Pacific City

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 up the serenity of the sea. Also, there's no backup at the town's only traffic light—a blinking-red, four-way stop in the center of town. There's just the quiet, happy ambience of a town living the good life in the midst of extraordinary beauty. The dining venues and brewery are outstanding, and the lodging is stellar. Plus, the opportunities for recreation and tourism epitomize the best of the Oregon Coast. The beach at Pacific City is one of the few places in the state where fishing dories (flat-bottom boats with high, flaring sides) are launched directly into the surf instead of from harbors or docks.