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Rockaway Beach, Oregon

timesharer

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We will be staying at the Rockaway Beach resort in Oregon for a week in July. We are going to try to go to Cannon Beach/Haystack Rock to take western puffins pictures. Other than that our itinerary is pretty open. If you have any ideas, would you please suggest other nearby sightseeing activites and attractions? Is a car required to see/do them? Please indicate if you think they cannot be done by public transportation.

Thank you for your help!
 

JohnPaul

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I don't have Rockaway Beach specific info, but I can't really imagine staying at almost any Oregon (or Washington) beach resort without a car. Most of these places are small towns with little or no public transportation. How do you envision even getting there without a car?
 

geist1223

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There is always the Tillamook Creamery for cheese and ice cream. Go for the two scoops in a cup and share. The second scoop is only about a $1.00. Very little reliable public transportation on the Oregon Coast. Watch out for the water a father and son from Ft. Collins Colorado died at Rockaway this past week. The son was Boggie Boarding and did not appreciate the waves on the Oregon Coast and got dragged out. Dad went into to save him. Both died. The last I heard they still have not recovered the son's body. Also many of the sea cliffs are sandstone and frequently crumble.

Besides Haystack Rock the old part of the town (north part) has several good art galleries. We really like the Northwest by Northwest Gallery and Bronze Coast Gallery.

Several great places for Breakfast- Wanda's in Nehalem; Osprey in Seaside; and, Columbian Cafe in Astoria (cash only). Dinners Irish Table in Cannon Beach (better have reservations) and Castaway in Cannon Beach.

Astoria is a fun place to visit for a day. There is the Maritime Museum and Astoria Column.
 

timesharer

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Thank you for your suggestions and warnings.

We may spend more time at the resort and enjoy wonderful ocean views in this trip. We were trying to decide if we should rent a car. The Northwest Connector buses (http://www.nworegontransit.org) can take us to Rockaway Beach, Cannon Beach/Haystack Rock, Tillamook, ...etc. What reliable problems do these buses have? Don't they run according to their published schedule - http://www.nworegontransit.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Tillamook_Schedule_1.02.2018-2.pdf

Also, would you please suggest where we can take pictures of wildlife?

Thank you very much!
 

geist1223

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We do not use the Northwest Connector System nor we know anybody that does. Many of the Parks and View Points along Hwy 101 are small and probably not near a Bus Stop in a Town. We can not image vacationing on the Oregon Coast without a car. If you decide not to get a Rental Car let us know how it went. Where are you coming from?
 

easyrider

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We will be staying at the Rockaway Beach resort in Oregon for a week in July. We are going to try to go to Cannon Beach/Haystack Rock to take western puffins pictures. Other than that our itinerary is pretty open. If you have any ideas, would you please suggest other nearby sightseeing activites and attractions? Is a car required to see/do them? Please indicate if you think they cannot be done by public transportation.

Thank you for your help!

You defiantly need a car. We use a beach house in Minihaha in front of Twin Rocks every year. Rockaway is the small town near Twin Rocks. There are so many things to do but all require driving to a destination. In Rockaway Beach, the kids love Flamingo Jims. There are a few consignment stores that are kind of fun to browse through.

A few miles south on HWY 101 is the Pirates Cove Restaurant in Garibaldi is one of our stops for Oregon Razor Clams. In Garibaldi there is a marina with places to purchase sea food. WE usually get oystrs here.

A few miles north on HWY 101 is Jetty Fishery and Brighton Marina. Kelly the crabman owns them both now days. You can get fresh clams, crab and other stuff here. People catch crab off the dock at Jetty Fishery or rent boats to go crabbing.

Last year we brought 4 Jeeps and went to Sand Lake and had some fun wheeling. There are atv tours and atv rentals for Sand Lake.

Bill
 

JohnPaul

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I commend your attempt to rely on public transportation. If you go that route please report back about your experience, including how you get to the resort.

Thanks!
 

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We can not image vacationing on the Oregon Coast without a car. If you decide not to get a Rental Car let us know how it went. Where are you coming from?

We were planning to arrive at the Portland Union station. Should we get off the train earlier at Salem, and pick up the rental car at Salem (instead of the Portland Union station)? Getting off at Salem will save us one hour travel time (Amtrak). We had bad traffic jam experience getting out of Portland many years ago. Now we are trying to compare driving 87.9 miles from Portland to Rockaway Beach with 90.7 miles from Salem to Rockaway Beach. What do you think?

I enjoyed traveling in Europe and Asia by public transit. It is easy to get the train/bus numbers, stops, schedule information by Google Map (Transit). I wish the US public transport systems are as convenient as the ones in those countries.

Thank you all for your replies.
 
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geist1223

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We live in Salem. I would get off the train in Salem. The 3 miles further to Rockaway is more than made up for by the shorter train trip and lighter car traffic in the Salem area. The problem is lack of rental car firms near the Salem train station or Salem area. I am guessing Enterprise is about it.
 

Passepartout

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I wish the US public transport systems are as convenient as the ones in those countries.
Don't we all. But, at least for now, and with relatively cheap US gas prices, and relatively thin population density, public transit will never be a viable alternative to driving yourself to where you want to go.
 
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