I rarely leave the house before 7:30 a.m. but some unique scheduling had me on the road early this week. And after three days of early-morning rain, starting the day with a sunrise was a very welcome sight. As I traveled north, the scenery suddenly increased ten-fold when I spotted a herd of elk grazing along the west side of Highway 101 just south of Seaside.

Surprises are always fun and they come in all shapes and sizes but I know that when I lived in the city a sighting like this would have never been possible. That’s one of the beauties of rural living and something that continues to grow on me.

From Astoria to Brookings, the Oregon Coast is well recognized for its scenic beauty along all 363 miles. The topography and wildlife differ greatly from north to south and it’s these diverse differences that make thousands upon thousands take the drive along the Coast throughout the year.

Summer will always be the most popular time to make the drive along the Coast Highway but the winter months can often yield wildlife views like the one I witnessed earlier this week. Safety is always a concern with animals of any size strolling nearby (especially something as big as an elk) but a keen eye and the ability to pull over if conditions permit will allow nearly anyone visiting the Coast during the winter the opportunity to spy nature’s beauty.

See you in Seaside!