Cannon Beach is one of Oregon's most popular beach communities, owing in large part to its distinctive emblem, Haystack Rock. This magnificent monstrous monolith stands 235 feet and has appeared in various films. It is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and is home to a variety of seabirds, including the adorable tufted puffin. You may stroll out to the rock during low tide to study tidal pools (but you should never remove anything from them) and sea caves. During the summer, volunteers work to safeguard the area and give information.

When the waves are up, get aboard and wetsuit from the Cleanline surf store, a friendly local business that lends outboards and wetsuits and can provide recommendations on where to surf. You may also participate in Cannon Beach's major event, Sandcastle Day (usually held in June, dates vary depending on tides), when teams compete for creativity and execution in sand sculpture.

Oregon's largest resort town is a popular, flashy, and unpretentious beachfront that draws families and young people searching for a fun and inexpensive beach break. The town's central district – dominated by ice cream shops, video-game arcades, and gift stores – is thronged with tourists on summer weekends and during holidays or festivals and takes on a carnival-like atmosphere. Bicycles and surreys have free reign on Seaside's 2-mile boardwalk, known as 'the Prom', but most of the miles of sandy beach are quite quiet. Rent bikes and four-wheel surreys from Prom Bike & Hobby Shop and join the cycling crowds on the promenade. Cleanline Surf Company can advise you on where to go surfing. Expect a crazier party vibe around spring break.

If you want to see the Oregon coast with your family, Seaside is probably the finest spot to go. Not only are stunning coastal sites nearby, but the town also has a few kid-friendly activities, such as the Seaside Aquarium, Captain Kid Amusement Park, and the Seaside Inverted Experience. Visit the namesake beach as well as other highlights like Tillamook Head and Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site while you're here.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is the biggest tract of beachfront sand dunes in the United States, stretching approximately 50 miles between Florence and Coos Bay. The dunes reach heights of 500 feet and undulate inland for up to three miles before meeting coastal woods, containing strange ecosystems that support a plethora of fauna, particularly birds. The setting inspired Frank Herbert to write the epic sci-fi Dune novels.

Avoid trekking in the far northern and southern regions of the dunes, which are dominated by dune buggies and dirt motorcycles (off-highway vehicles, or OHVs). The dunes' core area is off-limits to OHVs and is allocated for animals and more pleasant human activities such as hiking and paddling. Visit Florence's Old Town area to view the town's most appealing side: a small waterfront district tucked along the gorgeous Siuslaw River, near to the Oregon Coast's most beautiful port.

The tidy and welcoming tiny town of Yachats is one of the Oregon coast's best-kept secrets (ya-hots). Yachats, located at the base of the huge Cape Perpetua, offers the unforgettable panorama of a rough and windswept area. People come here to get away from it all, and it's not difficult to do so along this relatively unspoiled length of the shore. Not only is the beach in town a beautiful stretch of sand and sea stacks, but Cape Perpetua allows you even more freedom to stroll and enjoy the scenery.

This volcanic relic, located 3 miles south of Yachats, was discovered and named by England's Captain James Cook in 1778. The region is known for its stunning rock formations and pounding waves, and it has a number of paths that explore ancient shell middens, tidal pools, and old-growth woods. The views from the cape are spectacular, encompassing coastal promontories from Cape Foulweather to Cape Arago. After touring, warm up with a snack and a beverage at Yachats Brewing & Farmstore.

Gold Beach, located at the mouth of the Rogue River, began its start in 1853 when the valuable mineral was discovered here. The mines did not do well in comparison to other areas, but the town survived. Then, in the early twentieth century, salmon-rich streams piqued the interest of gentleman fishermen like Jack London and Zane Grey. The shoreline near Gold Beach is breathtaking.

Take a rest at Cape Sebastian State Park, a 7-mile-south rocky outcropping with views ranging from California to Cape Blanco. Stretch your legs on a 1.5-mile walking track to the cape; from December to April, look for whales. Jet-boat excursions up the Rogue River, one of Oregon's wildest and most isolated rivers, are another popular activity in Gold Beach. There is plenty of wildlife to see, including deer, elk, otters, beavers, eagles, and osprey.

Manzanita, a town on Oregon's coast with magnificent white-sand beaches and a little upmarket population, is one of the most laid-back beach resorts. It's considerably smaller and less crowded than Cannon Beach, and it still has a serene ambiance, despite the fact that there's a lot more going on here now than even a few years ago. Even so, it's simple to discover peace and quiet, rest on the beach, and partake in some relaxing activities.

Hike up adjacent Neahkahnie Mountain for a great view of the ocean and to stretch your legs. Oswald West State Park is also worth a visit. This lovely sanctuary, located just north of Manzanita, is made up of deep coastal rainforest and two headlands. Take the 2.4-mile trek to Cape Falcon for a wonderful climb that provides broad vistas and fantastic birdlife. Short Sand Beach, a quarter-mile from the highway parking area, offers nice waves for surfers and bodyboarders. Wheeler, 4 miles south, has kayaking options.

Secret Beach (Brookings), about 6 miles from the California border, is a pleasant commercial town on the Chetco River's harbor. Winter temperatures in Brookings hover around 60°F (15°C), making it the state's 'banana belt' and a retirement haven. US 101 travels across 11 miles of headlands through Samuel H Boardman State Park, which has some of Oregon's most scenic coastline, four miles north of Brookings. There are a number of wayside turnouts and picnic sites along the roadway, with short paths leading to quiet beaches and impressive overlooks. Tiny island chains march far out to sea, home to shorebirds and braying sea lions.

Sitting a few miles north of the Oregon-California border, Brookings is a trickier town to get to, but those willing to go the extra mile will be rewarded with spectacular scenery both on and off the coast. Harris Beach State Park and Chetco Point Park are absolute marvels that feature eye-catching sights like rugged evergreen bluffs and unique offshore outcrops. For even more unforgettable geography, drive 4 miles northwest to Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, where you'll find a particularly breathtaking stretch of coast. Make sure to visit the Arch Rock Picnic Area, Thunder Rock Cove and Natural Bridges.

Bandon is a charming tiny hamlet on the Coquille River's bay. Its Old Town quarter has been gentrified into a gorgeous harborside setting with pleasant walking, window shopping, and sweets sampling. South of town, and not visible from the roadway, are kilometers of sandy beaches interrupted by outcroppings of tall rocks, which are home to a plethora of chattering marine birds. Stone ledges rise out of the surf to give cover for seals, sea lions, and other marine creatures in tidal pools.

For the greatest beach access spots, head west to Beach Loop Drive. There is excellent whale watching in the spring, and there is marine life to be seen all year. Table Rock is home to sea lions and shorebirds at Coquille Point. Face Rock State Park Wayside has a trail that runs across the headland to sandier beaches near Face Rock. After you've worked up an appetite, go to Tony's Crab Shack for some deliciously fresh seafood.

Depoe Bay is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, located on US Route 101 on the Pacific Ocean. The population was 1,398 at the time of the 2010 census. The bay of the same name is a 6-acre harbor promoted by the city as the world's smallest navigable harbor. Depoe Bay is widely known as “the whale watching capital of the Oregon coast”. It is blessed to have a resident pod of grey whales which makes its very home here 10 months out of the year.

Depoe Bay, located 10 miles south of Lincoln City, is surrounded by contemporary timeshare condominiums but preserves some of its traditional coastal beauty. It claims to have the "world's smallest navigable port" and the "world's whale-watching capital" — quite strong claims for such a little town. Year-round, the major attractions in the region are whale watching and charter fishing, but 5 miles south of town lies the Devil's Punchbowl, an amazing collapsed sea cave that churns with waves and has beautiful tidepools nearby (get there via Otter Crest Loop, a scenic road).