Beaver State Bucket List

The Ultimate Oregon Coast Road Trip on Highway 101

Take a week and do it right.

07/14/2026 By Margaret Seiler

Fourth of July

Fourth of July Fireworks in Portland and Beyond

From the waterfront to Oaks Park, Rockaway Beach to Hood River, here’s where to enjoy some spectacular displays for the semiquincentennial.

06/25/2026 By Portland Monthly Staff

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in June

Astoria celebrates Short Circuit, the rodeo ropes Sisters, and a Sasquatch fest stomps through Glide.

05/28/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Events

Don’t Miss These Annual Oregon Coast Events

Sandcastles in Cannon Beach, chainsaw art in Reedsport, and kites in Lincoln City.

05/26/2026 By Margaret Seiler

Outdoors

Sno-Parks, State Parks & Beyond: Snag a Wilderness Parking Pass

Tired of paying trailhead parking fees? There's a pass for that. Get one of these Pacific Northwest wilderness passes for yourself or your outdoorsy friend.

12/23/2025 By Margaret Seiler and Wriik Maui

The People's Coast

The Best Oregon Beaches Within 3 Hours of Portland

Our coast brims with spectacular beaches. Here are a few that will leave you breathless.

08/29/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Sam Stites

Transit Trip

We Took the New North Coast Express Bus to Rockaway Beach

This summer weekend bus heads straight for Oregon Coast hits like Tillamook and Cannon Beach. We had the cushy coach practically to ourselves.

08/21/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Coast Is Clear

The Burly All-Terrain Wheelchairs Rolling Across Oregon’s Beaches

David’s Chair helps people with mobility challenges access the joys of the shore.

08/19/2025 By Amelia Arvesen

Water Ways

How a Jog and a Jump in the Willamette Became My Summer Ritual

I’ve learned to love Portland’s river like a friend.

07/07/2025 By Emily Chenoweth Illustrations by Davide Comai

Transit Trip

We Took the Bus to the Oregon Coast for a Car-Free Getaway

Bar trivia, a tunnel to a hidden beach, steaming chowder, and wild-yeast beer are just a $25 round-trip bus ticket away.

01/21/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Oregon Trails

Step Inside the Oregon Coast’s Historic Bowling Alleys

Life’s a beach. Then you bowl.

01/07/2025 By Margaret Seiler Illustrations by Jordan Kay

The Shining

Sleeping with Ghosts at Heceta Head Lighthouse’s Haunted B&B

The old lighthouse keepers' quarters, now a cozy inn, are reportedly home to a ghost named Rue. We paid a visit.

08/21/2024 By Jessi Bunch

Swimming

Portland Is a Beach Town. It's True.

But which in-the-city Willamette River swim spot is the one for you and your crew?

07/09/2024 By Margaret Seiler, Michelle Harris, and Matthew Trueherz

Outdoors

15 of Our Favorite Oregon State Parks

Find lush coastal rainforest, towering waterfalls, arid high desert, and everything in between.

05/16/2024 By Sam Stites

Real Estate

Property Watch: A Modest, Modern Beach House in Its Market Debut

No beach kitsch here. This home in Surf Pines has everything you need and nothing you don't.

08/21/2023 By Melissa Dalton

This Stinks

Your Favorite Oregon Coast Beaches Have a Poop Problem

Sh*tty news from scientists, who say that fecal contamination levels are not low on Oregon's ocean beaches.

07/14/2023 By Dalila Brent

Getaways

A Secluded Sand Spot: 24 Hours in Gearhart, Oregon

Gearhart’s nearly empty beach is the star of the show in the Oregon Coast town of less than 2,000 residents.

06/27/2023 By Dalila Brent

Oregon Coast

You Want to See the 2023 Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest Winners

Teams built for up to five hours to create gravity-defying sand art at the 59th annual competition.

06/16/2023 By Sam Stites

Beaches

$200,000 Grants Pave the Way for Accessibility at Oregon Coast

Beach wheelchairs, mobility mats, and awareness are improving accessibility for all, thanks to hefty grants from Travel Oregon.

06/07/2023 By Molly Allen

Real Estate

Property Watch: This Turnkey Bandon A-Frame Is Ready for Your Next Getaway

Everything inside this updated A-frame in the Southern Oregon beach town is included with the sale.

01/09/2023 By Melissa Dalton