The 6 Can't-Miss Towns In Oregon

Pacific beaches, mountains, and the mighty Columbia ring the Beaver State, making Oregon one of the best for adventure. Next to Washington, Oregon both aspires to its neighbor and avoids becoming overpopulated. The locals don't take nature for granted, savoring blissful moments of the lucky hand in life, and they have been dealt with year-round opportunities in the great outdoors.

Offering local hospitality to the curious, bewildered tourists, the traditional scene pulls you in on the way to becoming a rough-handed PNWer, scaling the heights, surfing, or maybe just soothing a drink in the surrounding natural splendor the state rules with. There are plenty of can't-miss towns, like Cannon Beach, one of the world’s most beautiful places.

Cannon Beach

Recognized as the “best overall beach in Oregon,” Cannon Beach draws thousands with its giant monolith rising from the sea whilst surfing, swimming, strolling, or just relaxing in the shadow. Many are tickled to learn of its origins, dating to a shipwrecked naval cannon washed up in the 1840s. The massive, towering Haystack Rock is accessible by foot at low tide for an up-close view of the ledges, life-teeming tidepools, and flocks of seabirds overhead. Driving along the highway south, Silver Point Interpretive Overlook offers a pull-off for a 360° panorama.

The fame-ridden seaside villa echoes through an expressive community with galleries, cafes, and the annual sandcastle-building art adorning the sandy beach in June. Escape the tourist buzz through the dramatic headland to the north. Ecola State Park offers easy walks, the popular Indian Beach Trail, scenic picnic areas, and an offshore 1881 lighthouse, active until 1957. Take in the sunset show or an intimate performance at the waterfront playhouse within a remodeled 1920s roller rink in warm, rustic decor, then enjoy seafood dining at the Wayfarer with views.

Garibaldi

This little enclave at the northern point of Tillamook Bay is easy to miss, yet it shouldn't be, with scenic views and fun adventures. The cozy, serene townscape welcomes visitors to the Port of Garibaldi, the historic heart gleaming with the rustic finesse of a working fishing marina. Garibaldi’s Pier’s End pier is the state's longest at over 700 feet along Hwy 101 across from the historic coast guard boathouse offshore. Meanwhile, Ropes of Garibaldi draws thrill-seekers on a steep, slippery hike, which, once you conquer, consider yourself a real PNWer.

Birds and photographers flock around the Three Graces, unique natural rock formations with clear tide pools at the bases. Learn how it all started in the 18th century at the local museum with Captain Robert Gray's discovery. The town celebrates Garibaldi Days like a homecoming filled with parade games and crab races annually on the 4th weekend in July. After deboarding a Heisler-type steam locomotive at Rockaway along the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, the open ocean is just a walk away to catch the sunset behind Twin Rocks Arch.

Neskowin

This beach town, with sheer miles of sand frontage, exudes seclusion along the Neskowin Beach State Recreation Site. The beautiful beach stretches from the north at the mouth of the Nestucca River to beneath the dramatic Cascade Head. Climb up Proposal Rock from the beach, try horseback riding along the beach, or launch a canoe or kayak through the pristine bird estuary, Nestucca Bay. At 1,200 feet, Cascade Head Preserve is a wild, foggy headland named after the cascading cliffs into the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, Neskowin Ghost Forest is a touchstone to the long-gone forest, with 2,000-year-old stumps visible at low tide.

Neskowin comes alive in the summer with Friday night movies, croquet matches, and the Fourth of July celebration. Favored for generations, Neskowin Beach Golf Course is a public nine-hole, 35-par course with flooring views from the seventh tee. Whether you choose an RV park or Proposal Rock Inn, there are plenty of ways to chase after the scenery sans crowds.

Pacific City

Bravely facing the crashing surf against the coastal rocks, "your little beach town" is painstakingly Oregon’s North Coast. Take a scope of the local dorymen launching off the beach. With a breakwater sheltering the sandy beaches, it is ideal for surfing, fishing, and eyeing the surf for days with jutting “sea stack” rocks offshore. Bookended by two spectacular nature areas, Pacific City lives and breathes adventures as its coastal calling. The untouched essence draws ocean lovers in the shadow of a massive headland.

North of town, Cape Kiwanda is popular for waves and wind action. The adventurous enjoy fishing, views from the towering sand dune, and access to the top for scenic picnics, hiking, and an RV site to kick back around a crackling fire. Bob Straub State Park is at the southern end with options for swimming, fishing, and horseback riding at a beachfront park on over 480 acres. A kayaking adventure down the gentle Nestucca River into the Pacific Ocean deserves a seaside celebration at the old-school counter-serve in town or Pelican Brewery.

Rainier

Tucked at the border with Washington across the mighty Columbia, "Eminence" dates back to the mid-19th century, settled by New Yorker Charles E. Renamed to honor the fifth-highest peak in the contiguous US, it was incorporated in 1885. Some 50 miles from Portland and Astoria to the south and west, visitors enjoy mingling in clear-day views of the town's icon, a live volcano in the Cascade Range, some hundred miles northeast. One of the most iconic landmarks is the Lewis and Clark Bridge over the Columbia River, which connects to Longview, WA.

From Rainier City Park to the marina, pack a picnic at the local deli for Rainier View Point. Hudson Parcher County Park is a great sunny day recreation area with room to spread. Challenge your friends to a quick hike along a steep trail from the country park. Cascading over a 48-foot-tall ledge along Beaver Creek, Beaver Falls will feel more rewarding on a picnic in the refreshing mist. Afterward, head to Cornerstone Cafe, which is highly reviewed, plating budget-minded deliciousness all day by the riverfront.

Warren

Hidden along the scenic Columbia River Highway and an old railroad from the Scappoose Bay, an appendage of the Columbia River, Warren's unpolished state is part of its emancipating charm. Channel your inner explorer along the bay's winding channels and secluded backwaters through the wildlife habitat. Scappoose Bay Marine Park offers public boat launches for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. It is a serene atmosphere to kayak along the Scappoose Bay, with calm, flat water suitable for all skill levels.

From the public golf course to the nearby trails, Warren is unmissable off-the-beaten-track for its Old Western feel and rustic landmarks, like Warrior Rock Lighthouse Point. Though overgrown, the long trail to the lighthouse is mostly flat and picturesque through tall grasses. Keep up the wild theme going at the popular clothing-optional beach, Collins Beach on the Columbia River—or—you know, stick to the family-friendly riverfront portion. Wet and hungry? Warren Country Inn serves up homey vibes and delicious food all day long.

There is no shortage of delicious sights and cherishable memories to tell back home from your trip through the Beaver State. From the Columbia River to the Pacific beaches, it all somehow feels accessible, even the views of Mt. Rainier deep in Washington from its eponymous neighbor in Oregon.

Dotted throughout the state like tiny gems, some towns are hard to miss, like Cannon Beach. From there, it is an easy, breezy ride along the coast to several other beachy enclaves. So there is no excuse not to make your next escape this summer to coastal Oregon in lieu of the Golden State crowds to the south.