The Yachats area offers families a natural playground of parks, uncrowded beaches, tidepools and trails for all ages and ablilities. It also offers wonderful places to eat, friendly shops, a lively events calendar, and local attractions that are fun for the entire family. A selection of some of the area's family favorite attractions and activities are listed below:

PARKS & BEACH! As well as a children's playground and a ballfield, there is a community park and 3 oceanside state parks in Yachats, additional parks just south and north of town, and an oceanfront trail that hugs the village coastline. There are lots of opportunities here for tidepooling, flying a kite, building a sandcastle, organizing a ball game or a hide-and-seek treasure hunt with a GPS device - Up for geocaching anyone?

Just remember to play safe, respect the beach and know beach hazards. Beach Safety Tips for Kids

Cape Perpetua Visitors Center offers guided walks to old-growth forest and tidepools, natural and cultural history exhibits, an interactive children's corner, and a theater with nature films. The exhibits and theater make this a very good rainy day stop, too.

For a great day on the trails, go on a family quest! Discovery Loop QUEST (Approximate round trip time - 1.5 hours).


Take a morning or evening drive up the Yachats River Rd for a possible view of belted bovines grazing, sometimes alongside elk. These black cattle with their signature cream-colored stripe are affectionately called "oreo cows" by local children. The valley is also home to herds of bleeting goats, and a few of their more silent companions - horses.


Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center - Located in Waldport at the base of the bridge, this is a marvelous center for learning about Oregon bridges. There is a model wooden toy bridge here to occupy small children while adults and older kids enjoy the historic photographs and other exhibits. A park interpreter leads an Alsea Bay Bridge Walk on Fridays-Tuesdays at 2 p.m. (during peak visitor season). Crabbing and Clamming demonstrations are also given seasonally at announced times. FMI: 541-563-2002 / 1-800-551-6949. (8 mi. N of Yachats.)


Waldport Kayak Shack
Offers summertime kayak rentals & guided group kayaking tours on the Alsea, 8 mi. N of Yachats.

From the docks on the Alsea River, you may also go fishing or crabbing or rent a canoe.

Alsea River Water Trail - printable guide.

Waldport Skate Park - Crestline Drive, Waldport





Within an easy drive south or north of Yachats:


Sea Lion Caves
Home of the world's largest sea cave & hundreds of barking sea lions.


Heceta Lightstation
Guided lighthouse tours and self-guided trails walks.




Horse Back Riding
Guided beach or dunes rides.

Sand Dune Buggy Rides, Go-Karts,
Bumper Boats, Mini-Train, Miniature Golf


Sandboarding
Like snow boarding but on enormous sand dunes.


OR Dunes National Recreation Area




Sea Life Cruises
Ocean going cruises for watching whales and other sea life.

Hatfield Marine Science Center
Great interactive exhibits, theater, touching pool, walking trails. Admission by donation.

Oregon Coast Aquarium
One of the nation's top 10 aquariums. Plan at least 2 hours. Stroller and wheelchair rentals available on site.


Yaquina Bay Light Station  &  Yaquina Head Lighthouse & Natural Area
Guided lighthouse tours and self-guided trails walks.

State Parks Resources:
Beach Safety Tips for Kids
Beware of Sneaker Waves
Tidepools are Alive!
Guidelines for Pets in Parks

You may download our
[YACHATS VISITOR INFORMATION PACKET]
(PDF file)

Or ask us to mail you a packet...

Just e-mail your name and postal address
to  info@yachats.org

or sign our YACHATS GUESTBOOK.

If you have a moment, please let us know
how you heard about Yachats.

While in Yachats, stop by the Yachats Visitors Center for additional information about things to do and see while here. We are located at 241 Hwy. 101 (downtown between W 2nd & W 3rd), 547-3530, 800-929-0477. We look forward to welcoming you to Yachats!

This site is sponsored and maintained by the
Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 728, Yachats,OR 97498

www.yachats.org
© 1999-2012

Please report any site problems to the  webmaster@yachats.org.