Here and There along the Mid-coast

...Yachats, Waldport & Seal Rock

and other cool central coast spots

I'm not sure how many times I went into the small coastal town of Yachats. I ate there at least twice, visited the tide pools another time, and yet another time I took my tripod down to the rocks and shot pictures of the crashing waves.

Seal Rock was one of my favorite places along the whole coast. I was there once in the fog and another time when the tide was coming in, so I didn't get to spend at much time as I wanted, but it's an easy beach to walk and picturesque beyond words. It's located just north of Waldport.

Waldport, where the forest meets the sea, is popular for its entry to the Siuslaw National Forest and Alsea Bay. Hiking is good there, but we found the little crabbing dock on the bay equally entertaining.

Seal Rock is one of many, many state parks along the Oregon coast. It's particulary a favorite because of the bigger than life rock formations, tide pools and beautiful beach.

The coastline looking north from Seal Rock State Park

When the fog comes in on Oregon's coast, it's a whole new ball game.

Part of the mid-coast shoreline looking south toward Florence

I stopped in at a waysie park called the Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial south of Yachats on the 101, While walking the beach, I discovered these natural sand sculptures, small but perfect.

The beach at the Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial wayside

bridge across the small Yachats River on the 101

The Big Creek Bridge crosses the Big Creek between Yachats and Florence on the 101. It was designed by Conde B. McCullough and was opened in 1931.

Here, the Yachats River meets the ocean. At low tide, tide pools can be explored.

This is a typical small village restaurant. Some may seat less than 25 people, and all of them serve local seafood. This one is in Yachats, and because the inside is so small, it offers a tented outside eating spot as well. The town, by the way, is pronounced "Ya Hots" with the accent on the Ya.

The inside of the Little Log Church by the Sea, in Yachats. The church's exterior is in the shape of a cross, and the inside also has a museum of local artifacts.

In 930, local timber was hauled down the Yachats River to build this little log church. At some point, the congregation outgrew the church, and a new one was built. The log church's property was consequently sold to the Oregon Historical Society.

You can be sure that if any given area is of particular beauty, the state of Oregon has put in a couple of picnic tables, restrooms and a parking lot and made it a state park. Such is the case here at the Yachats State Park. Additionally, a platform was put in for better viewing of the rocks and, at low tide, the tide pools.

I guess it doesn't take much to entertain us, but my travel partner and I were content hanging around the crabbing dock at Waldport's Alsea Bay port to take a look-see. We found this little place that carries all things crabbing and fishing. The free crabbing dock here attracts many locals.

man and young daughter crabbing off dock

A black turnstone, this small shorebird is especially pretty and very identifiable in flight because of the pattern of its spreaded wing feathers.

At the entrance to Waldport is this bridge that crosses the Alsea Bay. The original bridge here was built by Conde McCullough, but when it had to be replaced in 1988, the new design was made to preserve the memory of the original.

To visit other locations in Oregon, please return to the Oregon home page.

Thank you for visiting these photo pages.

If you're interested in seeing more, please return to the Main Menu at the bottom of my home page and make your selection.

All images within thewanderingchick.com Web site are copyright protected. They may not be downloaded or otherwise copied.

Please contact me if you think a particular photo or set of photos can be used in your publication.