Gold Beach to Bandon-by-the-Sea, Oregon,  55 miles

Another beautiful day on Highway 101…

PREHISTORIC GARDENS
http://www.prehistoricgardens.com/
This one was a surprise. I automatically stop at all roadside attractions — just can’t resist the kitsch. But I didn’t expect an education. The gardens here are so well-maintained, and the information about the gardens and the dinosaurs is presented on friendly, easy-to-digest signs along the way. The most fun thing was to see the real size of dinosaurs in person (yep, they were huge).

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Look how tall they were! (that’s a real car!)

Panda don’t care

There’s a WHAT behind me???

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

OK

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Should you be doing that?

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

But…but…I can almost reach that leaf…

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

PORT ORFORD 
Griff’s on the Dock
Amazing shrimp melt in a quaint crab shack on a dock in a working port. Actual seamen dine here (alright, I just wanted to say “seamen”) (but it’s true). Great local color!

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

CAPE BLANCO LIGHTHOUSE
I never knew there were so many lighthouses on the west coast. I always think of New England when I think of lighthouses, but apparently ships on the west coast needed guidance as well. But the lighthouse isn’t the only reason to visit Cape Blanco State Park — the views from the top of lighthouse hill are breathtaking, both north and south.

Highway 101

Cape Blanco State Park

The long and winding road to the lighthouse

Looking south from the lighthouse

Looking north from the lighthouse

The 1870 lighthouse is in perfect condition, and open for tours April – October, although you can’t go to the top of the lighthouse.

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

So tempting…(why won’t they let me go upstairs?)

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

Photo by Stephanie Roberts, ObsessiveHobbyist.com

MY PHOTO GALLERIES