Having need to see the coast!

  Hey all,

  Where would be a good spot to head to (Day trip) from Portland area, to see the coast, take a few pictures to jones the wife?
In California I'd simply drive up Hwy1 out of Santa Cruz to fix this fix, but being new to area, I need help.  I suspect I could take what? 26/30? all the way out?  (This pc at work doesn't have google earth otherwise I'd just look at it)  I realize it'll be about an 1 1/2 -2 hr drive, but that doesn't bother me.
  Eventually I'd like to do some surf fishing as well, so this could be a scouting trip as well.
Thanks for any tips & info!

Troy

Do you want scenic coast or just the coast?

Take hwy 26 all the way out and south on 101 to Cannon Beach for a small but still touristy town on the beach.  Just north of Cannon Beach is Ecola State Park/Indian Beach for a more rugged coast feel.

Brian

P.S. No need for google earth.. just use google maps.



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  Duh... I never think to use google maps I always just use google earth.   Thanks for the info, yes I was thinking about a scenic portion.  But, if the little touristy town has patches & hat pins, I'll be there! 

Cannon Beach and Ecola are great.  The tide pools are great for kids as well (for those that have kids).

From Cannon Beach you can head south on 101 for a nice stretch of the coast, end up in Tillamook Bay and then return towards PDX via Hwy 6. This makes a nice loop for a day trip, with more possible activities than is possible to fit in a day.

There are a bunch of day use state parks south of Cannon Beach, including Oswald West. If the weather is nice, there is a short trail down to a protected cove, popular with surfers. Just south of there, you'll be up on the side of Neahkahnie Mtn, with killer views. Next is the town of Manzanita, which is a little quieter (and cheaper) than Cannon Beach. Next is Nehalem Bay (another state park, too), then south of there is Rockaway, then Garibaldi at the north end of Tillamook Bay. Good variety in terrain and towns.

http://www.spectacularoregon.com/coast/north/threecapes.htm

The three capes loop is nice as well, and not far from Tillamook.  Don't forget to get your cheese curds (aka Squeeky Cheese, as my 4 year old calls it) from the cheese factory.  Yum!

Check out the Tillamook Cheese Factory for some good food.  It's not a fancy, sit down restaurant style place, but the food is very good and the price is right too.  Best breakfast on the coast as far as I'm concerned, and a nice selection of ice cream too.