With three days on the Oregon Coast, I would suggest spending a good portion of your first day between Brookings and Gold Beach. The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor extends about 12 miles north from Brookings and includes several easy stops with rewarding views. My favorites are Whaleshead Beach, Natural Bridges and the Arch Rock…
The beaches between Port Orford and Cape Blanco are, in general, less traveled relative to many other Oregon Coast beaches and this stretch of beach is known for good agate hunting. There are two primary public beach access areas in this area. Paradise Point State Recreation Site in the north end of Port Orford offers…
Most people visiting Oregon fly into Portland. If that’s your plan, you can reach the North Oregon Coast by car in about 90 minutes. Cannon Beach offers a good introduction to the Oregon Coast with long stretches of easily accessible beach, Oregon’s iconic Haystack Rock, a small walkable downtown and nearby State Parks, notably Ecola…
There are many things to see and do along the 363-mile Oregon Coast and without knowing your interests or if you are planning on concentrating on any specific region, let me give me my top picks along the entire Coast. The top 10 attractions I would recommend include (north to south): Astoria’s historic attractions including…
Consider Yachats as your destination. I think it fits your description and desires better than any town on the Central Oregon Coast. It’s a popular destination, but it’s definitely quieter than North Coast destinations like Seaside or Cannon Beach in mid-September. It’s just outside of the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area where you will find more secluded…
In general, most of Oregon’s beaches allow dogs. Some beaches within local enforcement areas may require that dogs be leashed and there are a few beaches that do not allow dogs or require leashes to protect wildlife. Inter-tidal areas designated as Marine Gardens by the State of Oregon require that dogs be leashed and a…
Oregon State Parks offer access to some of the most remarkable scenic views and natural areas on the Oregon Coast. Many of the Oregon Coast’s State Parks do not require day-use fees and of those, my favorites are Cape Meares, Seal Rock and Cape Arago. Those with day use fees that I would not hesitate…
Late-September through early-October is a great time to visit the Oregon Coast for outdoor recreation and wildlife spotting. With the large summer crowds gone, herds of Roosevelt Elk are frequently seen along the coast. If you’re interested in whale watching, I’d suggest Depoe Bay, where Oregon State Parks operates a Whale Watch Center, or Cape…
The best beaches for razor clamming on the Oregon Coast are about 90 minutes from Portland in the Seaside area and north toward Fort Stevens State Park. You’ll want to check with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding licensing, limits and shellfish safety closures. The razor clam season is closed on these beaches…
My choices would be Cannon Beach, Newport, Yachats, Bandon and Gold Beach for the following reasons: Cannon Beach is a good base for nearby attractions like Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park, Oswald West State Park, Hug Point and towns like Seaside, Astoria and Manzanita. Follow the Three Capes Scenic Route (Cape Meares, Cape Lookout and…
Relatively speaking, a quiet beach in Cannon Beach during the summer is a bit of on oxymoron. However, Crescent Beach, just north of Cannon Beach, is much more secluded than other Cannon Beach area beaches because it is a hike-in location from Ecola State Park. Generally speaking, the further you get away from Haystack Rock to the…
Astoria is famous for being the filming location of the 1985 hit classic ‘The Goonies,’ as well as a handful of other popular movies. Astoria of has a wide range of accommodations from luxury hotels on the riverfront to historic downtown boutique hotels, chain hotel brands and a good selection of bed and breakfasts. So, depending on…
Driving on the beach between Fort Steven State Park and Gearhart is allowed with some seasonal restrictions. You can reach the beach access at the west end of Sunset Beach Road, just past the State Park parking area. Many other regulations and restrictions are enforced for those driving on the beach. Speed limits must not…
There are several options along Oregon’s 363 mile coastline for RV camping adjacent to the beach. I personally prefer the State Parks camping experience (forested, close to great natural areas) to most private RV parks that are primarily paved or graveled parking lots. A few State Parks offer campsites adjacent to the beach, though not…
Cannon Beach offers great shopping and art galleries, most within the two block downtown area. Mo’s offers casual dining with an ocean view and Wayfarer Restaurant offers more upscale dining with views. One of my favorite things for a rainy day is a visit to Icefire Glassworks in midtown Cannon Beach where you can often…
You can spot whales nearly year-round on the Oregon Coast. Gray Whales migrate along the Oregon Coast twice a year, once in spring as they are headed north and in winter when headed south. There are about 200 whales that only migrate as far north as Oregon and can be seen nearly year-round until they…
On the North Oregon Coast, one of the best places to go crabbing is Nehalem Bay. There, you will find Kelly’s Marina and Jetty Fishery, both of which offer crabbing gear rentals, crabbing docks or boat rentals and you can have your crab cooked just steps from where you caught it and enjoy the freshest…
It is a little over a mile from Astoria’s cruise ship dock to the heart of downtown Astoria. It is about 1.3 miles to the beginning of Astoria’s main downtown commercial district and about two miles to the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria’s largest attraction on the riverfront.This can be a pleasant walk along Astoria’s…
April is a great time for traveling the Oregon Coast. Spring in general is known for lush growth, blooming plants and shrubs, abundant wildlife and great bird watching. High temperatures in April average in the mid to high 50s and low temperatures average mostly in the low 40s. Our maritime climate is unpredictable, so you…
You may find some crabbing charters out of the port of Hammond south of Astoria. In addition, the 12th Street bridge in Seaside is a popular non-boat location with crab rings dropped directly off the bridge. One of the best crabbing experiences on the North Oregon Coast is further south on Nehalem Bay. Kelly’s Marina…
