The Armchair Traveler Ritual
To truly transport yourself to this moody, magical coastline: Open a window to let in a chilly breeze, imagine the distinct smell of salt water mixing with distant campfire smoke, and listen for the rhythmic crash of the waves against the giant sea stacks.
🎵 Shauna's Soundtrack
To match the cinematic, deeply stirring vibe of staring out at Face Rock during a misty sunset, I highly recommend opening a new tab and playing "Boats" by Vlad Gluschenko or "The Ocean" by Scott Buckley in the background while you read!
⚡ The Quick Scoop
The Vibe: A dramatic, misty, and rugged coastline peppered with massive sea stacks, legendary Native American myths, and incredible tide pools.
Must See: The towering Great Dune at Pacific City, the WWII history near Cannon Beach, and the unforgettable silhouette of Face Rock in Bandon.
The Reality Check: The idea of a cozy "beach campfire" with the kids sounds magical... until you are eating sandy hot dogs and fighting smoke blowing directly into your eyes!
Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds!)
I've been to the Oregon Coast a dozen times, and each visit somehow manages to feel like a brand-new, lovely experience. For me, a trip up the coast is a true journey, and every great journey needs a destination that feels like its heart.
While there are countless wonders along the way, our family's heart belongs to Bandon, a place of stunning sunsets and ancient legends. This is our ultimate guide to an Oregon Coast road trip—a collection of our favorite family adventures in Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Pacific City, all leading to the magical, unforgettable shores of Bandon.
"The Point of the Journey is not to arrive, it is to enjoy the journey."
👇 Choose Your Path
Tide Pool Treasures & Sneaky Sea Lions
We have had so many fun experiences with sea lions and seals along this coast! My favorite memory was when my kids were young. I had really ramped up my excitement for tide pooling, which required hitting the beach at low tide... which happened to be at 5:00 in the morning!
I had some *very* grumpy kids, nieces, and nephews, but they decided to brave the misty, cold morning. We went tide pooling around Garibaldi. Getting down to the pools was quite the bouldering experience, but once we were down there, the treasures we found were incredible.
🦭 The Baby Seal & The Stalker
I was with my little 5-year-old at the time, and she was the first to spot a baby seal! She wanted to run right up to it. I suddenly realized that the momma seal could be close by and extremely protective, so I had to hold her back. But wow, it was so cute watching that baby seal from a safe distance.
Another time, we were hanging out on the beach at sunset, and one of my nephews was dragging a long piece of kelp seaweed behind him as he walked. What he didn't realize was that less than 10 feet away in the shallow surf, a sea lion was following him! The sea lion would swim just behind the dragging seaweed, and whenever my nephew would turn around, the sea lion would quickly dive under the water to hide! It was an adorable game of hide-and-seek.
Shauna's Tip: If you are looking for crabs, we found quite the cluster at Cape Arago by Coos Bay! It's fantastic at low tide.
Seaside Shenanigans & The Epic Hike
The towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach are classic family stops. In Seaside, feeding the sea lions at the Aquarium is unforgettable, but renting a multi-person Surrey bike to cruise the famous promenade is a must-do... theoretically.
🚲 The Surrey Bike Bribery
The reality of renting a Surrey bike with kids is that someone inevitably "forgets" to pedal! I definitely had a hard time keeping my kids pedaling while I did all the heavy lifting. I finally had to resort to bribery: I told them if we conquered the promenade, we could go do the ceramic painting in Seaside. That finally got their feet moving!
If you want a true physical challenge, the hike from Cannon Beach to Seaside (over Tillamook Head in Ecola State Park) is an epic, all-day journey. You are constantly hiking through the dense forest, trying to get that perfect glimpse over the cliff edge to the churning ocean below. We even saw some stunningly beautiful deer-like animals with spiral horns (likely Roosevelt Elk) roaming the woods.
🪖 World War II History
At the top of the hike, you have this massive "Aha!" moment when you suddenly stumble upon concrete military bunkers and old cannons. You realize, "Oh, THAT is why it is called Cannon Beach!"
If you connect the dots to the massive Dirigible Museum down in Tillamook, you can easily visualize the giant blimps floating along the coast looking for Russian submarines during WWII, with these hidden cannons on high alert ready to shoot any unknown vessels in the water. The history hidden in these woods is incredible.
Pacific City & The Great Dune
Pacific City is home to Cape Kiwanda, famous for its massive sandstone cliffs and the towering Great Dune. Climbing the sand mound is a lot more challenging than you would think because it is SAND! You step up, and you slide right back down. It is a constant, burning struggle to keep some height going with each step.
🏂 The Snowboarding Fail & The Purple Sunset
But the sunset view at the top can be absolutely phenomenal, with the entire beach and sky turning a deep, moody purple. On the opposite side of the dune, there are great tide pools at low tide, a secret cave, and it used to feature the most incredible sea arch (we were so sad when it eventually collapsed into the sea).
Of course, running down the sand hill is pure joy, and you definitely feel like a kid again. I do have to issue a warning, though: we actually tried bringing our snowboards to ride down the hill, and it doesn't really work! The sand just catches the board too often and sends you tumbling!
The Reality of Beach Campfires
Finding a beach in Oregon that actually allows campfires is really hard, but my kiddos desperately wanted to have that quintessential "hot dogs and s'mores on the beach" experience. We finally found a spot, built our fire, and settled in as the sun went down.
🌭 The Gritty Truth
It is funny how it only takes once for the magic to wear off! The reality of a beach fire is that it is no longer enchanting when you are eating sand in your hot dogs, there is sand stuck to your sticky marshmallows, the constant coastal wind is blowing thick smoke directly into your face, and the effort to properly put the fire out at the end of the night is exhausting! LOL. It was a memory made, but maybe one we don't need to repeat every trip!
Bandon & The Legend of Face Rock
While the northern coast is full of fun activities, Bandon is the place that feels like the true heart of the journey. It's a town where stories are written in the stones. The entire coastline here is watched over by the iconic Face Rock.
🌟 The Golden Nugget
Don't Miss This: Before you visit, you must read the Coquille tribe's legend of the maiden Ewauna. Knowing the story transforms the iconic sea stack from a beautiful rock into a powerful monument. It completely changes the way you'll see the landscape.
I'm quite sure this powerful story from the Coquille tribe is what inspired tales like "The Little Mermaid" and "Moana." The legend tells of a young woman named Ewauna, who was drawn to the sea against the warnings of her elders. When she was captured by the menacing sea spirit, Seatka, she defiantly refused to look at him, turning her face to the sky and the moon instead. In that moment, she was frozen in stone, her face forever gazing upward as a monument to courage.
Shauna's Blessing: Asking Above
When you stand on the shores of Bandon and look out at Ewauna frozen in stone, it is easy to imagine how terrified she must have been. Ewauna was scared. She realized she was WAY over her head, that she had made a mistake, and that she desperately needed help.
✨ Reaching Out
The legend says that in her darkest moment, she looked up and Asked Above for help. May we also realize that when we are struggling, we don't have to face the 'menacing sea spirits' alone.
Don't be afraid to ask Above for help, because there is a Loving Father up there who wants to help you. Whenever you feel like the waves are crashing over you and you are in over your head, just look up.
360° VR & Video Tours
This VR Getaway is a road trip through all the diverse beauty the Oregon Coast has to offer, from the family fun of the northern coast to the legendary sea stacks of Bandon. Grab your VR headset and transport yourself to the coast!
The Coast Scrapbook
A few snapshots from our sunset hikes and coastal explorations.
✨ Ask the Coastal Guide
Curious about the Legend of Face Rock, the sneaky sea lions, or the reality of beach campfires? Ask our AI Guide!
The Journey is the Destination
The Oregon Coast is a place of endless discovery, perfect for families looking to create lasting memories. From sandy hot dogs and exhausting sand dunes to the powerful legends carved in stone, the true magic is simply being together. I hope this guide helps you enjoy the entire journey and find your own special magic on these beautiful shores.
🦭 Easter Egg Hunt: Did you spot the hidden Seal emoji in today's story? Tell me where you found it in the comments!
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna @ VRGetaway
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