Area Attractions
The North Oregon Coast has some of the most beautiful photo ops and places to visit. While the following are some of the area attractions, they are by no means the definitive ones. We have collected the most visited places within a 15 mile radius of Rockaway in one place, to give you an opportunity to make plans before getting here and to save you time trying to find attractions within the local area. Click on the attraction for more info.
GOLF: If golfing is more your style, the Oregon Coast has some of the most picturesque golf courses around. Not only can you golf, but you can also enjoy beautiful vistas as you go from hole to hole.
SOUTH:
OREGON COAST SCENIC RAILROAD: The trains run between Rockaway and Garibaldi along the bay and use historic steam and vintage diesel locomotives. Fun for adults and kids.
OLD GROWTH CEDAR PRESERVE: Rockaways answer to big trees and the wonder they hold for all of us. This not so little gem, has been known to locals for years but only recently have we been able to share it with everyone else.
BARVIEW JETTY STATE PARK: Just south of Rockaway, this park offers camping sites as well as some nice dunes for the kids to climb and slide down. Also a great place to walk out on to the jetty and watch fishing boats come in.
THREE GRACES TIDE POOLS: About 3 miles south of Rockaway and before Garibaldi, these are very nice tide pools to visit. An abundance of sea life and little treasures to find.
GARIBALDI MUSEUM: Located at the south end of Garibaldi, the museum commemorates area maritime history and early fur trading.
KILCHIS POINT RESERVE: Located in Bay City, this little treasure is just a hop, skip and a jump away from Rockaway. The trails are easy to navigate and offer different scenery during the four seasons. Don’t forget photo ops at the gazebo at the end of the trail on the bay.
TILLAMOOK CHEESE FACTORY: One of the most visited attractions in Oregon, the factory offers self guided tours of the cheese making process. Must try the cheese tasting at the end of the tour. Also make some of the best ice cream in the country. The cafe in the factory has some of the best lunch and breakfast food around. Definitely worth a visit and it’s free!
BLUE HERON CHEESE COMPANY: While not a cheese factory per se, this converted Dutch barn offers great cheese and wine tasting. They carry some of Oregons best award winning wines. The deli in the shop offers wonderful meals. A Petting Zoo, with various animals is a great way to while away an afternoon if you have little ones.
TILLAMOOK COUNTY PIONEER MUSEUM: Insight into pioneer life in Tillamook, with a pioneer home and barn, a fire lookout, and a blacksmith shop recreated to help you envision life in the 19th century.
TILLAMOOK AIR MUSEUM: The museum is housed in a WW II blimp hanger, the worlds largest wooden structure, and is considered to be one of the top 5 private aircraft collections in the US.
CAPE MEARES STATE PARK: This State Park has the Cape Meares lighthouse, which is one of only 2 lighthouses in the US that has the Fressnel Lenses made in France at the turn of the century. The vista points located all around the grounds give spectacular views of the ocean. The protruding rocks are nesting grounds for many of the areas sea going birds. A brisk walk through the parking lot in the opposite direction of the lighthouse and up a wooded trail leads you to the OCTOPUS TREE. Certainly a photo op worthy stop.
CAPE LOOKOUT STATE PARK: On the Three Capes Scenic Route, this State Park has camping and hiking tails. Also probably one of the best places on the coast to find agates. The little gems are not so little along the beaches in this park. Day use fee.
MUNSON CREEK FALLS: While no Niagra, this little falls is still a very pretty sight, and a wonderful cooler on a hot summer afternoon. At 319ft, it is the highest Coast Range waterfalls. Located 7 miles south of Tillamook, off HWY 101, the access is limited to cars, SUV’s and other small vehicles. The access is narrow and bumpy and no turn arounds are available for RV’s and Trailers.
NORTH:
NEHALEM BAY STATE PARK: Located off HWY 101 between Nehalem and Manzanita, this State Park offers it all. Hiking, Horseback riding, camping and kayaking. Day use fee park.
NEHALEM FALLS CAMPGROUND: This little diamond in the rough is well known to the locals and is much beloved by campers. This is a bit out of the way but worth a trip if you have the time for a day trip.
NEAH-KAH-NIE MOUNTAIN OVERLOOK: Just before Oswald West the mountain waysides offer some of the most breathtaking views of the coastline and are a perfect backdrop for photo ops. This is also the place to be Mid March-Mid May and again Mid September- Mid October if you want to catch the grey whale migrations. A legend says there is a lost Spanish Treasures buried somewhere at the base of the mountain. Many have tried to search for it, but it still awaits discovery.
OSWALD WEST STATE PARK: About 15 miles north of Rockaway, the State Park is a popular spot for surfing enthusiasts. The trail from the parking lot to the beach is a half mile and has some wonderful flora and fauna along the way. No day pass needed. Be warned, this is one of the most popular spot on the North Coast and the parking is always full during the summer.
As mentioned earlier there are many more attractions further afield than the immediate area. Some of them include the Astoria Column, Fort Stevens State Park, Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Captain George Flavel House Museum, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Seaside Aquarium, Ecola State Park, Haystack Rock, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and Tillamook State Forest Interpretive Center.
If you have any suggestions on must see attractions to add to our little list please let us know and we’ll be happy to include it.
