The Oregon Coast is by far one of my favorite places on earth. The rugged coastline, the sunsets… the whole vibe just calms me down. I love that it’s only an hour and 20 minutes from my house which makes day trips possible. Today I’m sharing eight destinations along the coast that are worth a visit. Some I’ve been to, and some I plan on visiting soon.
Oceanside, OR
This is our go-to spot at the coast. It’s easy to get to, and there is a massive wall on the north end of the beach that blocks the wind. The town is small and there is usually no service (which I love). I’ve actually met several Portlanders who have vacationed here or know people who own homes at this beach. It’s so secluded and yet easy to get to.
Short Sand Beach
This beach is cool and full of good vibes and easy times. There are tons of surfers and one of my favorite Oregon hikes is here (Cape Falcon Lookout). The beach is about a .5 mile walk from the parking lot. Which makes it feel secluded. A favorite day for me is hiking out to the lookout and then eating lunch on the beach watching the surfers.
Photo above is from here.
Pacific City Beach
In 2020 we did a quick getaway Headlands Lodge without kids. It was so serene and relaxing and fun to sit out on our balcony watching all the activity on the beach. It’s definitely a more crowded area, so it was nice to be staying at the lodge where we could be more secluded and watch everything from above. Cape Kiwanda is in Pacific City which has a hike out to a lookout as well as a massive sand dune.
Neskowin Beach
Neskowin is a sleepy little town that’s a two hour drive from Portland. In the fall of 2020 we rented the cutest Airbnb that was right on the beach. The beach was so beautiful and also home to the “Ghost Forest” as explained here. My dream home is also in this town. This house makes me want to sell everything I own and move to the coast. Maybe one day!
Hug Point
This is definitely the next place we are going when we head back to the coast this summer. It’s a quick and easy hike and the caves look so cool. I’ve heard people have weddings here which is epic. It’s important to know about the tide schedule when exploring this area though. Find the tide schedule here.
Photo above from here.
Thor’s Well
This is definitely a bit of a drive from Portland. It’s essentially a sinkhole that some describe as draining the ocean. This whole lookout seems very epic and like it’d be so much fun to explore for a day.
Photo above from here.
Natural Bridges Cove
This hike and lookout is also quite a bit of a drive from Portland, and would probably be something I add onto a highway 101 roadtrip (something I’m dying to do when our children are a bit older). These natural bridges look unbelievable. This is quite possibly the most beautiful place along the Oregon Coast. So stunning and something I can’t wait to see for myself one day.
Photo above from here.
Newport, OR
I’m thinking our next coastal vacation will be here. I always hear of families spending a week here in the summer. I know that you can even go whale watching! I love the massive bridge the town has, too.
Photo above from here.
