FURTHER AFIELD Road Trip Discoveries Driving South on Highway 101 Head south to Depoe Bay, the whale-watching capital of the coast. Visit the Whale Watching Center for interpretive talks and glimpses of the big mammals that swim offshore. The Depoe Bay area abounds with scenic viewpoints like Cape Foulweather and Devils Punchbowl State Park Area, where big swells slam into a hollow rock formation shaped like a punchbowl. The surf explodes into foam, swirl, and spray. The punchbowl was created when the roofs of two sea caves collapsed. At low tide, visitors picnic below, exploring tide pools in a safe, secluded spot. Miraculous and rugged, Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint is a great place to watch wild surf action on the rocky spurs. This panoramic viewpoint draws bird and whale watchers to one of the best sites in Oregon to see shearwaters, jaegers, albatrosses, grebes, pelicans, loons, and oystercatchers. Rumor has it that at low tide, you can spot the boiler of a ship that exploded in 1910. Rising 500 feet above the ocean, Otter Crest Scenic Viewpoint is a magnificent place for accessible ocean viewing. This popular whale-watching spot also has a great view of Devils Punchbowl. There is beach access via manmade stairs providing closer access to all kinds of activities, including surfing. PHOTO BY MATT BRANDT 68
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