Spring Break 2025 on Oregon's North Coast: Winding, Twisting Roads to Different Experiences

Published 03/21/25 at 6:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Seaside, Oregon) – The northern third of Oregon's coastline gets intricate and quite singular from locale to locale, creating a new experience as you wander Clatsop and Tillamook counties. Encompassing Astoria, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside and Pacific City, it's also home to the generations-long king of spring breaks: Seaside. The latter is a family tradition going back 100 years now. (Above: Indian Beach / Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

So it's no surprise that spring break 2025 is again one varied wonder after another, from the downright rugged to small town sleepy; or from bursting with energy to seriously off-the-beaten-track. Here's a few tips for Oregon's north coast this vacation break.

Seaside Aquarium. The family standby since the 1930s, this one is the only spot on this coastline to let you feed those ruckus, nutty seals. They do wacky little tricks for their treats, knowing well what cajoles people into fits of “awwww” and then tossing them a morsel of fish. Each one has its separate personality and does different stunts to beg.

Even more remarkably, these watery beasties know when they're full and just don't care about food.

Octopus hides inside a shell / Seaside Aquarium

A wide array of other tanks fill the aquarium, boasting different critters at different parts of the year. You'll always find crustaceans and sea stars of some sort, but they shift with the season. It's never exactly the same encounter with the same ones each time you visit. There's even touch tanks where you can pet some of the creatures.

And then there's that cool octopus, wandering a large pool and showing off in different ways. 200 North Prom, Seaside, Oregon. (503) 738-6211.
Hotels in Seaside - Where to eat - Seaside Maps and Virtual Tours

Wilds of Manzanita

At the upper edges of Oregon's Tillamook Coast, Manzanita is a unique one: at once rough yet civilized and cool – a kind of rustic hipness. Shops and architecture are quirky yet functional in a beach environment, and the upscale slant of some of the eateries and spirits purveyors have a prominent laidback vibe.

Grab some fancy grub along Laneda Ave. or the simple pleasures of a hot dog and ice cream.

Just steps away from all that is the raging tides and soaring Neahkahnie Mountain. The sands span a few miles to the south ending at the Nehalem Bay Spit and the river's churning mouth, and if you choose to get away from all of it that's a short drive to one of the hiking trails that take you to the spit's edge.

In the midst of this wide array, there's still a small town, Americana vibe that's timeless.

For an even more rugged approach, wear the kids out by hiking up to the top Neahakhnie and check out views from 1600 feet above. Hotels in Manzanita, Wheeler - Where to eat - Manzanita, Wheeler Maps and Virtual Tours

Neskowin

Neskowin sits right about that border between north and central coast - an increasingly popular resort spot, with a cozy, hidden quality and a definite air of the upscale. An interesting mixture of coarse and fine sands line the area, and Neskowin's miles of beach has a peaceful and introspective feel that's really pretty distinctive along these shores.

Yet there's a twist: there's the looming presence of Proposal Rock and Cascade Head, which were once part of one gigantic underwater volcano. It goes back nearly 35 million years.

On top of Proposal Rock, more surprises lurk. At lower tides, you can hop up onto the top of the big blob at the tide line and do some exploring. There's a small path up top which wanders through the brush. Don't be surprised to see a bald eagle now and then on the treetops as well. Watch the tide carefully here, however. You don't want to get stuck. Hotels in Lincoln City, Neskowin - Where to eat - Neskowin Maps and Virtual Tours

Cape Lookout and the Three Capes

Cape Meares, Cape Kiwanda and Cape Lookout comprise the famed Three Capes Loop – about 25 miles of exceptional views in between that trio. Then, Cape Lookout itself has three different hiking trails, an enormous headland with endless vistas. However, the main route - which winds around some five miles - is legendary for its views. Along the way, you'll encounter a memorial to the World War II aircraft that crashed here in the '40s. Hotels in Three Capes - Where to eat - Three Capes Maps and Virtual Tours

Cannon Beach's Indian Beach and Forest Reserve

Ecola State Park is one sprawling mother of all state parks, yet there's a kind of sequel to it lying a mile or two away. Ecola Creek Forest Reserve sits on the other side of the highway and just south – and it's something different should you want to head to new territory. There are about three miles of trail here.

“While most visitors flock to Ecola State Park, this lesser-known nature reserve offers a tranquil escape into lush old-growth forest, with winding trails leading to scenic overlooks and chances to spot elk, bald eagles, and other wildlife,” said Travel Oregon.

For a true beach experience in Ecola State Park, head to Indian Beach at its northern edges. You'll find a crescent-shaped beach filled with cobblestones, where a there's a lovely view of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse and where numerous rocky shapes stand and get slammed by large waves. At the cove's southernmost end, you can amble over some large boulders and reach more rock slabs to sit on, perfect for watching the water rage against other wedges that dare stand against it. Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours

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