Pacific City is the kind of place you'll want to rave about to all of your friends... but also keep secret, so it stays exactly like it is. Tucked a few miles west of Highway 101, this charming beach getaway feels a little more remote and secluded than her neighboring towns, and offers visitors an unexpected take on the Northern Oregon Coast. Pacific City sits along the Three Capes Scenic Drive, and many who drive through town don't want to leave.

Although Pacific City's Haystack Rock is somewhat less famous than its same-named (and shorter) counterpart in Cannon Beach, the impressive sea stack is still the biggest landmark in town. Coming in a close second is the Pelican Pub & Brewery, an award-winning microbrewery with jaw-dropping views of the ocean. Another popular Pacific City attraction is, of course, the beach... particularly since there are a number of sections where driving automobiles is allowed!

While Pacific City is a great spot for all the usual day-at-the-beach activities (sand castle building, kite flying, beach combing, surfing, and kayaking), it also offers a few unusual options for recreation. Visitors can while away their days horseback riding along the beach, seal watching at the mouth of the Nestucca River, climbing the sand dunes at Cape Kiwanda, and even hang gliding over the shoreline. When the conditions are right, crowds gather in the evenings to watch the dory fleet head home after a long day of fishing. These distinctive flat-bottomed boats don't dock at a pier with their haul of rockfish, tuna, and Dungeness crab; rather, the dorymen drive their boats right up onto the sand where their trailers are waiting.

Though the Pelican Pub is the most popular spot in town, Pacific City has a few other dining & drinking establishments well worth a visit. The more upscale Delicate Palate Bistro may not have ocean views, but the seasonally-rotating menu featuring local ingredients is the rightful star here. Laid-back BJ's Burgers & Tacos offers a beachfront vibe and the best value in town.

Pacific City sits just two hours from Portland, less than an hour and a half from Salem, and just under five hours from Seattle. While there's plenty to keep vacationers busy in the immediate vicinity of Pacific City, it also makes a great home base to explore the rest of the Oregon Coast. To the north, popular Seaside and Cannon Beach are less than two hours away; Tillamook and its bigger-city amenities can be reached in under forty-five minutes. Heading south, bustling Lincoln City with its shopping and nightlife is just forty minutes away. In just over an hour, the Oregon Coast Aquarium waits in Newport. Pacific City offers the rare combination of being close to all the best attractions of the Oregon Coast, but secluded enough to feel like a true getaway.