Sunrise and Moonset at Face Rock Viewpoint

Every year, I plan one trip to the Oregon Coast where it coincides with minus tides, which is when the tide tables are measured in the negative two feet. This gives us the bonus of also adding really excellent tide pooling to our seaside adventures. I’ve shared some incredible spots in the past with the tide pools of Haystack Rock and the Neskowin Ghost Forest being revealed. This year the timing of the Strawberry Supermoon also coincided with minus tide (in this case -2.5 feet in Bandon). This meant a juxtaposition of a 8.26 feet high tide, so a 12 foot swing high to low tide in the span of seven hours. We would be able to enjoy low tides, sunrise and moonset at Face Rock Viewpoint with the iconic sea stacks here.
Sunrise at Face Rock Viewpoint in Bandon, Oregon as dawn approaches Sunrise at Face Rock Viewpoint in Bandon, Oregon as dawn approaches

Where To Stay

Waking up for sunrise is early in Daylight Savings Time in June – sunrise is around 5:30 in the morning. Add to that if we wanted to see the full moon, we needed to be up earlier then that before the sun’s rays brought too much light to the sky. A supermoon is called so because the moon is at its closest orbit to earth, so can appear larger and brighter then other full moons – the best time to see this is when it is rising or setting closer to the horizon. You will have to wait until it gets quite late and dark enough to see the moon during the summer long days, or you might want to use blue hour – the time before sunrise, where you can capture the mood when the blue color spectrum is most prominent, about when the Sun is between 4-8° below the horizon.

In Bandon we decided to stay at Sunset Oceanfront Lodging since it was the closest to Face Rock Viewpoint, so close that we could just look out the window and see it right there. This multi-generation family-owned business offers some oceanfront views with balconies, a small fridge and microwave helped us with managing food (in particular cold beverages in the morning) and restaurant leftovers, and that view and easy walking access sold us. I mean look at the view from our balcony towards Face Rock and towards Coquille Point! We stayed in the Vern Brown Addition, so there were stairs that led directly to the beach from there.
Sunset Oceanfront Lodging standard King Room at the Vern Brown Addition Sunset Oceanfront Lodging standard King Room at the Vern Brown Addition, view towards Face Rock from our balcony Sunset Oceanfront Lodging standard King Room at the Vern Brown Addition, view towards Elephant Rock and Coquille Point from our balcony

In our room there was a broom and dustpan to manage the sand that inevitably gets tracked in, very thoughtful. Some of the rooms offered a fireplace also. Depending on which part of the motel you stay in, the rooms may be pet-friendly though our unit at the Vern Addition was not. Sunset Motel does offer a pool and hot tub, though we didn’t use it.

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California Artisan Cheese Festival Best Bite Competition

Believe it or not, my cheese Friday is not over yet after attending a blind tasting seminar, touring two cheesemakers, a cheese lunch, and a distillery as covered in my previous posts in part 1 and part 2 recap of my trip to enjoy the California Artisan Cheese Festival. After a couple hours break after this tour, my sister and I then went to an event called The Best Bite – A Tribute to First Responders. Then, on Sunday we went to the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace.
The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. Valette presented cheesesteak with Stuyt Dairy bacon cheese crisp, Stuyt Dairy cheese Whizz, pepper crusted beef tenderloin, pickled sweet peppers, and Stuyt Dairy cheese powder. The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. Valette presented cheesesteak with Stuyt Dairy bacon cheese crisp, Stuy Cairy cheese Whizz, pepper crusted beef tenderloin, pickled sweet peppers, and Stuyt Dairy cheese powder.
At the California Artisan Cheese Festival 2018 Best Bite Chefs category of the competition, Valette presented cheesesteak with Stuyt Dairy bacon cheese crisp, Stuyt Dairy cheese Whizz, pepper crusted beef tenderloin, pickled sweet peppers, and Stuyt Dairy cheese powder.
For the Cheesemonger Bite category, shown here is Oliver’s Market, Cellar Door Platters and Displays Julie Cassotta and Mike Rafter who used Northern Gold from Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Company to make a beer cheese

The Best Bite

This evening event brought together Cheesemakers, Chefs and Cheesemongers in a Best Bite Competition while paying tribute to first responders who risked their lives during California’s destructive fire storms in October last year. Several of the local heroes got to be judges, and there is also people’s choice award so attendees would get to vote for their winner in each category as well. I took photos of almost everything, both to share with you but also to remember what I ate and who made it for voting later! Photos are my notes!
The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending
Costeaux French Bakery offered a savory cheese twist with an all butter croissant rolled with three cheeses and lavender herbs, as well as another bread stuffed with blue cheese

So now on to my cheese adventures, continued!

The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending. Cypress Grove Cheeses was there The Artisan Cheese Festival The Best Bite Competition, this year themed The Best Bite - A Tribute to First Responders for 2018. This year’s competition, showcasing over two dozen cheesemakers, two dozen chefs and two dozen mongers each created a separate bite featuring their cheesemaker’s cheeses that are judged by some local heroes and also voted on by the people attending

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Travel Tuesday: Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco

If you have seen my Instagram posts, you know I’m still a little giddy from my visit to the Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco with my mom (who normally lives in in hometown of Chicago) and my sister who lives in San Rafael. Both my sisters and my mom had also visited the Museum of Ice Cream in Los Angeles, but I hadn’t been able to join in, so I was happy to hear that they were opening up a second location of this pop up museum in San Fran.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco, cotton candy
The tickets sold out in a flash but I was super lucky in not only getting into the website but getting the perfect weekend when my mom would be in town and one of a few weekends my sister didn’t already have booked until 2018 (seriously, her schedule…). And, we got tickets for the first entrance at 11 AM (they are timed tickets) which incredibly let our group of the first 12 ticket holders in line be the first into every room and almost felt like a private visit since other groups didn’t catch up to us.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Franciso

If you haven’t heard of the Museum of Ice Cream (or MOIC) before, it started out its initial incarnation in New York, and then closed and opened up in Los Angeles. While the Los Angeles run is still going on in LA after several extensions, a second location in San Francisco also opened, and is the newest incarnation. Each location is a little different, though the theme always includes lots of samples of ice creams and a sprinkle pool. When it comes to each individual room themes and how they are set up and what sweet artwork they feature though, they may vary.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco

Here’s a look at the rooms in the San Francisco version. Be aware that if you come, you must already have purchased tickets ahead of time (none are available at the door). There is only one restroom area and it’s in the middle of the museum, and when you go through the museums you can only go forward, not back to any rooms you have previously left.
Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco

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Oregon Travel: Visiting Schreiner’s Iris Gardens

Last week, I shared how an easy partial day trip from Portland just an hour south to visit the Adelman Peony Gardens if you are here during bloom season in May-June. Close by to the Peony Gardens is Schreiner’s Iris Gardens – it’s only 2.5 miles away, a few minutes by car. During bloom season, their gardens are open dawn to dusk, and are free, so I highly recommend throwing in another stop and visiting Shreiner’s Iris Gardens.

When my mom came to visit me a few days before Memorial Day weekend a few weeks ago, after our stop for peonies, which are among her favorite flowers, I sorta forced her to go to the Iris gardens too even though she said she didn’t care much for Irises. We still hung out there for an hour. Here are a few photos that encapsulate visiting Schreiner’s Iris Gardens.
Visiting Schreiner's Iris Gardens is easy, just an hour south of Portland, and is free - a great option if you are in Portland or Salem during their May bloom season Visiting Schreiner's Iris Gardens is easy, just an hour south of Portland, and is free - a great option if you are in Portland or Salem during their May bloom season
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Floating Homes of Sausalito

I’m always looking for unique attractions when visiting new areas, and recently when I stopped over to hang with my mom and sister in San Rafael, I discovered the Floating Homes of Sausalito. Sausalito is about 30 minutes north of San Francisco, just past the Golden Gate Bridge. You can get here by car, or via ferry from San Francisco. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.
There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

Here’s a glimpse of what you could see!

A look down to see all the floating homes along the dock path
Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

You will see a huge variety of architectures and types of boats that have been revamped into homes. Many had beautiful art as part of their boat or in the “front yard” where they tie up to the dock, along with carefully maintained “gardens” of plants.
Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

Some examples of the great art you will also see besides the wonderful homes
Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

In visiting any marina docking the floating homes of Sausalito, it is similar to visiting and walking in any residential neighborhood you are just looking politely at the outside. Stay off their private property and be respectful of course these are homes which may have people sleeping off their night shift.

I think this is a great little walk to take after a seafood lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf or even nearby here in Sausalito just off the main road of Bridgeway where you can see multiple marinas and restaurants.

Have you ever heard of the floating homes of Sausalito or visited any houseboats anywhere else? When you were in the Bay Area, what attractions did you visit and enjoy?

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