Beautiful sandy beaches, sheer cliffs overlooking the ocean and miles of pristine rocky beaches, the Oregon coast is a nature lovers paradise and and also has much to offer to those seeking adventure. The coast can be divided into three distinct geographic regions, the North, Central and South coast. I have had the chance to visit the North and Central coast several times over the past decade, I feel that it has a North California coast feel but with more towns along the way.
Situated on the banks of the lower Columbia river, Astoria is the first OR town one passes through driving down the Pacific coast from WA. Famed for being part of the Lewis and Clarke trail, the town flourished with fishing and logging industries in 19th and earlier part of the 20th century. As as these industries dwindled the town has had to reinvent itself around the tourism industry. A replica of Fort Clatsop (the original Lewis and Clark encampment) and the Astoria column are landmarks worth a visit. The town itself has a nice quirky feel, with many cafes and restaurants and shopping opportunities. I would like to mention Drina Daisy’s Bosnian restaurant and T Paul’s supper club both of which serve splendid food. A little south of Astoria is the beach town of Seaside seaside, the town boasts a 1.5 mile boardwalk dating back to the early 20th century. Cannon beach with its iconic Haystack Rock also is a good place for a stay with many good restaurants, cafes and gift shops. Further south the town of Manzanita is home to a very picturesque golf course along with the natural scenery and if one if s a golfer this may be the place to use a base to explore the area. Tillamook one of the last towns on the North Coast is known for its cheese and dairy industry. The Tillamook Creamery offers tours, where one can observe the cheese making process and sample the goodies.
The Central Oregon Coast also has vast stretches of sandy beaches akin to the North Coast but the scenery is somewhat different with more cliffs and terraces dotting the coastline. The happening towns of Lincoln City, Newport, and Yachats are a beach lovers paradise, and each town has its own unique feel as well. In Lincoln city one can visit Tie Dye Pizzeria for some amazing pies and a very unique chef (aka the Pizza Nazi), and also enjoy the long stretch of beach and several hiking trails. Newport is famed for its lighthouses (yes, there are two of them!) and has a thriving fishing industry, with the area of Nye beach known for its cultural scene. Yachats (Ya-hots) has a somewhat different feel to it, as the sandy beaches now turn to black basalt. From natural landmarks like the Devil’s churn and Thor’s Well to art galleries and restaurants Yachats is definitely worth a visit.
Although I have been lucky enough to visit the North and Central costs several times, I have yet to visit the South Coast which I hear has a more rugged and secluded feel to it. I hope to be back to the Oregon coast this summer and perhaps will be able to make it further south this time around.
The Open Roads 