It took me a whole year of living in Oregon before I finally got to visit the coast. Thinking about that seems crazy! We had driven up the California coast on our epic road trip when we moved out here from Florida, so I figured it was very similar.
I was wrong.
The Oregon Coast has so many unique things to experience and I’m so glad we finally got a chance to see it! One of the things that is so neat about the Oregon Coast is how uninhabited it is. Coming from Florida, where every inch of the coastline is built on, the miles and miles of unobstructed views of the Oregon coastline is refreshing.
South Oregon Coast – A Visit to Coos Bay
Our first Oregon Coast stop was in Coos Bay, Oregon. Coos Bay is the largest city on the Oregon Coast, but don’t expect to see any hustle and bustle. Coos Bay still seemed like a sleepy little town to me…and I loved it.
What to Do
A drive down Cape Arago Highway to Sunset Bay is an absolute must, especially if you can catch the sunset on a clear night. It’s about a 12-mile drive from the town of Coos Bay to Sunset Bay State Park.
Keep driving south along Cape Arago Hwy another 2 miles to the end at Cape Arago State Park. It was March when we visited, so still pretty cold! No matter what time of year it is, be sure to bring a jacket. Once the sun goes down, the coastal breezes are cold.
Where to Stay
We stayed at The Best Western, which was right across the street from the Coos Bay boardwalk and was dog-friendly. It is not luxury, but it’s in a good location with a good price. There aren’t a lot of chain hotels in Coos Bay so if you are feeling adventurous (and don’t have reward points at a hotel chain like I do) then I would recommend you check out a local inn or resort in the area.
What to Eat
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with the food in Coos Bay. I was expecting a lot of delicious seafood but didn’t really find it. One lunch spot we tried, E Z Thai Restaurant, was the best by far.
Central Oregon Coast – A Visit to Yachats
This past weekend Wes and I spent time in Yachats, Oregon…”The gem of the Oregon coast”. It’s located on the central Oregon coastline, and it has some of the best sites and restaurants on the coast.
What to Do
A lot of the sites are within 10 miles of Yachats, making it a great location to stay. Catching sunset at Thor’s Well is an absolute must. We tried to catch it at high tide when the view of the Well is the best, but the timing just didn’t work out. Check out the tide schedules when you go to see some of the high tide views of the well.
Note: you can’t get as close to it at high tide so be sure to bring your camera lens!
Cape Perpetua scenic area is right down the road from Thor’s Well, full of hiking trails and camping.
Head a little further South from Cape Perpetua to Neptune Beach and to the well-known Heceta Lighthouse. You can visit the lighthouse, walk along the Heceta Lighthouse beach and look up at it from below, or if you keep driving a little further south from the beach you will see the lighthouse viewpoint where you can get some of the best scenic views (pictured below).
Keep driving south another few miles to find the Sea Lion Caves! I was unsure whether this was going to be worth a visit, but it ended up being a fun way to check out these funny creatures in America’s largest sea caves. I have to admit that I’ve seen so many sea lions now that I enjoyed seeing the cave more than the animals.
(Note: The Sea Lion Caves are a little pricey, at $14 per adult).
Where to Stay
We stayed at The Adobe Resort, which was right on the water and dog friendly. Yippee! The Oregon Coast Trail starts right outside the The Adobe Resort and continues about 1 mile north along the coastline cliffs and opens up to beautiful beach.
What to Eat
The seafood was amazing in Yachats. I highly recommend the seafood lasagna at The Drift Inn. It was stuffed full of seafood and the sauce was delicious.
North Oregon Coast – A Visit to Astoria
What to Do
Situated right at the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria is most known for being the location of The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. But, there’s a lot of other things in Astoria that caught my attention. Climbing up the Astoria Column will give you the best views in Astoria! The winding staircase made me a little woozy on the way up, but it was worth it!
Make sure while you’re visiting Astoria to also take a walk along the Riverfront Trail to see some sea lion friends. And take a drive South to Ecola State Park for some of the prettiest ocean and forest views of the coast. Even on an overcast day, this was one of the coolest Oregon State parks I’ve been to. Definitely worth a stop!
Where to Stay
I stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites Astoria, which was really nice. This was not dog friendly but I was solo for this trip so my fur-babies weren’t along for this trip. If you’re looking for something a little more local, check out the Cannery Pier hotel.
What to Eat
My favorite spot was the Bridgewater Bistro. The atmosphere of the restaurant inside was great, but the view on the outside of the Cannery Pier was the best part.
Visiting the Oregon Coast is definitely a must-see. The unique and rugged landscape combined with the massive ocean expanse makes for some of the best views there are!
What’s your favorite coastal town in the U.S.?
Loved this post! I visited the Oregon Coast this summer (expecting it to also be like my epic CA road trip the summer before!) I was also VERY wrong. Oregon had its own charm, but was much more of a “run down, laid back” vibe.
I loved Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, and the little town of Yachats (also loved how you pronounce it, Ya Hots!). LOVED Newport too!
Thanks for sharing!
I agree! The Oregon coast is definitely more charming, run down, and laid back than the California coast. Loved it! Cannon beach was probably my favorite town but I only got a chance to drive through. Would love to go back and spend some more time there! Glad you got to enjoy your time there!!