As a born and proud Texan, I absolutely love the immense beauty and delicious cuisine that I’ve been fortunate to see across this gigantic state. But if I could live anywhere else in the entire country I would live in Oregon for part of the year.
The entire northwest coast boasts spectacular views of rugged cliffs, secret coves and heavily forested sea stacks along a stretch of shoreline and mountain tops overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Central Oregon Coast stretches across 60 scenic miles from Lincoln City south to Newport, containing many areas that are still unspoiled human development.
Culinary adventurists and foodies will rejoice in Oregon’s bountiful coastline. It’s not just filled with seafood classics of steaming clam chowder bowls, fish and chips, and crab, but also boasts inventive fare foraged from the region’s rich agriculture. Whether you’re looking to enjoy upscale dining paired with an ocean view or you prefer to wet your whistle from a cultivated experience at one of the breweries, wineries and distilleries, the central coast offers one of the most unique culinary experiences in the country.
In conjunction with FEAST Portland’s food festival experience, I partnered with Travel Oregon for exciting tour of the Central Oregon coast in a Trail To Feast experience to catch preview of the state’s bountiful culinary scene.
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The Salishan Spa & Golf Resort is surrounded by beautiful Oregon coastal forest trees and the tranquil Siletz Bay. This destination has been has served as a relaxing retreat in the Oregon Coast for over fifty years. The resorts features recently remodeled condo-style rooms, a beautiful 18-hole golf course and the pristine Salishan Spa overlooking the shore. A one-night’s stay at the resort is simply not enough time to enjoy yourself. I heard there were miles of hiking trails leading to nearby Glenden Beach, so I woke up super early to catch the sunrise. I was not disappointed in my short adventure.
7760 Highway 101 N, Gleneden Beach
The restorative elements of the Salishan Spa will rejuvenate you while you soak in the views of the Oregon Coast and relax in the outdoor infinity whirlpool after a stress relieving massage from the hands of a certified massage therapist.
We spent the night at one only can be described as a writer’s dream hotel, The Sylvia Beach Hotel, where each of the rooms is literary-themed and offers a complete digital detox. The hotel was named in honor of Sylvia Beach, the expatriate American bookseller and publisher who opened Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris in 1919. Located in Newport on the central Oregon coast, Sylvia Beach Hotel sits on a bluff above Nye Beach and the Pacific Ocean and was originally built in 1912 as the New Cliff House hotel. It was later renovated in the 1980s to become a 21-room literary-themed bed and breakfast. The hotel features a homey and eclectic charm that attracts readers, writers, and travelers from all over the world and has been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Each room includes details and books to reflect the life and writings of 21 different authors. It includes a wonderful literary library and family-style dining for breakfast and dinner in the Tables of Content Restaurant.
267 Northwest Cliff Street, Newport, OR, US, 97365
Our first stop on our journey to the coast was a quick visit to Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery in Newburg. The brewery was established in 2014 and has been open to the public in a historic barn on Springbrook Hazelnut Farm since May of 2016. The brewery stays true to its farmhouse foundations as it stays dedicated to the process of its meticulously crafted beers utilizing wild yeasts and barrel-aging in wine and spirits barrels from neighboring wineries and distilleries in Willamette Valley. The brewery uses pure, untreated Parrett Mountain water, house yeast cultures, and many local grains, hops, and fruit. The brewery was named one of the Best New Breweries in the U.S. by Beer Advocate, and won the People’s Choice Award at the Oregon Brewshed Alliance Invitational (2016), as well as a silver medal at the Oregon Beer Awards in 2017.
30203 N.E. Benjamin Road, Newberg, OR
The warm, inviting, and genuine friendly atmosphere is what you’ll find when you arrive in McMinnville, Oregon. Whether it’s the nostalgic feeling of walking below the majestic maple trees lining the historic downtown’s shopping district, or the satisfying sensation of drinking some of the world’s best Pinot Noir grown and fermented at a vineyard just down the road, you’re sure to experience the warmth and friendliness in McMinnville. While in town, treat yourself to award-winning farm-to-table experience at Valley Commissary, where you’ll enjoy local, in-season ingredients, all scratch-made to showcases a step-back to home down cooking basics from baking to pickling. Enjoy house-made sandwiches, fried chicken, mac & cheese and farm fresh salads loaded with locally grown Marion blackberries.
920 NE 8th St, McMinnville, OR, US, 97128
Afterward we visited Newport beach and dined at Local Ocean Seafoods for lunch. Local Ocean Seafoods has become a premier destination for fresh, local seafood along the Oregon Coast. If you have a raging craving for fresh Pacific seafood, their famous menu is loaded with delicious items including grilled fish and chips, shrimp, a giant bowl of buttery mussels as well as their selection fresh crab and fish in the fish market.
213 SE Bay Blvd, Newport, OR, US, 97365
Clearwater is the only full service restaurant on the Yaquina Bay with full Sea Lion viewing overlooking Port Dock One and a top notch Coastal Cuisine menu from award winning chefs.
Samphire is the signature dining room of Salishan, with a menu that focuses on Coastal Range Cuisine sourced locally near our Gleneden beach resort, whether that be from the sea, mountains or neighboring valleys. Executive Chef Andrew Garrison’s formal training is steeped in classic French cuisine techniques. He and his team have spent a great deal of time sourcing local partners up and down the coast for the freshest farm foods, fish, cheese, and more. The menu is designed to let the high quality ingredients, from passionate farmers, fishermen and artisans, to speak for themselves, as well as highlight the incredible bounty of Oregon Coast dining.
If you’re in an artistic mood, you’ll enjoy a quick visit to The Jennifer Sears Glass Art Studio, which is a city-owned facility contracting with the Lincoln City Glass Center (LCGC) as Artists in Residence. The artists of the LCGC operate the facility, hosts public making blown glass experiences and classes allowing visitors to create their own artistic glass creations.
4821 SW Highway 101, Lincoln City, OR, US, 97367
The next day we departed for Devil’s Punch Bowl State park where we were treated to one of the coast’s most historic and scenic natural creations. The formation is centered on a large bowl naturally carved in a rock headland which is partially open to the Pacific Ocean. Waves enter the bowl and often violently churn, swirl, and foam. Outside the bowl, ocean conditions are attractive to surfers near a large offshore rock pinnacle named Gull Rock, located about 1⁄2 mile west-northwest of Devils Punch Bowl, which funnels and concentrates waves easily seen from the park.
851 1st St, Otter Rock, OR, US, 97369
Standing at 93 feet tall, Yaquina Head is Oregon’s tallest lighthouse. Surrounded by peering over the high coast walls, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and tide pools the light house stands 93 feet tall at the westernmost point of the basalt headland and has been a bright beacon of the night, guiding ships and their supplies along the west coast since 1873.
750 NW Lighthouse Dr, Newport, OR, US, 97365
A place to escape from the trial of the day has always been a secret of Nye Beach. It remains a colorful seaside community with all of the traditional charm and beauty with in the friendly confines of the village of shops, homes and guest accommodations.
The Historic Newport Bayfront offers boat tours, gift shops and multiple restaurants along the bay. Watch as fishing boats head out to the Pacific Ocean from bayfront, home to Oregon’s biggest commercial fishing fleet. You’ll hear Sea lions playfully barking as they inhabit the many private docks and public piers surrounding the bay area.
Southeast Bay Boulevard, Newport, OR, US, 97365
The Oregon Coast’s award winning Marine Discovery Tours, on Newport’s Historic Bayfront, is a “Floating Adventure” endorsed by the Oregon Coast Aquarium! We boarded the largest cruiser on Oregon’s coast for a one-of-a-kind aquarium-style tour in the in the bay and along the coast. The Pacific’s rough waters provided an exciting tour while we looked for grey whales and enjoyed a few stories from the tour hosts. We also saw sea lions, seals even dropped a few crab pots along the way. You’ll see how crabbing is done when they pull-up the pots and get your hands on a few freshly caught crabs. Don’t worry, these crab were not harmed and were thrown back in to the bay.
Newport Historic Bayfront – Southeast Bay Boulevard, Newport, OR, US, 97365
Special thanks to Travel Oregon for assisting with all lodging, dining our detailed travel itinerary. For tips on planning your trip to Oregon, contact Travel Oregon for suggestions or subscribe to their newsletter.
See also: The Oregon Trail to FEAST vlog
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New Orleans, LA - On October 22, 2024, I recently had an opportunity to attend the grand opening of Caesars New Orleans, marking the completion of a stunning $435 million transformation of the former Harrah’s New Orleans. It was an evening to remember, filled with excitement, luxury, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans. The festivities began on Canal Street with an exhilarating ceremony led by Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, President & COO Anthony Carano, and Caesars New Orleans General Manager Samir Mowad. The atmosphere was electric as they joined Caesar himself and an iconic New Orleans second-line band in a lively procession into the casino. It felt like the entire city had come out to celebrate, with Caesars New Orleans team members and Mayor LaToya Cantrell also joining the event to commemorate this historic occasion. Anthony Carano’s pride in introducing Caesars to New Orleans was palpable. “From local favorite Emeril Lagasse to our long-time partner, Chef Nobu, to the beautiful state-of-the-art Caesars Sportsbook, all-new rooms and gaming floor, and of course, our gorgeous new center bar, Octavia, Caesars New Orleans offers something for everyone. It’s a world-class resort in the heart of the Big Easy, and we can’t wait for our guests to experience it,” he said. The ceremony was a spectacle, kicking off with an iconic Mardi Gras float featuring Caesar and his court, and a dazzling firework show that lit up the New Orleans sky. The second-line band then led us revelers into the resort’s elegant center bar, Octavia, where we indulged in a “Taste of Caesars New Orleans.” Each bite from the six on-property restaurants was a delightful journey, capturing the essence of New Orleans’ rich culinary scene. Throughout the night, elemental entertainers, including the Saints Cheer Krewe, Mardi Gras Indians, Zulu Tramps, and showgirls, created an authentic and unforgettable Big Easy experience. Everywhere I turned, there was something new to marvel at, each performance more mesmerizing than the last. Samir Mowad, SVP and GM of Caesars New Orleans, highlighted the significance of the transformation, stating, “This year marks 25 years since we opened in New Orleans, and the completion of this project is the perfect way to usher in a new era with Caesars. Synonymous with the Caesars name, our new resort is pure elegance, and we’re excited to introduce a luxury brand like this to New Orleans. We are extremely grateful for the support of the community, our team members, and our guests as we come to the finish line of this tremendous transformation.” The hotel itself is impressive,…