Where Are We

Where Are We?

The Oregon coast is one of the most beautiful - and undiscovered - places on earth. The weather is mild year-round, and the scenery is breathtaking. Known for its wild beauty and abundant sandy beaches, the Oregon coast has no equal in the Northwestern United States. Although the coast is less wild today than it was a few generations ago, it has retained its rugged character winding along its 363 miles. The primary route along the coast, Highway 101, has been named a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road, known as "a destination unto itself" for its unmatched scenery.

All seasons have their appeal, but to us, the best time of year is the fall. Mellow is the mood on the coast after Labor Day. Major attractions and sandy beaches seem abandoned compared to the mad rush during the summer, as if the crowds are hiding. But the sun doesn't hide. Summer lingers into September and even into late October when the temperatures are warm and the humidity is low. When it does start to rain, it is a refreshing, cleansing rain that rejuvenates the thirsty land after a hot summer. The fall is an excellent time to head for the coast - far less crowded after the kids go back to school. And as for the winter around here, well, people don't come to visit the coast then, they come to watch it!

The town of Florence is about sixty miles west of Eugene, with Highway #126 being the direct route between the two places. Highway #126 dead-ends at Highway #101, right in the middle of Florence. Like a number of communities on the Oregon coast, Florence has two commercial districts: Highway 101 and historic Old Town. Both cater to visitors, but Old Town, which overlooks the Siuslaw (Sy-OOS-law) River, does it with waterfront charm. Unusual shops and galleries, historic buildings, and restaurants make Florence an interesting place to visit.

Florence, OR was recently rated as the #1 place in the United States to retire! And no wonder! Florence is a small town – population about 7,200 at last count – with a small town attitude. People here smile at you, talk to you even when you’re a perfect stranger, offer to help you at every turn. It has small town celebrations (parades, old car shows, 4^th of July fireworks, etc.) and it’s a really fun place to be! The Port of Siuslaw has commercial fishing boats at dock, along with an active pleasure boat area. Old Town is where most of the tourists hang out, and Bay Street is the street that holds the area together. During Rhododendron Weekend (Rhody Days) at the end of May each year, the town is filled with people from all over the region to celebrate the coming of spring and summer, and the Old Town area is really hopping the entire weekend!

A recent newspaper ad by one of Florence's premier realtors (Coldwell Banker, 541.997.7777) said that Florence, Oregon is the "Jewel of the Oregon Coast." The ten best reasons to call Florence home were listed as;

1.    Seventeen fresh-water lakes for recreation and fishing

2.    Peace Harbor Hospital and state-of-the-art medical facilities

3.    Siuslaw Public Library - one of the best anywhere on the coast

4.    Climate - between 40^o and 70^o F. year-round

5.    The Siuslaw River - fishing and crabbing at its finest

6.    The Pacific Ocean - and all its natural wonders

7.    Florence Area Events Center - cultural and regional gathering place

8.    Old Town - quaint village of shops and restaurants

9.    Golf - Sandpines and Ocean Dunes, 2 great public golf courses

10.   Central location - 1 hour in all directions to other major cities

Within a very short drive of the center of Florence are numerous sights worth seeing. For example, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area culminates in Florence. A favorite for off-road vehicle users, hikers, birders and sandboarders, the towering dunes are a magnificent playground for the entire family. The Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, a campground ideal for all seasons, is 3 miles south of Florence on Highway 101. Within the park are two freshwater lakes: Cleewox is a great swimming spot, while Woahink is popular with fishermen and water sports enthusiasts. The campground has electrical hookups, paved sites, and yurts, as well as a hiker/biker camping area and access to the dunes. The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum preserves and displays historical artifacts and photographs from the region's past. The museum, a mile south of the Siuslaw River Bridge on Highway 101, is open February through Thanksgiving, Tuesday through Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Sea Lion Caves, 11 miles north of Florence and just over a mile north of Southview, is the largest sea cave in the world and home to a colony of Steller sea lions. An elevator takes visitors 208 feet down into the cave, and the site is open daily at 9 a.m. every day except Christmas, with closing times varying with the season. The Heceta Head Lighthouse (pronounced Ha-See-Ta) is 12 miles north of Florence (2 miles north of Southview) and is the most photographed site on the Oregon coast. A trail from the beach leads to the lighthouse, and tours are conducted during the summer months and by special invitation at other times of the year.

Then there's always Cape Perpetua. The Cape Perpetua Overlook, off Highway 101 and 2 miles south of Yachats (Ya-Haats), is the second highest point of the coast, and the view is impressive. The West Stone Shelter, built in the 1930s as a lookout for enemy ships and planes, is now a great spot to watch for whales. The U.S. Forest Service maintains the Cape Perpetua Visitors Center with interpretive displays and a theater, two campgrounds and 26 miles of hiking trails. Most of the trailheads begin at the visitors center, and some trails are wheelchair-accessible. Trails lead to old-growth forest and to tide pools and provide magnificent places for bird watching. Then of course there's the entire Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, which encompasses 2,700 acres within the Siuslaw National Forest. In addition to a Sitka spruce rain forest, the scenic area includes dramatic ocean views. If you go, be sure to check out Devil's Churn, the Overlook, Cook's Chasm, and the Spouting Horn. But remember, too, that the shorelines is a protected marine garden, limiting visitors to take only pictures, while leaving everything else.

Now, if you’re hankering for more hustle and bustle than that, there's more to be had in the area. Eugene is a college town just about an hour east (with a full-service airport), Newport and Lincoln City are 1-2 hours north, and Coos Bay/North Bend are about an hour south.

The center of Florence is at mile marker 191 on Highway #101. Ten miles north is Southview. Our entrance is directly across from mile marker 181, a big blue and white sign announcing our special place.

Come visit!