City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Tillamook, Oregon

Possibly known more for its delicious dairy products than the boating world, Tillamook, Oregon makes a scenic and unique destination for all sorts of boating and water-related activities (as well as the ice cream and cheese eating). The word Tillamook even means “Land of Many Waters,” so there you go. 

Sitting off the Pacific Ocean along Tillamook Bay, Tillamook is located in a river valley between Astoria to the north and Newport to the south. Populated with dairy farms and cheesemaking facilities, the area offers amazing farm and ocean-to-table restaurants as well as activities like fishing, crabbing, clamming and hiking. With the proximity of the Tillamook, Wilson and Trask Rivers, kayakers love this place.

It's time to discover a few places to visit from private boat slips for rent in Tillamook. Let’s get started!

Cape Meares Lighthouse

Photo: Wikimedia

The Cape Meares Lighthouse, located at Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, is an inactive lighthouse along the Pacific Ocean south of Tillamook Bay. Built in 1890, it’s 38 feet high and made of iron, brick and concrete. While the shortest on the coast, it has a first-order Fresnel lens that was the most powerful for its time. The red and white flashes could be seen from 21 miles away. The lighthouse is open to the public, so get your climbing shoes ready. 

The area surrounding the lighthouse is a stunning destination filled with sitka spruce trees, jagged cliffs and boulders and oceanfront views. Watch for whales and sea lions as well as cormorants and peregrine falcons. There’s a gift shop, hiking trails and picnic areas, which makes a fun day trip from a private boat lift for rent.

Tillamook Creamery

Photo: Tillamook Creamery (Facebook)

If you’ve never heard of or tried Tillamook Ice Cream, it’s time to amend that. The Tillamook Creamery makes ice cream, cheese, sour cream and other dairy products. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the factory, watch workers in action and learn about the art of cheesemaking. Don’t forget a cheese sample before purchasing a cone, scoop or gallon (or two) of ice cream in the shop. You can also grab a gooey grilled cheese sandwich, fried cheddar cheese curds, root beer floats or local cider. There’s also a market at the Portland Airport (PDX).

Tillamook Air Museum

Photo: Wikimedia

The Tillamook Air Museum is located at a former U.S. Navy Air Station in a World War II blimp hangar (hangar B). It was designed to preserve, educate and honor the history of NAS Tillamook and civil and military aviation through photographs, exhibits and artifacts. Aircraft on display include a PT-17 Stearman, a Cessna180F Skywagon, a GrummanF-14A Tomcat and a Learjet 24. There’s also a 1938 Ford western states fire engine and a 1941 WWII military Dodge ambulance. You can view a variety of engines, helium machinery and a replica of an air raid shelter before heading back to a private boat dock rental.

Tillamook County Pioneer Museum

Photo: Tillamook County Pioneer Museum (Facebook)

Founded in 1935, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum tells the history of Tillamook’s early settlers and the Oregon Coast through thousands of photos and other exhibits such as the Tillamook County Fair, local artists and Oregon participants in the women’s suffrage movement. It's a great place for the history buffs in your crew to visit from private boat lifts for rent.

Kilchis Point Reserve

Photo: Kilchis Point Reserve (Facebook)

The 200-acre Kilchis Point Reserve sits along Tillamook Bay. It’s owned, protected and maintained by the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum. It’s a terrific spot to visit from a private boat slip rental. There are more than two miles of trails for biking and hiking, including themed trails that highlight the natural beauty, Native American heritage and pioneer history of the area. There’s also a birdwatching station.  The park is dog-friendly, so bring the four-legged boaters along. 

We hope you’ve discovered some fun and unique sites to see from private boat docks for rent in Tillamook. The next time you’re in the Pacific Northwest, stop in for a visit. Happy boating!