 ANDREW ERNST / NWSOURCE
Campfire at Cannon Beach with Haystack Rock in the background. |
Aug. 25, 2004 Oregon Coast guide
The Oregon Coast includes 362 miles of rainforest, sand dunes, basalt headlands and tidal pools. It has all the ingredients for your perfect getaway: beachcombing, storm-watching,
whale-watching or simply cozying up in a bed and breakfast.
Astoria Astoria's pioneer past is preserved in museums, historical exhibits and pastel-colored Victorian homes, but a gritty maritime flavor dominates the local scene. Bandon Bandon-by-the-Sea is characterized by the style and grace of an earlier era, with a picturesque collection of shops, galleries, restaurants and historical memorabilia. Brookings This south coast "banana belt" town has warm enough winters that more than 50 species of flowering plants thrive, along with retirees, sportsmen and beachcombers. Cannon Beach The broad stretch of beach highlighted by the impressive promontory Haystack Rock provides a contemplative experience. You'll also find the finest gallery-hopping, crafts and shopping on the coast. Florence Located between the Oregon Dunes and some of the most beautiful headlands on US 101, Florence appeals to retirees and vacationers alike with its mild climate and award-winning Sandpines Golf Course nearby. Lincoln City The broad, sandy beach features superlative wildlife-viewing near Siletz Bay, and Devil's Lake State Park is a gem without equal among coastal freshwater playgrounds. Add prime kite-flying and great restaurants, and you've got the most-visited town on the coast. Newport Shops, galleries and restaurants along Newport's historic bayfront, together with the Performing Arts Center and quieter charm of Nye Beach, keep up a tourism tradition that goes back to when this town was the "honeymoon capital of Oregon." Oregon Dunes It's not every day you can see mountains of shifting sand that have swallowed a giant conifer forest. The largest and most extensive oceanfront dunes in the world are found in this national recreation area. Seaside Seaside is the quintessential family beach resort. The beach is long and flat, protected from ocean tides by scenic headlands. In addition, Seaside has the only West Coast boardwalk north of Santa Cruz, Cali. Three Capes Loop A 35-mile byway off US 101 takes you to the wave-battered bluffs of Cape Kiwanda, the precipitous overlooks along the Cape Lookout Highway and the bizarre octopus tree at Cape Meares. Tillamook Cheese is a big attraction here, and those tasty morsels of jack and cheddar provide the perfect complement to the surrounding region's scenic beauty. Yachats This resort town of 600 people sits in the shadow of Cape Perpetua. In this part of the coast, state parks and viewpoints abound with attractions. |
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