Your tour bus picks you up in Portland at about 8:30 a.m. In less than two hours you're at Cape Meares, with its historic lighthouse and expansive ocean views. Next your bus stops at Tillamook, known for its cheese and ice cream factories. Down the coast you'll have frequent stops at uncrowded sandy beaches, the sand dunes of Pacific City and Lincoln City, and fresh seafood. Next stop---Depoe Bay, often called "the smallest harbor in the world." From here, you might spot whales. The last coastal stop is Cape Foulweather's exhilarating views. This all-day tour is 250 miles round trip either by coach with maximum 55 passengers or mini-bus with 14 passengers and a charge of about $60 each.
West Coast Tours, LLC
310 NW Davis St.
Portland, Oregon 97209
503-516-6937
www.wctours.us
The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. in Portland with a ride over the Coast Mountains to Ecola State Park. Here you'll view the Haystack Rock, part of the offshore volcanic rock formation. You'll have some walking time on uncrowded beaches, watching shore birds and possibly spotting harbor seal. Next is Cannon Beach, with its enticing cafés and local art galleries. Or you can walk part of the way on the seven-mile sandy beach. The bus goes to Oswald State Park with its towering, old-growth trees; then through the rustic fishing villages of Nehalem Bay, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach, Garibaldi and Bay City; followed by a stop at Tillamook cheese and ice cream factories. You'll be back in Portland by 6 p.m. Cost is about $65 per person.
Eco Tours of Oregon
3127 SE 23rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97202
503-245-1428 or 888-TOURS-33
ecotours-of-oregon.com
Eco Tours of Oregon combines travel by bus to many of the same places as above with a charter boat ride to watch whales. This is a seasonal tour from Portland accompanied by an eco-tour guide. Cost is $80 per person.
Eco Tours of Oregon
3127 SE 23rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97202
503-245-1428 or 888-TOURS-33
ecotours-of-oregon.com
From Portland, your bus takes you along the Columbia River to Astoria on the northern tip of the coast. You'll visit Fort Clatsop where the Lewis and Clark expedition wintered. You'll also have several hours for a personal walk around Astoria, with its varied restaurants and shops. The bus continues south to Seaside and Ecola State Park for unparalleled views of the coast before returning to Portland. Cost is $63 plus $5 Fort Clatsop entrance fee.
Eco Tours of Oregon Day Tours
3127 SE 23rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97202
503-245-1428 or 888-TOURS-33
ecotours-of-oregon.com
This tour takes you to Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park, Manzanita and Tillamook. AHWT appeals to smaller groups who may customize their travels as they wish. The normal charge is about $80 per person. Hotel pickup in Portland is at 8:30 a.m., and return is before 6 p.m.
America's Hub World Tours
6327c SW Capitol Highway #263
Portland OR, 97201
800-637-3110
americashubworldtours.com
If you wish to combine sightseeing with wine-tasting and food-sampling, Premiere Tours may be your choice. From Portland you ride to Seaside, about one and one-half hour. Here you'll experience miles of uncrowded beaches, shopping in small boutiques or malls, local winery outlets and a wide variety of local cafés. Itineraries can be customized according to a group's wishes.
Premiere Tours
5319 SW Westgate Dr, Suite 22
Portland, OR 97221
503-244-4653
premierewinetours.com
Dai Ichi mostly appeals to the Asian market with upscale and inclusive packages. A group can customize their own package to some extent. Its main visits are to Cannon Beach, Seaside and Tillamook.
Dai Ichi International, Inc.
10700 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., Suite 210
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-646-1118
dai-ichi-travel.com
