Things to Do in Florence, Oregon

After a 10-year hiatus caused by mudslides, the Cape Meares Loop — part of the stunning Three Capes Scenic Route — is open once again. Take advantage of the reopening with a road trip along this 40-mile stretch, which connects Tillamook to Cape Kiwanda on the North Coast, and winds through forests and along cliffs with plenty of places to stop. Here’s what you can expect along the way.

In 1967 Oregon Governor Tom McCall passed landmark legislation making the entire 363-mile Oregon Coast public, earning it the nickname “The People’s Coast.” In recent years, accessibility improvements have brought it even closer to that vision for adventurers of all abilities. Here’s what to know about how to take advantage of new developments at many destinations when planning a trip to the Oregon Coast.

Imagine carving a graceful turn as the smell of salt air fills your nostrils. Or dropping in to a perfect break with no one in sight. No, we’re not talking surfing here — this is mountain biking on the Oregon Coast. Over the past decade, new trail systems have been popping up along the Coast and might just be the state’s best-kept secret for mountain biking enthusiasts.

Next to majestic sea stacks and awe-inspiring surf, sand might not be the most obvious marvel of the Oregon Coast. Without those humble little granules, though, there would be no sandcastles, no writing your name on the beach and no sinking your toes into warm softness on a dune hike. Here’s a crash course on how sand comes and goes, who lives in this special habitat, and how we can help protect it.

Most visitors to Astoria arrive from the east or south. It’s the most northwestern city in Oregon, after all, situated on the south bank of the Columbia River where it meets the roiling Pacific Ocean. But a few special visitors to Astoria actually arrive from the west, and some of them haven’t seen land in nearly two weeks.

There is something invigorating about a walk through a coastal Oregon forest at the start of the new year — swollen creeks and thundering falls; deep, mossy greens; towering, swaying trees. Underfoot could be banana slugs, newts and mushrooms; above, the occasional bald eagle or osprey sailing by. One can’t help but be energized and refreshed, ready to embark on another year with a new commitment to getting out amidst all the splendor this corner of the world has to offer.