Five years ago I was on a work assignment in Washington. On one long weekend I took a trip to the Oregon Coast with my family. It was such an incredible experience that traveling to the Oregon Coast has become a family tradition.
Oregon beaches are the perfect blend of remarkable sandy beaches and massive rock formations, with a rich evergreen backdrop sweeping down to shoreline. The sun shines on the pristine turquoise water while powerful waves crash into the rocks emerging from the oceans surface. Looking down the shoreline you’ll see miles of beautiful sandy beaches.
Driving down Highway 101 you will be blown away by the magic of this amazing coastal region. There are 363 miles of coastline in Oregon. The best part is that all 363 miles are accessible to the public. There is truly something for everyone here whether you like big crowds, being secluded, campfires, driving on sand, sand dunes, hiking, beach combing, tide pools, and even surfing. Here are a few beaches that you need to visit while on the Oregon Coast.
Cannon Beach
Canon beach is most famous for the towering 235 foot Haystack Rock. Along with the iconic Haystack Rock Cannon Beach offers long sandy beaches. On low tide you will discover colorful tide pools full of intertidal animals including star fish, sea anemone, crabs, and sea slugs. Haystack Rock is also a nest place for many sea birds and puffins.
The warmest months for you to travel to Cannon Beach is June to August. The average daytime temperature at Cannon Beach is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to pack a jacket as the coastal winds that come through can be a little chilly in the evening.
There is fun for everyone at Cannon Beach. Kids can build sand castles, fly kites, ride bicycles, and even dip their toes in the Pacific Ocean. There’s local surf shops where you can rent a surf boat and wetsuit to try your hand at riding waves in the Pacific Northwest.
Pets are also welcome on Cannon Beach leash free. They will love chasing a stick and taking in the fresh ocean air. This is a perfect spot to take romantic walks with your loved one in the evenings, or have a family bonfire at night and roast some marshmallows.
The small quant sea town of Cannon Beach is easy to get around with a lot of fun to offer. You can enjoy art galleries, glass blowing, cafes, and fine dining restaurants. In June 2013, National Geographic named Cannon Beach as “one of the world’s 100 most beautiful places”.
Cannon Beach is the perfect place to relax and get recalibrated from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Only 1 1/2 hours away from Portland, Oregon, this is a perfect destination for a day trip, or a great spot to spend a few days with your family.
Rockaway Beach
If you prefer a less crowded and laid back beach experience then Rockaway Beach is a great destination for you. Along this 7 mile sandy beach, you can enjoy beach combing, sand castles, kite flying, and even having a bonfire at sunset.
The small coastal town offers over 100 vacation rentals and 300 hotel rooms so you will have plenty of space to stay. The vacation rental prices tend to be less expensive than Cannon Beach and the town atmosphere is much more laid back than Canon Beach.
With just a short 37 minute drive you can still make a day trip to explore and take in the beauty of Cannon Beach. Rockaway Beach also offers spectacular view perfect for capturing unforgettable moments. Be sure to have your camera charged up and plenty of memory on your smart phone. The stunning Twin Rocks sit just off the coast on the South West end of town.
On the Fourth of July there is a firework celebration in Rockaway Beach that rivals firework shows in big cities. There are many family oriented events throughout the year to enjoy like their famous kite festival. 30 minutes South of town you will want to visit Cape Meares Light House. There you can also behold the natural wonder of the moss covered octopus tree.
Take short hikes close to town and you will witness spectacular views of towering cliffs and crashing ocean waves.
The little town of Rockaway Beach has good local restaurants to eat at such as Cow Belle Cafe, Grumpys Cafe, and The Offshore Grill and Coffee House. Spend some time shopping downtown at vintage stores and gifts shops. You can satisfy your sweat tooth at local ice cream shops that also offers salt water taffy and candy.
Cape Kiwanda
Located next to the town of Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda is a great beach to visit. Pacific City is located off of Highway 101 so you will feel more secluded staying here. We spent a week in Pacific City and found it to be a great location. From here we only had to take a short drive to go see the cheese factory in Tillamook and a short drive to go eat the best fish and chips at Jays Fish & Chips in Lincoln City.
The sand is perfect at Cape Kiwanda and there is a huge sand dune perfect for kids to burn some energy climbing. Cape Kiwanda RV Park offers sand board rentals for shredding down the massive sand dune.
Pacific City is one of the only places on the West Coast where fisherman can launch their boats from the beach. The type of boat they use is called a Dory Boat and it is a way of life for the locals. You can go out fishing in one of these nostalgic boats for an unforgettable day of fishing. Another fun thing to do is to watch them launch these boats early in the morning, and witness them speeding back into shore.
If you want to have a more private beach experience then take a short drive North of Pacific City to an area called Tierra del Mar. My kids fell in love with this beach and we liked having the amazing beach all to ourselves. Here we enjoyed flying kites, building sand castles, and it was even warm enough that my son and I went for a swim.
Glen Eden Beach
Glen Eden Beach is a spectacular beach great for finding loads of Agates. On one of our trips we spent a week at Glen Eden Beach. My wife and I spent almost every evening walking down the beach looking for agates. Glen Eden Beach is right by Lincoln City. Lincoln City has many fun things to offer right in town.
The highlight for my kids was going on a hike to a place called Gods Thumb. This short 4.4 mile round trip hike is breathtaking. It towers over the ocean with some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen.
If you do this hike with kids then watch them closely as the hill is very steep. Once you reach the top there is not a lot of space and there is sheer cliffs on all sides. We did this hike with my wife’s family. We took 7 kids ranging from ages 1 to 12 years old.
Otter Rock
27 minutes south of Lincoln City you will find the miraculous Otter Rock. This is a great beach for kids to play in the sand and a great spot to try your hand at surfing. After a long day at the beach you can have a warm bowl of clam chowder at Mo’s Seafood & Chowder. You’ll love the food and the spectacular views while dining at this restaurant.
You will also want to check out Devils Punch Bowl after you get done with your bowl of chowder. On high tide this rugged rock formation fills up with ocean water and on low tide you can walk down in the bottom. You won’t want to miss out on Otter Rock.
These beaches don’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the must visit places on the Oregon Coast. You will not be disappointed if you travel to these amazing public beaches. Their beauty and allure will bring you back year after year.