Oregon's Underrated City Is A Coastal Gem With A Panoramic Beach
The Oregon coast is a magical place, where the roaring waves of the Pacific meet wide, windswept beaches. It's a place of great beauty, with towering cliffs, hidden coves, estuaries, and mesmerizing natural wonders. It's also dotted with dozens of charming little communities like Yachats, a seaside town with rocky shorelines and quirky shops, as well as the underrated Pacific City.
Situated on a scenic stretch of coast beneath the sandy rise of Cape Kiwanda, this old-school fishing spot has now become a haven for surfers, beachcombers, kite-flyers, and anyone wishing to lose their stresses to the panoramic beach views. This settlement of just over 1,600 is more of a village than a town, but there are still enough shops, restaurants, and accommodations to satisfy your needs, along with a craft beer brewpub (this is Oregon, after all). Pacific City also borders both a state park and a national wildlife refuge. It's a quaint coastal refuge surrounded by sea, river, and coastal mountains blanketed in towering Douglas firs, making it an ideal getaway from Portland, whose airport is just two hours away by car.
Lose yourself in the serenity of Pacific City
The beach is the star of the show in Pacific City, and nothing beats strolling along its soft sands while the ocean breeze whips through your hair. While walking, keep on the lookout for tide pools — especially at the base of Cape Kiwanda — where sea anemones, crabs, sea stars, and other marine creatures exist together in a tiny pristine world. Also make sure to climb the massive sand dune to the top of Cape Kiwanda. This 240-foot rise is the perfect panoramic vantage point to take in the scene unfolding beneath, including the beach's iconic sea stack, Haystack Rock. Also make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the breaching forms of gray whales, who pass by the Oregon coast during the spring and fall migrations.
One nice thing about Pacific City's beach is that, like many on the Oregon coast, it allows beach fires. These can be cozy any time of day depending on the temperature (it can be chilly on this part of the coast even in the summer). Just keep them small and away from vegetation. And while you're out exploring, make sure to head into Bob Straub State Park, which lies just south of town. This small preserve offers more beach access which ends in the Nestucca Sand Spit, a narrow piece of land that extends out into the mouth of the Nestucca River, which is famous for its giant salmon.
Speaking of seafood, Pacific City is a fishing hub and home to a dory fleet. Local fishermen use these small, wooden, flat-bottomed boats to catch salmon, rockfish, ling cod, and Dungeness crab. Watching them launch into the surf each morning is a unique experience and makes you appreciate the work they put in to reap the bounty of the sea.
Eat and drink just feet from the beach in Pacific City
After you've worked up a thirst or an appetite, head into town to sample the local fare. For excellent craft beer and seafood-based pub grub, stop by Pelican Brewing. This town institution serves up locally crafted ales and food, with excellent views of the blue Pacific and Haystack Rock. Alternatively, the Riverhouse sits in a restored wooden building overlooking the Nestucca River and serves up seasonal seafoods and spirits, while just next door, the elegant and upscale Dew Restaurant specializes in Japanese-style tasting menus made from locally grown and foraged ingredients. Beach Walk does quality Asian fusion, and Doryland is the go-to spot for pizza. For local wines — including plenty of Oregon pinot noir — pop into PC Pour, which also offers charcuterie-style small plates.
For accommodations, the friendly Anchorage Motel offers plenty of comfort, cleanliness, and great value just a short drive from the beach. Inn at Cape Kiwanda is a solid home base with excellent views; Surf & Sand Inn offers unpretentious coastal comfort; and Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa features a touch of luxury hard to find elsewhere in the area, with private balconies, fine dining, and oceanfront rooms. While the Oregon coast is undeniably beautiful, it's also misty and foggy, so for something brighter, head to the state's "sunny little secret," Toledo.