Where do you like to go for day trips to the coast? (Vancouver: houses)

[MtnSurfer]

I know the maps show Cannon Beach as the closest. And we've visited there before. We've driven the entire Oregon coast. But I'm just curious where most Vancouver beach goers like to go?

For example, does anyone head to WA beaches even if a little further like that Long Beach area? Or do you like to drive a bit further south into Oregon down to Manzanita or Pacific City?

Thanks,

Derek

[Jane917]

Astoria, Long Beach Peninsula for a day trip. For a few days we drive down to Depoe Bay Area, Manzanita area.

[texasdiver]

We like the Tillamook Coast which is where 101 veers inland and the road along the coast is a much smaller 2-lane winding state highway 131 which is like CA-1 in Northern CA.

Drive to Tillamook which is about the same distance from Vancouver as Cannon Beach. There is a fork in the road a few miles west of Hilsboro where you take the north fork to Cannon Beach or the south fork to Tillamook. Avoid the Tillamook Cheese Factory but if you want cheese, stop at the Blue Heron Cheese Factory next door that does blue cheeses and has good lunches.

Continue through Tillamook to the little town of Netarts. From there you can turn north and visit Oceanside which is our favorite spot to get an AirB&B. Quaint little beach town with houses climbing the hillside so great place for views. There is public parking and public access beach right in Oceanside. You can cross through a tunnel through the headland to a smaller rockier beach just north that is the best place I know of on the north coast for tide pools on low and minus tides. There is a big sea lion rookery on the rocks just offshore if you bring binoculars. There is a resident (non-migratory) pod of humpback whales that frequents the coast between Pacific City and Oceanside that you can sometimes see feeding offshore around here.

After Oceanside a couple miles north is Cape Mears Lighthouse which is a state park and worth a visit. I think maybe the oldest lighthouse on the coast, or one of them. The road used to continue north but has been closed due to slides the past few years and I'm not sure they will reopen it ever so you need to turn around and head back south.

Just past Netarts is Netarts Bay where you can usually see lots of seals lazying about the bay. And along the bay is the Nevor Shellfish Farm where you can buy fresh oysters that they cultivate in the bay. If you bring a portable grill along you can roast oysters on the beach.

Past Netarts Bay is Cape Lookout State Park which has a long beautiful beach along the spit that forms the outer boundary of Netarts Bay. And then as you continue south you climb high up onto the headland to Cape Lookout where you have views to the south to Pacific City and beyond.

A few miles past Cape Lookout you eventually get to Pacific City which is a more touristy beach town but more of a California style beach town than upscale shopping place like Cannon Beach. Pacific City has a fabulous sand dune on the north end of the beach that the kids love to climb and slide down. You can bring snow saucers or just a sheet of cardboard. Pacific City is one of the only beaches you can actually drive your car onto but I wouldn't recommend it unless you have 4x4 and keep a close eye on the tide. I have seen cars get stuck and get flooded by the incoming tide. That will ruin your trip. There is a small commercial dory fleet that fishes out of Pacific City. The fishermen just drive their trucks onto the beach and launch their dorys into the surf. Pacific City has a big brewery on the beach, Pelican Brewery where you can get overpriced beer and seafood and is usually overcrowded. They have another brewery in Lincoln City which is less mobbed.

From Pacific City you can take Highway 22 back to Salem and then up I-4 or backtrack on 101 to Tillamook and return via Highway 6. It's about the same distance. Google will tell you the fastest way home.

That is basically what we do when we go to the coast. Not all of that in one day, but we usually end up somewhere along there. If you want shops and restaurants you are better off heading to Cannon Beach or Newport as there aren't as many options on this section. But if you are bringing your own picnic to eat on the beach this section of the coast provides endless opportunities and various quaint tiny towns that barely have a small general store or restaurant. I think there are two small general stores/groceries in Netarts and two cafes in Oceanside that are sometimes not open. Maybe a seafood restaurant on the beach in Netarts. And that's about it until you get to Pacific City.

[StealthRabbit]

Kids preferred Oswald West SP (7 mile south of Cannon Beach), nice cove with OK surfing / boarding.

We (adults / not in the water much)
Hug Point (5 mi south of Cannon Beach) for great pics and waterfall / caves / stagecoach route (Geology / soil colors and configuration is very interesting)

https://www.google.com/search?q=hug+...zPAmwQ_AUIESgC

Halibut a Chips and Clam Chowder at Sea Breeze (26 and hwy 1)

[silibran]

We’ve driven the OR Coast. We’ve been various places, but we always go back to Cannon Beach. I also love Newport. I’m so so about Lincoln City. Not in love with Seaside, but do get why kids would enjoy it.

For a long, sandy beach in a real beach town, have a look at Manzanita.

At Cannon Beach you have the public beach, which we enter on the south side near the glass blowing shop (worth a visit). But you also have the secluded beach at Ecola State Park. We usually visit both when we stay at Cannon Beach.

PM me for accommodations rec. It has taken us years to find a great place, near to beach and in walking distance to town.

[TheOrca]

Long Beach and Nehalem Bay are nice

[MtnSurfer]

Thanks all, these are all great options for future adventures to the coast. There is so much to see and do within one to two hours hours its really an amazing place to live for outdoor activities.

Derek

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Thanks all, these are all great options for future adventures to the coast. There is so much to see and do within one to two hours hours its really an amazing place to live for outdoor activities.

Derek

Summer is coming! (July 5th +)
We often head out at noon and back at midnight (while employed).

Many days it is foggy in AM, but afternoons are clear and cool on the water. Sometimes... coast is 'socked in all day' but sunny 1 mile inland,

Don't miss Hug Point for those sunset colors on the interesting 'swirly' rock walls. Do hit low tide, so you can walk around the 'point' and all the way back north to Cannon Beach (Kids will enjoy this, one of you can drive back and meet everyone).

There is quite a 'sea colony' on the blasted road around the point.

Also good tide pools south of Depot Bay (Pirates Cove) and in the city of Yachats.

Cobalt shore is interesting near Newport (Cape Yaquina) as is Hatfield Ocean Science center (Great place of a rainy day). We used that for 1 week homeschool workshops.

Nearby Beaches - Pacific City for in the surf.

Lincoln City area is good too (Slightly farther)

I like a very small town near Cape Mears (agate beach?) Nice driftwood and stones.

Twin Rocks has Driftwood and next door Rockaway Beach is sand
One of our BEST stays was at Camp MacGruder (A group of us rented a lodge), very nice location and setting.
Twin Rocks Friends Camp has private cabins on the beach (available for private use off season)

[notnamed]

We like to hit Sunset beach when the more popular beaches are swamped. Just a simple state park beach without a bunch of touristy stuff built up around it. Never have a problem finding a big stretch to ourselves even on a 3 day weekend in summer.