In November of 2025, Cameron and I once again set out for her birthday trip. What began years ago with Yosemite on her tenth birthday has quietly turned into a tradition one we both look forward to each year. Now at seventeen, this marked our fourth visit to Newport, Oregon, a stretch of coast we’ve come to know well and genuinely love.
Earlier in the year we had been in Oregon during the spring, though that trip kept us anchored far to the south. Oregon’s coastline stretches for roughly 360 miles, and it’s simply too large to treat as a single destination. You eventually have to choose: north, central, or south. This time, Newport and the surrounding central coast were calling us back.
Unlike last year’s sprawling, week-long birthday adventure through Las Vegas and Death Valley, this trip was intentionally shorter. Between work, school, and the general pace of life this year, we knew our time would be limited. Still, returning to a familiar place doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to discover quite the opposite.
I’ve never felt like I’ve “seen it all” anywhere along the Oregon Coast, and I’m not convinced that’s even possible. For photography especially, depth matters. The light changes. The weather shifts. Tides transform the same shoreline into something entirely different from one hour to the next. Spending time in one place really returning to it again and again is often the only way to come away with meaningful work.
We flew from Boston into Seattle and made the four-plus-hour drive south to Newport. We attempted a stop at In-N-Out Burger along the way, but the lines were, once again, absurdly long. As usual, we stayed near Agate Beach, our favorite part of town. By the time we arrived, the day was gone so we kept things simple with a quiet dinner in town and turned in early, ready for the days ahead.
Heceta Head and Sweet Creek Falls
Our first morning began before dawn at Heceta Head Lighthouse. We’ve been there before twice, in fact but I’ve long had a specific image in mind. Sunrise photography on the West Coast is challenging, especially with the Cascades rising behind you, but along a small trail past the former lightkeeper’s house (now a bed and breakfast), you can bushwhack your way down toward the cliffs. From there, the view opens to rugged coastline, distant mountains, and the graceful curve of the Cape Creek Bridge.
That morning started with promise. As dawn approached, it looked like the sky might cooperate. But as would become a theme for much of the trip, storms rolled in, bringing rain and flattening the light. Still, even under difficult conditions, I came away with an image that felt honest to the moment.
After sunrise we headed south to Florence and found breakfast at The Dunes Café, a small diner that hit the spot perfectly. From there, we drove out to the Sweet Creek Falls Trailhead, where we spent the rest of the morning hiking in intermittent rain, moving from waterfall to waterfall, taking photographs as we went.
By the time we returned to Highway 101, the weather had deteriorated. Wind and rain intensified, but with the tide coming in, the ocean came alive. We stopped repeatedly along the road to watch and occasionally photograph the waves as they crashed against the shore. Sunset wasn’t realistic that evening, so we retreated once again to town for dinner and rest.
Storm Light and Sea Stacks
The following morning, we returned to Heceta Head, hiking back to nearly the same spot. This time, the storm clouds broke just long enough to produce a striking red sunrise brief, dramatic, and worth the early alarm. I came away with several images that made the effort worthwhile.
We spent the rest of the day exploring the coast, watching waves build as the tide rose. That evening, we headed to Seal Rock, climbing the tall dunes for sunset. It began promisingly, with color creeping into the sky, but before long another storm pushed in from the ocean. The light vanished, rain followed, and we made a damp retreat back to the car.
The next morning, we parked at the far public lot at Seal Rock and made the mile-long walk down to the beach on the far side. This area sees far fewer visitors and had been high on my list. Jagged sea stacks formed from ancient lava flows thousands of years ago rise abruptly from the water here. At low tide, it’s sometimes possible to walk out toward them, but the ocean was still too high that morning to attempt it safely.
Once again, the sunrise teased us with a hint of color before storms rolled in and erased it entirely. As rain intensified, we retreated quickly back to the car.
A Familiar Ending
Our third full day and final one in Oregon brought even worse weather. While we made a few ambitious attempts to explore, conditions simply didn’t allow for meaningful outdoor photography.
That evening, for our final meal, we went to Pelican Brewing, Cameron’s favorite spot. Over Dungeness crab and a relaxed dinner, we reflected on the trip before heading back to the hotel to pack.
The following morning Thanksgiving Eve we made the long, and this time arduous, drive back to Seattle. Poor weather and multiple accidents slowed the journey considerably, but on the bright side, we finally managed our In-N-Out stop before returning the rental car.
We caught a red-eye flight home, landing early Thanksgiving morning— ust in time to meet the rest of our family and settle in for a quiet, grateful holiday.
