Tillamook is a beautiful city in Oregon located along Tillamook Bay.
The Tillamook was a Native American tribe of the area, hence the city’s name.
Falling on the coast of Tillamook Bay, the place has a lot of beautiful views and places to visit.
The city and its nearby places offer adventure during almost all seasons of the year.
With its lively activities and natural beauty, the place will take you by surprise in the most pleasant way possible.
Here are the best things to do in Tillamook, Oregon:
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Cape Lookout State Park is one of the most significantly located parks on the Cape Lookout.
The park is famous for providing some of the best views and scenic panoramas in the Pacific Northwest.
It also has a three-mile beachfront secured by a 50-foot stone revetment.
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All these facilities are open to the general public, where they can enjoy activities like beach combing, paragliding, and hand gliding at all times of the year.
The park also has trails that are ideal for hiking, walking through the park, and enjoying its lush green forest and vegetation.
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Cape Lookout State Park also boasts facilities for renting tents and RV hookups in order to allow visitors to enjoy camping in the area.
Visitors may also rent cabins and enjoy their time in the park.
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Tillamook’s Cape Meares Lighthouse was built in the year 1890.
For many years, this lighthouse was the primary light station in Tillamook.
When it was first constructed, the lighthouse had two keeper houses, two cisterns, and two oil houses.
The lighthouse was eventually deactivated in 1963, and its demolition was planned by the US Coast Guard.
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Fortunately, the efforts of the citizens and the Oregon State Parks Department resulted in its survival.
Now, the property belongs to the Oregon State Parks Department.
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The lighthouse was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 1993.
At present, it is a museum where you can enjoy the views of the bay and take a self-guided tour to understand the functioning of lighthouses.
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Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site is a very famous State Park that is managed and maintained by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
The park is famous for its significant waterfall, located at the height of 319 feet.
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Munson Creek Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in Oregon and the tallest in the Coast Range.
The waterfall is set within a very scenic landscape and is surrounded by spruce and Sitka trees, giving it a beautiful reddish and greenish color.
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Along with the Munson Creek Falls, there are also some walking trails that lead to specific places where you can enjoy views of the waterfall.
Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site is also known for housing the tallest Sitka trees in the entire nation, which are almost 260 feet above ground level.
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The Tillamook Forest Center is a very unique and educational center that is located 22 miles away from Tillamook’s city center.
It is believed to be the largest forest-based learning center in Tillamook.
The forest center is also the biggest outdoor classroom representing the legacy of Tillamook and its forest regions.
With its unique educational programs, visitors can explore the forest center and learn about the vegetation in the area.
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The Tillamook Forest Center is also famous for its views shown in an award-winning documentary.
You can enjoy a lot of fun activities in this forest center, such as climbing a replica of a 40-foot forest fire or just traveling along the pedestrian bridge 250 feet above the ground.
Visitors may also enjoy camping on the Wilson River Trail and Jones Creek campground.
The forest center also allows free program scheduling for schools, students, and groups in order to make them familiar with the natural setting of Tillamook.
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Tillamook Air Museum is a very famous aviation museum located in the world’s largest wooden structure with a clear span.
The museum was named after one of the most famous private World War II aircraft in 2004.
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At present, the museum has a wide collection that exhibits classic aircraft such as the Skyhawk, Sea-ranger, Cessna 180f Skywagon, and more like these.
The museum is also famous for housing the Cessna Skywagon, as it is one of the two lightest aircraft to land on the North Pole.
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A special exhibition showcasing all the aircraft from historical wars and important events is also present in the museum.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of aviation, Tillamook Air Museum is the place for you.
Opened in the year 1935 under the guidance of the Tillamook County Pioneer Association, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is a very famous museum that describes the history of Tillamook.
The museum outlines how the Tillamook Coast developed from its past to how it is at present.
The museum has an extensive collection of 55,000 items depicting the history of the city.
In addition, 20,000 photographs are also present in the museum.
It has 19 gallery rooms filled with artifacts dating from the prehistoric era to contemporary times.
These artifacts generally include military items, transportation items, items depicting the farming and dairy industry in the city, and more.
The museum is open throughout the week, and you can check out its permanent and rotating exhibitions at very affordable rates.
A very unique and different place in itself, the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center is a museum that revolves around textile arts and unique quilting techniques.
The museum is located on Wilson River Loop Road and is housed in a school building.
It boasts a stunning collection of antique and unique quilts as well as textiles.
Some of these items date as far back as the early 19th century.
Along with the textiles, some of the tools for making these items are also on display.
These tools majorly include crochet tools which are from the 1930s.
The museum also exhibits some clothing pieces made with different textile methods, such as handwoven textiles, hand-painted textiles, and more.
Along with the permanent exhibitions, the museum also has six rotating exhibitions that represent the different eras of the textile industry and its development in the area.
The center is also famous for organizing a lot number of events and programs.
Some of the most famous programs are the weaving programs and spinning demonstration courses.
The museum is overall very colorful and beautiful and is definitely worth a visit.
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Tillamook Creamery is one of the places that offer the tastiest creamery products in the city.
The creamery welcomes the visitors for tasting as well as learning about how it operates.
You can take a self-guided tour of the creamery where you can peep through, watch informational videos, and interact with the workers.
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Visitors may also watch how the products are made.
Since the place churns a lot of cheese, it also has its own farm where livestock is bred.
A farm exhibit is also a part of the creamery tour, where you can learn how cheese is produced on the farm.
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The best part about this creamery is that all their products are made using fresh and organic healthy ingredients.
The dinner hall of the creamery has an ice cream counter, an espresso counter, and a yogurt bar.
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The Tillamook Shop is located near Tillamook Creamery.
It is a one-stop shop where you can buy products from the creamery as well as clothing items.
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You can buy some cool merchandise produced by the city’s local workers.
The shop also offers specially made kitchen staples that make for great gift items or souvenirs.
The Tillamook Shop’s products are quite affordable.
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Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge is a vast area spanning almost 140 acres of land covered with lush green forest and offering beautiful views.
This wildlife refuge has multiple attractions like coastal cliffs, rolling headlands, rocky outcroppings, and hemlock trees.
The place is home to a lot of wildlife species that can be viewed from various spots in the center.
For instance, the headland is a great place to get a chance to spot migrating gray whales, sea lions, and seals.
In the refuge, you can spot land animals like black bears, elk, black-tailed deer, and more.
You may also catch sightings of smaller animals like moles, bugs, frogs, and salamanders.
The place is also ideal for admiring stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
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Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge has some unique trees as well, some of which are as old as 750 to 800 years.
The Champion Spruce and the octopus tree are among the refuge’s must-see attractions.
This place is also a good fit for hikers.
There’s a mile-long trail that’s moderately difficult to traverse, along with a beginner-friendly half-mile trail.
The place is a well-blessed area that’s open to tourists all around the year.
More information about the refuge can be found on its official website.
There aren’t many cinema options as far as theaters go, but Tillamook Coliseum Theater does a wonderful job of giving people their movie fix with first-run flicks and classic favorites when it comes to special occasions.
With affordable entry prices and good movies playing, the theater is a real plus for the local community.
And it has become a go-to place for those who need their beloved film adaptations in the form of live-action or animated.
It also got comfortable seating and a well-stocked snack bar.
So don’t be surprised if this theater is always at full capacity showing a variety of films to satisfy any taste.
As a treat for movie lovers everywhere, this theatre also hosts several Oscar-winning films each year and strives to maintain its excellence by having one of the best sound systems available today.
This nice movie theater sits at 310 Main Avenue, Tillamook, Oregon, United States.
Tillamook Bowling Lanes thrives on being not only your Bowling Center but, more importantly, to be your first choice of family and friend entertainment here in Tillamook, Oregon.
The bowling alley offers an affordable rate for anyone who wishes to enjoy and have a great time without worrying about spending too much.
This fun space also offers unique bumpers for kids out there who long for that “Gutter Ball.”
Tillamook Bowling Lanes also has league bowling for all skills and ages, along with awesome youth programs.
For a small bowling alley in a smaller town, they have great modern lanes, reasonable prices, and probably the friendliest staff around.
You can also enjoy quality food and beer here.
Firstly, Nevør Seafood Farm is not a restaurant and so don’t expect them to sell sandwiches, fish and chips, etc.
Instead, you can buy all kinds of shellfish, but it’s only because they’re freshly harvested, and the workers need to do something with them.
They open every Friday until Sunday, beginning at noon sharp every weekday, so come prepared for queues to form on busy days.
Here, you’ll find fresh Baywater oysters with a hint of sweetness.
They have jumbo and juicy BBQ Oysters grilled just right.
You can also enjoy their clam chowder broth with some diced potatoes.
One of the best ways to kickstart your adventure in Tillamook is by visiting the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.
Acting as the visitors center of Tillamook, this is the best way to learn everything and anything about the city.
There are tons of brochures and other learning materials here, along with invaluable information such as their restaurant guide.
It’s also a nice way to meet locals of Tillamook, and you can bet that they’ll offer more information beyond the city as well.
Oregon Coast Visitors Association is located along Main Avenue and is just a stone’s throw away from the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum.
Have a Picnic at Carnahan Park
One of the best aspects about Tillamook is that it’s right by the river, giving it a simple yet charming atmosphere.
Carnahan Park is one of the best places to experience this laid-back and serene vibe of the city.
Found along 5th Street, Carnahan Park is right by the Hoquarton Slough; it gets a lot of diverse greenery and terrain because of its proximity with the river.
Carnahan Park is a great place for walking, but perhaps the best activity you can do here is to do picnics, experiencing the rustic but charming scenery by the river.
Quiet and oftentimes not crowded, this is a can’t-miss destination in Tillamook if you’re into natural attractions.
Bring Your Pooch to Ironworks Bark Park
Traveling with your fur baby? Tillamook’s Ironworks Bark Park is a nice spot to let them run loose and wick off all that pent up energy.
The place is huge and securely fenced, so you won’t have worries about safety at this awesome dog park.
The amenities are well-stocked too—Ironworks Bark Park has a lot of extra waste bags along with water buckets for cooling down.
There are also benches and some shade here, so owners can sit back and relax while their dogs run around.
Ironworks Bark Park is located along Cedar Avenue.
Stroll Along Hoquarton Interpretive Trail
The Hoquarton Interpretive Trail, also called the Hoquarton Landing, is easily the best area in Tillamook to explore the Hoquarton Slough.
While Carnahan Park is great for picnics, this trail is much better for walking and exploration because it gives you more coverage in seeing the river’s shoreline.
There are information boards, boardwalks, and plenty of nature trails that’ll lead you to picturesque areas in Tillamook that’s perfect for nature photography.
Kids will also enjoy the Hoquarton Interpretive Trail because it’ll immerse them in the flora and fauna of the city; you can even spot lots of river critters here.
To access the trail, reach the end of Front Street near the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum.
Try Your Tricks at Tillamook Skatepark
Tillamook Skatepark is an exciting way to spice up your itinerary if you’re into skateboarding.
Located along 3rd Street, this is a quick stopover if you’re already planning to go to the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum and the Hoquarton Interpretive Trail.
The skatepark has decent concrete that has all the basics covered, making this child and beginner-friendly.
Being that it’s inside a bigger park called Godspeed, visiting Tillamook Skatepark will also lead you to other amenities such as playgrounds and picnic areas.
The park is also typically busy but not crowded which is ideal for community immersion.
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The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad offers a different kind of experience altogether.
This railroad is located in Garibaldi, just 15 minutes away from Tillamook.
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It is a way of experiencing Oregon while riding on the historic locomotives of the county.
The best part about this adventure is that you will enjoy the fresh breeze while exploring the Tillamook Coast.
The views along the scenic route are an additional perk when getting to journey along this entire rail route.
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Is shopping your main priority when traveling?
You might be interested in taking a side trip to the neighboring city of Manzanita, which is known for its many gift shops that offer some unique and best gift items in the city.
Also part of Tillamook County, Manzanita is a 40-minute drive outside the city of Tillamook.
Manzanita’s famous Laneda Avenue is lined with boutiques that sell locally produced items.
Some favorite gift items include artistic crafts, serving bowls, rugs and jewelry, wine glasses, home decor, sustainable clothing, furnishing, and more.
Situated along Laneda Avenue in Manzanita, Cloud & Leaf Bookstore is a famous bookstore on the Tillamook Coast that offers a great collection of books for readers of all ages.
From fiction to scientific titles, the bookstore offers books from almost all genres.
The owner can also recommend you some good books depending on your preferences.
Bookworms shouldn’t miss out on a trip to this bookstore that firmly believes that the best reading experience still involves holding an actual book in your hands.
Unfurl Clothing is a famous clothing store that offers great clothing options for women, men, and kids.
The place, located on Manzanita’s Laneda Avenue, sells shoes and accessories as well.
In addition to apparel, this store is also famous for selling cute gift items.
Unfurl Clothing is specifically known for its high-quality items made with non-toxic dyes and recyclable items.
Southeast Oregon’s beautiful spot has a lot of things to offer.
Tillamook County is a gorgeous place to visit if you ever find yourself in the beautiful state of Oregon.
Whatever time of the year you choose to explore this county, there’s always something fun and exciting to do, such as visiting the various museums, parks, places, and activities that give it its character while also giving your trip an extra boost of exhilaration and pep.
Make sure that when you travel to Tillamook, you take some extra time out of your weekend to try out the greatest things this picturesque, charming town has to offer!
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