Continuing east on US-26, about 18 miles from the coast highway and a mile west of the hamlet of Elsie, the remarkable Camp 18 Restaurant (daily; 503/755-1818 or 800/874-1810) draws travelers for a variety of reasons. Some people come for the absolutely massive portions of very good food, from the gigantic fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and liter jugs of coffee at breakfast, to the steaks, chicken, and seafood served up at lunch and dinner. Others are drawn by the playful, Paul Bunyanesque scale of the place: The front door handle is a hefty old ax, the spacious dining room roof is held up by a single massive Douglas fir log—85 feet long, eight feet thick, and weighing 40,000 pounds—and many of the tables are made from foot-thick planks of planed and polished wood.
The whole room is packed with an amazing collection of old logging gear, but best of all is the setting, overlooking a babbling brook, with dozens of birdfeeders attracting flocks of finches and other colorful songbirds. Outside, an extensive museum in the parking lot lets visitors examine more old logging equipment to get a feel for a bygone era of misery whips, 20-foot handsaws, and steam donkeys. (Surprise, surprise: There’s also a good gift shop.)
