9 Prettiest Main Streetscapes on the Pacific Coast
The beach towns along the Pacific Coast are known for their laid-back lifestyles and stunning natural beauty. Some of those small towns also have pretty main streets running through their downtowns. These streets are lined with local shops like Zinger's Homemade Ice Cream in Seaside, Oregon, serving up unique ice cream flavors. They host street festivals such as the Carmel Art Festival in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where artists paint the surrounding scenery. They include roadside attractions like Troxel's Rock Garden in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, displaying local stones and native plants. And they even have stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, like from the Mendocino Cliffs Trail, in Mendocino, California. These towns may be known for their beaches, but the main streets enhance the natural beauty of the coastline.
Carpinteria, California
The beach at Carpinteria, California, has been marketed as "World's Safest Beach" since the 1920s.The Channel Islands off the coast shelter the beaches from large surf. Today, "The World's Safest Beach" mural is painted on the side of a building along Linden Avenue, the pretty main streetscape running through town. The mural was painted by artist John Wullbrandt, who also painted the mural "The Carpinteria Valley: A Growing Heritage." Decorative murals have been painted throughout the small town as part of a revitalization plan, adding to the pretty streetscape.
Palm trees line Linden Avenue as it runs from the waterfront beach towards the distant mountains. This pretty surrounding landscape has attracted numerous artists, and the Carpinteria Arts Center showcases their work in rotating exhibits in the center's gallery. The center also hosts numerous events, from a concert series to a poetry contest, and a regular Arts and Craft Faire in the Koch Courtyard, where local artisans can highlight their work.
The annual California Avocado Festival spreads out across the small town each October. Crowds fill the street to hear more than 60 bands on 4 stages. Vendors sell food, arts, and crafts, and locally grown avocados are on hand to taste, eat, and celebrate.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
The trees line the pretty Ocean Avenue, and the surrounding streets, each prettier than the next. At the center of town, Carmel Plaza has shops and restaurants. National luxury brands like Tiffany & Co sit comfortably alongside local retailers like Khaki's of Carmel. Casual eateries like Dutch Door Donuts handmake classic beignets and unique donuts with flavors like rosemary garlic butter.
Across the street, Devendorf Park hosts the Carmel Art Festival each May. The show includes 60 juried artists painting competitively over several days leading into the festival. The festival also has a Quick Draw on The Avenue where artists paint along the pretty streetscape, and guests can watch them work.
Carmel Art Walk celebrates local art galleries in the evenings every Second Saturday each month. With 18 local galleries to explore, including Carmel Modern and the photography-focused Carmel Vibes Gallery, visitors have plenty of options while walking through Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Pacific Grove, California
Each October, migrating Monarch butterflies cover pine, cypress, and eucalyptus trees at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Pacific Grove, California. Disturbing the insects can carry a $1,000 fine. The sanctuary sits just off Lighthouse Avenue, the pretty main street running through Pacific Grove.
At the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, visitors can enjoy the permanent collections on local heritage, native plants, and a taxidermied ornithology collection, or temporary exhibits incorporating art and nature. The museum keeps a busy events schedule too, with events like sea otter viewing and volunteer time working in the native plant garden.
Downtown Pacific Grove includes the Carmel Doll Shop and Grovian Doll Museum, which offers in-store shopping and tours by appointment only. This specialty store has just about anything a doll-lover could want, from doll houses to clothing. The shop deals in rare and unique vintage dolls, as well as historic wooden dolls, porcelain, papier-mache, and stuffed dolls. Monarch Knitting has supplies for all sorts of fiber arts, with yarn, patterns, and needles. The shop also hosts classes in crochet and knitting, and offers low-cost "help table" service too.
Mendocino, California
Named by early Spanish explorers to honor Antonio de Mendoza, the Viceroy of New Spain, Mendocino, California, grew into the center of the 19th-century coastal logging industry before evolving into a 20th-century artist colony. Today, the scenic Main Street is lined with art galleries on one side and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean on the other.
The Artists' Co-op of Mendocino keeps a gallery just off this pretty street. The co-op hosts exhibitions of members' works each month, along with talks from the artists, and the space is open daily for viewing.
Trails through Mendocino Headlands State Park extend from Main Street onto the coastal headlands. The paths follow the blufftops through Mendocino Headlands State Park, offering views of sea arches and hidden grottos. The area is part of the Mendocino Headlands State Park that includes the historic Ford House. The house serves as a museum, located right on Main Street. Inside is a scale model of Mendocino, and exhibits on gray whales that pass through the area during seasonal migrations, and the historic logging industry.
The mouth of the Big River meets the Pacific Ocean at Mendocino. Big River Beach can be accessed by wandering down from Main Street on several trails or by driving around to a parking lot. The Big River Trail extends eastward along the river here into 7,334 acres preserved by Mendocino Land Trust.
Rockaway Beach, Oregon
In 1908, a sailing ship, the Emily G. Reed, ran aground just off the coast of Rockaway Beach, Oregon, at low tide. As the ship began to break up, several sailors escaped on a lifeboat drifting 200 miles north rather than swimming to shore. Today, the wooden remains of the ship can appear on the beach, uncovered by the shifting sands. The Oregon Coast Highway, the pretty main street through town, runs along the coastline with views of the water and beaches.
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad departs from the depot just off the main strip. The railroad operates a historic steam engine and diesel locomotive on excursion trains. Special Oktoberfest trains include optional drinks, traveling as far as Wheeler, Oregon.
Along the main strip, Troxel's Rock Garden is a classic roadside attraction. A yellow brick road wends around an outdoor sculptural park that includes miniature golf greens. The garden showcases rocks, minerals, and plants, and is maintained by Troxel's Gem & Jewelry Co., located next door. The shop features unique jewelry and art pieces made with rare minerals and gems.
But Rockaway Beach is also the perfect spot to relax with a cold beer. Pelican Brewing at Rockaway Beach offers just that. The brewery's lineup of beers is beach themed, like Pelican Beach beer, an easy-sipping beverage designed for chilling out on the sand.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
The USS Shark became the first naval warship to transit the Strait of Magellan, leaving the Atlantic Ocean for service in the Pacific. Unfortunately, soon after surveying the Columbia River, the boat sank. When a stray cannon washed up on shore, an early settler named the area Cannon Beach. That original cannon is on display at the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. Other rotating exhibits include a look at art, indigenous people, and historically significant locals. The museum also hosts the John Williams Lecture Series, featuring history and politics.
On the main strip, at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Hemlock Street, is another location of the Pelican Brewing Company, where they serve beer alongside a menu of sandwiches, burgers, flatbreads, and chowder. Nearby, the Wayfarer restaurant overlooks the beach. The dining room offers views of the surf and rock formations off the coast, and serves up a selection of seasonal, local seafood like Dungeness crab and Oregon razor clams.
Just up the street, the Icefire Glassworks is a gallery featuring glassworks inspired by the sea and natural beauty of the region. The gallery showcases the work of a select group of artists working within similar themes.
Seaside, Oregon
Further up the coast, the Necanicum River splits Seaside, Oregon's pretty main street in two. Broadway runs from the beach inland before crossing a bridge. Small shops and restaurants line the streets on both sides, like Schwietert's Cones & Candy. The shop has homemade chocolates and fudge, toys for the kids, bulk jelly beans and taffy, and ice cream. Two blocks closer to the beach, Zinger's Homemade Ice Cream focuses on creating unique flavors like Marionberry and Banana Pudding.
Along Broadway, there are also arcades filled with fun entertainment like bumper cars, vintage video games, and carnival games, like at Funland. Just down the street is Ten Tiny Tees, an indoor mini golf course. For a more advanced entertainment experience, the latest high-tech immersion experiences can be accessed at Seaside VR. A few blocks off the strip, the fully digital immersion uses the player's body as the controller to navigate a virtual world.
Broadway is more than just a pretty street, though. It also serves as the stage for events and festivals like the Seaside car show and Wheels & Waves. Vintage cars line up on the street for an evening cruise. Seaside also has a First Saturday Art Walk where galleries and shops highlight their work, including Pacific Heirloom and Collectibles.
Seabrook, Washington
Founded in 2004, the planned community of Seabrook is specifically designed to be a pedestrian-friendly, walkable town. The pretty streetscapes here include several short, twisty streets at the center designed to serve as a community gathering point, with Market Street at the heart of the community.
In summer, the Seabrook Saturday Market spreads across Market Street with local artwork, artisan goods, fresh food, and regional vendors. A block over at the Sunset Amphitheater, outdoor concerts bring music to the community through the Sunset Concert Series and the September Encore Series. The Seabrook Arcade is just next door, filled with retro arcade machines, Skee-Ball, and claw games.
The Pacific Glen Beach Access passes a wooden gazebo overlooking the beach and the Pacific Ocean. Adjacent to this is the Pacific Glen Esplanade, a short gravel pathway to access the beachfront homes with views of the trees and beach. For a moderately challenging hike, follow the North Glen Trail near the town center. The short woodland trail is a third of a mile, but includes moderate terrain. In all, Seabrook has two dozen trails intended for hiking, mountain biking, and mixed use.
Seward, Alaska
The 13-year-old boy who designed the flag for the Territory of Alaska was living in Seward when he won the design contest in 1927. The flag he created, depicting the Big Dipper, has since become Alaska's state flag. The Benny Benson Memorial, honoring the boy, sits just at the edge of town.
The beauty of Seward's main streetscape includes the mountains surrounding the community visible from all directions, looming over the small buildings along 4th Avenue. Located at the southern end of town, 4th Avenue ends at the waterfront. Here, at Hoben Park, the Iditarod Trail's Mile 0 is marked with a plaque and statue. While today the Iditarod is an internationally recognized dog sled race, the original trail system was designed to transport people, resources, and goods into the wilderness. The 2,400-mile system originally served the gold rush prospectors connecting camps along the frontier, but was reopened in the 1970s to showcase the talented dog sled teams.
Bars line the end of 4th Avenue, including the seasonal Seward Brewing Company, which serves pub food alongside a rotating selection of house and guest beers. Yukon Bar on the next block is over 80 years old; the one-time hardware store is now also a live music venue.
It may not be possible to see Russia from Seward, but it is possible to shop at The Russian Store. The shop has a huge selection of nesting dolls, Soviet themed clothing, Marxist labor posters, and other unique, Russian-themed gifts.
These Pretty Streets Have Lots to Offer
The pretty streets of these small Pacific Coast towns are filled with fun, from arcades in Seabrook, Washington, to bumper cars in Seaside, Oregon. Arts and culture are prominent in these communities, including the Artists' Co-op of Mendocino Gallery and its work by local artists. Many have local breweries to serve up something distinct to the area, like Pelican Brewing in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, or Seward Brewing Company in Seward, Alaska. The unique character of these towns makes them great destinations for people with a variety of interests, but what makes them special is that they all have pretty main streets running through their towns.
