We close out our coastline travels with a night at Cannon Beach, half a mile away from the 235-feet tall Haystack Rock, which we cannot approach in the evening because it’s surrounded by ocean. In the morning, though, when the tide is low, we walk up to the rock and examine the sea life that’s sheltered beneath the lower rocks. Local volunteer groups provide information about the anemones, sea-stars (once known as starfish) and water mammals that live around the rock and at nearby Ecola State Park.

Minal, always fascinated by new objects, uncovers sand-dollars which she promises to rinse and save forever.