Tillamook

On arrival in Tillamook...
Stops include:
Visit famous Tillamook Cheese Factory for free award-winning medium cheddar cheese & and the 38 flavor ice cream tour.

• The New Tillamook Creamery Is a Dairy Lover's Dream Come True. Think Willy Wonka & the Cheese Factory.

Two floors and 42,000 square feet of ice cream, grilled cheese, movies, interactive milking exhibits, and—of course—heaps of free cheddar samples. Read More »

SEE THE CENTURY-OLD LIGHTHOUSE, OREGON'S BIGGEST TREE & ONE OF THE CHOICEST VIEWS AROUND

• Next is the Cape Meares Lighthouse (right) in the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint & Wildlife Refuge. Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint is situated on a headland 200 feet above the ocean. Cape Meares provides an excellent view of a colony of nesting common murres (the site is one of the most populous colonies of nesting sea birds on the continent). Bald eagles and peregrine falcons have also been known to nest near here. Located here is 'Big Spruce', Oregon's largest Sitka Spruce & the 'Octopus Tree' (left) are more terrific attractions in the area we will see. The Octopus tree is a giant Sitka Spruce that is 50 feet in circumference, and has six limbs that are 12-feet around, and no central trunk! (pictured).  -- READER
• Next is Oceanside, and the 3 Capes Route.

Along the 3 Capes Scenic Route in Netarts Bay, We Will:

• Get some oysters,
• feed the salmon &
• Sample America's Best Sea Salt

After Oceanside, we'll travel along Whiskey Creek Rd at Netarts Bay (known for their oysters, salmon & salt) to:

• Nevor Shellfish Market (Lg Oysters- 1 Dozen $10 / 2 Dozen - $18 / 5 Dozen - $40--Those are great deals) video - Olympia Oyster Bar launches a pop-up on the Coast (available every other weekend all summer long)
• Just 1 minute from Nevor Shellfish is Whiskey Creek Salmon Hatchery - Oregon's only all volunteer non-profit hatchery raising more than a 1/4 million salmon annually for anglers. Feed the fish, enjoy the grounds and come back regularly to monitor the growth of the salmon. Whiskey Creek Hatchery always welcome guests and new members to join in clipping, special kids fishing days, feeding fish and other events.
• Just 2 minutes from Whiskey Creek Fish Hatchery is Jacobsen Sea Salt (The Best Salt in America!) video

TAKE IN A FOREST FIRE
If time permits; a visit to the Tillamook Forest Center (about 35 minutes east of Tillamook along Route 6; milepost 22; Hours) is worth the stop-FREE. The highlight is a 15-minute film about the series of massive wildfires from 1933-1951 that scorched 350,000 acres of old-growth forest beginning in 1933, known collectively as the Tillamook Burn. There's also exhibits and a fire lookout. The movie is played in a surround-sound theater that glows an infernal red and is scented with smoke. If you had a 3rd round of drinks last night it may be too much for you--in which case a hike along the Wilson River may be at hand (see below).
HOP IN A SWIMMING HOLE
About 2 miles SW of the Forest Center, there's an idyllic bend of the river known as the Footbridge Day Use Area. It's a deep opal pool beneath Bridge Creek Falls, with 20 ft rock outcroppings. Depending on your energy level, you can hike from the museum along the river, taking in the lush forest, beaches, islands and Wilson Falls, or we can make a quick stop at this serene place of forest & water.

Tillamook Burn

Ouch!  View of Tillamook Fire, Oregon from airplane

"1938. Loaded log truck on steep grade. Meehan operation. Tillamook Burn, Oregon." by USDA Forest Service is licensed under CC PDM 1.0

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These are just a few of the many sights on the coast. You can keep heading down to the South and see many more on a multi-day itinerary.
DISCLAIMER: Not all stops listed above or below are on your itinerary.  Time restraints, group interests and other factors typically limit the sights we see.  Above and below are possible stops.

Includes:

• Tillamook (Sea Salt, Wasabi, Old-World Beer, Oysters & Salmon, Dairy) - video.
• Cape Meares Wildlife Refuge (hands-on century-old lighthouse experience; home to one of the choicest views around), Octopus Tree & 'Big Spruce', the largest Sitka Spruce in Oregon.
• 3 Capes Scenic Route (Cape Meares wildlife refuge, Cape Lookout-One of the top 10 day hikes in the US; hiking by request, Cape Kiwanda).  3 state parks for the price of one 40 mile drive.  It's a bit of an unhurried slice of life where the quiet times descend, eagles fly, waterfowl dive and the time gently rolls on its timeless way. It's a road where once taken; you'll never want to leave.
• Seaside villages of Oceanside, Netarts, Tierra Del Mar & others
• Cape Kiwanda (sand dunes hike?)
• Pacific City (Pelican Pub & Brewery & Haystack Rock) - A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of clam chowder.
• Lincoln City
• Cascade Head (rare plant, wildlife & grassland community)

Details: (some of our possibilities are below)
In Tillamook, we can:

• Pucker up to a wild-ale sour beer at the newly located De Garde Brewing; old-world style brewing (video).
• Visit the Blue Heron French Cheese Company for some free cheese tasting & almost free wine tasting where they also have a petting farm.
• Visit the Tillamook Air Museum, with WW2 era aircraft, vehicles & exhibits. A great optional stop.

Otherwise, we'll head straight to the little known beautiful 3 Capes Scenic Route (see VIDEO; Cape Meares wildlife refuge, Cape Lookout-One of the top 10 day hikes in the US; hiking by request, Cape Kiwanda). 3 state parks for the price of one 40 mile drive. It's a bit of an unhurried slice of life where the quiet times descend, eagles fly, waterfowl dive and the time gently rolls on its timeless way. It's a road where once taken; you'll never want to leave.)
Cape Meares Wildlife Refuge (hands-on century-old lighthouse experience; home to one of the choicest views around), Octopus Tree & 'Big Spruce', the largest Sitka Spruce in Oregon. From there we'll view the Three Arch Rocks (see VIDEO; Three Arch Rocks was declared a National Wildlife Refuge in the early 1900s by President Theodore Roosevelt. It is the home for many types of bird life and an area frequented by sea lions and hang gliders alike).
Then Cape Lookout State Park.  Trails and viewpoints are abundant. Hikers can visit the tip of Cape Lookout, a forested headland that juts more than 2 miles out to sea, for an optional 3-4 hour (5 mile) RT moderate hike* through moist old growth forests to the Pacific Ocean; harbor seals, sea birds and the best seat of the house for migratory grey whales parading past from December to June. It's precipitous lookouts offer gorgeous views south to Haystack Rock and north to 3 Arch Rocks. The trees are full of music of birds that dart across the trail as you walk. Gulls, eagles and cormorants soar, impossibly, below us as the trail climbs. (For overnight adventurers, the Cape Lookout State Park Campground with yurts and deluxe cabins is a nice place to stay.) 
*Extended hiking must be pre-arranged. Hiking any trails on the Oregon coast is not for the faint of heart.  Trails may be muddy and marked by steep drop-offs.  Trails may or may not be easy; wear layers for wind and/or rain and have a waterproof/windproof jacket and sensible shoes for mud and headgear.  Bring binoculars!  Taking any hike may extend your tour time, and this implies additional cost, please inquire.  
Next we'll visit the tiny village of Tierra Del Mar (scenic beach known for its wave action), Pacific City and the stunningly beautiful, rarely visited majestic Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.
Your little beach town of Pacific City was peopled in the 19th century with dairy farmers, loggers and fisherman. The town now offers a host of pleasing activities for kids and adults like beachcombing, hiking, sea kayaking and sand dune climbing on the Cape Kiwanda dune (Digging, backsliding, laughing and falling, you'll inch your way to the top of the towering dune to drink in the dramatic view of the 3 Capes Loop and Coast). All told, it looks like something from a movie set, especially from the patio of the Pelican Pub & Brewery at sunset on a Friday evening (A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of clam chowder.).
More about the 3 Capes Scenic Loop
Next, we'll travel back to Tillamook and on to Portland. If we continue south, there is Bob Straub State Park to Lincoln City (shops, restaurants, glass blowing and beachcombing along one of the longest stretches of beach on the Oregon coast) and Cascade Head Preserve, The Nature Conservancy's 270 acre preserve.  This spectacular coastal headland is a haven for rare plants, wildlife and grassland communities. These are just a few of the many sights on the coast. You can keep heading down South or up North and see many more on a multi-day itinerary.
DISCLAIMER: Not all stops may be on your itinerary.  Time restraints and other factors typically limit the sights we see.  Above are merely possibilities.

EATS:
From Astoria to Brookings, the Oregon Coast offers 363 miles of jaw-dropping coastline and natural beauty — sandy beaches, scenic viewpoints and quaint waterfront towns. But the Coast also serves up a host of culinary gems. Don’t miss the best chowder, fish and chips, craft beer and world famous hot dogs along Highway 101.

• Get that hamburger at the Salmonberry Saloon, made with Nehalem River Ranch’s lean, grass-fed beef.

The Salmonberry Saloon in Wheeler. Nehalem River Valley’s delectably spicy salad greens, Phil’s Wild Bread, and CSF’s fresh-off-the-boat rockfish. ("All of it is local,—right down to the Monarch vodka in the bar well.") And every order comes with a killer view of Nehalem Bay. This past March, the Salmonberry Saloon opened in a rough-shingled, bay-facing space most recently home to the Tsunami Grill. Like its dive-y predecessor, the Salmonberry makes the most of its stunning waterfront views. The Salmonberry’s menu proudly touts a cornucopia of high-end North Coast foodstuffs, from Nestucca Bay Creamery cheeses to seafood from Nevør Shellfish and Jeff Wong’s Garibaldi-based CS Fishery. Try the wild CSF halibut slathered in romesco and edible flowers from Manzanita’s Bird Song Bouquets..  Portland Monthly

• Old Oregon Smokehouse - Rockaway Beach  9 Restaurants along the Coast you must try before you die.
• The Fish Peddler @ Pacific Oyster Co. (5150 Hayes Oyster Dr. Bay City) - Voted by the Portland Business Journal as one of Oregon's Most Admired Companies.  "...but the Clam Chowder is still probably the Best I have ever had. We also had the baked oysters in the shell and they were excellent and fresh served on a bed of Salt which I think is very cool."  A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of clam chowder - "Best chowdah on the North Coast, probably the whole coast and likely the whole planet.  Every visit to Oregon Coast includes a trip to Pacific Oyster.  Have I mentioned their chowder?   Yeah.  It's good."  "First and foremost, Pacific Oyster is a seafood processing plant. You'll know it by the smell wafting up from the water and the piles of oyster shells on the ground nearby... The ambiance of the "dining room" is similar to that of a snack bar and while you eat you can watch the oysters being packed to be shipped all over the country. But you don't come to Pacific Oyster for the ambiance, you come for the super fresh, amazingly cheap seafood (think 12 baked oysters in the 1/2 shell over a bed of salt for $18!) And while you eat (if you arrive before Noon) you can watch the oysters being packed to be shipped all over the country. A window-lined back wall offers a view of workers showing their mastery of knives and muscles.

Wednesdays ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Oysters. $13.95
Fridays ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT Fish.

• Tillamook Cheese Factory Food Hall - The ground floor of Tillamook’s two-story site boasts a “food hall” style dining area that offers both classic and new menu items developed, in part, by Sarah Schafer, executive chef/owner of Portland’s Irving Street Kitchen. That means everything from Tillamook’s classic melted grilled cheese to a smoked-provolone and Monterey jack base for the creamery’s bacon & beer mac ‘n’ cheese. Speaking of beer, the menu will feature it (and also wine). And if you’re not feeling a heavy meal, there’s a coffee and yogurt bar where you can stack on topping like sweet berries, savory hazelnuts, or a swirl of whiskey barrel-aged maple syrup. The first floor also offers a seasonal outdoor patio to soak up summer sun over cold scoops of ice cream. And yes, long-time Creamery visitors, there will still be free cheese and ice cream samples.
• Blue Agate Cafe (Oceanside) serves an array of filling breakfast dishes in a cheery dining room bathed in natural light with black n white photos of the city. The Breakfast Sandy, stuffed with scrambled eggs, diced avocado, tomato, cheddar and bacon or sausage, is a steal at $8. For $1.50 more, the Beachcomber is a more traditional plate with 2 eggs, any style, the option of long, thick strips of bacon; country style potatoes and your choice of toast or biscuit.
• Roseanna's Cafe - Oceanside. Local Seafood.
• Pelican Pub & Brewery - A landmark destination - Pacific City (33180 Cape Kiwanda Dr.) The Coast has more than a dozen excellent craft breweries, but you can’t beat Pelican for the view. Tucked away along OR-6 & 101 in the little town of Pacific City, the beachside pub affords amazing views of Haystack Rock and surfers catching waves. Try the Kiwanda Cream Ale, which won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2014. A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of clam chowder.
• Mo's Chowder - Lincoln City, also Newport, Tolovana Park, Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, Otter Rock & Florence. A trip down the Coast wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Mo’s. Mo’s creamy, hot clam chowder has been an institution for more than 70 years. A hot bowl of chowder, oyster stew or seafood cioppino always hits the spot. You can also find house recipes on their website. Their clam chowder was featured as one of the Smithsonian's "Best American Regional Foods". A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of clam chowder.
• Beach Dog Cafe - Lincoln City
• Rising Star Cafe - offers gourmet food in Wheeler. A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of clam chowder.
• Fisherman's Korner - Geribaldi; offers great clam chowder and halibut fish & chips meals.
• Nevor Shellfish Market (Lg Oysters- 1 Dozen $10 / 2 Dozen - $18 / 5 Dozen - $40--Those are great deals) video - Olympia Oyster Bar launches a pop-up on the Coast (available every other weekend all summer long)

The North Coast Food Trail - These are thrilling experiences, about 60 excursions that are part of the new self-guided North Coast Food Trail, a brand-new initiative that makes it easy for visitors to explore the fishers, producers, harvesters, grocers and dairy farms along the 70 miles of coastline from Cannon Beach to Lincoln City. Choose your own adventure based on your interests — whether it’s breweries, wineries and distilleries; cooking schools; farmers markets; farms; foraging excursions; coastal lodging; restaurants; retail experiences; or special guided tours (or all of the above). Also check out the artisans and producers spotlighted in the trail’s first video.

OPTIONS/ADVENTURES:

• Kayaking
• Railroading
• Fall Foliage
• Hiking
• Military Museum
• Hatchery
• Crabbing
• Wine Tasting

 

• Kayak Tillamook at the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is one of six that make up the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex and part of the Tillamook County Water Trail system, recently designated as a national recreation trail. With the morning mist still hanging in the nearby hills, glide with the tide toward the ocean. Red-winged blackbirds trill to each other from the reeds. Pass clusters of herons on the sandbar in the middle of the river, bald eagles perched in trees and swooping osprey, and the curious and dog-like faces of harbor seals periscoping out of the water before sinking down again.

You might have feasted on fresh crab on the Oregon Coast, or even fished for your own supper. But have you gone clamming by kayak, in the pristine waters of Netarts Bay or the Nehalem River? You can sign up for one of those guided trips through Kayak Tillamook, which offers dozens of tours for visitors, March through October. The clamming trips take you paddling during special “clamming tides,” which are the lowest tides of the year. With a little expert help (and all gear provided), you can find cockles, native littlenecks, gapers, butters, geoducks, softshell and purple varnish clams and take home your catch limit for dinner.
It’s a thrilling experience, just one of about 60 excursions that are part of the new self-guided North Coast Food Trail (above), a brand-new initiative that makes it easy for visitors to explore the fishers, producers, harvesters, grocers and dairy farms along the 70 miles of coastline from Cannon Beach to Lincoln City. Choose your own adventure based on your interests — whether it’s breweries, wineries and distilleries; cooking schools; farmers markets; farms; foraging excursions; coastal lodging; restaurants; retail experiences; or special guided tours (or all of the above).

• Oregon Coast Historic Scenic Railroad - Enjoy a slow-paced relaxing journey along beautiful Tillamook Bay, with views of the Pacific Ocean. 1½ hour Coastal Excursion from Garibaldi or Rockaway Beach or 3 hour journey departing from Wheeler on the Dinner Train, Fall Splendor Train or Salmonberry Picnic Train.
• Oregon Coast Railriders - Pedal the Rails!
• In The Fall (please inquire)
  • Fall Foliage Back Road Route To Nehalem/Wheeler (Tillamook). Take the back road!
  • Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area, 4 County Point Trail and Fall Foliage Route - View wildlife, hike 1 mile & see the colors along the Fall Foliage Back Road Route.
• Hike Cascade Head - http://www.myoregon.com/Hike_Cascade_Head
• Tillamook Air Museum (a national treasure; nearly 40 still-flying war birds; largest free-standing wooden structure in the world-WWII Navy Blimp Hanger) - VIDEO
• Whiskey Creek Fish Hatchery (Tillamook)
• Crabbing or Clamming @ Big Spruce - At Big Spruce R.V. Park they have boat rentals which allow you to enjoy a trip out on Netarts Bay for 3 hours with 3 crab rings and bait for each ring to catch you some crab. Give Zack Kiser (Crab Master & Manager) a call with your reservations (503) 842-7443
• Cape Lookout Hike - VIDEO
• Pacific City Dory Days (in July)
• Cascade Head
• Cape Lookout

OREGON WINE TASTING

• Blue Heron French Cheese Co. (Tillamook, Wine Tasting & Cheese)

LODGING:

• Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa - Pacific City
• Cottages at Cape Kiwanda - Pacific City
• Idyllic Beach House
• Salishan Spa & Golf Resort - Gleneden Beach
• 'Sometimes A Great Notion' Lincoln City Vacation Rental
• Consider overnighting in a YURT at Cape Lookout.  Yurts have been a featured part of Oregon State Parks for pretty close to twenty years and for less than thirty bucks they are pretty tough to beat. Inside, you will find a futon that makes down, a bunk bed, plus a table and chairs. There is indoor lighting and heating and you’re only a stone’s throw away from one of the most fabulous beaches along the northern Oregon coast.
• www.oregonshearwater.com
  • The Romance of the Sea - a studio for couples only, in Lincoln City (on property with the Shearwaterhouse) Winter weekend rate $135 per night; high season $145 per night.  Midweek (Sun-Thurs) during low season $99 per night. The rates above reflect only the rental rates.  Each house also has occupancy tax, cleaning fees and refundable damage deposit. 503-245-5969
  • The Shearwaterhouse - 3BR, 3BA house in Lincoln City, sleeps 8, Rates:  Winter weekends $225 per night, high season $250 per night; Midweek (Sun-Thurs) during low season $170 per night.The rates above reflect only the rental rates.  Each house also has occupancy tax, cleaning fees and refundable damage deposit. 503-245-5969

REQUIREMENTS (TRAIL & BEACH HIKING):

• A Trailhead Release Agreement is required to hike any Oregon Coast trail or beach.*

* Extended hiking must be pre-arranged. Hiking any trails on the Oregon coast is not for the faint of heart.  Trails may be muddy and marked by steep drop-offs.  Trails may or may not be easy; wear layers for wind and/or rain and have a waterproof/windproof jacket and sensible shoes for mud and headgear.  Bring binoculars!  Taking any hike may extend your tour time, and this implies additional cost, please inquire.