Take a Trip Down the Oregon Coast
Time your getaway to coincide with the 15th annual Quilt Run and two outdoorsy festivals
By Barbara Albright January 27, 2015
This article originally appeared in the February 2015 issue of Seattle magazine.
Where: The Oregon Coast, from Astoria to Brookings. Why: Because quilting is cool again, and it’s time for the 15th annual Quilt Run 101 (2/6–2/16; quiltrun101.com).
What: A no-sneakers-necessary “run” (via car) along Pacific Coast Highway 101 with stops at 14 participating quilt shops, where you can shop for fabrics, get your Quilt-Run “passport” stamped (more stamps = better prizes) and pick up a “fat quarter” to incorporate into this year’s challenge quilt.
Keep a lookout: The dramatic Oregon coastline will keep you plenty occupied with spectacular vistas along the Quilt Run route, but consider allowing yourself some extra time to check out the newly renovated Yaquina Head Light—the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast, at 93 feet high—which reopens this month in Newport.
Multitask: Time your trip to coincide with one of two February festivals in Astoria: the Astoria Timber Festival, with more lumberjacks, axe throwing and logrolling than you can shake a stick at (2/7; astoriatimberfestival.com); or the Festival of Dark Arts, a celebration of belly dancing, blacksmithing and dark beer at Fort George Brewery (2/14; fortgeorgebrewery.com). Because nothing goes better with batting than dark beer.
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