First of all, I don't know how you people in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada do this. It has been three days and I am dying! I was hoping to escape the heat a little by using the pool at our condo project. And wouldn't you know it, a part goes out and it is out for the week. By that time it will be back in the 70s again and who wants to use the pool when it is that cold?

Well, there is one thing I could do when it gets that hot in Beaverton, and its the first thing I did... leave! I know, not very creative, but we drove for one hour and 12 minutes and it was 40 degrees cooler, and we actually had to buy a sweatshirt for me!

The Oregon coast between Lincoln City and Newport has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Its fun for the whole family, and it turns out it is a great way to beat the heat!

Start your day at 9:30am in Beaverton, Oregon and head west!

1. Stop at Devils Lake in Lincoln City and just check it out and let the kids play on the playground equipment to let them get a few wiggles out before heading down toward Newport the rest of the way.
   
   
2. Once you are about to Newport you can either hit the Yaquina Head light house, which charges a day use fee, or you can go the extra few feet and stop at Agate Beach, picnic, and then head to the beach and play in the ocean and check out the tide pools for some cool animals and plant life.
   
   
3. Newport has many touristy things to do and one is the Oregon Coast Aquarium that is still fun despite the star of "Free Willy" Keiko the Killer Whale no longer lives there. You can see Jelly Fish, Crabs bigger than a car at 13 feet long and even touch pet stingrays and sharks. (That was actually a thrill, Sharks don't feel like you expect them to!)
   
   
4. Now, we didn't do this, but they are options... Check out the Ripley's Believe It or Not, The Wax Museum, and even the Undersea Gardens. We have been to all 3 and they are cool, but this was only for a one day trip to beat the heat.
   
   
5. Now, back up north as you trek back toward Portland to end your day. We stopped off at Depot Bay to check out the whale watching as they have a resident whale that seems to live there year round. We weren't disappointed, she showed and the kids were thrilled. Too bad she was too far away to get a picture of.
   
   
6. On to Li'l Sambo's family Restaurant, and in case you are wondering, it is not part, and never was part, of the Sambo's chain of restaurants from the 70s. (We asked.) They had a very family friendly atmosphere and great food. I suggest you try their Halibut Fish & Chips. (I enjoyed it thoroughly.)
   

That really should take most of your day and if you leave now, you should get back to Beaverton about 9:30 and the temperature should be a comfortable 82 degrees. And then you can plan what you are going to do on the next 100 + degree day, but I certainly don't suggest you stand outside in it!