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You are here: Home / Favorite Portland Outings / BEACH GETAWAY – APRIL

BEACH GETAWAY – APRIL

April 18, 2017

Bailey at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

Regular readers will remember that we head to the beach twice a year to celebrate Bailey’s birthday — and give him too a chance of a mini-vacation.

This past weekend was our spring foray.

It seems like wherever we’ve been in the last ten years since we got him (LA, Hawaii, Paris, Boston, NY, Seattle, Vancouver, Wisconsin, SF), there always comes a point in the vacation that we really start to miss him and wish he was there with us.

Beach vacations on the Oregon coast are a nod to the fact that Bailey is a valued member of our family, and that we want to fete him and relax with him somewhere other than our house.

So we make the scenic, 1 1/2 hour car trip to the coast

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Driving to ROckaway Beach

and for the last couple years, we’ve stayed at the same rental in Rockaway Beach for a weekend.

rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

It’s not fancy but it’s light and lovely and right on the beach — which makes it ideal for views and letting Bailey run out on the sand anytime he wants.

.rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

Because we’ve been coming to this rental for years,  I’ve learned which items make me happiest while away and I’ve made a master list of them all.

All I do now for each trip now is print up this list of items to pack, adding as necessary specific other items we might need that particular time (seasonal items, specific foods, etc.)

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Now I’m aware that most people would be perfectly happy to simply cook and use whatever’s on hand for their dining pleasure — but I can’t roll that way.

I pack multiple tablecloths, linens, silverware, favorite pots, cast-iron skillets, platters, plates, kitchen knives and utensils, and even plants and throw blankets. All of this for as short as a 36 hour trip.

To me it’s worth it to wake up to great coffee in the perfect mug and be surrounded by my favorite things.

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Or to enjoy a homecooked dinner made in my trusty pans and be surrounded by favorite platters and table top (yes, all of that you see here came from Portland to Rockaway).

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Nutty, yes, but it’s what I love so why not?

This weekend I added to our collection a few new items I picked up on the coast, like these enormous enamelware mugs I’d bought at a little shop in Rockaway called Little White Church Antiques.

Aren’t they cute?

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And we had these new glass flutes for the special drinks for our kids  — like Orangina or Jarito.

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I picked up these flutes (still in their original packaging) at the Goodwill in Tillamook and we used them all weekend long.

I also brought with me some of my favorite Easter decorations, like this marble signage/decoration.

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And these assorted chicks, bunnies and eggs for hiding in the house early Sunday morning.

easter decorations rockaway beach house rental beach getawayat

Easter decor rockaway beach house rental beach getaway decorations at

And because it looked particularly spring-y, this bunting from HEMA in Paris came with us for the first time, too.

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Now that Bailey’s getting up there in years so he doesn’t really run on the beach anymore, but he enjoys walking around, sniffing the air, chasing after the occasional bird or checking out new driftwood.

Or a particularly pretty sunset.

bailey at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

And sometimes it’s enough for him to just sit in the warm sand and accept a back rub or a snuggle.

Bailey and me at beach

And, as always, beach vacations are all about pleasure.

Like eating amazing meals.

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Shrimp usually shows up in some forms, as it’s one of my favorite foods.

This past weekend I made a Meyer Lemon Scampi, and it was so delicious spooned atop rice.

Shrimp at Rockaway Beach

Another night we had flat-iron steak, smashed Yukon Gold potatoes and roasted corn.

dinner at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

In between great meals there was lots of playing on the sand, playing football.

football at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

Oliver atrockaway beach house rental beach getaway

And flying kites.

kite at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

And checking out the sand

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to see what the tide had brought in.

crab atrockaway beach house rental beach getaway

As you can see, beach weekends are are all about luxe meals,

Fried Egg Sandwich

movie nights (this time, My Cousin Vinny, La La Land),

rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

and wildly indulgent desserts.

Usually I make up a batch of something sweet (like these ginger cookies)

GingerSnap/Chews

but this time we worked our way through Blizzards from Dairy Queen (there’s a branch in Garibaldi, just 7 minutes away).

blizzards at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

One last favorite beach detail.

I spend a lot of time to make sure that Bailey is at least as well as fed as all of us.

He gets extra eggs and sausage in the morning, mini-treats throughout the day, and then some kind of steak or salmon dinner at night.

We always save him an ear of roasted corn for him and it’s so cute to see him nibble on the ears of corn; we either hold it for him and he works on the cob or he rolls it around the kitchen floor, trying to get every last kernel on his own.

Bailey with Ear of Corn, Rockaway Beach

And I have a ritual for the very last meal I serve him each time there; it’s a meal with a view.

I start by making him something extra special; this time, Easter morning, it was a mini-sausage and cheddar omelet plus one wonky Easter bunny pancake.

rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

I then bring this last meal up to a rock on the edge of the cliff overlooking the beach.

It’s just on the edge of our yard and every time he scarfs the food down and then stares out at the beach for a few minutes, like he’s memorizing the view.

bailey at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

It’s our little ritual, and I’m not sure who enjoys it more, him or me.

Bailey at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

So here’s to Bailey — and all you pet owners (past and present) out there who understand how valuable and essential a role your little four-legged creature plays in your life.

bailey at rockaway beach house rental beach getaway

They continually provide us with unconditional love and a reminder to enjoy simple pleasures.

Not just that, but no one– NO ONE!– photo bombs cuter.

Charlotte and me at beach

Happy Belated Easter, peeps!

Filed Under: Favorite Portland Outings

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Comments

  1. Sandra Covington says

    April 18, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Great blog, Sarah! As fellow beach comber and dog lover, I am sure Bailey enjoyed special holiday with his fam! Love the pix and love you all! Sandy

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      April 19, 2017 at 1:17 am

      Thanks, Sandy! So good to hear from you! XOXO

      Reply
  2. Nicki says

    April 18, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    As usual you inspire me to appreciate
    Our lovely Northwest and all that it offers.
    Bailey, you’re so great.

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      April 19, 2017 at 1:19 am

      Nicki, you’re so kind! It truly is an embarrassment of riches here in PNW. Hope you’re well!

      Reply
  3. Connie says

    April 18, 2017 at 11:12 pm

    Aw, you guys are the best doggie parents ever – Bailey is fortunate, as are you all to have him. And that doggie photo bomb – the cutest!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      April 19, 2017 at 1:20 am

      I feel like we are the fortunate ones, and as he ages, I know our time is limited. Now more than ever we are trying to pack in all the loving and good eats we can!

      Reply
  4. Joan says

    April 18, 2017 at 11:25 pm

    Oh Sarah, what a wonderful time for you all. I love including our furry friends in the fun and can’t wait until our 11 week goldendoodle is a good traveling chum. Your photos are so enjoyable and Bailey’s photo bomb is a hoot! Cherishing those simple moments.

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      April 19, 2017 at 1:21 am

      Thanks, Joan! Such a sweet note — and how lucky to have a golden doodle puppy the house! Cherishing those simple moments indeed– couldn’t have put it better!

      Reply
  5. Mary Ann Foy says

    April 19, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    You can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat their pets and the ‘smallest’ among us….clearly, Sarah, you are the best of the best! You inspire me everyday with your generosity and the palpable love for your family and friends! So glad to know you!

    Reply
  6. Chrissy Clark says

    April 22, 2017 at 3:33 pm

    Sweet Bailey! Beautiful post girl. 😍

    Reply

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