I'll be doing an Oregon Coast Day Trip later this month when I'm in town.
Want to hit up:
Tilamook Cheese Factory
Cannon Beach
Peter Iredale Wreck
Where else should I go based on this itinerary? Food, beaches, etc.
I'll prob go to Seaside and maybe Astoria, not sure about Astoria...never really liked it.
I've been to the Peter Iredale wreck many times but not in the last 30 years. We used to get there by driving on the beach at low tide starting in Gearhart. There used to be a substantial wreck but I think most of it is gone, now.
Seaside has a very nice bakery and the 'turnaround' on Broadway is very nice. There's a great beach at the turnaround and there's a restaurant right there with huge picture windows giving a fabulous view of the beach and all the odd ball people walking along the causeway while you eat. I just looked it up and it's now called The Boardwalk restaurant. There used to be a boardwalk along there back in the early 50s but now it's all concrete. The best restaurant in Seaside in my opinion is Dooger's, again on Broadway, the main drag running East/West.
I think there's also a Doogers in Canon Beach.
The Tillamook Cheese Factory is a must see. They've got a great ice cream selection and cheese samples at the end of the tour.
The whole drive along hwy 101 from Northern Cal. to Astoria is fabulous, absolutely gorgeous.
Oh, Canon Beach is famous for a sand castle building contest and Seaside hosts a nice beach volleyball contest. Seaside also hosts the Miss Oregon contest.
Get yourself a couple razor clam guns or shovels and dig for razor clams in Gearhart.
Also, you can dig for various mud clams, including scallops just North of Tillamook in Garibaldi. All you need are hand held garden tools such as shovel, spades. Bring your own buckets or other containers. I think you now need a shellfish license. I don't know because I've got a permanent one as a disabled Vet. I've been checked in Garabaldi by State police. I've dug clams countless times in Gearhart and never been checked but people tell me they know of other's who have been checked in Gearhart.
If you head toward the coast on Hwy 26, a lot of people like to stop at Camp 18 to eat. The decor is cool although the service is very very slow. 18 stands for the miles until you hit the 101/26 junction.
Be prepared for very aggressive drivers on 101 and 26.
Enjoy the drive.