Have you heard of Tillamook ice cream? How about Tillamook cheese?
The newly-renovated Tillamook Cheese Factory is a great way to learn the ins and out of cheese-making, with milk straight from the dairy cows you find just outside of town. Tour the facilities and you will go on a behind-the-scenes journey into the production and packaging process of the best cheese in all of Oregon.
A viewing gallery overlooks the production floor as placards explain each step of the cheese-making process. On this level you can also sample a variety of cheeses.
The lower level is the really good stuff. A large eating area is flanked by a cafe and ice cream shop. And what visitor’s center would be complete without a gift shop? Not only can you buy ice cream and cheese to take home, but there is a small grocery store, and all manner of Tillamook and Oregon-inspired souvenirs.
Tillamook is a small town, much as you would find anywhere in the U.S. That means small-town folk live here, lending a village-like charm to the place. Here you walk into any place of business and get that unique homey feel as if you were visiting an old relative. People are friendly, and unlike most small towns, they are used to tourists!
Things to Do in Tillamook, Oregon
Cape Lookout – this is a popular day-use area (there is a $5 day-use fee). Cape Lookout is located on a sand spit between Netarts Bay and the ocean, giving you an incredible view of the ocean, with easy access to the beach. During the Spring and Summer months, camping is popular here, so if you want to camp, be sure to book well in advance!
Beachcombing is popular here, and the park is a good place to find glass floats. There are more than eight miles of hiking and walking trails through lush, old-growth forests. Follow the signs to the trailhead for one of the most stunning hikes on the Pacific coast. Take the Cape Trail that follows the headland for more than two miles. In the end, you will find a bench that is on a fenced cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the Pacific. It took me an hour and fifteen minutes to hike the trail – each way – and the view along the way and at the end was more than worth it. It’s an easy to moderate hike, with some exposed tree roots to navigate along the way.
These pictures DO NOT do the views justice.
Who knows? During whale season, you may just catch a humpback or two coming up for air in the ocean below.
Cape Mears Lighthouse and the Octopus Tree – follow the signs out of Tillamook to Cape Mears by taking Highway 131. This place has some amazing natural caves with lots of tide pool marine life. The caves can only be accessed when the tides are low, on the south side of the beach. Consult the local tide charts when you arrive to coordinate the best times to explore the caves. And as always – Be Careful and Respect the Ocean! And always heed any local weather warnings.
As I like to say, “BSNS.” (translation = Be Safe, Not Stupid)
Munson Falls – this is a great little park, with a short ten-minute hike to a rather striking view of the falls at the end. It is about a 20-minute drive south of Tillamook.
Kilchis Point Reserve is a gorgeous area with wildlife. Be sure to visit the fish peddler nearby for lunch.
Where to Eat in Tillamook
Fern Restaurant – lots of booths in a diner-style restaurant. With a good old fashioned salad bar (the small kind with your basic salad necessities such as cottage cheese and spear pickles! Yum) – just typing that made my mouth water.
The only drawback to eating here is that – well, I’m a sucker for fried food and for trying new things. So I threw caution to the wind and ordered steak fingers. Yes – you heard me correctly – steak fingers. Little nuggets of beef deep-fried to perfection. You can imagine that the first few bites were pretty good, but it just went downhill from there. I couldn’t finish them, and my stomach paid the price for the next hour or so. Lesson learned. At least I had the salad bar with the meal!
Dutch Mill Cafe – for a blast from the past, check out this authentic diner in classic 1950’s style. Grab a booth, dust off the jukebox, and enjoy great American comfort food with a good atmosphere in downtown Tillamook. If you have left room for dessert, just a block down the street is an awesome frozen yogurt joint.
I always encourage people to try local food carts – after all, my hometown of Portland is chock full of them. The food cart phenomenon has spilled over into Tillamook as they have a small food cart pod in their downtown area.
Pacific Oyster Restaurant – this place has some of the best clam chowder, good fish and chips, hamburgers and of course, the almighty oyster! (check to see if they serve fried, steamed, etc.) You can buy oysters and have them shipped home – they ship all over the world. You may even get to see them processing the oysters, fresh from the Pacific just a stone’s throw away. It’s located in nearby Bay City
The Pacific Restaurant is also downtown and is slightly more upscale, with a great menu and a full bar. I went there for lunch and had their seafood linguine – it was soooo gooood. Tender pasta with steamed clams, thick chunks of salmon and a few sautéed shrimp thrown in, topped with a rich, creamy sauce. It was divine!
Tillamook also has its share of good microbreweries. While I didn’t get to visit any of them, here is a quick rundown:
Werner Beef & Brew – great local microbrewery, hamburgers and a hot breakfast bar (self-serve and sold by the pound).
De Garde – a smaller place that is open during limited times, serving spontaneous wild ales and fruited sours.
Pelican Brewery – they are really good at pairing food and beer on the menu. I hear tell that their clam chowder is AMAZING.
Near the Tillamook Cheese Factory, you will also find fast-food options such as McDonald’s, and a full-service grocery store. This is the main drag of town with lots of other services to be found.
Where to Stay in Tillamook
For me, Airbnb is always a good option for these smaller communities, and most hosts are more than happy to give you great local information. But if you prefer vacation houses or hotels, here are a few in town:
To get a well-rounded feel for the place, I suggest spending 2-3 days, just in the Tillamook area alone. More if you are an avid hiker and/or beach lover, as the Pacific Coast is clearly the shining star this central Oregon oasis.
