So – today’s drive was another four hours north on the Oregon coast leaving plenty of time for all those stops that might be found as ‘necessary’;-) And, what do you know? The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport caught our eye. This wonderful facility invites one to immerse themselves in the mysteries of the ocean. It is a living classroom and, therefore, a vital educational resource for the state. The Aquarium plays an active role in conservation and animal rehabilitation efforts. The displays are captivating! Well worth the time. (AND, there is an excellent, family owned fish restaurant a block away – Fishtails Cafe!)

Full of chatter about the otters and stomachs full, time to continue north. Guess what was found next? Yep – Tillamook, Oregon. Even better than the cheese (which is the best) is the ice cream!! Again, we came away with our stomachs FULL, as well as the refrigerator and freezer;-) By the way – our route home was altered for one more stop at Tillamook for the BEST grilled cheese sandwich and more ice cream.

Fort Stevens State Park Campground was the destination – and finally reached. The campground is huge with approximately 500 sites. BUT, the real gem is the military installation, which saw 84 years of service from the Civil War to WWII! Yes – the Civil War. The original earthen fort was completed in 1865 to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from Confederate gun boats and the British Navy, which Lincoln believed would side with the south and try to attack from the west. The post later served as Oregon’s only coastal defense fort during the Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII. It is the only military fort in the US to be fired upon by an enemy during war time since the War of 1812, when it was attacked by a Japanese submarine on June 21, 1942. Wandering the grounds is amazing – but, a tour is the best! Views are pretty good, too – –

Mixing a little history with pure fun – head to Seaside (the Coney Island of the west coast!). Pig ‘N Pancake is a good place to start with a great breakfast;-) Then one can shop, eat ice cream, walk the boardwalk along the ocean – even ride a bumper car! Does that take you back a few years?!?! (Just an FYI for the ‘older folks who might be golfers’ – just north of Seaside is a gem of a course, Gearhart. It was founded in 1892 with three holes strewn across sand dunes – making it the oldest course in Oregon and west of the Mississippi! It is now a fabulous 18 hole course.)

For those “The Goonies” aficionados (“The Goonies” is a 1985 film produced by Steven Spielberg and has developed a bit of a cult following), Astoria is the Mecca, as much of the film was shot here. So, for the Shoe Crew, this is what they had been waiting for. The tour of the various filming sites starts at what is now The Oregon Film Museum which served as the county jail in the movie. Outside is the actual jeep that was used by the Fratellis in the movie.

Next up is the Goonies house. Fortunately for the Goonies followers, the owners of the house welcome the visitors just asking for respect of property and parking restrictions. A neighbor indicated there is typically a steady stream of visitors up and down their street to see this landmark.

Another location is Ecola State Park, a little south of Astoria near Cannon Beach (a charming little coastal town great for exploring, shopping and eating). This is the backdrop where the Goonies search for the start of the treasure map they are searching for. A BIG hit with the Shoe crew;-)

Back to Astoria for a landmark – the Astoria Column. The Column was erected in 1926, sits atop Coxcomb Hill and is a unique work of Northwest art offering a view of the meeting of many the roads taken by those who conquered this land. The Column itself is beautiful as is the view of the Columbia River over to Washington state.

Only a couple of days left of this year’s adventure, so off to show the granddaughters Salem, the capital of Oregon. The route took us through Tillamook for one last helping of ice cream and a side trip to Corvallis to see the University – –

And so – this trip ends. It is the hope that there will be fond memories of a couple more NP’s – but, the Goonies and Tillamook ice cream may be the most vivid memories;-) Oh yes – and the mosquitoes, which became known as “little shits”!! There is so much beauty in our country – please get out and enjoy it and share it with your family.

E & G with many fond memories from these 2 1/2 weeks;-)