Many spots are only close drives from certain towns. Most of the north coast is more than two and a half hours from towns like Corvallis and Salem, so a day trip from these spots to places like Seaside or Manzanita is probably a bit much. But in the case of Lincoln City, this town is only two hours from Portland and slightly more than an hour from Corvallis or Salem, and not much more of a drive than that from Eugene. Even Newport can be attained in about two and a half hours from Portland. And Newport is within a couple hours drive of Eugene, Salem and Corvallis.

There’s a lot that can be done in a day – or even just four or five hours on the coast.

The following is a list of day trips, suggested itineraries and tours for certain areas of the coast. Keep checking back as these will be added to all the time.

Seaside
Day Trip Time: 1 hour, 20 mins from Portland
Suggested Itinerary: Explore, shop and eat in Seaside, play on beaches south or north of town.
Alternate Itinerary: Cannon Beach and Seaside are only six miles apart.

With its beautiful promenade (built in the 20s), a long stretch of wind-sheltered beach, its charming streets, its somewhat gaudy carnival atmosphere and a lengthy history of being one heck of a party town, Seaside has something for just about anyone.

Portlanders have vacationed here for more than six generations, creating a history that is rich and colorful. The promenade – more than a mile long - is proof of this, as are the visits to this area by explorers Lewis and Clark. Well, sort of, anyway. There is a monument to the pair sitting in the middle of the picturesque and famed turnaround

The town has all the amenities you could ask for: scrumptious, sometimes innovative cuisine, major grocery stores, a liquor store, a large movie theater complex and an outlet mall filled to the brim with 60 stores, along with numerous funky gift shops along the other main drag, Broadway.

At the Seaside Turnaround and Promenade, once again, history takes the front seat on your journey through Seaside. The Promenade was built in the 20’s, first as a wooden construct, then made of concrete. These days, it stretches a little more than a mile and a half, taking you past beautiful motel fronts and charming beach cottages – many of them quite old.

If the Promenade whispers of history, then the Turnaround shouts it. Its centerpiece is the statue of Lewis & Clark (who never actually stopped in this spot, although it gives you that erroneous impression.) More Lewis & Clark history can be found at the replica of the Corps’ salt boiling structure, near Ave. U.

Nearby, the Seaside Aquarium is a famous bit of indoor fun. Located right on the Promenade, it features plenty of fish tanks, a touch tank, and a chance to feed the frolicking family of Harbor seals. Plus the 1937 drawing proclaiming a “hideous octopus” is quite an eye-catcher. Call: (503) 738-6211.

For more aquatic fun, there’s Quatat Park, where you can rent little boat jobbies to zip around the river. Crabbing on the bridges on the north end of town is another favorite pastime.

The cove, at the southern end of town, is a surfers paradise, and the gateway to Tillamook Head. It’s also a little more deserted than most of the town’s beaches. Although even less people can be found in the semi-rocky sand stretches north of Ave. U and south of the Turnaround. For more on this area, see the virtual tour.

New Tour: Oregon Day Trips: Florence, on the Central Coast Just 50 miles from Eugene, the area is rich with attractions

Cannon Beach
Day Trip Time: 1 hour, 20 mins from Portland.
Suggested Itinerary: Explore and eat in Cannon Beach, play on beaches south of town.
Alternate Itinerary: Cannon Beach and Seaside are only six miles apart.

This charmer of a town is home to some of the finest restaurants on the coast, plenty of galleries, frighteningly beautiful hotels and many artists on the coast - it’s also purported a few national rock stars have cabins nearby as well. This artiness shows, partially in the city council’s rule that most buildings be dressed up in cedar shingles, giving the whole town a sense of the rustic yet refined.

This inventiveness is also apparent in the abundance of quaint businesses around town, from whimsical shops selling kites, clothes and gifts, to its galleries, fine cuisine in a variety of price ranges and the many flower pots hanging everywhere. Some of the restaurants and bars even have outdoor seating – a daring, if not very urban-thinking move on the coast.

Sure, it’s touristy in some ways and certainly packed with tourists most of the time. But there’s a coziness and beauty to this place that’s hard to resist.

The beaches are a nonstop pristine wonder, capped by the third tallest rocky monolith in the world, the ever-looming Haystack Rock.

There’s Ecola State Park at the north end of town, where stunning vistas abound. Next to the park, Tillamook Head is the vast, rugged headland that separates Seaside from Cannon Beach, including a six-mile-long hike either way. But en route, you’ll find incredible views of the ocean and Tillamook Head Lighthouse, remnants of an old army bunker and some spots that made history because of Lewis and Clark.

South of town, there’s Arcadia Beach with its tide pools, sand and rock structures. At Hug Point, a waterfall, several sea caves and a raised, grotto-like tide pool within another cave are all just a precursor to one of the coast’s most fascinating spots.

There is a road carved out of the rocky headland here, which was created in the early part of the century to allow Model T's and horse-drawn carriages around the point at medium tides. Back at that time, there was no Highway 101 (it wasn’t built until the 30’s), and the beaches were Oregon’s coastal highways

A couple of miles south of Hug Point you’ll encounter the lovely little beach interlude known as Arch Cape. It’s a tiny community that consists of a few homes and one or two businesses right on 101. But mostly it’s a couple of beach accesses hidden behind some neighborhood streets.

Through the tunnel lie Oswald State park, bundles of astounding, jagged cliffs, and the charming burghs of Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler. For more on this area see the virtual tour.

Oregon Day Trips and Tours: Newport on the Coast About 70 miles from the central valley lies a wonderland of fun and beach

Lincoln City
Day Trip Time: Two hours from Portland; 1 hour, 15 mins from Salem; 1 hour 45 mins from Corvallis
Suggested Itinerary: Explore, shop and eat in Lincoln city, play on beaches in town.
Alternate Itinerary: Explore and play in Depoe Bay just 20 mins south, and/or Neskowin, just 20 mins north.

Lincoln City is one elongated, thin town, stretched out over many miles, hugging the coastline and containing names like Taft, Devil's Lake and Nelscott. This is because it's now made up of what were once a host of separate communities, finally coming together under the name of Lincoln City in 1964.

The Siletz Bay (at Taft) caps the southern end of Lincoln City while Cascade Head caps the northern end. In between, near the vegetation line, usually sits an abundance of driftwood. Because of this, the beaches of Lincoln City have always been popular with folks who like to build some sort of wind-shielding structure or with those with a hankering to start a bonfire.

Cruising down 101 you'll find an endless array of restaurants, from fast food to some of the finest cuisine on the Oregon coast.

Road’s End State Recreational State, at the north end of town, is where the real surprises often lie. Land's End Road will lead you to Land's End State Park, and from there you can continue north through a neighborhood of cabins and expensive homes until you come to the last public beach access. This spot allows for perhaps two cars to park there and is approximately half a mile from the looming cliff.

To find the Devils Lake State Recreational Area, head east at the traffic light of NE 6th St. to reach this favorite camping, fishing and boating spot. There are 55 tent sites, 10 yurt spots, paved parking and a load of other amenities in the campground.

Not far away, the D River State Recreation Site is a big parking lot with all the facilities, viewing platforms and a sometimes-wild surf greet you here. In between, there’s tons of sand and a creek for recreation. Sometimes, the city places volleyball nets on the sand here.

In the middle of town, the 15th Street ramp allows motorists to park on a small stretch of beach.

At the southern end, Siletz Bay is filled with a variety of wonders, including loads of barking sea lions resting on a spit across the bay.

South of town, there are numerous beach spots to explore, like the slightly hidden spots of Gleneden Beach or Lincoln Beach. Fogarty Beach is a popular state park with a massive basalt blob at the tide line, with some climbable areas here and there.

Depoe Bay sits south of here, with its many shops and eateries along 101. It’s also the only town on the coast with a spouting horn in its downtown. There are numerous hidden spots in the area as well, which are well worth spending the day exploring.

North of Lincoln City sits the exquisite and ethereal village of Neskowin, which is legendary for its serenity and astonishing unspoiled beauty. For more on this area, see the virtual tour.

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OREGON COAST VIRTUAL TOURS Explore Every Beach Spot Astoria Where the Columbia meets the Pacific, Land of Lewis & Clark and loads of atmosphere & history Seaside The Promenade, Tillamook Head, family fun & broad, sandy beaches Cannon Beach A mysterious lighthouse, upscale yet earthy, a huge monolith, fine eateries & an art mecca Nehalem Bay Manzanita's beaches, Nehalem and Wheeler's quirky beauty; laid back Rockaway Tillamook Bay Garibaldi, Barview, Bay City, Tillamook & an oceanfront ghost town Three Cape Loop The hidden secret of the coast: Cape Meares, a lighthouse, Oceanside, Netarts and Pacific City Lincoln City & the Corridor of Mystery Miles & miles of unbroken beaches, Cascade Head, Neskowin and manmade attractions Depoe Bay A spouting horn downtown, freaky hidden cliffs and whales, whales, whales Newport Time-tripping Nye Beach, a bustling bayfront, marine science-central and two lighthouses Waldport / Seal Rock Pristine, even secretive sands and wild geologic landmarks Yachats Constantly dramatic wave action, a mix of the rugged & upscale Upper Lane County 25 miles of deserted beaches & oodles of wonders Florence A lighthouse, ancient bayfront and miles and miles of fluffy dunes

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