Hello friends! It’s been a while since I shared an “Out to See” post — a travel series inspired by childhood canal adventures near the Puget Sound. We took a short trip to the Oregon coast last week, and it felt wonderful to get away. We don’t take long vacations often, so when we do it’s a reminder of how restorative a change of scenery can be — and how sweet it is to return home.
Do you feel the same? Escaping for a few days is refreshing, but coming back home always feels especially cozy.
Below are highlights from our trip. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some of these in my stories. If you’re in the Northwest or planning a last-minute summer getaway, consider the Oregon coast — its rugged beauty is stunning even on cooler or cloudy days. We were lucky to have pleasant weather: not too cold, not too windy, and certainly not the sweltering heat others are experiencing this season.
We stayed at the Sylvia Beach Hotel, a beloved, quirky spot popular with readers and travelers. It’s not fancy, but it brims with character and charm. My husband and I started visiting a few years back for quiet winter getaways when our daughters were little, and we’ve returned often since.
Each room honors a different author. Above is the Mark Twain room, a cozy space featuring a fireplace and a clawfoot tub instead of a shower. We’ve stayed in this room twice. The Mark Twain room sits on the oceanfront and even has a small balcony — the view from the bed is as relaxing as it looks.
On this trip we brought our kids to introduce them to this special hotel. Since each guest room is relatively small and our children now prefer their own space, we booked separate rooms for everyone.
Our daughter stayed in the Jane Austen room. She even read the opening of Pride and Prejudice and admitted she isn’t usually a fiction reader — but this hotel makes curling up with a good book irresistible.
The hotel’s third-floor library overlooks the ocean and is the perfect spot for reading or writing. I wrote part of my first book, Love the Home You Have, in this corner of the library — and that book went on to become a New York Times bestseller, so maybe the place brings a bit of magic.
Our son stayed in the J.K. Rowling room, one of the more elaborately decorated spaces. We also peeked into several other themed rooms, including an Agatha Christie room that’s ideal for curling up with a stack of mysteries — especially during a storm when the fireplace is lit and the ocean roars outside the window.
The Steinbeck room and the Jules Verne room caught our eye as well. We’ve likely stayed in six or seven different rooms over the years. The hotel also includes a dining room where breakfast is served and where you can reserve a multi-course dinner — a great place to meet interesting fellow travelers.
While in the area we explored local sights, including the Yaquina Head lighthouse. The views from the headland are spectacular; it’s a great place for a walk and to take in the coastline.
We were fortunate to spot whales from the shore during our visit — a memorable moment even without a photo. The coastline’s vistas were incredible throughout the trip.
We also visited the Bay Front area and a familiar dock where sea lions gather. They’ve hauled out on these floating docks since I was a kid and they’re always entertaining to watch—loud, awkward, and full of personality as they jockey for space.
The nearby Oregon Coast Aquarium is across the bridge and has long been a local favorite. We visited when it first opened and remember seeing Keiko the whale from Free Willy; while it’s changed since then, it still offers beautiful marine displays.
Although this was a family trip, our daughter Kylee couldn’t join us. She and her husband kindly stayed at our house with our dogs and their two dogs, running a little “doggie summer camp” so we could get away. From the photos she sent, the pups had a wonderful time.
We had a lovely trip, but returning home felt just right — and the dogs were glad to have us back. Now I’m feeling eager to nest and refresh our home as the seasons change. After several outdoor projects this spring and summer, I’m already looking forward to cozy fall days and new projects around the house. Are you feeling the fall-nesting urge, too?
Have you taken any vacations this summer? Where do you like to go to get away? Nantucket is my dream destination.
More Out to See Posts:
Magnolia + The Silos
Port Townsend, Washington
Butchart Gardens, Victoria
Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.
Leavenworth, Washington
Shopping in Snohomish
Mermaid Cottage on Tybee Island
Sylvia Beach Hotel (again!)
Sesame + Lillies (a shop in Cannon Beach)