A Sandwich-Generation Guide to the North Oregon Coast

Astoria

• Astoria Column: Watching the sunset from the Astoria Column is a must-do while you’re based on the northern Oregon Coast. I climbed the spiral staircase with my kiddo to take in the sweeping river and coastal views, while my mom was perfectly happy watching the sky change colors from the car. Around us, families picnicked while their kids ran around the lawn, and interpretive signs turned the stop into a mini history lesson as well as a gorgeous vista.

• Goonies House: If you’re a Gen Xer like me, The Goonies was a defining movie of childhood. Swing by the famous house in Astoria to pay your respects to those nostalgic movie memories, then head back and cue up the film again. If you’re lucky, your kiddo (and maybe your parent) will watch it with you this time.

• Gizmo’s Retrocade & Eatery: This arcade-diner mashup on Commercial Street, right in the center of town, is a favorite of my kiddo for the games alone. Pinball machines and vintage cabinets line the walls, and it’s a fun spot to battle it out on the air hockey table. A great way to kill time before a dinner reservation. Closed Tuesdays, so plan around that.

Seaside

• Seaside Aquarium: This small, old-school aquarium is a serious walk down memory lane for me, and a must-do with both my kiddo and my mom on any sandwich-generation trip. It’s easy to explore in under an hour, which keeps everyone’s energy up. Don’t forget to buy a tray of fish to feed the barking seals out front. They’re noisy, hilarious, and an instant three-generation crowd-pleaser.

• Biking on the Prom: This one is mostly for my kiddo and me. Grab whatever wheels you love and ride the length of the Prom, with town on one side and the beach and water on the other. If you forgot your wheels, it’s just as lovely as a leisurely walk. I still remember balancing on the Prom railing as a kid. Now I get to watch my own child make their own Seaside memories along the same stretch.

• Seaside Arcade: If you love classic beach-town arcade vibes, this is a must-visit. We spent a few happy evenings here. I love playing Fascination, a sort of bingo with a ball, while the kids run off to the video games. My kids and I chased each other around on the bumper cars, and grandma staked out the photo booth with the kids. Save the strips. They make surprisingly good bookmarks. Grandma supplied the quarters, my kiddos cashed in the tickets for candy, and I got to watch them fall in love with the same arcade I adored at their age, vacationing at our family beach house in town. I’ve retired from the Tilt-A-Whirl. It makes me sick now.

Cannon Beach

• Ecola State Park: I have so many memories here, from climbing over Tillamook Head to picnics packed by my grandma. On a sandwich-generation trip, my mom can soak in the sweeping views from the car or an overlook while my kiddo and I do a short trail wander, snap photos of the coastline, and meet back up for a simple picnic with one of the best views on the north coast. Next summer, I’m hiking Tillamook Head to induct my oldest into this family tradition. The trail is six miles one way, with roughly 1,130 feet of elevation gain.

• Haystack Rock and tidepools: This is a true must-visit. Grab hot drinks and pastries at Sea Level Bakery around the corner, then head to one of the nearby beach access lots and make your way down to the sand. Find a comfy spot for your parent to perch with a view of Haystack Rock while you explore the beach with your kiddo. Bonus points if you remember a kite. If the tides line up, tidepooling here is incredible, with plenty to discover while keeping things easy and low-key for all three generations.

Gearhart

• Beach walks: My preferred home base for a northern Oregon Coast sandwich-generation trip is Gearhart. This charming town is full of shingle-covered beach houses, lush gardens filled with hydrangeas, and a tiny commercial strip that keeps things quiet and unhurried. Its beaches are wonderfully sleepy, in the best way, and perfect for afternoon body-surfing and baseball on the sand with my kiddo, while the grandparents enjoy a slower stroll or settle into a beach chair. The sunsets here are spectacular, too.

Astoria

• Fort George Brewery + Public House: Two floors, two different menus, one historic building on the Columbia River in Astoria. Downstairs is the original pub, loud and kid-friendly, with burgers, fish and chips, salads, and burritos. Upstairs is the wood-fired pizzeria with river views worth the trip up alone. Indoor and outdoor seating on both floors. Full beer lineup plus a solid NA selection, so it works even if you’re not drinking. An Astoria staple, and genuinely easy with kids in tow.

• Daphne: A must-stop on the Oregon Coast for a reason. The service is warm and attentive, the menu leans hard into local, seasonal ingredients like sablefish caught right outside, and the soundtrack has an indie edge that makes the whole room feel effortlessly cool. The wine list is extensive and heavy on Oregon labels. Call ahead for reservations to get a table at this small, intimate restaurant. It’s a multi-generational family dinner spot that still feels like a night out.

• Gaetano’s Market & Deli: This Italian deli and market is a favorite for grab-and-go, with fantastic sandwiches and picnic-friendly items. It’s also a smart stop for the first night of vacation. Pick up prepared frozen foods (we loved the lasagna, individual chicken pot pies, and fresh cheese ravioli with tomato sauce) so you can settle in after a long day on the road instead of heading back out to a restaurant. Pair it with fresh vegetables from the Astoria Sunday Market for an easy, no-fuss first dinner.

• Fede Trattoria: A cozy, river-adjacent Italian spot on Astoria’s 12th Street Pier, doing handmade pastas and traditional dishes with local, seasonal ingredients. It’s walk-in only, with a small dining room that regularly draws a wait. They open at 3:30 p.m. and start the waitlist then, so arrive early in the evening for the best shot at a table.

• Frite & Scoop: This is our go-to ice cream stop when we’re spending an afternoon in Astoria, or coming off a fancier dinner at Daphne and everyone still wants dessert. It’s a short walk down to the Riverwalk to get there, right along the water, so you get river views on your way to the cone.

Gearhart

• McMenamins Sand Trap Pub (at Gearhart Hotel): Golf-course-side pub open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with salads, burgers, pizzas, and kids’ options, plus McMenamins beers, wines, and spirits. Patio seating, pet-friendly, and good for groups.

Seaside

• Pig 'N Pancake: Classic Oregon coast pancake house with a big menu of family-friendly breakfast plates. An easy recommendation for multi-generational groups. I’ve been going there my whole life, and it’s a tradition to hit this spot for breakfast on every trip. It also has locations in Cannon Beach and Astoria.

Cannon Beach

• Sea Level Bakery + Coffee: South-end bakery-café with notable breads and espresso, highlighted by local tourism and lodging guides. Good for both breakfast and lunch, and genuinely delicious.

• Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters: Iconic Cannon Beach coffee bungalow with in-house roasted beans and pastries. A must-visit morning stop.

• Ecola Seafoods Restaurant & Market: Long-time favorite for fresh fish and chips, chowder, and a small seafood market. An easy, family-friendly lunch near downtown.

• Lazy Susan Café: Cozy, long-running Cannon Beach staple for breakfast and lunch, tucked just off Hemlock in the heart of town. Known for from-scratch omelets, hearty soups, and daily specials, it feels more like a neighborhood kitchen than a tourist stop. Go early, expect a wait, and bring cash.

Nahalem

• Wanda’s: A bit further south of Astoria, Gearhart, and Cannon Beach, but worth the detour. We stopped in for coffee and pastries on the way to dropping our son off at camp in Rockaway Beach, and the front room was packed with families grabbing breakfast. Great coffee shop with pastries, grab-and-go items, and gifts. Open daily for breakfast and lunch only, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., so plan your stop accordingly if you’re heading further down the coast.

Tillamook

• Tillamook Creamery: This is our go-to stop right after camp pickup, a short drive down from Rockaway Beach and on the way home. The building is fancier and newer than the one I remember from rainy day trips over from Seaside as a kid. The self-guided tour is free and quick, maybe 20 minutes, watching the cheese get cut and packaged from viewing windows on the second floor. There’s ice cream, coffee, hot food, and a store stocked with cheese to take home. We once watched a whole family walk out with triple-scoop cones, so don’t feel like you need to hold back.