Summer vacay...

We took the greatest little road trip this summer!  We headed up to Portland, Oregon, down the coast to the Redwoods in California, then back up to Crater Lake in Oregon, then home.  We stayed 5 nights and drove for hours on end, but had a wonderful time and saw the most beautiful sites! It was one of our best vacations so far. 

Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Horsetail Falls

Multnomah Falls

Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry

We finally made it to the Oregon Coast!

A cute little souvenir shop overlooking  the coast

Oregon Coast - so beautiful!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Harbor Seals at Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Oregon Coast Aquarium - so awesome!

seahorses

giant jellyfish

Heceta Bay Lighthouse - my favorite!

Sea Lion Caves is one of my favorite places.  The sea lions hang out in this huge cave right on the coast.  You take an elevator down about 200 feet and right into the cave.  Of course, the day we got there, there were no sea lions - they were all hanging out on the rocks on the beach.  We did get to walk to an observation point where we could see tons of them. 

We had the most beautiful view from our hotel room.  It's hard to tell in this picture, though!

Driftwood Shores

We stopped for lunch at Gold Beach and it was so peaceful and beautiful until these crazy dogs joined us.  They loved Em and kept running around her and kicking sand in her food.

Cool/sad story:  "Mama" the gray whale swam  up the Klamath River with her baby in late June.  The baby stayed for a few weeks but then got hungry and headed back out to sea.  Mama hung around a bridge that crossed the Klamath River for over 2 months.  We stopped and watched her for a while and it was amazing.  She was huge and put on quite a show for the spectators.  We found out that 2 days after we saw her she beached herself and died. 

Redwood National Forest

There are about 17 bazillion "big trees" in the forest, I wonder which one this sign is pointing to?? 

Another lighthouse - I can't remember the name of it.  It was in Crescent City, California.

Rogue River Gorge

Crater Lake.  I wasn't sure what to expect at this stop, but was so glad we made the effort to get here.  It was really pretty and we were amazed at how this lake was formed.  The mountain was a volcano that blew its top and then collapsed on itself forming this huge crater.  The crater has filled with water from rain and snow and made this lake.  So cool.

The water in this lake is the most incredible color of blue.  The pictures don't even come close to showing the color that it really is.

Wizard Island

We had a really wonderful time!  The kids got along so well - especially considering the MANY hours we spent in the car.  The Oregon Coast has long been one of my favorite places in the world - I was so happy to get to see it again!