At Astoria's Columbia River Maritime Museum, find out how and why the Coast Guard makes more than 400 rescues a year in the "Graveyard of the Pacific" just downriver from the museum. One surround-sound exhibit depicts a treacherous rescue scene, with a 44-foot lifeboat working its way through a 20-foot swell. Docked outside is the Lightship Columbia, a National Historic Landmark. The ship was once an anchored beacon at the mouth of the Columbia.

On the outskirts of town is the Fort Clatsop, the camp where Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805-1806. The site is part of Lewis & Clark National Historical Park. Visitors can tour the fort and exhibit hall, see an original dugout canoe, and hear costumed interpreters tell stories of events that occurred here. Eagles occasionally make an appearance at the canoe landing.

Drive south on the coastal Highway 101 to Cannon Beach, an oceanside resort town. Even before you reach the quaint shopping village, you'll see an unmistakable bullet-shaped seastack pointing up through the ocean mist: Haystack Rock. In town, gift shops and specialty stores abound. Extra special: ExploraStore, a one-of-a-kind toy and gadget store for kids and adults. Bubblegum-making kits, bug-eye masks, and fun glowing things are part of the unique assortment.

Small, weathered towns dot the highway. Some are so tiny you can hold your breath as you pass through – even at 30 miles per hour. In Tillamook County, cows actually outnumber people. But expect long lines at the Tillamook Creamery Visitors Center, where throngs press against the glass and watch cheese being made. Cheese samples are free and the deliciously rich ice cream cones are $1.75. It's recommended to finish your scoops of root beer or banana-split flavored ice cream before walking outside to the parking lot, which is often downwind from the cows.

For lighthouses, state parks with rain forests, and spectacular views, follow the signs to Three Capes Scenic Drive. This bumpy detour hugs the coastline while Highway 101 cuts through pastures. At seaside, pelicans, herons, and other shore birds swoop and mingle on the tidal flats. Ambitious hikers will find panoramic vistas atop secluded rocky bluffs.

In Lincoln City, colorful kites and windsocks are everywhere, and whirling wildly. They sail high on beaches and whip along busy thoroughfares here on the windy 45th parallel. Choose from thousands of different types of wind catchers at Catch the Wind, a kite store where the mélange of hues and choices can be dizzying.