Creating Art on the Oregon Coast: Part One

To say that our trip was one for the books is an understatement. And therefore, it's hard to sum it all up in one blog post! So to give every part of the trip it's own glory, this story will have multiple parts as we write about each one. We explored, hiked, ate a lot of good food, drank a lot of incredible coffee, and made so much art that we both feel so renewed from. As artists, we thrived out there. Now it’s time to get back to real life & reflect on the trip (stay in dream world).

june 2025

Atlanta to Portland and then Portland to Oceanside. Our drive from Portland to Oceanside was set to be about 2 hours and with such a long time on the plane, we made sure to stop along the way to adventure into the woods to give our legs a break. We hardly had any cell service on the drive before getting to Tillamook, but I managed to find this badass trail on the map called the Footbridge Trailhead. We pulled over and played in the river. You'll be able to tell from the gallery below that this trailhead was magical - and so easy to access! There was quite a bit to explore and we wish we could've stayed longer rather than it just being a pitstop.

Once we were done playing, we hopped back on the road. When you get to Tillamook, be prepared to fall in love with the beauty of the landscape - rolling hills with mountains as the backdrop behind grazing, happy cows. Tillamook is straight out of a postcard - sorry I don't have a picture to share the beauty.

Twenty minutes later, we were arriving in Oceanside.

When you drive into Oceanside, you come around the bend to the most stunning view of the beach with the giant rocks out in the distance. The entire town was so charming. We immediately fell in love with the way the mid-century homes were nestled into the ridge side overlooking the ocean. No cell service & maybe 3 tiny diners with seashell hunting being the only thing to do. It was perfectly quiet, mostly made up of vacation rentals and hardly any full-time residents! Even on the gloomy days, it was breathtaking. The weather was also perfect - late June seems to be the best time to visit!

oceanside ridgeside view

After we settled into our place and took a nice long nap in the window sill, we grabbed our gear and headed to the beach to capture the beauty and as much art as we could. Exhausted yet blissful. It’s the best combination.

Our Special Cabin in Oceanside 🪟

Booked through Vrbo, we couldn’t recommend our cabin enough. As photographers and artists and just adventure-loving people in general, this space had everything we wanted and more. Slightly remote in the cutest town, 180 views of the beach from every window and balcony, just steps away from the ocean, and the most cozy details throughout. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway - whether alone or with your partner - try to stay here. You can view our full cabin gallery here if you want to explore more frames!

our rental in oceanside

We made absolute magic here as artists. If you're an artist of any kind - a photographer, songwriter, poet, writer, painter - we both encourage you to have your own retreat on the Oregon Coast and experience the magic firsthand. Here's a glimpse into some shots we captured at our cabin.

Even on the gloomy days, every inch of this cabin felt safe & warm and just enough. The boards creaked, our voices carried, and the soft sounds of the waves crashing outside lulled us to sleep. 😴

playing a love song I wrote for Carson on the last morning we had here

Fun Fact: This was our first time traveling together, let alone creating art like this together. Carson and I met just 5 months ago in February, but our artistic connection is something both of us know is so rare to find. Out there in Oregon - with cameras pointing at each other - was a core memory for us both.

Thank you for reading part one of our trip! Check back for part two with details about exploring Cannon Beach and other hidden gems along the coast!

Travel well,

Sydnee & Carson