My family was able to visit the Oregon Coast this past fall and we all had a great time! Actually, some of us had fevers or itchy rashes but … you know, such is life with kids. The coast here in Pacific City is beautiful, and definitely worth a family visit– even in the off-season! Our kids were 3, 6, and 8 at the time and those seemed to be great ages for a beach trip like this.
There are dozens and dozens of great towns along the Oregon coast! In reading Reddit it appears everyone has their favorite areas. Cannon Beach is one of the largest and most famous beach towns. We also considered Seaside and Rockaway Beach, but I think many are great for families.
Pacific City is a pretty small town located about 2 hours from the Portland Airport, in case you are looking to fly. It was nice that it was pretty quiet and easy to navigate and not too too far from Portland!
We were here in mid-October and temperatures were pretty cool, but reasonable with proper jackets & layers! In October the average highs are low-60s and the lows are mid-40s. How those temperatures felt depended significantly on whether there was wind/rain or sunshine. One of the sunnier afternoons felt pretty warm actually and our kids played barefoot with swimsuits + light jackets on top.
The town was definitely not super busy… but it also wasn’t dead either. There were plenty of shops and restaurants open plus lots of space on the beach. I’m sure once it gets further into winter more places shut down or have more limited hours. The winter months are also the wettest of the year, apparently- so be sure to bring proper waterproof jackets and footwear if coming in those win….well actually probably prepare for the rain anytime of year you visit. 😉
PSA: the average temperatures in July and September here are virtually identical! If we were to come back I think we’d try for September.
The main draw of Pacific City, Oregon is definitely the beach! The views –whether cloudy, sunny, misty, or foggy– were all stunning. There’s just something so majestic about the ocean; our land-locked kids loved being near the waves & playing in the sand.
We spent the majority of our time on the Pacific City Beach (more on that below), but I also loved an area just a little further north called the McPhillips Beach. It was even quieter and a beautiful spot for a sunset. A few vehicles came down and drove on the beach while we were there which the kids thought was really cool (McPhillips Beach is pictured in the cover photo).
Some Airbnbs are located right near on the water with beach access! However, if you are staying somewhere a bit further then you might want to park at the Cape Kiwanda area.
The Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area parking lot is the main area for public access on the coastline in Pacific City, although there are several other access points too (some private, some public).
If you walk out towards the cape when the tide is low (like it was for us in October!) you can explore the tide pools. My kids really loved exploring and finding all of the sea stars & creatures, and still mention it months later.
This article goes into a lot more depth about the tide pools at Pacific City, I’d recommend it!
The crowning jewel of this town, as far as food, is definitely the Pelican Pub & Brewery. They are famous for their clam chowder, and for good reason. I got it to-go once while on this trip. While the bread bowl was dry, the soup itself was SO flavorful… I can still taste it now. Yum.
A large group of family members went here together and everyone was satisfied with their food choices. The sandwiches and lemon cheesecake for dessert were all particularly memorable.
The Grateful Bread Bakery was a delicious breakfast option one of the mornings of our trip. The fried breakfast potatoes and blueberry pancakes were especially good. How cute is their menu, too??
If you are looking for a smaller bite within walking distance to the shore, then Stimulus Coffee & Bakery is a good option. Their hot cocoa was delicious and all of the baked goods looked scrumptious!
As huge fans of Tillamook cheese (we have a block of medium cheddar in our fridge at all times) this stop was a no-brainer. We loved sharing this spot with our kids and seeing all of the updates they’d made since we visited back in 2013!
The Tillamook Cheese Factory is a fantastic little field trip for a family. Upstairs you’ll find interactive and kid-friendly exhibits all about their farms & cows. Plus, you can look into the factory through glass windows and see the cheese being made & packaged in real-time. Don’t forget to grab a sample!
Downstairs there is a gift shop as well as a restaurant with savory foods (think: mac n cheese, cheeseburgers, etc.) and a large selection of ice cream flavors to choose from.
This stop is about 35 minutes north of Pacific City!
About 45 minutes south of Pacific City you’ll find Depoe Bay – a favorite place for whale watching. Resident gray whales hang around the coast here much of the year. If we had more time, this is something we would have done. Our family that lives near this area goes often & highly recommends it.
It’s worth mentioning that many boats have an age requirement of 4 and older!
We LOVED our long weekend on the Oregon Coast, even during the off-season! What other cities have you loved on the Oregon Coast?
Please share in the comments below– our kids are asking to go back! 🙂
We love the Pacific Northwest!
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