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Beaches, hiking, lighthouses, crabbing and… ice cream!
Visiting Washingtonians have former Oregon Governor Tom McCall to thank for the beautiful, accessible ocean beaches in our neighboring state to the south. In 1967 he encouraged the legislature to pass a landmark bill giving public ownership to all 360-plus miles of Oregon’s coastline. Not only are these beaches gorgeous and open to the public, but they’re also well-maintained and pristine.
My 10-year-old granddaughter, Kita, and I explored a small portion of the Oregon seashore known as the Tillamook Coast. In five hours by car from Seattle, this getaway destination delivers in any season.
Experience hiking, visit lighthouses, try crabbing, fly a kite, play on the beach and more in this family-friendly paradise. And on top of all that, gobble up Tillamook ice cream and cheese? Oh, yes. It’s showcased in a recently renovated and interactive visitor center.
One note: Attractions and restaurants in small towns sometimes have variable and seasonal hours. We recommend confirming ahead that your desired destination is open when you want to go.
Now, let’s get started on how to make the most of a visit to Oregon’s fantastic Tillamook Coast.
First stop: Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach
The magnetic attraction of this 7-mile-long beach and the adjacent town drew us back several times, even one last stop before we headed home. We threw off our shoes and wiggled our toes in the soft sand. We searched for shells, oddly-shaped rocks and marine critters in the tidepools. Kite-flying is ideal here though we somehow had trouble getting ours going.
We had better luck crabbing at Kelly’s Brighton Marina. As complete novices, we were a bit hesitant about tackling this sport. No need, because we were given explicit instructions upon check-in. Armed with a bucket, a measuring device (so we kept only legal-sized, male crabs) and a crab trap baited with rockfish pieces, we headed to the dock. We hit the Dungeness jackpot on our second try, a crab big enough to keep and eat. The staff cleaned and cooked it and we enjoyed the tastiest, freshest shellfish ever.
All aboard! Visitors can ride an actual steam train from Rockaway Beach to Garibaldi and back again. Run almost entirely by skilled volunteers, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad runs daily in the summer (through September) and offers special excursions at other times of the year.
Roam the souvenir and kite shops along Highway 101 and you’re likely to encounter the International Police Museum with exhibits paying homage to Oregon police. Visit the red caboose in the middle of town for insider information from a knowledgeable local.
Where to stay: Surfside Oceanfront Resort or Silver Sands Motel.
Where to eat: Offshore Grill, Sand Dollar.
More ideas: Visit Rockaway Beach.
Next stop: Bay City
Bay City
This coastal town appears mostly residential from the exterior, but it has some true hidden treasures that traveling families won’t want to miss. Try a new trend in vacation athleticism by renting recumbent bikes you pedal on train tracks. Twins Ranch Rail Riders offer a 12.6-mile tour that takes approximately two hours to pedal. Savor the sights, smells and sounds of the countryside from the vantage point of your rail bike.
Before diving into your day, rev your engines with a morning hike at the Kilchis River Reserve. You’ll encounter flora, wildlife, Native history and a pioneer settlement. Jerky lovers will want to examine the selections at Tillamook Country Smoker and might take home a two-foot-long pepperoni stick.
Where to stay: The Sheltered Nook (tiny homes completely furnished).
Where to eat: Fish Peddler.
More ideas: Visit Tillamook Coast.
Next stop: Tillamook
Tillamook
No trip to the Oregon Coast is complete without a look-see (and taste!) at the newer Tillamook Creamery, previously called the Tillamook Cheese Factory, and located in the city of Tillamook. After a several-million-dollar renovation, this popular tourist attraction reopened in the summer of 2018. Don’t worry, it still serves the smooth, creamy ice cream everyone loves. They’ve even added more queues, so you can get scoops of Marionberry Pie, Oregon Hazelnut Salted Caramel, Udderly Chocolate and French Vanilla with less of a wait.
Before her ice cream reward, my granddaughter practiced milking a cow, sought out the six peephole hiding views of Tilly the Cow and watched cheese being made from floor-to-ceiling windows. Sampling Tillamook’s famous cheeses at the end of the self-guided tour had us heading straight to the open-concept gift shop for some wedges to take home.
Museum aficionados, take note: Tillamook has several including the Tillamook Air Museum where blimps were built during World War II, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum where you’ll step back in time with Lewis and Clark and one of my personal favorites, the Tillamook Forest Center (temporarily closed, scheduled to reopen March 1, 2023). There, kids can try on fire gear, operate a firehose and climb the lookout tower outside.
The lovely Cape Meares Lighthouse, although inactive, is worth the drive.
Where to stay: Twins Ranch Covered Wagon Campground (between Bay City and Tillamook) or Ashley Inn.
Where to eat: Pacific Restaurant or Werner Beef & Brew.
More ideas: Visit Tillamook Coast.
Next stop: Manzanita and beyond
More amazing sights along the Tillamook Coast
From Manzanita south to Neskowin, you’ll find a variety of tours, attractions and activities that encompass some or all of the towns in between, and showcase the incredible landscape. Kayak Tillamook schedules tours all up and down the Tillamook Coast. These forays include 30 minutes of instruction, two hours of kayaking, a professional guide and all the gear you need.
Go for a horseback ride on the beach near Manzanita with Oregon Beach Rides and in Pacific City with Green Acres Beach & Trail Rides.
Spend two hours exploring the area with Oregon Coast Tours and see Three Capes, find the best places to view the sunset and delve into local history. Most tours start in Pacific City, but other pick-up spots can easily be arranged.
A new way to explore, the North Coast Food Trail, lets you take the reins and decide where to eat, shop farmers’ markets, take a cooking class and more.
More road-trip destinations for Seattle-area families:
Editor’s note: This article was first published before the pandemic and updated for 2022.
