Oregon Coast Van-Cation
November 25 - 29, 2020
All over the internet, social media, and the Pacific Northwest these days you can't help but notice the popularity of the van life or adventure vehicle trend. I mean what is not to like - freedom to adventure in a moveable basecamp that gives you some of the convenience and comforts of home.
Since moving to Seattle, I had been daydreaming about one day adding a van or adventure vehicle to my outdoorsy lifestyle. For me, the van experience strikes similar chords as does backpacking (although the van is much cushier). It's the ability to travel under your own direction, with everything you need to survive, and see beautiful things in our world. Although I do not yet own a van, I rented one for five days of adventuring this past Thanksgiving holiday.
Since moving to Seattle, I had been daydreaming about one day adding a van or adventure vehicle to my outdoorsy lifestyle. For me, the van experience strikes similar chords as does backpacking (although the van is much cushier). It's the ability to travel under your own direction, with everything you need to survive, and see beautiful things in our world. Although I do not yet own a van, I rented one for five days of adventuring this past Thanksgiving holiday.
The Drive and The Van
Not living near family to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, plus the need to social distance during the pandemic, equaled a perfect opportunity to give the van life a try!
The Drive
My plan was to head south from Seattle to drive the Oregon coastline for five days, taking my time and stopping off at as many beaches and coastline viewpoints as I could handle. I had heard amazing reviews of the Oregon coast and this road trip had been on my to-do list for awhile.
The Van
Through some internet research I stumbled upon a company called Peace Vans, who maintain, refurbish, and rent classic VW Westfalia vans (known as a Westy for short). Since moving to Seattle I have been enamored with the vintage Westfalia vans and I could not pass up the opportunity to travel in a classic road trip vehicle!
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Day 1
The day before Thanksgiving I picked up my van from Peace Vans in Seattle. I had reserved a 1990 VW Westfalia Vanagon named Ozette. I choose Ozette for two very specific (and important) reasons: I loved the dark blue color and it had a rad PNW sticker on the side of the van. The blue van is named aptly for the Ozette River that flows through the Olympic National Park in Washington. She's a full VW camper containing pop top bed, bench seating/convertible bed, table, sink, stove, storage, and more!
Thanks to the Peace Vans crew the van has been fully refurbished and stocked with all the road trip supplies you could ever need. As a normal backpacker, I knew this would definitely be glamping for me! After a quick tutorial of all the van's features and functionality, I headed out on the road to my destination for night one: Fort Stevens State Park on the northern tip of the Oregon coastline.
Thanks to the Peace Vans crew the van has been fully refurbished and stocked with all the road trip supplies you could ever need. As a normal backpacker, I knew this would definitely be glamping for me! After a quick tutorial of all the van's features and functionality, I headed out on the road to my destination for night one: Fort Stevens State Park on the northern tip of the Oregon coastline.
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Day 2
The next morning I headed out from Fort Stevens State Park and down the Oregon Coast Hwy US 101 stopping at Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Neahkahnie Viewpoint, Cape Meares, and finally Cape Lookout, camping for the evening at Cape Lookout State Park. Clouds and fog, with the occasional glimpse of sun, resulted in "moody" coastline views. Luckily it never really rained! Since today was Thanksgiving Day, I spent some time thinking about what I was thankful for on several occasions while driving. To list out it would have to be: My family and our health - I had a chance to video chat with them to say Happy Thanksgiving! My friends near and far - Washington, Alabama, and everywhere in between. Moving to the west coast - it has given me the opportunity see and do things that I never would have imagined possible just a year and a half ago.
Fort Stevens State Park and the Wreck of Peter Iredale
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Ecola State Park
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Cannon Beach and the Haystack Rock
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Neahkahnie Viewpoint
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Cape Meares
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Cape Lookout
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Day 3
I continued heading south down the Oregon Coast Hwy 101 stopping at Sand Lake Recreation Area, Cape Kiwanda, Neskowin Beach, Devil's Punchbowl, Yaquina Head, and Beverly Beach, camping for the evening at Beverly Beach State Park. I couldn't have asked for better weather and temperature on this day. There is so much beautiful coastline, it strikes me how diverse the various beaches are along the way. Within a few miles you'll see rugged and rocky then flat, open, and sandy.
After three days driving my van, Ozette, I can officially say she is the bomb - really great to drive and a perfect home on the road! Plus I have the van routine down now. It took a couple days and nights to get used to where everything goes, how to store things while driving, how to set up/take down the pop top, etc. I passed another Westy on the road today and we flashed each other the peace sign! You do not see too many Westfalia vans on the road, but when you do there is definitely a strong community and culture!
After three days driving my van, Ozette, I can officially say she is the bomb - really great to drive and a perfect home on the road! Plus I have the van routine down now. It took a couple days and nights to get used to where everything goes, how to store things while driving, how to set up/take down the pop top, etc. I passed another Westy on the road today and we flashed each other the peace sign! You do not see too many Westfalia vans on the road, but when you do there is definitely a strong community and culture!
Sand Lake Recreation Area
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Cape Kiwanda
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Neskowin Beach
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Devil's Punchbowl
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Yaquina Head
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Beverly Beach
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Day 4
It is hard to pick a favorite trip day, but day four may have just been it! Much of the drive on this day was right on the coast with amazing windshield views. And let me say...Cape Perpetua is not to be missed! Starting out from Beverly Beach this morning it was lightly raining and the sea was rough. Driving south I checked out Seal Rock State Recreation Site in the rain. By the time I arrived at Cape Perpetua it had stopped raining, but the stormy seas continued to put on an amazing show against the rocky coastline. Visiting the Cape Perpetua sights - Devil's Churn, Spouting Horn, and Thor's Well - ended up being the highlights of the trip. Pictures and videos hardly do it justice. After that, I continued on south to Heceta Head. I stopped in the Oregon Dunes area for a short hike across sand dunes near the coast and camped at Jessie M. Honeyman State Park for the evening.
Seal Rock State Recreation Site
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Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
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Heceta Head
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Oregon Dunes
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Day 5
On the last day of my trip it was all about the long drive home. It was a sunny, beautiful day so I drove Hwy 101 back north for awhile before heading inland to Portland and then back home to Seattle. Speaking of the drive, it seems fitting to give one final kudos to my van, Ozette, a trusty adventure vehicle and perfect home for my Oregon coast van-cation.
I love the vintage vibe and look of the Westy. The pop top tent, stove, sink, table, and bench were all so perfect - it was clear this van was really designed for the road trip. The van drives easily and takes you back to the "experience" of driving where the journey is a large part of the fun. Although Ozette is 30 years old, you sure wouldn't know it. Shout out to the folks at Peace Vans for running a top notch operation. The entire vehicle was so well cared for, sparking clean, and stocked with supplies (plus a few swag gifts). I never had one glitch, issue, or concern.
Taking a Westy out for a 5 day road trip was like a "bucket list" item and the experience was everything I'd hoped it could be. If I was a betting person I'd say there is a van (of some kind) in my future life! For now, I'll just say Peace Out...
I love the vintage vibe and look of the Westy. The pop top tent, stove, sink, table, and bench were all so perfect - it was clear this van was really designed for the road trip. The van drives easily and takes you back to the "experience" of driving where the journey is a large part of the fun. Although Ozette is 30 years old, you sure wouldn't know it. Shout out to the folks at Peace Vans for running a top notch operation. The entire vehicle was so well cared for, sparking clean, and stocked with supplies (plus a few swag gifts). I never had one glitch, issue, or concern.
Taking a Westy out for a 5 day road trip was like a "bucket list" item and the experience was everything I'd hoped it could be. If I was a betting person I'd say there is a van (of some kind) in my future life! For now, I'll just say Peace Out...
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