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Oregon's northern coast stretches from the mouth of the Columbia River south to Florence. Here lie the state's biggest and most touristy beach towns – Seaside, Cannon Beach and Lincoln City – while Depoe Bay is great for whale-watching and Newport is famous for its excellent aquarium.
Because of its popularity, the northern coast tends to get clogged with weekend visitors from Portland and the Willamette Valley. Since US 101 is mostly a two-lane highway, traffic can slow to 20mph in sections – especially with the many RVs on the road. Expect to join the masses during summer months, when the beaches fill with crowds and lodging prices skyrocket.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Northern Oregon Coast.
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Located 3 miles south of Yachats, this volcanic remnant was sighted and named by England's Captain James Cook in 1778. Famous for dramatic rock formations and crashing surf, the area contains numerous trails that explore ancient shell middens, tide pools and old-growth forests. Views from the cape are incredible, taking in coastal promontories from Cape Foulweather to Cape Arago.
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Located just north of town, Ecola State Park offers seclusion, various hikes and great picnicking. Short paths at Ecola Point lead over the headland to dramatic views of Cannon Beach's sandy shore, sharply punctuated by stone monoliths and all hunkered beneath the Coast Range. It's rainforesty territory, and the trails are often slick, so bring shoes with some grip.
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Stretching a mile out to sea is the popular Yaquina Head, a grassy headland just north of Newport. Short trails lead to viewing areas for shorebirds, harbor seals and whales, and the tide pools are the best managed on the coast. Visit the excellent interpretive center to explore different marine environments and the history of the coast's lighthouses.
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The region's top attraction, this cutting-edge aquarium is especially fun if you have kids along. Marine celebrities include seals, sea otters and a giant octopus (or two), and there's an impressive deep-sea exhibit where you walk under Plexiglas tunnels and get an eyeful of sharks and rays swimming by. The jellyfish exhibit is a surreal experience, while the touch tank appeals to everyone. There's also a good cafe.
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Ten miles west of Astoria, this park holds the historic military installation that once guarded the mouth of the Columbia River. Near the Military Museum are gun batteries dug into sand dunes – interesting remnants of the fort's mostly demolished military stations (truck and walking tours available).
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Astoria's seafaring heritage is well interpreted at this wave-shaped museum. It's hard to miss the retired Coast Guard boat, frozen mid-rescue, through a huge outside window. Other exhibits highlight the salmon-packing industry and the Chinese immigrants who made up the bulk of its workforce; the river's commercial history; and the crucial job of the bar pilot.
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Fifteen miles south of Yachats is an enormous sea grotto that's home to hundreds of Steller sea lions. An elevator descends 208ft to a dark interpretive center, and a caged-off observation area lets you watch (and smell) the sea lions jockeying for the best seat on the rocks. From late September to November there are no sea lions in the cave.
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Five miles south of Astoria, this historical park holds Fort Clatsop, a reconstructed fort similar to the one the Corps of Discovery occupied during their miserable winter of 1805–06. There's expedition history and artifacts at the visitor center, and costumed docents demonstrate common fort occupations such as candle-making, leather-tanning and canoe-building.
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This excellent science center has great exhibits, especially on wave energy and the local fishing industry. There's a touch tank and you can see the octopus being fed. Outside, a section of the Misawa dock from Japan is exhibited; the dock floated all the way across the Pacific after the 2011 tsunami. Admission is free, but if you donate a few dollars it'll help run programs.