Tucked inland from Manzanita and surrounded by coastal forest, Nehalem is a charming riverside community with hints of its timber industry history. Notice the frontier-style buildings in town, with their raised porches and baskets of flowers, reminiscent of the 19th-century logging boom.
From the center of town, take a short walk to the riverside docks, then push a bit farther to reach the North Fork of the Nehalem River, a fertile fishing ground for coho salmon. Not far away, Nehalem Bay is an angler favorite for Chinook, sturgeon and steelhead. Here you’ll also find Nehalem Bay State Park, located on the sandy Nehalem Spit. In the 1930s, Tillamook County transferred the space to the state to be used as a park. Over the next two decades, locals planted beach grass, shore pine and Scotch broom in an effort to stabilize the sand dunes.
Today, Nehalem Bay State Park is a lively day-use area, campground and wildlife habitat for birds, deer, elk, mountain lions, black bears and coyotes. Walk or cycle along the forested 1.8-mile-long (2.9-kilometer) bike path between the ocean and the bay, taking time to admire the undulating sand dunes and driftwood sculptures. You can also take a guided horseback riding tour from here.
Hop back in the car and head to neighboring Manzanita to the west. This charming north coast community is known for its arts, culture and cuisine. Attend an art show or listen to an author reading at the Hoffman Center for the Arts. Take in the fabulous view of Neahkahnie Mountain and spend some time on Manzanita Beach looking for sea creatures in the tidepools or scanning the horizon for migrating whales.
After exploring, head back toward Nehalem and stop at the Nehalem Bay Winery, one of the 10 oldest wineries in the state. Sample their traditional red and white vintages, as well as a variety of sweet and fruity wines. Nehalem is about a 1.5-hour drive west of Portland.
