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Things to do / Travel Guide
Oregon Coast Getaways
Oregon has the wildest stretch of coastline in the contiguous 48 states. The coast is better known for the excellent walking, surfing, biking, and nature viewing opportunities it provides, rather than sunbathing or swimming. The area's beauty is in the coastal rock formations, dunes, and dense inland forests. The entire coast is public, protected by a string of State Parks. Restored, laid-back towns in the area are also pleasant to tour.
Oregon Coast Tourist Attractions
To best enjoy Pacific Coast road trip along the Oregon Coast, you'll want to take your time exploring the rugged shorelines, state parks, historic sites, and welcoming towns.
Along your way, perfect for a relaxing vacation, is the small town of Manzanita, located on the beautiful north coast of Oregon. Manzanita, or "little apple" in Spanish, is a small yet thriving art community and draws a number of celebrity artists, actors, and musicians to its clean shores. You'll find independently owned inns and B&Bs, as well as charming cafes, taverns, and bakeries.
Manzanita is located about 25 miles from a slightly larger city, Tillamook. Tillamook, or "land of many waters" in a Native American language, is a wonderful seaside destination that includes museums, historic sites, and factories, of which most notable is the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
You can't leave the Oregon Coast without visiting the "little jewel on the Oregon Coast," Bandon. This small town, located at the southern end of the Oregon Coast, is a wonderful vacation spot, in part due to the tourist attractions, and in part due to the fact that the weather is pleasant and beautiful all year round. Golfers will find a particular attraction to Bandon, as will water sports enthusiasts. The coast is beautiful. Families shouldn't skip the West Coast Game Park.
If you're driving from Tillamook to Bandon, you should make a quick stop at the "World's Shortest River," the "D" River whose source is the wickedly named Devils Lake. The river, which is only 120 feet, stretches from Devils Lake to the Pacific Ocean. Lincoln City will be your nearest city and is a great place to stock up on camping supplies, bathing suits, and other necessities.
Astoria Tourist Attractions
Astoria, located at the northern tip of the Oregon coastline, is known for its excellent variety of nature activities, including walking, hiking, biking, and wildlife observing. The area is loaded with parks, including the Lewis & Clark National Historical Park and Fort Stevens State Park. West of the Rockies, Astoria is considered the oldest American settlement, and as such, you'll find various historical sites among the trees, rock formations, and hiking trails, creating a wonderful blend of the historical and the recreational.
A great spot to take advantage of these two elements is at the Fort Stevens Military Reservation, located by the mouth of the Columbia River. You can climb on the fort's abandoned gun batteries which were used from the Civil War until World War II.
Other Astoria tourist attractions include a visit to the 17th Street Pier, where you'll see boats docking in the Columbia River, various museums, and great outdoor cafes with views of the water.
You'll recognize the laid-back and beautiful town of Astoria is movies like The Goonies, Free Willy, Short Circuit, and Kindergarten Cop.
Coos Bay Tourist Attractions
Tourists to Coos Bay will have no trouble finding activities to do, especially if they're interested in fishing. Located in Oregon's Bay Area, Coos Bay is one of the busiest commercial and sports fishing ports in the state. Crabbing, whale watching, boating, surfing, cycling, camping, and golfing are all other popular Coos Bay tourist activities.
The area also hosts three beautiful state parks: Shore Acres State Park (the former estate of a shipbuilder), Sunset Bay State Park (great campgrounds), and Cape Arago (offers great spots for viewing marine life).
Downtown Coos Bay is a great area hub for artists or tourists who are interested in art—there are museums, galleries, and antique stores to visit, as well as historic art-deco buildings to explore.
Don't miss the seafood in Coos Bay, a tourist attraction all on its own.
Oregon Coast Road Trip Getaway Planner
While the driving time down the coast is only about eight hours, the drive is best enjoyed over three days or more. Stop in any town that tickles your fancy. Expect traffic along the route in high season. Get a detailed map of the Oregon Coast, or you may end up missing some of the quaint towns or scenic sea views.
Tourist Attractions and Highlights in Oregon Coast from Astoria to Coos Bay to Gold Beach
Tourist-Attractions-Highlights
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