Tillamook, Oregon : Ultimate Guide to the Cheesiest Coastal City

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If you’ve never heard of Tillamook, Oregon – that’s okay. It’s a pretty hidden gem on the West Coast of the United States. BUT – it shouldn’t be overlooked! If you’re looking for a fun trip outside of (relatively) busy Portland, than Tillamook is a great option! I personally would prefer a day trip over a weekend trip, but a few more days could be great if you like hiking and being outdoors.

Lemme hit you with a quick overview before we get into it!

• State: Oregon (that’s on the west coast of the United States)
• Population: 5,257
• Ancestral land: Nehalem or Tillamook (which means people of Nekelim in Chinook)
• Nearby major cities: Portland, Oregon
• Best season to visit (in my opinion): Summer or Winter
• Vibe: Country and Outdoorsy
• Price range: Moderate
• Transportation: You will need your own car

Okay, so you have the most basic facts – now we can start planning your vacation!

Where to Stay in Tillamook

You have a few options.

Since this ISSSS a coastal city, my aesthetic would be stay on “the beach.” I used the word “beach” lightly because it is Oregon and it is usually cold and a bit dreary. In the summer, you might get lucky with overcast skies. But I digress.

There isn’t much in the “active” part of Tillamook, so you might as well get the views of the coast! I mostly use Airbnbs on the Oregon Coast, and there are some really nice ones at an affordable price too! From cozy cottages to cabins that can fit a whole group! So that would be my first choice.

If you’re new to Airbnb, sign up using my link to get $40 off your first booking!

If hotels are more your style, there are a few to choose from, but there aren’t any Four Seasons or St Regis in the area. And, they might not be able to guarantee you an ocean view. But, yanno, at least they’ll make your bed for you.

Another option is camping! The campgrounds around Tillamook are actually some of my favorite in Oregon!

What to eat in Tillamook

CHEESE.

But, you’re probably looking for actual food, yeah? Okay, so I’ve never done a long extended trip to Tillamook, but here are my few suggestions!

Breakfast/Cafes

• Blue Moon Cafe
• Downie’s Cafe
• Fresh LLC
• Bayfront Bakery and Deli
• La Tea Da Tea Room
• Hidden Acres Greenhouse & Cafe
• Five Rivers Coffee Roasters & Cafe

Lunch/Dinner

• Pacific Restaurant
• The Fish Peddler at Pacific Oyster
• Roseanna’s Cafe
• Tillamook Cheese Factory

Yanno….it’s not a big food city. But that’s okay!! Because there’s tons of other things to do!

What to do in Tillamook

Hands down, if you visit Tillamook, YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE CHEESE FACTORY. Point blank period. If you don’t…then what even is the point??

The Tillamook Cheese Factory is an Oregonian icon. Literally, the cheese is world renown. AND! They just recently renovated in 2018 so if you visited anytime before that, you need to go back. It’s worth it. I could go on and on about it (and I did in this blog post!) but just take my word for it and head over. It’ll take a few hours, probably two (or three IF YOU’RE REALLY INTO DAIRY). The gift shop is amazing too!

If you still have room for more dairy in your life, there’s also the Blue Heron Cheese Company. By far less busy, but there’s also wine, bread, gift baskets, and gourmet snacks to check out. And a petting zoo! But…make sure to use the hand sanitizer. If you decide to go here, they have a nice sandwich and soup selection for lunch!

For all the museum lovers, there are three big ones that come to mind. First, the Pioneer Museum, though it’s closed on Mondays. Then, the Air Museum, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. And third, the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center. If you’re visiting on a weekend, you’ll be fine, but if not check their hours!

AND – something REALLY fun to do – Railrider Cycling! You’ll have to look up dates and times for availability (they run late spring through early fall), but it’s an exciting way to see the coast! Related (but not exactly), there’s also Paragliding!

Where to get into Nature

If there’s one thing Oregon is good at, it’s being green. Tillamook is no exception. There are tons of beautiful hiking trails and parks, but my favorite is Ecola State Park! It is open year round and a day pass is $5 USD. There are a couple of popular trails, but I recommend Crescent Beach Trail (2 miles) because there’s a mini waterfall and the Clatsop Loop Trail (2.8 miles) for the big trees. If you’re looking for a longer hike, the Tillamook Head National Recreation Trail (9.9 miles) will take you from one end of the park alllllll the way to the other. Beautiful views but uh…you might want to park a car on both ends of the trail.

For all my waterfall lovers, head to Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site! It has one of the tallest waterfalls in the coast range! If you go during the winter, you can see the salmon spawning – but I have yet to willingly hike in the winter.

For wildlife fans, go to Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge. It houses Oregon’s largest breeding colony of tufted puffins! There’s also common murre (don’t ask me what that is), and the Steller sea lion.

Or, if you’re just looking for some nice beach views, Cape Lookout State Park is beautiful. And the campground there is pretty nice too!

Where to shop in Tillamook

Tillamook has…shopping?? Yeah, I know, it’s not something you go to Tillamook for, but hey – if you’re spending a whole weekend there, you gotta do something! Keep in mind that most of the shopping revolves around food. I had to dig really deep for these.

• Farmer’s Market (Saturday’s in the summer months)
• Debbie D’s Sausage & Jerky Factory
• Werner Gourment Meat Snacks Inc
• Anderson Florists
• Dancing Spoons (macaroons)
• Etcetera (soaps, jewerly, knick knacks)
• Kit & Caboodle Thrift Store
• Lucky Bear Soap (vegan)
• Madeline’s Vintage Market Place
• Sunflower Flats

Yeah so….that’s something to do.

THERE YOU HAVE IT!

A super cool awesome guide to Tillamook, Oregon! I hope you enjoy your time! My advice would be a day trip, but you could also stay a night or two if you enjoy hiking! It’s also a great stop in an Oregon Coast roadtrip! Though, pro tip : you might want to pack some Lactaid.

For other ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out my post on Multnomah Falls in the winter!

Stay cheesy out there!

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