The Oregon Coast: Places to Explore

The mighty Columbia River meets the Pacific at Astoria, the oldest city west of the Rockies. It is named for John Jacob Astor, owner of the Pacific Fur Company, whose members arrived in 1811 and established... Read more

Referred to by some who cherish its romantic lure as Bandon-by-the-Sea, Bandon is both a harbor town and a popular vacation spot. Bandon is famous for its cranberry products, its cheese factory, as well... Read more

The North Bend-Charleston-Coos Bay metropolitan area, collectively known as the Bay Area (population 25,000), is the gateway to rewarding recreational experiences. The town of Coos Bay lies next to the... Read more

A startling 90% of the pot lilies grown in the United States come from a 500-acre area inland from Brookings. Mild temperatures along this coastal plain provide ideal conditions for flowering plants of... Read more

Cannon Beach is a mellow, trendy place to enjoy art, wine, and fine dining, and to take in the sea air. Shops and galleries selling surfing gear, upscale clothing, local art, wine, coffee, and food line... Read more

Depoe Bay calls itself the whale-watching capital of the world. The small town was founded in the 1920s and named in honor of Charles DePoe of the Siletz tribe, who was named for his employment at a U.S... Read more

Tourists and retirees have been flocking to Florence in ever-greater numbers in recent years. Its restored waterfront Old Town has restaurants, antiques stores, fish markets, and other diversions. But... Read more

Gleneden Beach is primarily a resort town with Salishan, its most famous property, perching high above placid Siletz Bay. This expensive collection of guest rooms, vacation homes, condominiums, restaurants... Read more

The fabled Rogue River is one of the few U.S. rivers to merit Wild and Scenic status from the federal government. From spring to late fall an estimated 50,000 visitors descend on the town to take one of... Read more

Lincoln City is a captivating destination for families and lovers who want to share some time laughing on the beach, poking their fingers in tide pools, and trying to harness wind-bucking kites. Once a... Read more

Manzanita is a secluded seaside community with only a few more than 500 full-time residents. It's on a sandy peninsula peppered with tufts of grass on the northwestern side of Nehalem Bay, a popular windsurfing... Read more

Called the Dungeness crab capital of the world, Newport offers accessible beaches, a nationally renowned aquarium, a lively performing-arts center, and a local laid-back attitude. Newport exists on two... Read more

There's a lot to like about Pacific City, mostly that it's located three miles off Oregon's busy coastal Highway 101. That means fewer sputtering recreation vehicles or squeaking truck brakes breaking... Read more

The westernmost incorporated city in the contiguous United States, Port Orford is surrounded by forests, rivers, lakes, and beaches. The jetty at Port Orford offers little protection from storms, so every... Read more

The small town of Reedsport owes its existence to the Umpqua River, one of the state's great steelhead-fishing streams. Hikers will enjoy the picturesque, quiet hiking trails that wander through the forest... Read more

As a resort town, Seaside has spruced up its kitschy, arcade-filled reputation and now supports a bustling tourist trade, with hotels, condominiums, and restaurants lining a traditional promenade. It still... Read more

More than 100 inches of annual rainfall and the confluence of three rivers contribute to the lush green pastures around Tillamook, probably best known for its thriving dairy industry and cheese factory... Read more

Once a rustic mill town, Toledo has reinvented itself as an enclave for painters, artisans, antiques, and the most amazing barbecue this side of Missouri. Landscape artists Ivan Kelly and Michael Gibbons... Read more

Waldport attracts many retirees and settlers seeking an alternative to the expensive beach resorts nearby. It has a memorable bed-and-breakfast, a charming new golf course, and an amazing old-growth forest... Read more

The small town of Yachats (pronounced "yah-hots") is at the mouth of the Yachats River, and from its rocky shoreline, which includes the highest point on the Oregon coast, trails lead to beaches and dozens... Read more