6 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns On The Pacific Coast
Extending from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula all the way down to the dramatic bluffs of California’s Central Coast, America’s Pacific Ocean seaboard spans three states, two tectonic plates, and several unique microclimates. Yet while stops like Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco can be found in any guidebook, scores of smaller yet equally interesting communities are all too often overlooked... until now.
To reveal what you might be missing out on, we’ve selected six of the best such places to whet your appetite. And while their modest size keeps tourist traffic low, their stunning settings on headlands, bays, and beaches make them well worth a visit. Find out more with a few of our favorite off-the-beaten-path towns on the Pacific Coast of the United States.
Fort Bragg, California
Established in 1857 as a military outpost and later becoming a lumber port serving Northern California, Fort Bragg still feels very much like a blast from the past. Fishing vessels bump up against Noyo Harbor pilings, while diners queue patiently for fish-and-chips at Sea Pal Cove, a dockside eatery that’s also famous for its clam chowder. After getting your fill of seafood (or perhaps even before), hop aboard the 1885-built Skunk Train for a ride through magnificent coastal redwood forests. This spectacular seven-mile journey can be combined with fun railbike tours and tours of the old roundhouse, too.
Another must-visit attraction in this off-the-beaten-path destination is the 47-acre Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, popular for its year-round banksia blooms and ocean views. Just two miles north of Fort Bragg near MacKerricher State Park, Glass Beach is famous for its unique glass pebbles, the legacy of an early-20th-century dump long since reclaimed by the sea.
Round off your visit with a stay at the North Cliff Hotel, a quaint inn perched above the mouth of the Noyo River. The boutique-style, pet-friendly Noyo Harbor Inn is another great option and boasts a first-rate on-site restaurant patio overlooking the river.
Yachats, Oregon
Located mid-way up the Oregon coast, tiny Yachats (pronounced “yah-hots”) sits at the foot of Cape Perpetua, a spectacular 2,700-acre headland that’s well worth a visit. Downtown Yachats is certainly compact, consisting of just a few blocks of retail, heritage homes, and other old buildings, but it is still a delightful place to explore. If hikes are your thing, head to the former Civilian Conservation Corps camp to the south of town. Built in 1933, a highlight is the West Shelter, now a scenic lookout in the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Seated 800 feet above the Pacific, the dramatic views over the Pacific Coast are simply breathtaking. It’s also part of a 26-mile trail network that meanders through tracts of spruce and Sitka alder to remote tidal pools.
If you’re looking for a good time to visit, Independence Day brings the joyously eccentric La De Da Parade to town. Residents dress their pooches to the nines, costumed parade participants party, and colorful displays by the quirky Yachats Precision Umbrella Drill Team catch attention. October brings with it the Yachats Mushroom Festival featuring guided foraging walks and wild fungi tasting workshops. As for accommodations, the oceanfront Overleaf Lodge with its spa and seawater soaking tubs, and the Adobe Resort with its access to the Smelt Sands, are both excellent 3-star options.
La Conner, Washington
Set on the Swinomish Channel 70 miles north of Seattle, La Conner flourished as a steamboat refueling stop before reinventing itself as a Skagit Valley arts enclave. The Museum of Northwest Art stages rotating retrospectives of Whidbey Island by artists inspired by the area’s natural beauty, and this popular 20th-century art movement (admission is free). The La Conner Historic District is a must-visit and features several great places to buy souvenirs, including handwoven Salish blankets (La Conner Seaside Gallery is a great choice for shopping).
The town’s also known for its connection to tulips, with local producers Tulip Town and RoozenGaarde being must-visit. If you can, try to catch the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April. This month-long celebration sees many acres of these colorful flowers in bloom at several area producers (free shuttle buses are available).
Need somewhere to stay? Waterfront rooms at the La Conner Channel Lodge overlook bustling boat traffic in the town harbor while quaint Katy’s Inn, set in a 1876 Victorian-era home, boasts a charming wrap-around porch top to relax on.
Cambria, California
Cambria is located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco and serves as an ideal spot from which to pick up the iconic Big Sur Coast Highway, one of the country’s most famous scenic drives. But don’t be too quick to pass Cambria without stopping. Head to Moonstruck Lookout State Park first for its dramatic views over the Pacific and Moonstone Beach (you may even spot a harbor seal or two).
In-town highlights include folk-artist Arthur Beal’s absurdist homestead, Nitt Witt Ridge. Though no longer open for public tours, you can still walk past and grab a photo of this unique home literally carved out of the hillside by its creator. Another unique architectural gem is Hearst Castle, a short drive outside of town. Book a tour of the Grand Rooms of William Randolph Hearst’s 115-room Mediterranean Revival estate and its famous Neptune Pool (reservations are required).
Local festivals to pin your visit on include the Cambria Scarecrow Festival in October, when 500 of these scarecrows are lined up along Main Street. December’s Cambria Christmas Market, with its more than three million LED lights and traditional Bavarian glühwein and stalls, is also a great time to visit. Top it off with a stay at Cambria Pines Lodge, known for wood-fired pizza nights, or the cozy FogCatcher Inn.
Bandon, Oregon
Named after a town in Ireland, Bandon was to play an important role in Oregon’s early shipbuilding industry, with its first schooner launched in 1888. Today, Bandon offers those willing to take the road less traveled a mix of interesting agricultural produce (it’s big on cranberries), coastal wildlife refuges, as well as world-class links golf. For lovely Pacific scenery, head to Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint, a stunning basalt promontory with (if you look carefully) a cliff bearing the visage of a Native American woman turned to stone. It also serves as a great spot for whale-watching during December and March migrations.
A few miles inland, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort now spans seven Scottish links-style courses designed by David McLay Kidd and Tom Doak, drawing purists who prefer walking between greens as they soak up the amazing coastal scenery. Golfers and beachcombers alike will enjoy staying in one of the ocean-view rooms at the Inn at Face Rock, an easy jaunt away from a brew and seafood chowder at Bandon Brewing’s converted creamery taproom.
Port Townsend, Washington
Victorian-era facades front nearly every street in Port Townsend’s 200-acre National Historic Landmark District. Established in 1977 to preserve the town’s unspoiled 1880s maritime-influenced architecture, it’s a delightful place for a stroll. Walking tours take in pleasant public spaces like Jackson Tidal Park and Pope Marine Park with their views over Indian Island, and the Point Hudson Breakwater Walkway for stunning on-water views of Point Hudson Marina. The Rotary Centennial Beach Trail is equally fun for a stroll, with the potential for serious walkers to hike all the way to Point Wilson Lighthouse three miles away, hugging the shoreline the whole way.
Fort Worden State Park is a must-visit that can easily last a few hours. One of three Endicott-era coastal forts safeguarding Puget Sound, it was opened in 1902 (though not completed until 1917) and covers an area of 433 acres, much of which can be explored along its 11-mile-long trail network. Other highlights include original concrete batteries, a maritime science center, beaches, and a campsite. If camping’s not your thing, book a stay at the Palace Hotel, set in a former bordello dating from 1889, close to Water Street cafés, or the turreted Old Consulate Inn with its awesome harbor views.
The Final Word
Exploring the Pacific Coast’s less-traveled towns pays big dividends for those curious enough to make the effort. Benefits include far less traffic (both human and vehicular), a slower pace of life, stunning scenery, and main streets that seem untouched by time. For readers eager for an excuse to escape the crowd, these six off-the-beaten-path towns in the Pacific Coast region of the United States are waiting to be discovered.
