle to enter the park.  We drove to the Indian Beach area inside the park, where we saw surfers enjoying the waves and picnickers taking advantage of the fine weather.  Matt and I took the Clatsop Loop Trail.  This hike is 2.5 miles round trip and provided views of the Tillamook Lighthouse (a decommissioned light house off Tillamook Head), large Sitka spruce forest, and Pacific Coast wildlife including butterflies, deer, and reptiles.  The trail is an easy to moderate challenge level and perfect for families.

Hiking Clatsop Loop

Tillamook Lighthouse viewed from Ecola State Park

Big Trees

We returned to Portland around 4 pm.  Our adventures on this beautiful day were the perfect end to our one week trip to Oregon that included exploring Portland, Mt. Hood, Central Oregon, and the Oregon Coast.  For more info about our trip, see the blog posts below:

Portland, Oregon - Biking, Beers, and Baristas
Cross the Cascades - A Scenic Drive from Portland to Sunriver
Glass Mountains and Lava Tubes

Tillamook Lighthouse

Please leave comments and questions below.  

Strawberry Banke - A Trip to the Past

Strawberry Banke Museum, Portsmouth, NH

To honor our country's independence, Matt and I began the July 4 holiday at Strawberry Bank Museum - touring historic homes and conversing with reenactors of the country's early years.  Independence Day was the perfect day to visit the historic village because they pull out the stops including an actual naturalization ceremony, demonstrations by traditional craftsmen, and a plethora of role-players for the event.

Strawberry Banke buildings and village

Matt and I traveled through many colonial buildings and historic areas to learn more about the town of Portsmouth and this time in American History.  Some of the highlights included visiting the 1800's

Colonial Reenactors wash laundry

houses for architecture and furnishings, visiting the 1943 store for accurate pricing and merchandise, and touring the grounds of old Strawberry Banke...later to be know as Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

I highly recommend a trip to Strawberry Banke Museum.  This is the second time I've been on the July Fourth weekend, and it's a wonderful stop for anyone that loves history and learning.  It also is fantasitc for kids.  There are many hands on exhibits including chances to play with toys, sit in furniture, talk to role players, and play.

Old Buildings in Strawberry Banke

More information:

- Day to go:  The museum is seasonal (May 1-Oct. 31).  It's best visited on a fair weather day when you can wander through the many gardens and grounds.
- Cost:  General admission is $17.50 for adults and $10 for kids.  Family rate is $45.  Active military and their families are free.  One nice thing is that general admission is good for 2 consecutive days, so if you are visiting the area and get tired or need a break, you can always come back the next day.
- Parking:  Strawberry Banke has a parking lot, but on the July 4 weekend, I recommend parking at one of the many public lots in Portsmouth and walking over to the grounds.
- Food:  Multiple food carts are present on the July 4 weekend on the grounds of the museum, but these are usually not there.  Patrons are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and eat on the lawns, or step out of the museum to eat somewhere in town.  Matt and I visited the Portsmouth Brewery a few blocks away for snacks and beer.

A cool beer on a hot day

Please feel free to leave comments and questions below!

Science Nerds in Boston, MA

T Rex attach at Boston Museum of Science

A teacher friend, Matt Drown, was up from North Carolina for his spring break.  We decided to get our nerdy science side on and drive down to Boston for a day of learning!

It took 2.5 hours to drive from Southern Maine to the New England Aquarium.  I had suggested taking the C and J bus or the Amtrack, but Matt was familiar with Boston driving due to his time volunteering at the aquarium, so we drove instead.  For those of you not familiar with Boston traffic - it is an adventure in itself.  Bring a trustworthy co-pilot, or better yet, use public transportation. 

Touch tank with skates, rays, and sharks.

I had been the aquarium before and loved a chance to re-visit.  They are currently doing some renovations, but it was still awesome.  For those with families, they have an AMAZING touch tank with rays and sharks!  The excitement wasn't even lost on me - a former marine biologist. 

There are many wonderful displays and a knowledgeable staff and volunteer educators.  It is definitely a worth-while stop in Boston!

The aquarium is near Faneuil Hall, a Boston landmark for shopping and sightseeing.  Matt and I walked around a bit, but on this cold day, we decided to move on after a few minutes. 

Little Blue Penguin

From the New England Aquarium, we took "the T" to the Science Museum...I had never been here before and I cannot wait to go back!  We discovered after arriving that we could register for a teacher membership and get in for free! 

*If you are a teacher, try to do this before hand because we had to register on our smart phones.  


The Museum of Science, Boston is truly impressive and has a great selection of exhibits.  We spent a few hours there and just touched on the opportunities.  I loved the bottom floors "Energy" display of green technologies. 

Butterfly Garden

Another personal favorite was the selection of skulls, shells, and stuffed taxidermy in the natural selection exhibit.  This is a personal favorite at any museum and they had a beautiful display. 

Matt and I paid extra to tour the butterfly garden.  It was small but a great opportunity for photographers to get up close with some specimens. 

I 100% recommend you see the "Lightning Show" when you are at the Museum of Science.  It was fascinating and a wonderful spectacle.  Later, when discussing my trip with my 7th grade students, they all said the same thing: "Did you see the lightning show?"  Make sure you see one of these....and that's all I'll say about it. 

We left the museum and took the T back to our car near the aquarium.  It was a wonderful day and a great way to experience some of Boston.