Slow down and enjoy the Oregon Coast’s cozy indoor pleasures.
Winter is a time for slowing down and cozying up, and few places are better suited for doing just that than the Oregon Coast. While many visitors come to the Coast for outdoor activities like storm-watching and spotting whales, it’s good to keep in mind that winter brings a host of indoor delights, too, designed for relaxation and rejuvenation. Here’s how to make the most of the quiet season on the Coast.
Cozy Indoor Activities
While temperatures along the Coast are generally temperate, chillier weather can make retreating indoors all the more appealing. It’s a fantastic time to catch up on reading, and the Coast’s many independent bookstores mean that good reads are never far from reach. Lucy’s Books in Astoria is a fun place to shop for everything from graphic novels to books by Oregon Coast authors, while Cannon Beach Book Company stocks everything from literary fiction to enthralling mysteries. On the Central Coast, both Nye Beach Book House and Robert’s Bookshop give new life to secondhand titles, as does the South Coast’s Gold Beach Books & Art Gallery, which fuses an expansive art gallery, a cafe and a bookshop under one roof.
The Oregon Coast has long been a haven for artists, with plenty of galleries to browse. Pick up a whimsical wooden heart at Port Orford’s Tree Wizard Gallery or a painting created by a local artist at Earthworks Gallery in Yachats. Cannon Beach is a hot spot for gallery hopping, with over a dozen galleries within easy walking distance of one another. Some, including White Bird Gallery and the Jeffrey Hull Gallery, have been community fixtures since the 1970s.
Coastal Culture and Natural Talks
In winter, gathering places on the Coast often have lecture series geared to more intimate crowds. Visitors are always welcome to attend these events. Fort George Brewery in Astoria runs a Thursday-night lecture series, with weekly themes ranging from philosophy to the natural world. On the last Thursday of the month from September through May, the Seaside Brewery Public House joins forces with the Seaside Historical Society Museum to present a “History and Hops” lecture series; the Coos History Museum hosts a similarly educational series on the first Tuesday of most months. And don’t forget live music, trivia nights and other events held at brewpubs all along the Coast — check the websites to see what’s on when you’re planning your visit.
For a creative getaway, sign up for a writing workshop at Sea Wolf Books & Community Writing Center in Port Orford, which also stocks an exceptionally curated collection of books by coastal authors, refurbished vintage typewriters and even a cozy studio apartment to stay in town — and you will want to linger. Fans of glass art can browse colorful creations or blow their own bauble at the Lincoln City Glass Center, while crafty travelers can get hands-on experience in everything from pottery to carving at Manzanita’s Hoffman Center for the Arts. In Otis the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology offers workshops on everything from applied arts to creative expression.
Winter is also a great time to learn about the marine sciences, whether from the docents at Depoe Bay’s Whale Watching Center or at the Charleston Marine Life Center, which displays everything from sea-mammal skeletons to marine specimens sourced from the deep sea. The Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport are a hit with families, thanks to its interactive, kid-friendly marine life exhibits. For maritime history and culture in Newport, check out the beautifully curated Pacific Heritage Maritime Center nearby.
Relax and Recharge This Winter
Room rates on the Oregon Coast tend to be at their lowest during the winter, which means you can stretch your stay longer. Unwind in one of five bright, stylish rooms at The Wildflower Inn in Gold Beach. As a bonus, your stay will help support the restoration of Oregon Coast sea otter populations thanks to Kind Traveler’s Every Stay Gives Back program, which pairs lodgings with local charitable organizations like the Elakha Alliance. In Coos Bay, relax in a contemporary cabin with a dip in a heated saltwater pool at Bay Point Landing.
Farther north, you can bring a good book to Newport’s newly reimagined literature-themed Hotel Sylvia, or cozy up in a luxe room — don’t miss the beach bonfire with s’mores –- at Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa in Pacific City. Cannon Beach’s Inn at Haystack Rock features cozy rooms with fireplaces and an outdoor fire pit and is a short walk from art galleries. In Seaside, Starry Night Inn is another great option for a low-key getaway, with artsy rooms and its own open-air spa, perfect for warming up on a cool winter’s day.
– By Margo Bigg
Top photo: Bay Point Landing