Pacific City, Oregon

[pixarmom]

We are taking a break from Newport Beach, CA next summer (2011), but I can't venture away from the Pacific Ocean.

So we are considering a beach house rental in Pacific City, Oregon with day trips to Portland and Newport, OR. Any thoughts regarding Pacific City or other Oregon Coast towns we should visit? Can we boogie board in August? Anything we should be sure to do/see? It's my husband, 3 boys (ages pre-school to pre-teen) possibly my parents, and me. (Although it may be hard to get my dad further up the coast!)

Thanks for any opinions or advice!

 

[skiingfast]

Watch "The Goonies" and visit Astoria.

It will be cooler, both air and water, than Newport so boogie boarding sounds good. It more active than wading to keep warm.

 

[remfam5]

Pacific City is great! There is a HUGE sand dune that you can climb up and run down. Take your camera to the top for a great family photo!
Eat at The Pelican, it is right on the beach you won't miss it.
Pacific City has a good beach for boogie boarding, but the water is FREEZING! We were just there last Sunday and ALL the surfers were in wetsuits. We all wore sweatshirts until about 2 pm because of the cool breeze.

Are you driving up the coast from Cali?
Lots of fun places to stop along the way.

 

[Lissame]

I totally agree--born and raised in Oregon here, currently live in WA. The water is very, very cold! If you have a wetsuit, it's ok. If the weather is 90-100 outside, the water feels good. Otherwise, it's not really a place to go in the water much.

The Tillamook cheese factory isn't far away, that's a fun place to go. Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, and Newport are all really fun towns to visit.

I'm most familiar with Newport because we have a house there. There's the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Hatfield Marine Science Center, the Bayfront--which includes a Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Sea Lions to view, lots of great restaurants and shops.

I love the Oregon coast. If I can't go to California or on a Disney cruise, it's where I want to be!

 

[Dobie]

Depending on the age of your kids, Neskowin might be a better choice. It is a few miles south of Pacific City. Neskowin has a creek/estuary emptying into the ocean, which is warmer than the salt water and lovely for little kids who can't manage the surf.

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks so much for the responses! Our older boys are pre-teens and have been boogie boarding at Newport Beach since around age 3. So we're looking for a place right on the ocean - but it sounds like wetsuits are required! Is everyone talking full wetsuit, or the short kind for August in Oregon?

 

[cirquelovers]

I always see them in full wet suits,at least the body part. Sorry I don't know much about this stuff. I don't see guys with hoods, like you see on tv, but maybe those are for diving!

We were actually going to rent a house there from my husbands coworker, if my husband actually gets a little time off! I hope so.

It's a nice little town to visit and I love driving the cape route along the ocean, such a beautiful view! My husband and I used to enjoy staying in that area. We frequently went up to Oceanside as there were even less people there. Sadly it's been a few years.

 

[splash5]

Newport Oregon is our favorite beach spot. Go to the chowder bowl to eat, it is at Nye Beach (fabulous chowder!). The aquarium is great and the bay front is populated by sea lions (right by the Undersea Gardens) they are always barking. Another great restaurant is the Local Ocean Seafood on the bayfront - the fish and chips is phenomenal!