Oregon Coast Archives – Oregon Beach Vacations

Dec 01 2021

Best Things to Do in Pacific City, Oregon

A highway directional sign in the State of Oregon pointing to the different popular famous places to drive to.

Pacific City, Oregon, is a small and charming coastal town, home to the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. Pacific City offers up plenty of outdoor things to do as well as a selection of fine eateries, beer brewers and wineries. Check out our list of recommendations for things to do in Pacific City.

Need a place to stay? Check out our Pacific City vacation rentals, and get the best rate when you book directly with Oregon Beach Vacations.

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area

Siblings, triplets, hang out on the beach at Pacific City on a brisk spring day. Hay Stack rocks stands tall surrounded by seawater in the background while waves roll ashore near the kids.

You will not lack things to do at the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, featuring giant sand dunes and imposing sandstone cliffs. This area provides opportunities for things like hiking, whale watching, surfing, and bird viewing.

During the day, when the tide is low, you can dip your toes in the ocean or explore the tide pools in the area, which are often filled with giant red crabs, purple starfish, and other colorful creatures.

Behind the cape is the Great Dune, a massive hill covered in drifting sand. You can walk up the dune for the gorgeous views, and then you can drop down onto the beach below. It’s going to be quite the hike; you climb 193 feet in elevation to get to the top! But the views once you get there make it all worth it!

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Pacific City Beach Surfing

Adventurous Girl with a Surf Board is going surfing in the Ocean. Colorful Sunset Sky. Taken in Pacific City, Oregon Coast, United States of America. — Adventurous Girl with a Surf Board is going surfing in the Ocean. Taken in Pacific City.

Pacific City is very popular with surfers. The excellent beach and reef breaks offer easily approachable and consistent waves. Now, this is the Oregon Coast, so you will need to make sure you are wearing a 3 / 4 wetsuit, booties, gloves, and for good measure, wear a hood too.

With a ton of space on the beach, everyone can spread out and set up camp for the whole day. And as a bonus, the Pelican Brew Pub is just a short walk away, so you can cap off your day of surfing with a pint!

Go Picnicking at Kiwanda Beach

Kiwanda Beach is a beautiful, sandy beach just south of Pacific City.

Kiwanda Beach is an excellent spot to spend a day picnicking with the family. Pack a blanket and some food and make your way down to the beach. There are plenty of large picnic tables, so there’s no need to worry about bringing one yourself. Once you’re set up, take in the majestic views of the Pacific Ocean and the gorgeous wildlife around you.

Nestucca River Paddle Boarding

The calm waters of the Nestucca river make it a perfect spot for people of all skills to kayak. Maybe even give stand-up paddleboarding a try? When it comes to things to do in Park City, this is an excellent opportunity to view the scenery in Park City from a different perspective. And if you would enjoy a guided experience, there are organized trips led by instructors. The typical set route is a 5.5-mile route that starts at a kayak rental company.

Nestucca River Fishing

River landscape in golden hour. Nestucca river flows through forests near the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States — Nestucca river flows through forests near Pacific City, Oregon.

The Nestucca Rivers – the Big Nestucca and Little Nestucca – are great places to go fishing for chinook salmon and steelhead trout. If you’re an angler at heart, you should give these rivers a shot!

Learn Paragliding with Fly Team Halo, Pacific City

The founders of Team Fly Halo had a shared goal of bringing Powered Paragliding to Pacific City, Oregon and beyond. They provide excellent training, cutting-edge equipment, and a desire for the activity that attracts others to explore adventure flying. If you’re looking for some adrenaline rush, check out their paragliding lessons in Pacific City!

Bike Trails

Close up of a biker riding a bike through the forest road. — The Oregon coast offers up some gorgeous bike trails and beach riding.

Park City offers up some fantastic bike trails in and around the city. The most popular course is the Cape Kiwanda Fat Bike route, where you head from the city out into quiet solitude and then back again. Bikes are also allowed on the beach! Vehicles are, too, so make sure you are keeping an eye out for them. With a fat bike, you can ride directly on the sands of the Park City beaches. You can choose to ride down to the North Spit through Bob Straub State Park or head north and leave populated areas behind to reach the small town of Tierra Del Mar.

Wildlife Watching

A sea lion pup rests on the beach in Netarts, Oregon — What better place to catch a snooze than at the beach?

Bird Watching in Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge is an 11-minute drive south of Pacific City. The refuge was established in 1991 to protect one-tenth of the dusk Canada goose population And offers seven different habitats to explore, all of which are home to numerous fascinating creatures. You can expect to find migrant shorebirds, bald eagles, and even some peregrine falcons at any given time.

See Marine Animals on the Beaches of Pacific City

Posting up along the beaches of this area will likely reward you with a menagerie of marine life who come to play in the shallows. Often you will see seals, sea lions, otters, and even some porpoises. If you move a little bit inland, you can spot deer, raccoons, and even the infamous beach bunnies.

Wine, Beer, and Dining

Happy friends having fun drinking white wine at street festival - Young people eating local food at open air restaurant together - Dinning lifestyle concept on string light neon filter — Pacific City offers a variety of options for food and beverages.

With all these other awesome activities under your belt, you will probably be hungry and thirsty. The good news is that Pacific City offers a fine selection of options for wetting the whistle and grabbing a bite to eat.

Stimulus Coffee + Bakery

Start your day off right at this bakery and cafe where they bake all of their bread and pastries in-house.

Twist Wine Company

A small family-owned vineyard that believes that the best wines are made from grapes grown in climates similar to the grapes’ genetic history. Their wine is made in nearby McMinnville, Oregon, and served in their tasting room here in Pacific City.

Grateful Bread Bakery

Grateful Bread Bakery serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside substantial floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views to match. They have been cooking up fresh food, locally caught fish, and produce since 1991. Grab a light lunch and some delicious scones to take back to your vacation rental for later.

Pelican Brewing Company

this brewery has produced unique and high-quality beers for the last 20 years. You can take a tour of their onsite production facilities and enjoy some of their award-winning beer in their taproom. They also serve up a food menu made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients.

Things to Do in Pacific City, Oregon – Conclusion

There are many fun things to do in Pacific City, Oregon, and this list is just a starting point for all of your adventures. With a gorgeous beachfront vacation rental from Oregon Beach Vacations as your home base, you can explore everything that Pacific City has to offer.

Ready to plan your trip to Neskowin? Book your Pacific City, Oregon vacation rental with Oregon Beach Vacations!

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Jul 17 2018

The Old Smokestack in Garibaldi

Ever been driving through the small coastal town of Garibaldi and pass by an unusually large gray tower? Did you or perhaps your children wonder what it was, or used to be? Did you know that it was an old smokestack? We certainly didn’t.

The great smokestack that still remains in Garibaldi to this day was first built by a man named Hammond in the 1927. The smokestack was part of the Hammond Lumber Company. People from the time period described him as an exceptionally caring and generous man. Hammond built the smokestack to spare the townspeople of Garibaldi from choking on the fumes from his saw mill. Even today, it remains one of the tallest manmade structures along the Oregon coast.

In 2013, the city council of Garibaldi debated over whether or not to tear down the smokestack due to extreme deterioration. It had become a safety hazard, caused by the wind and salt air coming off of the Pacific. Thanks to the efforts of John Foulk, who suggested fiberglassing the structure to help prevent any further disintegration, the old smokestack still remains to this day.

Garibaldi officially became a city in 1946, over 75 years after Daniel Bayley was granted a title to the land by President Ulysses S. Grant. Daniel Bayley was one of the first significant property owners at the time. He established a general store and a hotel on the street now known as Bay Lane. The city of Garibaldi has since had its fair share of lumber mills, including the Whitney Mill, the Hammond Lumber Company, Oceanside Lumber Company and Oregon-Washington Plywood Corporation. The Weyerhaeuser Company still operates a hard wood lumber mill in the Port of Garibaldi.

If you’re ever traveling along the scenic Oregon Coast Highway, be sure to catch a glimpse of this historic beauty on your way through Garibaldi. You never know when it may come crumbling down for good.

Feb 12 2018

10 Best Restaurants on the Oregon Coast

When you’re on vacation, sometimes choosing a new restaurant to check out can be a little daunting. Whether you’ve got children or are traveling alone, we’ve narrowed down our 10 best restaurants on the Oregon Coast for you to try. From steak to Mexican, Asian to Italian, we hope you’ll enjoy these food establishments as much as we have!

Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, and Newport – Pig ‘N Pancake

This restaurant is one the entire family can enjoy! Pig ‘N Pancake offers a wide variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods. Their signature dishes are the pancakes and waffles of course, but there are plenty of other choices on the menu for everyone to get something they’ll love! Either way, everyone will leave happy and with a full belly after a visit to the ‘Pig!’

Oregon coast Restaurants — Tokyo Teriyaki

Seaside – Tokyo Teriyaki

Located in Seaside’s outlet mall, Tokyo Teriyaki is usually fairly slow, at least during the winter months, but this means great service for visitors. During the summer months, getting a table may have more of a wait time. They offer great food with croissant like crusting to their egg rolls. The price is around $8 a plate, making this one of the best restaurants on the Oregon Coast to find delicious food the whole family can enjoy and fill up on without breaking the bank. The waiters here are fast as well, with the time between finishing your food and paying for it no more than five minutes.

Oregon coast Restaurant — Twisted Fish Steakhouse

Seaside – Twisted Fish Steakhouse

The Twisted Fish Steakhouse is located on the south side of the main strip in Seaside leading to Seaside’s roundabout along the Promenade. Service here is very fast; you’ll be seated within 10-15 minutes and have your order taken as well. During the summer months, you may find yourself waiting a bit longer. At the Twisted Fish Steakhouse, you’ll find the best steak on the coast, marketed as ‘Angus Certified Beef.’ The restaurant is very clean, and the owners work as the cook and hostess, so you’re sure to enjoy spectacular food and service here for as long as they own it. Meals run about 20-40 dollars here, so if you’re looking for a special date night to take your loved one, check out the Twisted Fish Steakhouse. It’s not only for adults, but also offers an awesome children’s menu as well.

Cannon Beach – Pizza A’fetta

Located in the quaint shops in the Cannon Beach northern shopping area, you’ll find crispy & delicious pizza at Pizza a’fetta! While the wait time can be about 20 minutes for a pizza, it offers a nice atmosphere for families. Come here before you’re starving, and the wait time won’t be such a big deal. The cost is between 9-13 dollars for a meal for one. Everyone in your party is sure to enjoy the pizza at Pizza a’fetta, even the picky eaters!

Manzanita – El Trio Loco Dos

Located on a corner in a yellow building about two blocks from the beach, you and your family will find fast service at El Trio Loco Dos! As soon as you sit down, they’ll have chips, dips, and water for you to enjoy within the minute! If you’re hungry and ready to eat, El Trio Loco Dos is a must go! During the summer months, the wait time may be a bit longer, but during the winter, you and your family are sure to have your food within 10-15 minutes of sitting down and ordering! If you’ve ever eaten at Mazatlan, you’ll find that the food is just as good, if not better! Everyone in your group can enjoy the food offered at El Trio Loco Dos.

Pacific City – The Pelican Brewery

While the name implies this isn’t a family friendly restaurant, the opposite is quite true. The Pelican Brewery offers a wide variety of dishes for both the young and the old, along with recommendations on which beer tastes best with each meal! Leave the kids at home while you enjoy a meal out, or bring them along! The baked Mac ‘n Cheese topped with bacon and bread crumbs is sure to be a hit amongst the younger crowd! Afterwards, go for a short hike along the beach, and try to climb the giant sand dune, if you dare!

Lincoln City and Newport – Mazatlan

If you’re looking for some authentic and delicious Mexican cuisine while on your stay to the coast, look no farther than Mazatlan! With two locations near several of our vacation rental properties, you’ll want to visit this restaurant at least once! They have several dishes to choose from, from chicken and steak to vegetarian. You might need some extra time to look at the menu! For the picky eaters in the group, they offer plain quesadillas and chips and salsa or beans. Their lemonade is excellent and the service astounding! Choose Mazatlan over Taco Bell while here on your coastal vacation!

Lincoln City – Thai Bay

Wondering if you’ll ever find good Thai away from the cities? Thai Bay in Lincoln City will meet all of your expectations and more! With fast and friendly service, in a quiet and small environment, and several delicious dishes to choose from, you’ll be coming back to Lincoln City every chance you get! You can order the classic Pad Thai or try something a little more daring, like the spicy curry. For the picky eaters in your group, ask for some plain noodles in a butter sauce topped with veggies! Everyone is welcome at Thai Bay!

Newport – Georgie’s Beachside Grill

Georgie’s Beachside Grill is located near the Yaquina Bay Bridge, just south of the Nye Beach area of Newport with oceanfront views of the coast. You and your family will find fast service here, along with unique food selections such as French Toast Croissants and Almond Chicken Salad. The meals are affordable for everyone in your party, coming to around 10-15 dollars a plate. Everyone in your group will be able to find something they’ll love, whether that be steak, fish, chicken, or vegetarian!

Waldport – Grand Central Pizza

This delicious pizza joint in the heart of Waldport offers not only pizza, but a salad bar, sandwiches, breadsticks, and more! The whole family will absolutely love this restaurant. It’s two stories tall so you can choose to eat upstairs or down. You’ll want to come back again and again! With a 4.1 star rating on Google, you can’t go wrong by choosing Grand Central Pizza!

Jun 19 2017

How to Stay Safe this Fourth of July – Oregon Coast

The Fourth of July is a wonderful celebration of America’s independence from British rule that is celebrated every year. This year, America turns 241 (happy birthday, America!) and we want to make sure that you and your family stay safe while celebrating with your fellow countrymen! Below is a short list of what you can do to stay safe and have fun this Independence Day!

Leave the big firework shows to the professionals! Every year it seems someone has hurt themselves or someone else in a terrible accident regarding fireworks that could have been avoided.

When handling fireworks, always keep a fire extinguisher close at hand. Even a sparkler can turn deadly without warning.

Always keep a close eye on children and pets during fireworks shows. Young children and animals don’t understand how fire works most of the time, and curious minds love to try new, and often dangerous, things!

Since the fireworks shows start after dark, make sure you know where all of your loved ones are beforehand to avoid lost children!

Be earth friendly, and throw away your leftover boxes and other equipment from fireworks after you’ve finished playing. Every year, beaches are littered with fireworks debris. Do your part to help keep Oregon’s beaches clean.

Most pets are lost during the Fourth of July. Keep pets locked inside, preferably in a safe space as far away from the noise of fireworks as possible, to avoid terrifying them.

While most people love a good fireworks show on the Fourth of July, some people prefer to celebrate for up to a week before and after. Remember to be courteous to neighbors who may be trying to sleep and aren’t expecting to hear fireworks at midnight before or after the Fourth.

PTSD is a real phenomenon that affects many of our vets and military personnel. If you or anyone you know is suffering from this disorder, please remember to take care of yourself or be as accommodating and helpful as possible to get them through the night.

Here on the Oregon coast, many of our fireworks celebrations occur over water and on the beach. Keep yourself safe and be respectful of other people who are trying to watch the show by staying out of the water at night.

Never shoot off fireworks in or around trees and dry grass as this can start a fire that can quickly get out of control. Shooting off small fireworks on pavement away from buildings, people, and animals is your best bet.

Remember to abide by your state’s firework rule, and do not shoot off any illegal fireworks. Doing so will help ensure that everyone, including yourself, has a safe and incident free holiday!

Seaside visitors will be able to enjoy the fireworks show from the beach in Seaside beginning at dusk, between 10 and 10:30 PM on Tuesday, July 4th. Get there early for a good spot on the beach with your family and friends. If you’re staying with us at The Riptides, The Tides, or Seaside Ocean Vista, you’ll have a good view of the fireworks, but feel free to go outside and join everyone on the beach for the earlier festivities!

The Lincoln City fireworks will be held on Tuesday, July 4th over the Siletz Bay at dusk, between 10 and 10:30 PM. Be sure to get there early and save a spot on the beach or the pier to watch the show. If you’re staying with us at Waters Edge or Baywatch, you’ll already have a front row seat to all of the action!

If you’re staying in Newport, make sure to head over to the Yaquina Bay Bridge area for another spectacular fireworks show over the Yaquina Bay starting at dusk, between 10 and 10:30 PM, on Tuesday, July 4th. Get there early to avoid having to park far away and to get the best seat possible! If you’re staying with us at Suite Dreams or Windward at the Regatta right on the Yaquina Bay, you’ll have a front row seat to the best fireworks show on the Oregon coast!

Have fun! We here at Oregon Beach Vacations want to wish you all a happy and safe Fourth of July this year, and we hope to see you again next year!

Apr 06 2017

10 Destinations Your Kids Will Love on the Oregon Coast

Vacations aren’t always as fun for the kids if they don’t have anything special to do! Don’t let that happen on your next trip down to the Oregon coast! Check out these ten kid friendly destinations to make sure you and your family have your best vacation yet!

1) Check out Game Over in Lincoln City!

This arcade has everything for kids, including food and drinks! The kid in you will also enjoy their wide variety of arcade games! Make sure to come during the day, as Game Over is open for adults only at night.

2) Whale Watching in Depoe Bay

Whale Watching in Depoe Bay is a great way to introduce your kids to the ocean safely and learn about marine life at the same time! There are plenty of tour guide services to choose from, including Dockside Charters, Inc and Whale Research ExoExcursion, LLC. Book your tour today!

Kids on the coast — Whale Watching in Depoe Bay, Oregon

3) Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is located in Newport.

This museum is fun for the whole family. You’ll be able to see several curiousities from across the globe represented here. Come learn more about the world in ways you never even imagined!

4) The Jennifer Sears Glass Art Studio

The Jennifer Sears Glass Art Studio lets you blow your own glass object right alongside the professionals! Choose your piece, your colors, and get started. The professional glass blowers will be with you every step of the way. Book early as they tend to be very busy during the summer months!

5) The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is the perfect place to bring your sealife loving kids! With interactive exhibits and live animals around every corner, you and your family will want to make this a regular part of your Oregon coast vacations for years to come!

6) Up in Seaside, check out the Seaside Carousel Mall!

With over 20 great stores, including a candy shop, this mall is perfect for the kids on a rainy day! Collect some souvenirs to take home to your friends and family, or just to remember your vacation on the Oregon coast!

7) Catch A Movie at Seaside Cinema

Vacationing on the Oregon coast means you’ll have your fair share of rainy days. Why not catch a movie during one of these times? The Seaside Cinema in Seaside is the perfect place for the family to watch a flick you’ve been meaning to see anyway!

8) Finland Arcade in Seaside

Arcades never get boring, no matter your age! Check out the Finland Arcade up in Seaside! Food, games, and more await! After the rain clears, you can go spend some quality time searching the beach for random treasures!

9) Finders Keepers in Lincoln City

Every year, from mid October to late May, Lincoln City hides hundreds of glass floats on the beach for you to find! Why not take a long walk during this annual event and try your hand at finding a free glass float to keep? It’s fun for the whole family!

10) Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi

If you’re looking to make some memories exploring the Oregon coast, why not travel to Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi? You can fish and crab to your hearts desire, or even ride the Oregon Coast Explorer antique train during the summer! There are plenty of places to hike in the nearby area as well!

Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, or something to do on those typical rainy Oregon coast days, you’re sure to find the perfect activity for your family’s needs! We’ll see you on the coast!

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