The Pacific Northwest truly is the best place to live, with stunning scenery, an abundance of outdoor recreation, incredible cuisine, and big cities full of friendly folks who defy every city-dweller stereotype. In Oregon, people are flocking en masse to places like Portland, Eugene, and Salem; and while these big cities all have so much to offer, The Beaver State is full of small towns that boast all the amenities of their big-city brethren — and more. This is most definitely the case with Yachats, a small Oregon town along the coast that’s just so perfectly Pacific Northwestern. Charming coastal vibes, spectacular natural wonders, an abundance of outdoor recreation, and an amazing cultural scene — Yachats, Oregon is peak PNW living.
Yachats is a teeny-tiny town on the Oregon Coast, with just over 550 full-time residents.
James Ronan/EyeEm Collection via Getty Images
The PNW is known for its old-growth forests, and Cape Perpetua Scenic Area in Yachats may just be most magical of them all.
Gary Weathers/Getty Images Along the Saint Perpetua Trail, hikers get to traverse through some of Oregon’s most resplendent old-growth forests.
This trail also leads to one of the most iconic vistas in all of Oregon: an unencumbered view of the Pacific Ocean that will absolutely take your breath away.
Lisa Tardie/AllTrails
The unique thing about Oregon’s beaches is how geographically varied they are.
Margaret Mouser/Google You’ll go from lush forests to sprawling shorelines almost instantly.
The beaches of Yachats aren’t full of white, sandy shores.
Management/TripAdvisor Rather, much of the town’s beaches are dominated by volcanic rock from over 50 million years ago.
The result is a rough and rugged shoreline, where waves collide and crash in an asynchronous manner.
craigmbe/TripAdvisor Not only is this an incredible spectacle, but it’s also the force behind some of Yachats’s most marvelous geological formations.
Perhaps the most wondrous attraction in Yachats is Thor’s Well.
Nick Boren Photography/Moment Collection via Getty Images It’s a place of startling contradictions: the “well” is essentially a hole in the ocean floor. When the tide comes in, the water fills up; when the tide goes out, the well empties. This amazing effect happens only at high tides.
In addition to having a front-row seat to Mother Nature’s most spectacular coastal shows, the ocean provides a bounty that absolutely informs the region’s unique cuisine.
Ona Restaurant and Lounge/Facebook In Yachats, Ona Restaurant and Lounge is the quintessential PNW fine-dining experience. The menu boasts fresh-caught fare, and the restaurant sits perched atop a stunning scenic overlook.
The nearby Luna Sea Fish House is about as classic PNW as it gets: a seafood shack offering fresh fare and charming coastal vibes.
Helia_linne/TripAdvisor
Hailed as having the best fish and chips in the state, this hole-in-the-wall gem is an absolute must.
Chris H/TripAdvisor
In Downtown Yachats, The Drift Inn is definitely where you want to stay (and dine!).
The Drift Inn Hotel and Restaurant/Google Local
Rather than your standard lineup of rooms, The Drift Inn has an eclectic collection of studios, suites, and bungalows.
The Drift Inn Hotel and Restaurant/Google Local Each space is cozy and comfortable, with incredible views of the Yachats coastline.
Even if you aren’t spending the night, you’ll still want to have a meal at the Inn’s restaurant.
Steve Santose/Google Local Think classic pub food, but with a PNW twist… because does it get any more Pacific Northwestern than fresh seafood lasagna?
No PNW experience would be complete without coffee, and in Yachats, Green Salmon Coffee Shop is the place to go.
Christopher Glessman/Google Local This local coffee house roasts its own blends, boasts an expansive menu that includes CBD-infused cuppas, and has a cozy little dining area with board games, books, and gorgeous coastline views.
That’s really what makes Yachats so ‘quintessentially Pacific Northwestern,’ really – the way the town exists in harmony with nature. The buildings, the parks, the recreation, the cuisine – in the PNW, we have a profound love and respect for where we are, and it informs and enriches our lives each and every day.
Emily Sanchez/Google Local Because we know how incredibly lucky we are to live in such an extraordinary place.
Have you visited the charming coastal town of Yachats before? What are your favorite attractions in the area? Share them in the comments below!
James Ronan/EyeEm Collection via Getty Images
Gary Weathers/Getty Images
Along the Saint Perpetua Trail, hikers get to traverse through some of Oregon’s most resplendent old-growth forests.
Lisa Tardie/AllTrails
Margaret Mouser/Google
You’ll go from lush forests to sprawling shorelines almost instantly.
Management/TripAdvisor
Rather, much of the town’s beaches are dominated by volcanic rock from over 50 million years ago.
craigmbe/TripAdvisor
Not only is this an incredible spectacle, but it’s also the force behind some of Yachats’s most marvelous geological formations.
Nick Boren Photography/Moment Collection via Getty Images
It’s a place of startling contradictions: the “well” is essentially a hole in the ocean floor. When the tide comes in, the water fills up; when the tide goes out, the well empties. This amazing effect happens only at high tides.
Ona Restaurant and Lounge/Facebook
In Yachats, Ona Restaurant and Lounge is the quintessential PNW fine-dining experience. The menu boasts fresh-caught fare, and the restaurant sits perched atop a stunning scenic overlook.
Helia_linne/TripAdvisor
Chris H/TripAdvisor
The Drift Inn Hotel and Restaurant/Google Local
Each space is cozy and comfortable, with incredible views of the Yachats coastline.
Steve Santose/Google Local
Think classic pub food, but with a PNW twist… because does it get any more Pacific Northwestern than fresh seafood lasagna?
Christopher Glessman/Google Local
This local coffee house roasts its own blends, boasts an expansive menu that includes CBD-infused cuppas, and has a cozy little dining area with board games, books, and gorgeous coastline views.
Emily Sanchez/Google Local
Because we know how incredibly lucky we are to live in such an extraordinary place.
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Address: Yachats, OR, USA
