Day Trippin Gearhart, Oregon
Ssshh, keep everything I’m about to share with you to yourself, Gearhart is an Oregon coast jewel!
Just 90 minutes west of Portland and often overlooked, Gearhart sits only 3 miles north of the carnival-like atmosphere known as the city of Seaside. Here you will find a much more relaxed and charming coastal town than it’s busy neighbor. Though Gearhart is small and unassuming, it packs a powerful punch with quiet grace and elegance.
Pacific Way Bakery
“Elevated Cafe fare, notable wines, & baked goods offered in a charming, historical setting”
Off Highway 101 take Pacific Way west towards the ocean and after a few blocks you will come to Pacific Way Bakery. I’ve been coming to this bakery for over a decade and have always looked forward to the next time I’ll be passing through their doors. Something about its small interior with luscious treats fills me with pure joy. Today I order a Cafe L’orange with a cherry almond scone. As they prepare my drink I notice the “Grab&Go” case and spy a Sesame Thai Peanut Soba salad and grab it for my lunch later on. You might be asking yourself what’s a Thai salad doing in a bakery like this? Who cares! The Pacific Way Bakery has always had a variety of things to choose from. Hoagies, tarts, breads, cookies, soups, muffins, and gluten free options as well. They have even included a Micro store which is a place to find very basics like milk, eggs with some fruits and veggies. Oh, and the wine, don’t forget about the wine either.
Stop here.
Eat here.
Support small business here.
***COVID………. many local businesses with limited or no capacity, please consider purchasing food for take out.***
Gearhart Beach
From the Bakery continue up Pacific Way until it dead ends. Here you can start an easy hike in the grassy sand dunes that make for a pretty border along the Pacific Ocean. It’s extremely easy beachcombing access from this location. There are many trails running through the dunes but with no official trailhead markers. Intertwined throughout the dunes are many benches where you can just sit and enjoy the view or maybe catch a sunset.
Gearhart Golf Links
On the North side of town you will find Gearhart Golf Links on Marion Avenue. This golf course is said to be the oldest golf course in the Pacific Northwest and some legends say that it is the oldest course west of the Mississippi. All I know for sure is this course is very well maintained. I did not play a round on this day trip but I have played here in the past.
Drive the Beach
Have you ever wanted to drive your vehicle onto a beach? You can do just that here in Gearhart, not far from the Gearhart Golf Links is 10th street. There is a small street sign that says beach access, drive the few blocks directly onto the beach. At this entrance you either have to park or turn right out onto the sand. From here you have roughly 8 miles of beach that you can drive upon. Have you ever wanted to have a beach fire? Well you can do that here too. Gearhart allows beach fires but you must come prepared with your own firewood. Burning of driftwood is prohibited.
This was a last minute day trip for me, I’m so pleased I just got in the car and took off. I leave Gearhart today feeling rewarded, as always.
Gearhart is classy and low key, it leaves you with an impressive memory of the Oregon Coast.
