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Oregon Travel Tips: Wild Spring Weather on the Coast

By Andre' Hagestedt

(Oregon Coast) - Spring can be a stormy time on these shores, both inland and on the Oregon coast. You stand an almost equal chance of finding sun and as you do storm in March and April, often shifting between the two several times within the same day. But some of the most interesting moments can be had during these downpours. You may want to just drive around and enjoy the emerging spring flora and the sights in such weather, waiting it out until the weather breaks a bit.

Or perhaps stick close to a little beach town that's near the sand, so when the squalls hit you can bee-line it for the shelter provided by the amenities of the town. Cannon Beach, Seaside, Oceanside, Manzanita, Depoe Bay and parts of Newport are perfect for this kind of playing it safe.

Here are a few options for spring fun in the sun - or whatever weather you encounter.

Oceanside
Find this tiny village on the Three Capes Tour, about nine miles west of Tillamook, and you've happened across one of the coast's biggest wonders.

Wander the beach, slightly shielded from the north winds by Maxwell Point, and you'll find an intriguing tunnel going through the small headland. On the other side, you'll find a wondrous beach filled with strange rock slabs and agate-combing possibilities.

If the weather's been wet for a while, stay away from this tunnel, however. The cliffs above often drop rocks and such.

In such dreary weather, a walk or drive along the steep, hilly streets of this miniscule town will blow you away. The older homes are stunning enough, but some of the more recent additions may drive you mad with jealousy with their opulence and the amazing ocean view they sit in front of. A few of these have delightfully weird shapes which will delight you and maybe cause you to scratch your head.

Nye Beach
This tiny section of Newport is more than a quaint place: it's mesmerizing with its beauty and its architecture of old town America mixed with old Europe in interesting ways. A recent refurbishing of the district, complete with lanterns and brick streets, catapults the vibe into high gear.

But down on the beach, after parking at the charming turnaround, you'll find a long, sandy stretch in either direction that's highlighted by nooks and crannies in the cliffs, as well as the interesting remnant of Jump-Off Joe to the north. Above the structure sit the spooky remnants of a condo once naively built on this shaky sandstone foundation back in the early 80's. It faltered and began crumbling just weeks before its completion. These days, this chunk of labyrinth-like concrete evokes castle ruins a bit.

To the south, there's the Vietnam Vet memorial, which features a walkway meandering up into the cliff. It's lit up at night by a host of lights embedded near the floor, with various benches along the way, perfect for that midnight smooch session as the huge, Yaquina Head Lighthouse blinks in the distance.

Nehalem Bay
There's just something different about this delightful little chunk of Americana, which extends a ways back inland between Rockaway and Manzanita. Part of that is that the area presents an interesting way of hiding from the moody weather during spring. It's not unusual to find the beaches immediately south and north of the bay overcast and even rainy, while the bay is basking in the sun.

And if the weather is acting up, explore the antique shops of Nehalem or Wheeler. At Wheeler Station, there's some 10,000 square feet of store to get lost in, crammed full of collectibles ranging from chuckle-inducing oddball to beautiful. Explore the adorable storefronts, which sometimes have an old west vibe or smack of the 1940's. And head to the nearby Nehalem Bay Winery (888-368-WINE) to soak up the quirky ambiance amid wine tasting.

Fort Stevens State Park
It's time to get lost in history.

Here, enormous gunneries once guarded the mouth of the Columbia River, lodged in huge turrets which rested in sprawling concrete fortresses - all empty and abandoned now, with gaping holes like sad, hollow eyes, where guns, officers' quarters and other war machinery once sat.

Around one bend, you'll find Battery Russell and its enormous concrete bunkers. Built around the turn of the last century, the gunnery eventually watched for invaders during World War II. There are other gunneries as well - all perfect for rainy days when you don't mind getting a little wet while darting in and out of these castle-like structures.

The park also features an incredible jetty stretching out into the mouth of the Columbia River and the wreck of the Peter Iredale, one of the world's most photographed shipwrecks.

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