Every so often I stray from my home state. Most recently, I visited the Oregon Coast, which I must admit has some appealing qualities that our coast does not, including more accessible beaches and gigantic rock formations in the water (you’ve probably heard of Haystack Rock). This time I stayed overnight in Pacific City, a tiny coastal town, so I’d like to share the possibilities it offers with you.
Beach at Pacific City, Oregon.
I stayed at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda, which is directly across from the beach and a few steps from a very good eatery, the award-winning Pelican Pub & Brewery. My husband and I had been to Pacific City before, but never stayed overnight because the accommodations looked expensive from the exterior. As it turns out, they are not. Rooms at the Inn start at $139. All of the guest rooms have ocean views from a private, covered balcony, gas fireplaces, microwaves, small refrigerators and high speed wireless Internet. Really, what else do you need? If you want to bring your “best friend,” dogs love the beaches on the Coast and the Inn is pet-friendly.
What to do
As the iconic single’s ad says, “you can take a long walk on the beach,” watch sunrises and sunsets, look for glass balls and watch the waves crash.
Pelican Pub & Brewery and another Haystack Rock.
If you’ve come to storm watch, you might also want to read a good book and create a scrapbook of memories.
Kids can search for agates in the sand, feed bread to the seagulls, go horseback riding and eat s’mores on the beach.
And then you can get a good night’s sleep, slumbering with ocean noises in the background and find even more activities for the next day.
A good breakfast spot is The Grateful Bread, which is a full-service restaurant and a bakery.
Cinnamon roll french toast at The Grateful Bread.
Tip: In Oregon, an employee always pumps your gas for you. There are no self-serve gas stations.
What is your favorite coast and why?
That Haystack is really something to see! I’ve never been to Oregon but very much would like to. I’m bookmarking this for future use.
The “Haystack” in my photo is a smaller one, not the big iconic one at Cannon Beach. Guess they ran out of names for rocks.
The Haystack rock in Pacific City is 327 feet tall. The one in Cannon Beach is 235 feet tall. You did photograph the big one!
Hi Darron,
Thank you for letting me know the difference. I had no idea the Pacific City one was the largest.
I’ve never been to Oregon but have been to Washington state – which I loved. In CA, there are many beautiful parts of the coastline. One that comes to mind at the moment is Big Sur.
Say the word “beach” and I’m there! And I love the name Grateful Bread Anything with a name so cute must have good food.
West coast hands down. I must admit that I haven’t tried out the Carolina/Georgia coasts which sound intriguing–but I love the rugged northern California to Washington coasts and of course the lovely beaches in southern California. (It helps that I live in the West.)
As much as I enjoy the Oregon Coast, this southern girl votes for the beaches of South Carolina where the water is warm enough to swim without a wetsuit.
I totally agree and vote for warm water to swim in. For swimming, we go to indoor heated pools, which isn’t very scenic.
much as I enjoy all the coasts in the US, my first goes to the north eastern shore of Ireland — land of myth and legend. the western shore is pretty great too, especially in Donegal.
that said, I’ve a friend who grew up in Port Orford, so I know the Oregon coast is beautiful as well.
Oh, I just love sleeping with the sound of waves crashing on the beach. But my favorite coastline? The one that circles the Big Island, where I live.
I really like that one, too, Kris. But I don’t get to see it very often.
Ok, I had to laugh at The Grateful Bread – what a fun name. And gorgeous pics (including the cinnamon roll french toast). The Pacific Northwest is on my list of places to visit.
Like Jane, the Pacific Northwest is on my list too. The Haystack Rock just looks unreal.
Pelican Pub & Brewery, you say? I’m there!
Had no idea the coast of Oregon featured dramatic stuff like Haystack rock. I’m an east coast gal myself. Been to CA and WA, but Oregon is one state I have never visited. I’m an innkeeper on Cape Cod. We tend to believe there is nothing quite so beautiful as an Outer Cape beach …
I’ve never been to Oregon, but it is on our list. This looks like a beautiful place. Great work on your play on the word “peak!”
Love it.
That big rock out there in the ocean is reason enough to go. What a unique place!