Oregon Coast family road trips are just around the corner, so it’s time to start planning. These trips offer plenty to see and do for all ages, but we’ve highlighted spots kids are certain to love.
Cannon Beach – Pacific City – Lincoln City
Cannon Beach is a great place to start exploring the Oregon Coast. It’s about an hour and a half drive from Portland and it is home to the spectacular Haystack Rock featured in the movie “Goonies”.
With miles of sandy beach to explore, kids can tide pool, fly a kite, or run until they burn off their pent up energy. It’s an ideal place for a picnic lunch and there’s a great chocolate shop in the town if you want a decadent dessert.
Head back onto Highway 101 and stop at Cape Meares and visit the lighthouse and octopus tree. Alternatively, zip over to Tillamook and tour the cheese factory.
After a full day of activities, you’ll probably want to have a good meal, clean up, and watch a movie with the kids. Lincoln City is a great home base for a family holiday, because you can do many day trips from the area and it has everything kids love to do. The city features a putt and bat, arcade, bowling alley, and movie houses, plus several state parks with countless activities. Lincoln City also hosts a huge kite festival every summer.
While on your Oregon Coast family road trips, stay in a great oceanfront condominium. It costs much less expensive than a hotel and you won’t pay hefty booking fees. Plus you’ll have more space and amenities for the family such as games, books, and a big flat screen TV.
Lincoln City – Depoe Bay – Newport
After you’re rested, head south again. You’ll pass through Depoe Bay, dubbed the whale watching capital of the Oregon Coast. Its huge sea wall runs the length of the downtown area and grey whales often hang out in the bay. The bay also has an impressive spouting water horn you can see when the sea’s churning. It can reach 60 feet high when the pressure from the water beneath the lava beds forces it upwards into a breathtaking spray.
While continuing your journey southward, stop at Cape Foulweather. It is the point where Captain James Cook first spotted mainland North America and a storm almost led to his ship’s demise. It offers a panoramic view of the Pacific and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities.
Following that, you’ll spot the Yaquina Head Lighthouse on a distant bluff. During the winter, spring, and fall you’ll need to call to make arrangements for a tour, but it is well-worth a visit. It is 93-feet tall and full of memorabilia children enjoy.
When you reach Newport, you’ll find the Oregon Coast Aquarium, definitely worth seeing. You can watch them feed the animals or even have an encounter with certain creatures on a tour. They even have a family-combo so you can sleep in the aquarium amongst an exhibit.
If you don’t fancy driving back to Lincoln City, you’ll find more great beachfront accommodation at Depoe Bay. Why stay in a cramped hotel, when you can have all the amenities of home and more!?
