ROCKAWAY, OR
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Rockaway, Oregon is a very popular beach destination located about an hour and a half from Portland, Oregon. We are lucky enough to have a family beach house here and can go any time we want. We have been at all times of the year and each season provides different experiences. Despite each season providing its own unique experiences, our favorite time to go to Rockaway is in the summer.
If you are looking for a quick getaway, where your main objective is to play on the beach all day, this is a great location to visit. The beach here is large and long, providing a lot of room to play. Rockaway is a beach you can come for the day or stay for a week. The views up and down the beach from Twin Rocks to the coastal hills are pretty stunning, too. Living in Oregon, I think we tend to take the scenery for granted. I often catch myself in awe of the beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountains, once I actually take a moment to take it in. Before our family had a beach house here, we had stayed at several different accommodations in this town from hotels to vacation rentals. Based on our experiences, I highly suggest seeking out a vacation rental. You can always check VRBO, Airbnb, or this link. The reason I suggest you get a vacation rental is so that you have a kitchen. Although Rockaway provides a great beach to play on and enjoy, there aren't many options for food, or ones that I would highly recommend. We always bring our own food or stop at the Fred Meyers in Tillamook to grab groceries, and then cook all of our own meals. We also just find this easiest, since we spend most of our day at the beach, working on puzzles, reading, and playing games as a family. |
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Also, when booking a place to stay, make sure you book a place that is ocean front. You want the views, but more importantly, the ease of being close to the beach. Being able to walk out onto the beach and go back and forth as much as you need, especially when you have kids, is invaluable.
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Once we get to Rockaway, we get all our stuff into the house and we usually head right out to the beach. Even on a very busy day, you will easily be able to find a spot to set up your beach gear and get your feet in the sand.
Something to know about the Oregon coast is that the water is not like the Pacific Ocean you will find in California or Hawaii. The water has two temperatures, very cold and freezing cold. In the summer, you are lucky if it feels very cold. You will see people out there swimming, but do not be fooled! They are most likely just numb now from the very cold temperature of the water and don't notice it anymore. Another thing to know is that the water here is dangerous. You will want to make sure you know ocean safety when playing in the water. I always remind my kids (and husband) that even though this is the Pacific Ocean, it's a different ocean than the one we play in when in Hawaii or California. |
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Rockaway's main attraction is obviously the beach and all the activities that entails. Come prepared with sand toys if you have kids, because it's a perfect beach for digging in the sand and making sand castles. One fun activity for the whole family is the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway, where you can take a round trip train ride from Rockaway to Girabaldi, a neighboring town.
If you are wanting to eat out while here, probably the most popular place is the Old Oregon Smokehouse. This place is tucked back and nothing fancy, but does serve up some good fish and chips, and when in Rome...You can also choose to go outside of Rockaway and head south to the small town of Girabaldi and hit up a food cart called the Sea Baron Fish and Chips, which is only open seasonally. Also in GIrabaldi is the Girabaldi Portside Bistro, which is a good choice if you are looking for more of a sit-down restaurant. One of our favorite traditions when we here is to go to the R&R Espresso Drive-Thru to get coffee and walk on the beach as we enjoy our morning coffees. You can also head more into the main part of town and get some pastries at Beach Bakeshop. Probably the most popular time to come here is during 4th of July. In fact, if you are looking to stay here during that time, you will want to book your accommodations months in advance. The city holds an annual 4th of July parade, that is quite fun! The streets line with people as the parade participants toss candy to the kids. My kids enjoyed it tremendously. They have had to cancel it the past few years due to Covid, but I have a feeling it will be back eventually. |
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Probably the best thing about 4th of July in Rockaway is the fireworks show. That evening, the city puts on a huge fireworks display over the ocean. People gather hours beforehand on the beach to get a front row seat, which every seat on the beach is one. If you are lucky enough to have an ocean view accommodation, you can watch from the comfort of the couch, which I highly recommend!
The obvious things to do while in Rockaway are to play in the sand, take long walks on the beach that goes on and on for miles, and to frolic in the ocean, but if you are looking for some other things to do and you want to get out and explore, one place we enjoy visiting is the Tillamook Creamery. You might have seen Tillamook cheese in your local grocery store, and if so, this is where it came from. It's also an extremely popular tourist stop and be quite busy during the summer, so come prepared to spend a bit of time here taking it all in.
The creamery is about a 20 minute drive south on Highway 101 from Rockaway. When visiting the creamery, you can go on a self-guided tour of the factory, taste cheese samples, shop products you might not find in the store, and of course, eat some of the tastiest ice cream you can find. We have done it all at the creamery. The self-guided tour is interesting and free! You learn about how they make cheese and also get to view first-hand the to of it all. They have large viewing windows that allow you to peer down and see the workers busy at work making and packaging cheese.
The obvious things to do while in Rockaway are to play in the sand, take long walks on the beach that goes on and on for miles, and to frolic in the ocean, but if you are looking for some other things to do and you want to get out and explore, one place we enjoy visiting is the Tillamook Creamery. You might have seen Tillamook cheese in your local grocery store, and if so, this is where it came from. It's also an extremely popular tourist stop and be quite busy during the summer, so come prepared to spend a bit of time here taking it all in.
The creamery is about a 20 minute drive south on Highway 101 from Rockaway. When visiting the creamery, you can go on a self-guided tour of the factory, taste cheese samples, shop products you might not find in the store, and of course, eat some of the tastiest ice cream you can find. We have done it all at the creamery. The self-guided tour is interesting and free! You learn about how they make cheese and also get to view first-hand the to of it all. They have large viewing windows that allow you to peer down and see the workers busy at work making and packaging cheese.
At the end of the tour, you can stop in their shop and purchase cheese, ice cream, souvenirs, and more. We tend to always purchase some cheese to take back to our vacation home or hotel and enjoy later.
There is also a restaurant on-site. The food is good and reasonably priced. Obviously, there is cheese in almost each item, but you can find things without cheese, too. My son LOVES their grilled cheese and is one of their more popular menu items. They also have salads, hamburgers, chicken strips, and other typical restaurant food.
Lastly, you can't miss getting ice cream! You'll find all sorts of regular flavors like chocolate, strawberry, and cookies and cream, but also unique ones representative of Oregon, like marionberry pie and Oregon hazelnut salted caramel. My kids' favorite is always Birthday Cake.
There is also a restaurant on-site. The food is good and reasonably priced. Obviously, there is cheese in almost each item, but you can find things without cheese, too. My son LOVES their grilled cheese and is one of their more popular menu items. They also have salads, hamburgers, chicken strips, and other typical restaurant food.
Lastly, you can't miss getting ice cream! You'll find all sorts of regular flavors like chocolate, strawberry, and cookies and cream, but also unique ones representative of Oregon, like marionberry pie and Oregon hazelnut salted caramel. My kids' favorite is always Birthday Cake.
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Now, if you are looking for more to do that day, I suggest heading to Blue Heron French Cheese Company. This is about a three-minute drive from the creamery, south on Highway 101. They have all sorts of unique cheeses, charcuterie items, and also an area that you can do a wine tasting, tasting wines from all over Oregon. They also have a petting farm for kids to enjoy the animals. This would be a great place to pick up some wine and charcuterie items to add to the cheese you picked up at the Tillamook Creamery, for a nice snack while on the beach or watching the sunset that evening from your deck.
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If wine tasting is your thing, and you have some time while in Rockaway, there is a nice winery located about 15-20 minutes north. It's called Nehalem Bay Winery. They have more of traditional red and white wines, but specialize in fruit wines. The fruit wines are obviously on the sweeter side, but so unique and worth a try. They even have on called, "Santa's Elixir" that is meant to be served warm, like mulled wine. It makes a great bottle to save for Christmas time.
Rockaway may not have all the fancy restaurants and attractions that other vacation destinations have, but it has a charm and beauty in and of itself. My kids love it and say it's one of their favorite places to vacation. So, whether you are looking for a day trip to the Oregon Coast, or a week-long getaway, Rockaway provides you with slow-pace, relaxing getaway. And, as an added bonus, you can get some spectacular sunsets that will take your breath away! |
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