9 Most Breathtaking Towns On The Pacific Coast
The Pacific Coast of the US, also known as the West Coast, is full of natural beauty. With so many small towns in the states of Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington, there is no shortage of dream destinations. There is also a wealth of history, outdoor recreation, and unique downtown strips to explore, and the western coastline holds dramatic scenery for miles. These are the most breathtaking towns on the coast to consider for your next Pacific getaway.
Monterey, California
Once known as the "Sardine Capital of the World" during the Cannery Row era, Monterey is an alluring destination on the California coast. The Monterey Museum of Art presents a range of portraits and pieces with a focus on artists from California, past and present. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, visitors are invited to explore the underwater world with interactive exhibits that include a living kelp forest, penguins, sea otters, and a giant Pacific octopus.
For more close encounters with sea creatures, Coast Guard Pier is a popular spot for a walk and a bit of wildlife photography, as sea lions sunbathe on the rocks just offshore. For a definitive hiking adventure, one can try Jacks Peak Park, the highest point on the Monterey Peninsula, where you can explore the forest and the valley below on foot or even on horseback.
Yachats, Oregon
Yachats is a coastal village of roughly 700 people with history to spare. The Yachats Covered Bridge is an excellent example. Built in 1938 and restored in 1989, it is one of the few covered bridges left standing near the Oregon coast, most of the state's surviving spans being inland. Thor's Well is the other landmark people come for. Set into the rock shelf at Cape Perpetua, about three miles south of town, it appears to be a bottomless sinkhole draining the Pacific. Watch it from well back, as sneaker waves along this shelf have killed visitors.
In town, Bread & Roses Bakery is a favorite for those who appreciate good food made with fresh, wholesome ingredients. Others may like Luna Sea Fish House, a rustic seafood spot owned by a local fisherman. It doesn't get more authentic than that.
Skagway, Alaska
Located in southeastern Alaska at the head of the Lynn Canal, Skagway is a town of about 1,200 that knows how to roll out the welcome mat. The Skagway Museum takes visitors back in time through artifacts and photographs from the Klondike Gold Rush, and much of the historic downtown is preserved as part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. For a true Alaskan adventure, Glacier Point Wilderness Safari is a must. The tour explores fjords, glaciers, and rainforests by boat, on foot, and even paddling in a voyageur canoe.
For a more accessible excursion, the trail to Lower Reid Falls behind the Gold Rush Cemetery is short and easy, and rewards with views of the cascade dropping through the trees. Once you've worked up an appetite, 1898 Burgers N' Shakes is what every traveler needs, with smash burgers and vintage milkshakes.
Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor is an unforgettable destination on Washington's San Juan Island, and the only incorporated town in the county. The Whale Museum offers educational tours and interactive exhibits that promote the safety and protection of wild whale species in the Salish Sea ecosystem. Meanwhile, Lime Kiln Point State Park covers 36 acres of rugged coastline and is considered one of the best places in the world to watch whales from shore.
Amaro Farm is great for family excursions, with sheep tours and hands-on education in a rural setting. Madrone is a fine spot to toast a good day. Visit the cidery and tour the grounds, then head to the bistro on 1st Street for a glass of your favorite paired with small plates.
Mendocino, California
Mendocino offers many options for a memorable getaway. At the Kelley House Museum, guides offer Victorian tours of restored household artifacts and the history of the logging settlement, while Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park is a fine place for sunbathing and walking the sandy shoreline. Be cautious in the water here, as cold temperatures, rip currents, and sneaker waves make this a poor swimming beach.
Those who visit the Temple of Kwan Tai will be impressed by its bright architecture and painted staircases. Built by Chinese immigrants in the 1850s, it is one of the oldest Chinese temples in California still standing on its original site. For hungry travelers, Cafe Beaujolais serves French cuisine and continental dishes in a Victorian farmhouse, with a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients and seasonal flavors.
Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay is one of Oregon's more underrated destinations, and the largest community on the state's coast. The Coos Art Museum is a social and cultural hub for artists and art lovers alike, offering exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and community events, and it occupies a former Art Deco post office downtown. Mingus Park is home to serene walking trails that wind around manicured grounds and a Japanese-style garden with a pond.
For a different sort of shopping, Vintage 101 is a trove of one-of-a-kind bargains and gifts. To whet your appetite, Blue Heron Bistro is a Bavarian restaurant with traditional German decor and cuisine.
Valdez, Alaska
Valdez is equal parts historic treasure and natural haven. The Valdez Museum introduces visitors to exhibits on the town's history on Prince William Sound, including the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, which destroyed the original townsite and forced the community to move four miles to more stable ground. A trip to Valdez Glacier Lake promises photogenic icebergs and clear water for kayaking in summer, and snowshoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and even snowmobiling in winter.
Keystone Canyon is a hiker's dream, with Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls pouring off walls that tell the story of a landscape shaped over millions of years. At the end of a big day, The Stampmill is a local favorite for pizza and good times with friends in a casual, inviting space.
Sequim, Washington
Sequim pulls out all the stops for visitors to the region. The Sequim Museum & Arts is free to enter and home to a wide variety of local exhibits and historical collections that highlight the region's economic, cultural, and social development. As for natural beauty, the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge protects Dungeness Spit, the longest natural sand spit in the United States, with a five-mile walk out to the New Dungeness Lighthouse at the end of it. The Dungeness River Nature Center offers guided wildflower walks and hosts community events through the year.
Sequim sits in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and gets a fraction of the rainfall of the coast, which is why lavender grows here and why the town bills itself the lavender capital of North America. Just north of town, Olympic Game Farm is a drive-through attraction where visitors view bears, llamas, elk, and bison from the car. For a different sort of evening, 7 Cedars Casino, owned by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, offers gaming, dining, and live entertainment.
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is really something special. At the Museum of Make Believe, a nonprofit built by a team of local artists, the art of storytelling comes alive across 1,000 square feet of hand-built forest set, dressed with mystical trees, fireflies, and original paintings and sculptures. The Pirate Tower at Victoria Beach is another notable spot. Built in 1926 by a state senator who wanted access to the beach from his home on the cliff, the 60-foot structure has become a landmark and a backdrop for many a photo shoot.
Thousand Steps Beach is reached by a long public staircase down the bluff, closer to 220 steps than a thousand, and is known for soft sand, heavy surf, and a sea cave at the south end for those keen to explore. Laguna Beach has been an artists' colony for more than a century, and the summer Festival of Arts and its Pageant of the Masters, where volunteers pose as figures in famous paintings, has run since the 1930s. To really live like a local, La Vida Laguna offers surf lessons and kayak tours of the area.
Planning A Pacific Coast Trip
These coastal towns are strong options for any itinerary that calls for history, nature, and cultural immersion. The practical thing to know is how far apart they sit. Laguna Beach and Skagway are separated by about 2,000 miles and a border, and the Alaska stops are reached by ferry, plane, or cruise ship rather than by the highway that connects the rest. Pick one state and work its coastline, or pair Monterey and Mendocino on a single California run and save the north for another year.
