Best places on the coast

[LetsgoShane]

My Parents retired to Newport about 8yrs ago and absolutely LOVE IT. Of course they're hating how quickly they're seeing it grow though in only the short time they've been there. I hate to think of what may become of it in another 10yrs. Not all the growth is bad. Some is quite good and adds value to the community which is yin-yang because the locals don't like how much their property taxes are increasing each year. They're actually looking now to relocate (hopefully for the last time) about 15miles south to Waldport. That seems to be a good town, and not quite as built-up yet.

[DianaJ]

Thank you all for the info and advice!

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by LetsgoShane

My Parents retired to Newport about 8yrs ago and absolutely LOVE IT. Of course they're hating how quickly they're seeing it grow though in only the short time they've been there. I hate to think of what may become of it in another 10yrs. Not all the growth is bad. Some is quite good and adds value to the community which is yin-yang because the locals don't like how much their property taxes are increasing each year. They're actually looking now to relocate (hopefully for the last time) about 15miles south to Waldport. That seems to be a good town, and not quite as built-up yet.

The only way their property taxes could be increasing is if they passed bond measures for infrastructure construction. Other than that, their property tax increases are limited to 3% a year, which is less than the inflation rate, and totally unaffected by any development.

[RiWrites]

I have heard about Newport but people told me it was expensive to live there.
Another poster mentioned Waldport. What is that city like? I am making a list of places to move too and have been checking out the Oregon coast. Is Waldport another expensive area? Can you find jobs and apartments there?

[turnerfamily]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

The only way their property taxes could be increasing is if they passed bond measures for infrastructure construction. Other than that, their property tax increases are limited to 3% a year, which is less than the inflation rate, and totally unaffected by any development.

That might be good in theroy but in Bandon(where I used to live)you couldn't touch a piece of property close to the Bandon Dunes golf course now or in that town for that matter.Ever since they bought up all the property to build the courses around there ,the properties values have skyrocketed in that town.I'm not sure of a 3% limit but believe me the taxes will catch up with the values eventually.Not good if your retired on a fixed income.

[Sweet40]

You have to love the wet and gray...no really. It is cool, avg. year round degree is about 50. The sun is out for about a week in February and then off and on over the summer, Mid-July until Mid-September. The wind is usually blowing. It can be a lovely place. I love it, but I do hear the "it is cold, when does the sun come out, and is it always this gray" quite a bit. Homes are expensive and the growth has been pretty steady. The towns are pretty closed down by 9 pm in most parts of the Oregon Coast. Employment is tourist based for most of us...and during most of the year. I do not think there is one part of our coast that is ugly or undesirable...that is all up to the individual. Good Luck on your venture...

[haggardhouseelf]

Originally Posted by DianaJ

Thank you all for the replies! We love the ocean and we love the trees!! If a person had a choice, would you choose flying into Portland and head over to Cannon Beach and go from there down the coast? Or fly into Medford and drive to the coast? We love really scenic drives! I'm a picture fanatic especially with trees. Why I mentioned flying into Medford is that we're hoping to relocate there. I'm just so overwhelmed right now with planning this trip. We only have about 5 days to spend. Is May or June better to visit?

Hi Diana!

We live in Washington state now but we lived in and LOVED Oregon for three years and hope to get back ASAP!

If you love scenic drives, and you want to spend as much time as possible near the ocean and trees... I would recommend flying into Portland, and then driving to Astoria and beginning your drive down the coast from there.

All along the coast you can rent deluxe cabins and yurts which have showers and kitchens in them - they go for around $50/night I think... you can read more about them here: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department: State Parks CAMPING LITE Not all coastal campsites have deluxe yurts, but even the basic yurt campsites and cabin campsites have access to showers and are never too far from a place to eat. You just need to bring your own bedding, change of clothes, water... my husband and I have stayed in lots of the yurts with our two children and have always been very comfortable. They are very clean and warm. We even stayed in one during a freak and horrible ice storm with 110 mph wind gusts this past spring! It was noisy, because of the freezing rain, hail, and extreme winds, but other than that we were fine!

Anyway - I would recommend driving down hwy 101 from Astoria... stopping to gawk at everything as you head down to your next campsite for the night. There are wonderful stretches of coastline... some sandy beaches... some rocky cliffs... some rolling dunes... it's amazing!!! You will see places where you can pull over and park and walk out onto the beach or take a little hiking trail down to the beach.

**Wear layers (a water/weatherproof outer shell preferably with a hood, a warm fleece layer, a long sleeved cotton t-shirt, a lighter t-shirt or tank top) and very sturdy shoes (I wear bog boots whenever we go to the coast) as the weather and conditions can change rapidly even during the summer**

I would recommend June, really, just because it's generally when the weather begins to stay nicer... also, if you are from a hot climate, the Oregon coast in June is a great COOL way to spend a summer day - or days! May would be great, too, though... though sometimes in May you will still have a grey rainy day or two...

Our favorite places are Astoria, Yachats, Strawberry Hill, Sunset Beach, Bandon... the whole coast is great, really... especially during the Summer when everything opens up and the places come alive.

Once you hit Bandon - I HIGHLY recommend you drive east over to Crater Lake. It is the second purest lake in the world and is incredible to see with your own eyes!! There will probably still be snow on the ground in June! There always was in August when we went there. Crater Lake National Park (U.S. National Park Service) You really can't go to Oregon without seeing Crater Lake IMO. It's rare, magic, amazing.

To get home... you can drive from Crater Lake to Eugene. Grab a bite to eat in Eugene at Cafe Yumm!, Pizza Research Institute, or one of the other awesome places in Eugene to eat. SO many good places to eat there! Then, fly from Eugene to Portland, then to where ever your adventures are leading you next. Do this flight during the day - seeing the Willamette Valley, the Cascades, and so on from the plane is awesome! It would be a great way to put closure on your trip.

Good luck with everything!

OH - and I almost forgot - be ready to have other people pump your gas. It's illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon!

[bobmulk]

My God, where do I start?

Astoria is up-and-coming. Downtown is being revitalized and so is the waterfront. The bridge is breathtaking.

Cannon Beach has always been my favorite. The village is too charming for words and it has great restaurants.

Manzanita is a wonderful getaway and not as crowded with tourists as Cannon. A wonderful little town.

Neskowin is very quaint and very quiet and secluded. I would love to retire there.

Newport has a FANTASTIC waterfront with restaurants and fisherman still cleaning and emptying their catch right there!

Florence has the most charming little downtown with several restaurants and shopss and you can see the Siuslaw bridge. Plus, the dunes are right there.

Bandon also has a great little downtown. Mind you all these towns are quite small so the historical downtown areas aren't big. But that allows you to meander around and take your time.

The coast in Curry County is breathtaking to me. I guess because I rarely see it living in Salem. Every time I go down there I'm just spellbound.

Remember to gorge on seafood because it's going to be good and fresh. You'll find independent bookstores, antique shops, art galleries ad nauseam all along the coast.

As for how to get there...I think the post about flying into Eugene is probably the best. The trip from Portland to Astoria is interminable. Better to take the 26 to Cannon Beach. Yet, as I said, I think Eugene is your best bet.

Don't try to do everything in only five days. It's impossible. I've lived here most of my life and there's still TONS I haven't seen or done. I would pick a couple of communities and their sites and focus on that.

Also, I'm not sure why one post was talking about a big storm we had FORTY-FIVE years ago along with infrequent earthquakes. I guess some people are so miserable they have to always focus on the bad.



Enjoy!!!!!

[tiffela74]

ahhhhhh...Bobmulk, you skipped right over me here in Coos Bay! Yipes! lol, no, actually, i will FULLY admit that 101running through Coos Bay/North Bend is NOT exactly scenic. When we first moved here, my first sights of the town here, i was just dismayed! BUT.....when you come into town, hang a right up Newmark off 101, go up a couple miles, eventually, the road will turn to the left and be Cape Arago...follow it up a few miles, you'll hit some terrific view points, including one with a HUGE mass of sea lions that you can hear the min.you stop your car. They usually have some people there to point out different sea life. Last time we were there they had several teeny little baby seals...so DANG CUTE! Theres also Sunset Bay where you can get out and enjoy a sheltered beach. Then, travel up a bit more, and you'll come to Shore Acres state park. Incredibly beautiful! Theres a walkway along the cliffs, and when the tide is in, the waves can crash so high you get sprayed. I never get tired of that view! You can then go into the gardens, stunning when in bloom....theres the rose gardens, and the Japanese garden w/the path walk around the pond. Cute little giftshop and infor center. One used to be the original gardeners house, and you can rent it out. A short hike down will take you to one of the best beach coves on the entire coastline IMO. The sand isnt so fine, its made up of verrry teeeny little crushed shells that wipe off very easily! I love it! Back to your car, and the last viewpoint area on this road. Take in the view at the top, then take a short walk down the path to the right of the viewpoint. You then get to see more seal/sea lion habitats and they are within a stones throw. Very very cool.
Anyhow, if youve got a couple hours, that stretch is mighty pretty!
If you like fresh crab, stop in at Charleston. Go down to dock D, to fishermans warf and order up some fresh cleaned/cooked crab. You can eat it there on the docks, watching the boats come and go, the fishermen cleaning up their catches and the seals feasting on what they toss down to them. doesnt get much better than that!

one of my personal fav. places along the entire Oregon Coastline would be at Devils Churn. Just south of Yachats. especially during high tide.

btw, Cannon Beach is where my husband and I honeymooned. We also spent our birthdays there for a few years before we ended up w/3 kids. In fact, our son is due to one birthday weekend there! lol If i had the $$$, I would adore to retire there!

theres so much to see and do.......too bad you dont have about a month to take more in!
Have a wonderful time and please do write about what you see/do/think of it all when you return!
Tiffany