This is the third of a three-part series about my trip to the Oregon coast.  Be sure to enjoy all three parts!

I awoke to more typical area weather on day three of my trip – fog and light rain, which would persist throughout the day.  It was also much colder and a little windy, which altogether made it just plain chilly outside.  I still managed to get some outdoor photos, but found that indoor pursuits were far more pleasant.  I took a quick side trip in the morning to the Devils Punch Bowl near Otter Crest.  The water surging in and out of the orange stained rock formation was rather mesmerizing, and I’m sure would have been even more spectacular at high tide!  The ocean had a completely different feel and color today, rough and gray, without the shades of blue and green I had seen just yesterday.  I longed-for my own cottage by the sea, set on top of a cliff, with large picture windows looking out over the stormy ocean.  I could just curl up in a comfy chair with a cat in my lap and a good cup of warm apple cider, and sift at my leisure through some favorite magazines while admiring the view.  But I only had this final day here, so no time for daydreaming.  I promise myself that on another visit I should allow time for a day of pure ocean watching.

I visit the Newport area again, and this time stop to see another smaller lighthouse.  The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was built in 1871, and like the Yaquina Head Lighthouse has been completely restored.  If you love lighthouses this is a great place to visit, with two beautifully restored lighthouses within very close proximity to each other.

The Nye Beach area in Newport has some very interesting local shops.  I spent quite a bit of time shopping here and staying out of the cold weather.  The beaches were completely empty, except for some stoic sea gulls perched atop the pier posts by the beach parking lots.  Guess everyone was staying indoors.  I particularly liked shopping in the Coastal Breeze store and bought several items there. Decor items I especially loved were the Hot Skwash velvet pumpkins with the real pumpkin stems.  They are quite stunning; I’ve never seem anything like them before.  They are locally made (just outside of Portland) by Daria in a family-run business.  If you have the chance read her ‘about’ page.  I just love a good story about a successful entrepreneur!

After shopping I had a late lunch at a 50’s style diner off Hwy. 101 in Newport, the Flashbacks Fountain and Grill.  It was really neat with its black-and-white checkered floors and pops of red.  The hamburger and fries I had were yummy.  They had a very large fountain bar where you could order just about any type of shake or malt you desired, but I saved that treat for a local place in Depoe Bay where I knew I could get an ice cream cone with some premium Tillamook ice cream.  Talk about GOOD, this ice cream is the best, as is the Tillamook yogurt that was served daily at the Channel House Inn.  I looked for Tillamook products upon my return to Texas, but sadly could only find their cheeses in stock locally.  On a future trip to Oregon I will not miss a visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, where I can taste all of their delicious ice cream flavors!  Oh, and did I mention that they also make fudge with their creamy Tillamook butter?  It must taste like a little piece of Oregon heaven.