Hello friends! It’s been a while since I shared an “Out to See” travel post. We took a short getaway to the Oregon coast last week, which was a lovely reminder of why getting away is so restorative — and also why I love coming home. We don’t travel for long vacations often, so this trip felt extra special.
Do you feel the same? It’s nice to escape for a bit, but returning home is always sweet.
I’ll share highlights from our trip so you can see where we stayed and what we did. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen some of these in my stories. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest or planning a coastal escape, this might inspire a last-minute summer trip. The Oregon coast is beautiful even on chilly or overcast days — and we were lucky to enjoy comfortable weather while we were there.
We stayed at the Sylvia Beach Hotel, a quirky, bookish spot we’ve returned to for years. It’s not glamorous, but it has a lot of character and charm. My husband and I used to make it a winter tradition to stay here for a couple of nights when our girls were little. This trip we brought the whole family so our kids could experience this special place.
Each room is dedicated to an author. We stayed in the Mark Twain room, a cozy space with a fireplace and a clawfoot tub. It’s oceanfront and even has a balcony — a relaxing view to wake up to.
We decided to splurge and book separate rooms for everyone since the hotel doesn’t offer large family suites. Our daughter Courtney stayed in the Jane Austen room and even read a little Pride and Prejudice during our stay — proof that this place makes you want to curl up with a book.
Courtney in the Jane Austen room.
The hotel’s third-floor library overlooks the ocean and is the ideal spot to read or write. I actually wrote part of my first book, Love the Home You Have, in that corner of the library. It was a memorable place for me as a first-time author.
The ocean-view library is a peaceful retreat.
Our son Luke stayed in the J.K. Rowling room, one of the more elaborately decorated suites. We also peeked into the Agatha Christie and Steinbeck rooms — each room has its own whimsical details that make the hotel feel like a tribute to readers and storytellers.
There’s something especially cozy about curling up with mystery novels in the Agatha Christie room, especially on a stormy evening with a fire in the hearth. With the ocean right outside, you’ll hear the surf and the house settle — part of the hotel’s charm.
The Steinbeck room is another favorite; we didn’t photograph every room because some were occupied, but each one we saw had unique character. Breakfast is included with your stay, and you can reserve a multi-course dinner in the hotel dining room — a great place to meet interesting travelers.
While in the area we visited a few local sights, including Yaquina Head Lighthouse. The views from the headland are spectacular, and on a clear day you can see a long way out to sea. We even spotted whales off the coast during our visit.
The historic Bay Front was another highlight. We walked along the docks and watched the sea lions piled on the floating platforms — they’re loud and hilarious to watch as they jockey for space.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is right over the bridge. We visited years ago when Keiko the whale was there; it’s changed since then, but it still has beautiful sea life displays worth seeing.
Although this was a family trip, our other daughter Kylee couldn’t join us. She and her husband kindly stayed with our dogs and treated them to a “doggie summer camp” at our house so we could get away. The pups looked happy in the photos she sent.
We had a wonderful time, but it felt great to return home and reunite with our pups. Now that I’m back I’m already feeling the urge to nest and plan for fall. After wrapping up outdoor projects this season, I’m ready for cozy autumn days. Are you feeling the “fall nesting” bug, too?
Have you taken any vacations this summer? Where do you like to go to get away? Nantucket is still 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)