Oregon Coast: Spring Break 'Oh-leven'

Trafton B.

March 26, 2011 - 2:51 PM

Well, first thing I'll say is that it's very odd to think that this is my last Spring Break for a few years. With that said, however, this was one excellent way to end things. Fourteen college kids spending three nights in Waldport interspersed with miscellaneous trips to Newport, Yachats, and, of course, the beach. Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty good way to spend Spring Break ‘Oh-Leven!"

Ross, Steven, Kevin and I rolled into our seaside Shangri-La Tuesday night around 6 o'clock. Our first move was making the beach house feel as much like home as we possibly could. Kevin set up his stereo. I loaded the fridge with food and drinks. Ross and Steven started putting all the breakable items as far out of sight as possible. C'mon, fourteen college kids under one roof? Let's be real about this, things are bound to get a little rambunctious. This one of those things you learn in college.

The last couple cars arrived within the hour and spring break on the Oregon Coast had officially begun. Most of the girls had been camping in Northern California over the weekend, so sadly they were already running low on energy. I think Tuesday night ended with dinner, one hot tub session and falling asleep to watching Mean Girls in the master bedroom.

Wednesday was our day of activities. We drove into Newport for lunch at the original Mo's Restaurant on the coast of Yaquina Bay; clam chowder and a plate full of fish n' chips never tasted so good. Then we probably spent a little too much time in the Newport Antique Mall. Ross and I were on a mission to find old baseball memorabilia. Didn't find any, but we snagged a box of mint condition Upper Deck baseball cards from 1990, which kept us preoccupied for a few hours later that night.

After our brief antiquing stint, we headed across the bridge to tour the Rogue Brewery and taste some of their delicious brew. Obviously, it was pretty cool to see the whole operation. I think one of the funniest parts was that it was blatantly obvious that they put more money into their brewing equipment than the rest of their warehouse and business operations. Their only section of administrative offices still had plywood walls and no finishing, while they invested heavily into purchasing and customizing their own line of rubber kegs.

The brewery tour was also fun for my roommates and I because we've been homebrewing throughout the year, so it gave us ideas for our next brew. Plus, just about everyone got a sampler tray at the tasting room. All I can say is that I'm sold on the Rogue Brewery.

If Wednesday was our activities day, then Thursday was the anti-Wednesday. We barely did anything, and it was absolutely fantastic. Woke up at the crack of noon, at a very late breakfast and then watched movies all afternoon. Eventually we all made it out to the beach, but even that was pretty low key. It was exactly what I'd been craving all break, an entire day devoted to being lazy.

Friday morning we packed up our stuff, cleaned up the house, and headed back to Eugene. My car stopped in Yachats on the way home for lunch, and more importantly for one more seafood meal. They had a crab melt with avocado on special that was unreal.

As you can probably tell, there were absolutely no complaints from my perspective. It was just one final successful spring break. Now it's back to the Duck Store to buy books for what will hopefully be one final successful spring quarter as well.

Photo courtesy of Dana Gordon.