Oregon was one of those states that snuck up on me.  Once I stepped foot in the state, my jaw dropped.  Why is Oregon this quiet gem that I didn’t even give a second thought to exploring?  But there I was, blown away with its thousand shades of green, beautiful mountains, serene oceans and costal towns.  I was hooked.  So when the opportunity arose for me to spend 6 days exploring all 360+ miles of Oregon Coast from the far northern point, all the way to the very far south, I jumped at the opportunity. FIRST STOP, CANNON BEACH A short drive from Portland out to the coast is one that I will never tire.  This desert rat was taking in all the greenery and loving every gentle drop of rain that was landing onto my windshield.  It’s roughly about 80 miles from Portland straight to Cannon Beach, and the twisty road through elevation changes and beautiful forest terrain, is an iconic welcoming to the Pacific Northwest.  One of Oregon’s most popular destinations is Cannon Beach, known for its rocky spires showcasing stunning seascapes. Once checked into my hotel in Cannon Beach, I headed up the coast to the most northern point, Fort Stevens State Park.  That is where the famous shipwreck of the Peter Iredale lays just at the shoreline of the beach.  An easy walk from the parking area down to the waterline, and voila, there lies the skeleton of the infamous ship which had set sail from Mexico and wrecked here on its way to the final destination in Portland. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I saw 2 people on beautiful white horses descend down onto the beach with a boisterous pup following along. I grabbed my gear, and started running in their direction even though they were moving away from me. As fast as my little legs could go, carrying 20 pounds of gear, and trudging through sand, I finally caught up with them as they had turned around and were coming back my direction. I met Holly and her husband who live near by and were out on an afternoon ride. We chatted a bit, and they were gracious enough to let me photograph them. I later found out it was Holly’s birthday, which made for an extra special shoot for both of us.  This is also where I first learned how animal friendly the beaches are in Oregon. The terrain changes so quickly in Oregon, from the rock spires jutting out from the shoreline, to the soft, smooth sandy beaches, to the dazzling greens on display amongst the trees, forest and foliage. After my sunset shots at Fort Stevens, I made my way back to Cannon Beach just in time to catch the last few rays dancing along the horizon, in one of the most recognizable and beautiful parts of the coastline.  And I wasn’t alone this time either.  As I learned throughout the trip, no beach ever felt busy or crowded, and as the last light hit our retinas, a bevy of photographers were out there trying to capture some magic too. SECOND STOP, NEWPORT There is a lot to see along the Oregon Coast and the best advice I can give you, is to stop and stop often.  There are gorgeous pull outs, viewpoints and overlooks, all which give a completely different scenery as you beebop down Highway 101.  I love that at some pullouts, there are maps of upcoming points of interest, both for if you are driving north or south. Between Cannon Beach and Newport, there are so many interesting and unique places to stop and see.  I was on a mission to make it to Oceanside to meet a friend for lunch, so I didn’t get as much time as I’d prefer to explore each area in depth, however I was not disappointed.  This was probably my longest day and longest distance of travel in the span of 24 hours. As you travel south on Highway 101 from Cannon Beach, you can stop at Hug Point or Rockaway Beach, and then continue inland passing through Tilamook.  If it feasts your fancy, stop at the cheese co-op in the grasslands of Tilamook and gaze at the large population of cows.  Locals joke there are more cows than residents.  Afterwards, veer off Highway 101 towards the coast and saunter through Netarts to the quaint hillside oasis of Oceanside.  Walk the beach, and if the tide is low, sneak through a little tunnel in the rock and appear at another local’s favorite, a private beach called 100 Steps. A can’t miss spot just up the hillside from the Oceanside beachfront, is the Cape Meares Lighthouse, an interesting spot to view sea lions basking off shore or the annual whale migration.  Not to be missed is the Octopus Tree or any of the nature trails that wind around the area.  Situated on the north part of the Three Cape Scenic Route, if you have time, hike out to Cape Lookout for one of the best coastal hikes and a favorite of locals. Leaving Oceanside, hug the coastline by driving the Three Cape Scenic Route which will also take you to Cape Kiwanda where the famous brewery called The Pelican resides beachside.  This tiny little town hosts this qaint beach, with a sandstone colored formation on the north side.  There is a large sand bank with locals climbing up and down and exploring above the beach, but what took my attention, again, were the locals enjoying the outdoors and sunny weather with their four-legged family members.  Just the amount of joy seen on those canine faces, made this stop worth it. Back onto the 101, enjoy the drive as you weave back and forth along the coastline.  Pass through Lincoln City, and make a late afternoon stop in Depoe Bay.  Known for the resident whales that live in the bay, take a moment to visit the Depoe Bay Whale Watch Center, learn about the local whale migrations, and