Beach Cruzin'

It's a holiday weekend and the kids need school clothes so we needed to head to the beach.  Since we go to the beach 3-4 times a year, we have a bit of a routine.

We stayed at my parent's condo here in Taft:

After breakfast at our usual haunt, the Spouting Horn (sorry, no photo as the camera battery was charging while we were eating breakfast), we went straight to the Tanger Outlet Stores to get the kids their school clothes.  We usually do well at Osh Kosh and they did not disappoint.  The kids should be good to go for the next 9 months.

The afternoon was so nice that after shopping, the kids spent a long time playing on the beach while Luis and I tried to watch some of the first weekend of college football.  I had to make an emergency run to the store to buy sunscreen because it was so nice out.

For dinner, as we usually do, we headed south to Newport to our favorite seafood restaurant Local Ocean Seafoods.  I recommend the Fishwives Stew.  This place has earned a reputation as the place to eat in Newport and as such, the wait is often long.  Best plan is to get your name in (they don't take reservations) and then go for a walk around the old Newport bay front.  The restaurant sends a text when your table is ready.  This may seem like a lot of effort but trust me, it's well worth it.

Newport is also important because it is the home of Aunt Belinda's Candy Shop - home of the pecan caramel log roll and the taffy boat.  We loaded up on both plus the kids and Luis threw in a few of their favorites.

We also visited our sea lion friends on their favorite dock by the Underwater Museum.  They were in fine form and barking away.

The kids watching the sea lions.

Both kids managed to talk me into getting them some cool new shoes for school.  Siena's sporting her Hello Kitty high tops and Mason has his no-tie Converse.

If we're eating breakfast out 2 days at the beach, breakfast joint #2 is always Lil' Sambo's which is toward the north end of Lincoln City.  They have a good kids menu, including hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream.

Usually once a beach trip we try to find something new to do or someplace new to go.  I read about Hug Point on the internet and thought it might be a fun place to check out.  The family was game for this adventure so we headed up north.  Hug Point is located just south of Cannon Beach and is a really great little beach for playing in the sand and exploring.  It didn't hurt that the weather was absolutely perfect. 

Mason checking out some of the many caves around Hug Point.

Plus a cute little waterfall.

Siena by one of the picturesque high clips.

It was so nice that we even played in the water a little bit.  Enough to get our feet and bottom of shorts wet at least.  This still isn't Puerto Rico.

The kids and Luis.

Here's a picture of the original stagecoach road that ran along the coast before the highway was built. Pioneers traveling along this headland had to hug this particular point even at low tide, hence the name Hug Point.  Now it is home to tide pools and a view of the coastline.

Feet in the water.

Siena loves playing in the sand.

Mason shares some of my Scandinavian blood and we both had some fun wading in the water.

Turns out Cannon Beach was crazy busy, what with it being a holiday weekend at all so after lunch, we headed back home.  We needed today (Labor Day) to relax and get ready for the upcoming school year.