Florence, OR, Honeyman SP &; Oregon Dunes

by Elizabeth & Gary's Magic Bus Tour

Our new home for 3 whole days was Honeyman State Park Campground, which borders on the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area just south of Florence, OR, and maintains approximately 400 campsites! With three days, there was a little down time to do mundane tasks like laundry, shopping and to spend afternoons painting rocks to leave on the hiking trails;-)

Some really good artists in this group (not Grumps and Gramma;-( ).

What a creative crew!

The big draw in this area is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area – one of the largest expanses of coastal sand dunes in the world. A place where dunes, forests and the ocean come into close proximity of one another. Recognizing the unique qualities of the land, Congress designated this 31,500 acre portion of the Siuslaw National Forest as a National Recreation Area. Yea for us!! And today we were off to experience ‘the Dunes’ – –

And – away we go!

Three of us, especially G, were not smiling as broadly by the end of the ride.

Scaring ourselves silly was not enough enough excitement for one day – so off to the Sea Lion cave and the Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Sea Lion Caves is a connected system of sea caves and caverns open to the Pacific Ocean where Steller sea lions and cubs take shelter each year. Today there were LOTS of sea lions playing in the surf or just sunning themselves.

The views of the Oregon coast are spectacular – heading to Sea Lion Caves.

Sea lions galore.

While at the Sea Lion Caves, one has a great view of the Heceta Head Lighthouse, perched atop 1,000′ high Heceta Head. The light in the 56′ tower was first illuminated in 1894. It can be seen 21 miles from land and is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast. Perhaps we should go check it out – –

Time to walk out to the Heceta Head lighthouse.

Up close and personal.
Looking south from the lighthouse – great views back to the Sea Lion Caves.

A Mom and her calf were also spotted.

Well, as long as you go this far north might as well go a few miles farther to Yachats – a funky little town with a couple of good restaurants. And, it was dinner time. So after a quick stroll around town and a stop a the rock shop, we were off to dinner.

A stop in Yachats to pan for rocks and a pizza dinner.

Honeyman SP also had a couple of lakes within walking distance of the campground. So, one needs to take a walk and investigate because you never know what you might see – –

One of the many osprey we spotted during our walk out to Cleawox Lake near our campground.

This guy kept a close eye on us as we tried to get closer and closer to get the shot.

Another great stay and a National Recreation Area. But, as always, this too had to come to an end as Astoria was calling. Besides, we were all still brushing sand out of our ears and hair;-(!!!!

E & G – still having fun;-)

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