Last summer, we spent the 4th of July on the Oregon Coast, making the drive to from Portland to Tillamook via Highway 6 through the Tillamook State Forest. 
After passing through the mountains, we started seeing pastures filled with grazing cows. The Oregon coast’s cool, wet climate makes for green nutritious grass that’s perfect for dairy cows. Local farmers have been raising dairy cows in the Tillamook Valley since the mid-19th century.
Upon reaching the city of Tillamook (population 4,492), we turned right onto Highway 101, the same highway that winds from southern California to Olympia, Washington. Our first stop was at the Blue Heron French Cheese Company, a cheese, wine and gourmet food store. We sampled the famous Blue Heron Brie, along with other gourmet foods. You can also taste Oregon wines or wander through a unique gift store and deli. Outside, farm animals abound.
Next, we turned right onto Highway 101, to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Outside you see a replica of the Morning Star, the schooner built by local farmers in 1854 to transport their butter to Portland by water, which was an easier route that the rough wagon trails over the mountains. Today Tillamook dairy products feature a small Morning Star schooner on their logo.
We took the self-guided tour the Tillamook Cheese Factory, including a photo op in the Love Loaf van, and of course indulging in the cheese samples at the end of the tour.
When we lived in both San Francisco and Seattle, Tillamook made our favorite ice cream. Yes, we re-lived those delicious chocolate-with-a-river-of-peanut-butter memories at the cafe.
Full of dairy products, we were ready to see the coast, and perhaps a lighthouse. We headed south on Hwy 101 back to Tillamook, connecting to Highway 131.
We were headed to Oceanside, and the Cape Meares Lighthouse.
Driving to Oceanside Beach provides spectacular views.
Parking in Oceanside, we headed to the beach, with it’s front row views of Three Arch Rocks and Storm Rock.
Although folks were getting ready for 4th of July at the beach, it was not overly crowded.
We walk for miles on this beach.
Can you tell how much I like the views? Note: I’m wearing a light jacket. While brave souls were swimming, this is not a Caribbean-like beach experience, even on the 4th of July.
We could stay here all day, and never tire of the view.
The texture of the sand and water are interesting, and picturesque.
One last look at the Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, one of the United States smallest wilderness areas.
As we drug ourselves back into the car, we decide to skip the lighthouse, and head south toward Cape Lookout State Park.
The drive along Netarts Bay offers spectacular views.
We paid the fee to park at Cape Lookout State Park, and hiked out to the water. The views are stunning.
We’d love to hike on all of the trails through the forest and near the streams in this park.
Many families were in the midst of their 4th of July cookouts in the park. Since we weren’t invited, we needed to find lunch.
Back into the car, we headed to back to Tillamook and re-joined Highway 101 going north. When we had asked a local earlier for the best place to eat seafood, they recommended a place about 5 minutes north of the Tillamook Cheese Factory, off Hwy 101.
“Look for the big shell pile, and turn in just past it,” the woman advised.
Suddenly we saw the big shell pile, too late to turn. So we turned around at the next intersection and went back. We found an industrial building back off of the highway down Oyster Drive. Turns out that the building is home to an oyster processing facility called Pacific Oyster.
There’s also a small restaurant (more of a deli-type establishment with tables) called The Fish Peddler.
Inside there are large windows where you can watch fresh oysters being processed, except on holidays like the 4th of July. No big deal. We were ready to eat seafood.
We ordered all kinds of seafood, starting with the killer clam chowder. (See photo above.) After lunch, we bought a few items to go from the deli, including some local habanero-flavored canned tuna to take home.
Back on Highway 101, we headed north to Astoria, Oregon, our destination for the late afternoon and evening.
What a scenic and tasty day so far on the Oregon Coast.
Have you visited the Oregon Coast? What was your favorite spot? Please share in comments below.
Check out these other posts on Portland, Oregon and the surrounding areas…
- A Peek Inside the Portland Marriott City Center Hotel
- Weekend Wanderings: 7 Reasons to Visit Portland, Oregon
- Touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook, Oregon
- Destination Discovery: Dundee Hills AVA, Oregon
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