What are the top 10 things to do on the Oregon Coast?

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):

  1. Astoria’s historic attractions including the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Lewis and Clark’s Fort Clatsop
  2. Seaside’s automobile turnaround and oceanfront promenade, famous landmarks dating from the 1920s
  3. Ecola State Park and Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach
  4. Three Capes Scenic Drive southwest of Tillamook (Cape Meares, Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda)
  5. Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Newport (lighthouse, views, bird watching and beautiful tidepool area)
  6. Cape Perpetua Scenic Area (rainforest hiking trails, views of dramatic coastline formations like Spouting Horn, Devil’s Churn, Cook’s Chasm and Thor’s Well)
  7. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (Honeyman State Park and Oregon Dunes Overlook near Florence or hike the John Dellenback Trail south of Reedsport)
  8. Cape Arago (three spectacular State Parks southwest of Coos Bay)
  9. Beach Loop Drive in Bandon (beautiful beach with many rock formations at the edge of the shore)
  10. Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (lots of viewpoints and beaches south of Gold Beach)