beach town recommendations (Portland, Astoria, Newport: rent, amusement parks, casino)

[heatherinaustin]

Any recommendations on what coastal towns/beaches to visit? We'll start small with little day trips or one night overnights. I have three kids (5,7,18) so family friendly a plus. My kids' only exposure to the beach has been crappy Texas Gulf of Mexico (brown water, dead jellyfish everywhere)! When we visited in March, my husband and I went to Cannon Beach so we know we'll definitely go back there but were wondering about all the other great places on the coast.

We leave here in 12 days......yay!

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by heatherinaustin

Any recommendations on what coastal towns/beaches to visit? We'll start small with little day trips or one night overnights. I have three kids (5,7,18) so family friendly a plus. My kids' only exposure to the beach has been crappy Texas Gulf of Mexico (brown water, dead jellyfish everywhere)! When we visited in March, my husband and I went to Cannon Beach so we know we'll definitely go back there but were wondering about all the other great places on the coast.

We leave here in 12 days......yay!

My wife said Seaside was always her fave growing up, followed by Newport. I haven't been to Seaside, but Newport is definitely pretty cool.

I've heard there are some nice sand dunes down by Florence (you can even rent dune buggies for them). Never been much past Newport, though.

Lincoln City is kinda bleh IMO.

There are a few good mid-coast areas w/tidal pools. Always fun for the kids.

[Smiled]

"family-friendly?"

Not sure I understand that concept.

[Daisy32673]

what do you mean by family friendly? The only thing I would be concerned with is going during nice weather

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Daisy32673

what do you mean by family friendly? The only thing I would be concerned with is going during nice weather

I wondered that too. Does the OP mean restaraunts or amusement parks or what? The Coast has a lot of tourist attractions. You can usually find something for everyone but I don't know if there are any places that cater specifically to kids though

[heatherinaustin]

Please scratch "family friendly". I realize that all tourist towns cater to kids. I just wanted suggestions or recommendations on the beach towns since I am unfamiliar with all of them.

[Daisy32673]

well Newport has the Aquarium, the Yaquina Lighthouse and Devils Punch Bowl Park. Cannon Beach has Haystack Rock. Lincoln City has the outlet mall and Chinook Winds Casino. Seaside has the small aquarium and the promenade with the little arcade area. You can find tide pools at any of these beaches as well. What does your family like to do at the beach? The Oregon coast is cold most of the year and so is the water. There are some days in the summer where you do see people "laying out" on the beach but for the most part people are walking the beach, checking out the scenery and tidepools with their raincoat handy. You see more cars parked at the beach watching the surf sometimes then actual people on the beach. It depends on what activities you like to do because the weather is so spotty. You could have a great sunny weekend or be shopping the outlet mall and hiding indoors the whole time.

[Hans64]

Here is my snapshot view of North Coast towns (I'm not very familiar with the Central or South coast):


Astoria: historical, very old town now getting artsy and interesting to tourists. definitely on the upswing. technically a Columbia river location but near the beach.
Seaside: a lot of attractions but frankly a little honky-tonk for me (arcades, etc.)
Gearhart: tasteful, Portland "old money" place. peaceful but not much in the way of family fun other than the beach itself.
Cannon: tourists galore, lots to see and a nice beach but it is seriously crowded and priced to match.
Manzanita: nicer than Cannon in my opinion, enormous beach and pleasant town, much quieter but getting closer to Cannon every year. good proximity to Oswald West State Park (fantastic Short Sands beach).
Oceanside: exclusive and at the same time rustic, residents are anti-development and it shows. aesthetically probably the most pleasing town on the north or central coast.
Netarts: working class sister to Oceanside, good clamming and crabbing on the bay. Both Netarts and Oceanside offer good proximity to Cape Lookout State Park and are on the Three Capes Loop away from the business of Hwy 101.
Pacific City: mix of tourist town and working class residents. famous dory fleet boats. good surfing. pleasant, beachy town.
Neskowin: see Oceanside description.

[EnricoV]

I have to admit to a north beach bias, but where the places our kids have most enjoyed through the years are:

Seaside for the carnival/arcade type atmosphere; the arcade; the shopping. Good tidepooling/hiking at the southern cove.
Astoria for the history, Fort Clatsop, Astoria Column, Goonies locales. Nearby, at Warrenton is Fort Stevens with the wreck of the Peter Iredale and the military fort (the only US mainland site to be fired upon during WWII!)
Tillamook for the cheese factory and the blimp hangar.

[friggsdottir]

Along the same lines, I wanted to take my children to the beach one day this summer, followed by a nice, laid-back seafood meal. Are there any restaurants in any of the aforementioned beaches where you can sit on the deck and have a view of the water while eating a great seafood meal? Kind of "Joe's Crab Shack" style (I noticed they have no locations in OR) ?