Day 1

Good Morning


We rise at 6:30 a.m., which feels aggressive for vacation. We shower before breakfast in an effort to awaken whatever brain cells are willing to report for duty without coffee.


We gather our gear for the day and head downstairs.


Jeremiah chooses biscuits and gravy. I build a breakfast plate of a waffle, a donut hole, an apple strudel, and optimism.


A brief bout of crabbiness overtakes me when my socks refuse to stay up inside my boots. Jeremy, ever the hero, offers me one of his pairs. Peace is restored. Comfort is achieved. The journey may continue.

On the Road


We begin the drive to Astoria, Oregon.


The scenery is lush and green in that unapologetically Pacific Northwest way. We laugh at the name of a small town we pass through—Kelso—because it makes us think of That '70s Show.


We cross the Washington/Oregon border and soon pull over at a viewpoint overlooking the water. Across it, Washington sits beneath soft industrial smoke stacks that curl into the morning air like slow-moving clouds. Behind us stretches the long bridge we just crossed, looking far more dramatic from a distance.


As we wind down from the mountains, we pass a sign that reads: Entering Tsunami Hazard Zone.

Naturally, I take a picture.


We do not encounter tsunami warnings in Colorado. We had no idea that there were signs made for them until now.

Two people taking a selfie while sitting in a car.
Fall landscape with steam rising from industrial plants in a misty valley.
Person wearing sunglasses driving a car on a sunny day.
Street intersection with yellow autumn trees and traffic signs.

Astoria, Oregon


We arrive in Astoria and immediately head for Mikey’s house from The Goonies. The owner has understandably grown weary of tourists and keeps everyone at a distance. We respect the boundary and snap our photos from down the street like polite fans.


On the way back, we pass the “Goonies Gift Shop,” which turns out to be more coffee shop than treasure trove—but that suits us fine.


Before reaching it, though, we detour toward the water.


We hear sea lions before we see them—deep, echoing barks rolling across the docks. After some investigative wandering, we find them sprawled across floating platforms. There must be close to a hundred. They bark, jostle, flop, and generally behave as if they own the harbor.


We stand there grinning like children.


Eventually we make it back to the Goonies shop, order coffees, and add a Goonies shot glass to Jeremy’s growing collection.

Large group of sea lions resting on wooden pier by the ocean.
Posted warning sign for private drive with no trespassing instructions.
Group of large sea lions resting on floating docks in harbor.
Black and white skull and crossbones sign on sidewalk near street pole.
Sea lions lounging on a floating dock in blue water.
White hillside house with blue trim nestled among autumn trees.
Sea lions lounging on a dock surrounded by seagulls.

Seaside, Oregon


From Astoria we drive to Seaside, ready for lunch. We head straight to Norma’s Seafood + Steak, housed in a charming little lighthouse-shaped building near the beach shops.


We both order the seafood combo: scallops, oysters, prawns, halibut, and squid. It is magnificent. The clam chowder alone deserves poetry. The food was so delicious, that we forgot to take the obligatory travel foodie photos before the great devouring.


After lunch, we wander through delightfully touristy shops. We leave with a shot glass, candy, two pairs of socks (because apparently socks are part of my narrative now), and freshly screen-printed “Seaside Oregon” T-shirts. The shop owner chats with us and, upon learning we plan to walk the beach, directs us to a quieter stretch away from the crowds.


He is correct. Hardly anyone is there.


The sand is glazed with a thin film of water, creating a mirror-like surface that reflects sky and silhouette. It makes for stunning photographs. We collect a sand dollar, oyster shells, and a crab husk. We witness a seagull pull a crab from the sand, but we are too late to intervene. Nature is efficient.


We linger for a long time—breathing salt air, listening to waves, and simply existing beside each other. I learn this is only Jeremy’s second time seeing the ocean. Watching him experience it feels quietly special.

Silhouette of person walking on reflective beach at sunset.
Person at restaurant table with partially eaten meal.
Person in coral shirt walking along misty ocean shoreline with reflection.
Lone figure walking along misty ocean shoreline wearing red jacket.
Figure in red jacket walking along empty beach with waves.
Person sitting in restaurant booth wearing pink t-shirt.
Small seashell and crab in wet sand at the beach.
Five seagulls standing in a row on wet beach sand.
Exterior of Norma's Seafood & Steak restaurant with person standing outside blue building.
Exterior view of Inside restaurant with painted mural signage on side of urban building.
Three seagulls standing on wet sand in black and white photography.
Close-up of orange crab on sandy beach with waves in background.
Birds-eye view of person lying on dark wet sand creating an angel shape.
Couple taking selfie together on sunny beach with ocean waves behind them.

Cannon Beach, Oregon


We drive to Cannon Beach next. Jeremy changes into shorts and sandals in the parking lot with absolutely no hesitation of potential exposure, which I find deeply amusing.


We walk toward Haystack Rock, looming to our right like something placed there deliberately by a dramatic set designer. Jeremy pokes at tide pools and examines shells with scientific enthusiasm.


Around the base of the rock, anemones and tiny sea creatures live in shallow pools left by the retreating tide. It feels like discovering a miniature world.


At one point, we realize we don’t quite remember where we parked—but we do remember the staircase leading down to the beach. This proves sufficient.


We find the stairs. Victory.


By now it’s after 4 p.m., and we turn toward Portland.

A rock formation looms behind beachgoers enjoying a sunny day at Cannon Beach.
White bird perches on fallen log among autumn foliage and greenery.
Two visitors pose at Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach, Oregon with the iconic rock formation looming in the background.
Figure walks along the shoreline near a towering sea stack at Cannon Beach.
Close-up profile view of sunglasses reflecting a bright sky.
Haystack Rock reflects in wet sand during low tide at Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Dramatic black and white photo of sunburst over coastal rock formation.
Sunlit forest road curves through dark woods with golden light filtering through the trees.
Two elongated shadows hold hands on a sandy beach at sunset.
Haystack Rock formation at Cannon Beach reflecting in wet sand during low tide.
Serene beach landscape with distant sea stacks and mountains under clear blue skies.
Haystack Rock stands majestically on Cannon Beach with tide pools reflecting in the foreground.
A tiny crab rests in someone's dirt-covered palm, showing intricate natural details.
Happy couple takes selfie on beach with ocean waves in background.

Portland, Oregon


We arrive in Portland and set out to find The Witches Castle. By the time we locate the trailhead, it’s dark—and the trail is closed.


We decide not to test fate in the woods at night and instead head to dinner at Clarklewis. It’s unexpectedly fancy. Jeremy orders tagliatelle; I choose a ribeye. We sit there feeling slightly windswept and underdressed, but entirely satisfied.


Afterward, we cross a bridge into downtown Portland and walk through a clean, modern city lit softly against the night. A brick plaza and narrow park between streets capture our attention, and we wander without urgency.

We end the evening at Starbucks on the plaza.

Golden sunlight filters through dark forest trees creating a mystical atmospheric scene.
Silhouetted pine trees against a moody green twilight sky over rolling hills.
Illuminated street lamp casts warm light over empty brick plaza at night in urban setting.
Historic government building facade photographed in black and white at night with dramatic lighting.
Historic bronze statue stands tall in park setting illuminated by evening lights.
Tall bronze statue stands prominently in park at night with lamp posts glowing in background.
Restaurant dining scene with plated mushroom dish and candlelight on table.
Elegant plated dinner served at upscale restaurant with city lights visible through window.
Directional street sign post displaying multiple destinations at night with historic building in background.
City street at night with illuminated clock and buildings in black and white.
Historic Portland theater sign glowing with bright lights against dark sky.

Good Night


We drive back to the hotel.


As the clock strikes midnight, I wish Jeremy a happy birthday and give him a birthday kiss in the parking lot before we even leave the car.


It feels like the perfect ending to a day full of ocean air, small adventures, and just enough magic.