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What makes a perfect beach town?



Access to the beach helps, of course, but there should also be a good variety of other activities and attractions. Are hiking trails nearby? Natural wonders? Good food is important, as is local lodging. How are the crowds? What's the vibe?



After many years of traveling U.S. Route 101, we've dared to rank the very best towns on the Oregon coast. Our perspective is of tourists on a day trip or longer stay, considering all that goes into a good vacation.



This list doesn't aim to play favorites. Growing up, my family always vacationed in Neskowin, and for that reason it will always hold a special place in my heart. But there's no way Neskowin could make this list. It's a perfectly lovely place to stay, but there's just not enough there.



The perfect beach town should balance a number of diverse attractions, accommodations and access to natural beauty, with both retro charm and modern amenities.



With those factors in mind, we've winnowed all the towns along the coast to 10, with representatives from the north, central and southern stretches. Some beloved beach towns were left off the list (sincerest apologies to Lincoln City and Manzanita), but not every beach town can be perfect.

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10. Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston

It might seem unfair to join Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston into one place, but it feels even more unfair to separate the three adjacent towns. Collectively, the bay area has the highest population (an estimated 26,495 in 2018) on the Oregon coast, home to charming downtown streets full of restaurants and shops. A trio of gorgeous state parks nearby – Sunset Bay, Shore Acres and Cape Arago – provide much of the tourism and natural beauty.



FIND OUT MORE: Shore Acres is an Oregon treasure; City of Coos Bay

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

9. Gold Beach

At the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and the Rogue River, Gold Beach is the perfect base camp for adventures either along the coast or upriver. It's home to stunning sea stacks and beautiful views, as well as sandy beaches and the largest bookstore on the coast. Good food can be found at Barnacle Bistro, with great beer courtesy of nearby Arch Rock Brewing.



FIND OUT MORE: 20 reasons to love Gold Beach; Visit Gold Beach

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

8. Seaside

Crowds keep some tourists away from Seaside, but those who stop by for vacation are rewarded with a wealth of family-friendly attractions and accommodations, all linked by the iconic beachside promenade and sidewalks throughout town. The beach in Seaside is massive, allowing plenty of space to spread out in the sand. In town you can stop by Funland for a game of Fascination, Zingers for ice cream and the Seaside Aquarium to feed the seals.



FIND OUT MORE: Take a hike on Tillamook Head; Seaside Visitors Bureau

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7. Depoe Bay

Depoe Bay might be small, but it makes up for its size with a number of big attractions, accommodations and some of the best seafood in Oregon. See resident gray whales from the shore at Boiler Bay or on a whale watching tour. Eat at Gracie's Sea Hag, The Horn or Restaurant Beck. Stay at upscale hotels like the Channel House and Whale Cove Inn, or book one of the many condos and beach houses in town. Depoe Bay is designed for visitors in both the sunny and rainy months, which gives it a big leg up over other coastal towns.



FIND OUT MORE: 10 storm watching spots on the coast; Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Bandon

The people of Bandon seem to have no shortage of creativity, and that has in turn led to a thriving town for tourism. A day could easily be spent walking the sand labyrinths of Circles in the Sand, eating at three neighboring seafood shacks and strolling up Bullards Beach to the Coquille River Lighthouse. But Bandon also has enough restaurants and attractions – including the famed Bandon Dunes Golf Resort – to spend several days in the southern coast town.



FIND OUT MORE: 20 reasons to love Bandon; Bandon Chamber of Commerce

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5. Florence

Not to be confused with the city in Italy, Florence is a perfectly beautiful town on the central Oregon coast, where the Siuslaw River cuts through towering sand dunes to the ocean. The businesses on Bay Street get all the attention – small storefronts and a series of restaurants and bars – but don't miss the natural beauty nearby. A trip to Florence is incomplete without a stop to see the Sea Lion Caves, Oregon Dunes and the carnivorous Darlingtonia plants.



FIND OUT MORE: Dunes and lakes at Honeyman State Park; Florence Chamber of Commerce

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

4. Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach might be the best-known beach town in Oregon, thanks to its proximity to Portland and the photogenic Haystack Rock. The town can get overcrowded quickly, turning some visitors away. But crowds and food prices are the only strikes against a town that otherwise has a lot to offer.



Great food is seemingly tucked into every nook and cranny, including the Lazy Susan Cafe, Ecola Seafoods and Sea Level Bakery. There are hotels and beach houses aplenty. The town is also flanked by stunning natural attractions at Ecola, Arcadia and Hug Point state parks, making up one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Oregon.



FIND OUT MORE: See a glorious sunset at Cannon Beach; Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce

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3. Astoria

Astoria isn't technically a "beach town," as it sits not on the ocean but at the mouth of the Columbia River, but that technicality isn't enough to unseat it as one of the very best towns on the Oregon coast. Beachgoers can head to nearby Fort Stevens State Park (which topped our ranking of Oregon's best state parks) but there's more than enough to do in town.



The mouth of the massive river is an attraction all its own, best seen atop the Astoria Column or at the foot of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. Grab fish and chips at the Bowpicker, or sit down for a meal at Fort George and Buoy, two of the best brew pubs on the coast. The Norblad and Commodore Hotels offer reasonably priced rooms in the heart of downtown, a godsend for thrifty travelers.



FIND OUT MORE: Norblad offers affordable minimalist rooms; Travel Astoria

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2. Yachats

There's perhaps no better small town in Oregon than Yachats, known as "the gem of the Oregon coast." The central-coast destination has a little bit of everything, and friendly locals seem to have a knack for growing and evolving the town in just the right way.



The natural splendor on forested trails, in downtown tide pools and at nearby Cape Perpetua is a huge draw in Yachats, but local restaurants quietly form the backbone of the town. Luna Sea has some of the best fish and chips on the coast, Yachats Brewing thrives with modern foodies, Ona offers upscale dining, Green Salmon serves great breakfast and coffee, and Bread & Roses is one of the best bakeries around. There's little in the way of repetition or competition for cuisine, mirroring an overarching sense of thoughtfulness that can be found in the very lifeblood of Yachats.



FIND OUT MORE: 20 reasons to love Yachats; Yachats Chamber of Commerce

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1. Newport

Newport is one of the biggest cities on the Oregon coast (population 10,125), and it also happens to be the best. Size isn't the reason Newport tops this list, but it certainly helps – the sheer number of local restaurants and attractions allow for days, if not weeks of exploration. Toss in the fact that it's located smack in the middle of the coastline, and Newport can easily be crowned the capital of the Oregon coast.



The Historic Bayfront is the focal point in Newport, where visitors can eat Oregon's best seafood at Local Ocean, get creeped out at the Wax Works and watch sea lions bark on the docks. Just up the highway is Nye Beach, a neighborhood that's home to a beautiful beach, literary-themed Sylvia Beach Hotel, and several great places to eat, including amazing Italian restaurant Sorella. That's not to mention the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Yaquina Head Lighthouse, South Beach and the headquarters of Rogue Ales.



With all there is to see and do, with places to eat and stay, there's really no debate: When it comes to beach towns on the Oregon coast, Newport reigns supreme.



FIND OUT MORE: 20 reasons to love Newport; Discover Newport

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB