Fifth-generation Oregonian and award-winning author Kim Cooper Findling grew up on the Oregon Coast, spent several years in the Willamette Valley, and has lived in Central Oregon for 25 years. She is the author of The Sixth Storm (with coauthor and daughter Libby Findling); Bend, Oregon Daycations: Day Trips for Curious Families; Day Trips from Portland: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler; and Chance of Sun: An Oregon Memoir. Her work has appeared in many publications including Bend Magazine, Travel Oregon, The Oregonian, Horizon Air, Alaska Air, Oregon Quarterly, 1859 Oregons Magazine, The Best Places to Kiss NW, and High Desert Journal. See kimcooperfindling.com.
Some kids dream of leaving home and never looking back; others spend a lifetime trying to return home. Im in the second category, and this book is my homecoming. Growing up on the Oregon Coast meant always being surrounded by a rugged and incredibly beautiful landscape. I extend appreciation to the coast itself first, for inspiration and my very roots. Next to thank are the many others who help me in my work. I owe thank-yous to dozens of tourism professionals and longtime colleagues who contributed ideas to these pages. Personal thanks to friends and acquaintances who regularly offer travel destination ideas. Finally, I extend endless gratitude to my traveling companions, Todd, Libby, Maris, and Carson. You are the best road-trip sidekicks on the planet, and I am so very lucky.
north coast
day trip 01
Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau
PO Box 562 / 3914 Pacific Way, Seaview
(360) 642-2400
visitlongbeachpeninsula.com
day trip 02
Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce
111 West Marine Dr., Astoria
(503) 325-6311
oldoregon.com, travelastoria.com
day trip 03
Seaside Visitors Bureau / Chamber of Commerce
7 North Roosevelt Dr., Seaside
(888) 306-2326
seasideor.com
day trip 04
Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce
207 N Spruce St., Cannon Beach
(503) 436-2623
cannonbeach.org
day trip 05
Explore Manzanita
31 Laneda Ave., Manzanita
(503) 812-5510
exploremanzanita.com
Visit Tillamook Coast
4506 3rd St., Tillamook
(503) 842-2672
tillamookcoast.com
day trip 06
City of Garibaldi
PO Box 708 / 107 6th St., Garibaldi
(503) 322-3327
visitgaribaldi.com
Visit Tillamook Coast
4506 3rd St., Tillamook
(503) 842-2672
tillamookcoast.com
day trip 07
Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 75, Cloverdale
(503) 392-4340
pcnvchamber.org
Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce
3705 US 101 N, Tillamook
(503) 842-7525
tillamookchamber.org
Visit Tillamook Coast
4506 3rd St., Tillamook
(503) 842-2672
tillamookcoast.com
day trip 08
Visit Tillamook Coast
4506 3rd St., Tillamook
(503) 842-2672
tillamookcoast.com
central coast
day trip 09
Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau
801 SW US 101, Lincoln City
(541) 996-1274
oregoncoast.org
day trip 10
Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 21 / 223 SW US 101, Depoe Bay
(541) 765-2889, (877) 485-8348
depoebaychamber.org
day trip 11
Newport Chamber of Commerce
555 SW Coast Hwy., Newport
(541) 265-8801
newportchamber.org
day trip 12
Waldport Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 669 / 320 NW US 101, Waldport
(541) 563-2133
waldport-chamber.com
day trip 13
Yachats Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 728 / 241 US 101, Yachats
(541) 547-3530
yachats.org
south coast
day trip 14
Eugene, Cascades & Coast
754 Olive St., Eugene
(541) 743-8760
eugenecascadescoast.org
day trip 15
Reedsport Chamber of Commerce
2741 Frontage Rd., Reedsport
(541) 271-3495
reedsportcc.org
City of Lakeside
915 N Lake Rd., Lakeside
(541) 759-3011
cityoflakeside.org
day trip 16
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
145 Central Ave., Coos Bay
(541) 266-0868
coosbaynorthbendcharlestonchamber.com
Coos BayNorth Bend Visitors & Convention Bureau
50 Central Ave., Coos Bay
(541) 269-0215, (800) 824-8486
oregonsadventurecoast.com
day trip 17
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
145 Central Ave., Coos Bay
(541) 266-0868
coosbaynorthbendcharlestonchamber.com
Coos BayNorth Bend Visitors & Convention Bureau
50 Central Ave., Coos Bay
(541) 269-0215, (800) 824-8486
oregonsadventurecoast.com
day trip 18
Bandon Visitors Center
300 2nd St., Bandon
(541) 347-9616
bandon.com
day trip 19
Port Orford Chamber
PO Box 637, Port Orford
(541) 332-8055
portorfordchamber.com
day trip 20
Gold Beach Visitor Center
PO Box 375 / 94080 Shirley Ln.,
Gold Beach
(800) 525-2334, (541) 247-7526
visitgoldbeach.com
day trip 21
Brookings City Hall / Visitor Center
898 Elk Dr., Brookings
(541) 469-1103
brookings.or.us
The open road, no agenda, and free-form-type exploration of a day trip can be fabulous, but sometimes its just more fun to go somewhere you know theres going to be action. Festivals offer the opportunity to park the car in one spot and soak up music, food, and entertainment all at once. Luckily for you, the Oregon Coast loves a good festival. No matter your interests, youre sure to find an appealing festival in this lineup. For more events, see traveloregon.com and oregonfestivals.org.
february
Newport Seafood and Wine Festival. (800) 262-7844; seafoodandwine.com. Held the last full weekend in February in Newport, this popular festival celebrates two of the things Oregonians love bestseafood and wine. Held outdoors south of town; free shuttle buses run from downtown.
march
Garibaldi Crab Races. visitgaribaldi.com. The best kind of small-town tradition, the crab races bring people together to yell, bang their heads, and even try to use psychic powers to urge their Dungeness crab cohorts toward the finish line. The races are the heart of this humorous event, and food, drink, and revelry are on the sidelines.
Savor Cannon Beach. (888) 609-6051; savorcannonbeach.com. Four days of wine tastings, culinary events, and a wine walk showcasing over 40 Northwest wineries are the heart of this event. Award-winning wines are paired with chef-designed appetizers, and restaurants, shops, and galleries all get in on the fun during this event.
april
Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood, and Wine Festival. (503) 325-6311; oldoregon.com. Enjoy a great spread of Northwest cuisine, arts and crafts, a selection of Oregons and Washingtons finest wines, a beer garden, and more at this annual Astoria event. Try the traditional crab dinner all weekend long. Live music is on tap too.
may
Depoe Bay Fleet of Flowers. (541) 765-2889; depoebaychamber.org. This memorable and moving ceremony honors the memories of fishermen lost at sea. An onshore ceremony at Depoe Bay Harbor features a presentation of colors, recognition of veterans, a jet fly-over, guest speakers, and musical performances. Next, a fleet of flower-laden boats passes under the Highway 101 bridge.