A raspberry and pistachio scone with lemon glaze at Sea Level Bakery + Coffee in Cannon Beach.

Taking a baby to the Oregon coast for the first time isn’t just a day trip — it’s a milestone moment filled with equal parts logistics and wonder.

On a recent episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, host Jamie Hale shared the experience of introducing his 9-month-old daughter to the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

“This episode could be called a baby day trip to the Oregon coast,” Hale explained to co-host Chiara Profenna. “It was my baby’s very first visit to the ocean. Sadie and I just did a quick little trip out there earlier this spring, out to the Cannon Beach area for the afternoon.”

Generative AI was used to summarize a recent episode of the Peak Northwest podcast. This story was reviewed and edited by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

For parents considering a similar adventure, the episode offers a candid look at the planning required. The journey itself presents the first challenge — keeping drive times manageable for tiny passengers with limited patience.

Sea Level Bakery + Coffee serves up pastries, espresso, bread and more in Cannon Beach.

“We’re only doing like 2 hours. It’s sort of the most she’s driven at this point,” Hale noted. “Once she gets to like an hour and a half, she starts to be like, ‘Why am I still in the car? I’ve done a full nap and woken up and we’re still doing this.’”

Beyond transportation logistics, feeding a baby on the go requires strategic planning. As Hale shared, “We’ve been trying to figure out how we do eating out in public. What do we need to bring? How do we do a setup? How do we figure out the cleanup when we’re out and about?”

The podcast captures a particularly poignant moment when Hale attempts to introduce his daughter to the vastness of the ocean — a concept almost impossible to convey to someone so young.

“How do I explain the ocean to a 9-month-old baby? There’s so many concepts of space and depth and I just, it’s just the ocean,” he reflected.

Throughout their coastal adventure, Hale’s daughter experienced numerous “firsts” — from sampling a biscuit at Sea Level Bakery to trying French fries at Cannon Beach Hardware and Public House. The trip became not just about seeing the ocean, but about introducing her to new tastes, sights and experiences in a place that holds deep significance for her parents.

People walk the sand on the south end of Cannon beach, near Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site on the north Oregon coast.

For Hale, sharing the Oregon coast with his daughter carries emotional weight. “The ocean for me is my spot. I love the Oregon coast,” he said. “That’s where my family went. There’s pictures of my parents with me as a baby on the Oregon coast and I’ve just been so excited to show her that.”

Whether you’re planning your own baby’s first coastal trip or simply enjoy hearing about these pivotal family moments, this episode of Peak Northwest offers both practical advice and heartwarming storytelling.

Listen to the full conversation for more insights about navigating the Oregon coast with a little one in tow, and to hear what adventure this family plans to tackle next.

Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s travel and outdoors podcast Peak Northwest on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna take you to some of the greatest destinations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Check out more Peak Northwest episodes below.