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Florence oregon costal beaches

Florence, Oregon – Exposed

Making our way along Oregon’s central coast we had heard lots about Florence.  So, naturally we were expecting to be blown away with its small town charm, picturesque beaches and sweeping dunes…and we were.

adventure in florence oregon

What we weren’t expecting was a micro culture of adventure junkies!  Somehow in all my searching and quizzing Oregonians, nothing gave the impression that this was the place to get your adventure on!  Oh yes, this quiet little town is much more than just pretty beaches.

Florence oregon scenic beaches

Don’t get me wrong, the miles of beaches and hiking trails are lovely and very much worth exploring.  But if you really want to make your time in Florence memorable, you have to dive into the adventurous side!

While we didn’t have the time to take advantage of all of the adrenaline inducing activities, we had enough fun to know: (read this in a schwarzenegger voice) “we’ll be back.”

Here’s our take on the must do’s, the worthy of visiting and our Florence, Oregon bucket list.

Must Do’s:

Sandboarding

It is similar to snowboarding…in the fact that it is a recreational activity that happens on sand dunes rather than snow-covered mountains.  However, IT’S NOT SNOW and any sandboarder will be quick to correct you should you try and make the comparison (I got the full spiel).

And if you’re going to try it out, it should be at the world’s first sandboard park!  Sand Master Park was started by sandboard pioneer, Lon Beale and is 40 acres of private, sculpted sand dunes (we mention private because when you “bite” it you don’t have to worry about onlookers) and a full-time pro shop.

The best part is…its way more affordable and far less booty pain than snowboarding!

You can rent a board for as little as $10 for 24 hours and lessons (ask for Becca) start at $45 per hour.  The lesson rate includes a board for 24 hours and 1 hour lesson is good enough for your first go at it.  If you like it and want to learn more, you can always go back.

 

A Helicopter Tour! 

Why keep your toes in the sand while admiring the Oregon coast when you can hover above it all!  Now this is where you’ll want to bust out the wallet and spend that money you saved on sandboarding instead of snowboarding!  We took a beautiful and exciting 20 Mile South Coast tour with Apex that runs $99 per person.  However, they do run specials so don’t hesitate to ask before you book!

 

Worthy of a Visit:

Sea Lion Caves is kinda touristy but like most, it’s for a reason:  where else would you go deep inside a cave and spy on hundreds of sea lions?  You’ll be in and out in about an hour and at $14 per person it’s still cheaper than dinner and a movie.

 

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area is stunning and reminded us of some of our favorite beach spots on the Mediterranean!  Bring your hiking shoes and hit the trails that wind through old growth forests, historic sites and of course those lovely Oregon beaches!

 

Bucket List:

Kiteboarding and/or Windsurfing!  The coast of Oregon is well known for being a Kiteboarding and windsurfing hotspot and I am almost ashamed to admit we didn’t try it once this year!  So, it’s officially on our bucket list!

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is over 40 miles of the Oregon coast line and brings out any OHV’er within a 100 mile radius!  Several local companies provide dune buggy tours and rentals…which we will be taking advantage of next time!

 

Camping:

Oh and let’s not forget about where we parked it!  We stayed at South Jetty RV Resort and Campground because we were filming the campground.  We were tucked deep in a fern lined and tall tree heaven.  This campground definitely has a state park feel…just with full hook-ups and a few extra amenities.

 

There you have it, Florence’s adventurous side exposed!  Have you had any adrenaline inducing adventures in Florence or maybe one that’s on your bucket list?  Tell us about it in the comments below!

Disclaimer: While we were compensated to film the campground (thanks Thousand Trails!)…all of our experiences and opinions are NOT purchased and are still our own.

Hello there! I honestly don’t know what to say, so I am going to tell you a bunch of random facts instead. I'm a fish eating vegetarian who hates spiders and loves snakes. I almost never took vacations growing up. I wanted to be Pippi Longstocking (still do). I misspell about every other word I write and still struggle with grammar. I love splurging on a good high tea (which is really hard to find these days). And whatever you do, don’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I'll HAVE to do it!

Comments (21)

  • Brassy Steamington

    We were at South Jetty, Florence Oregon at the same time you were! I am sure you heard about the elderly couple who came in (After dark, in the rain and mud) with the Brown Denali Truck and trailer who took an hour to back in and hook up. That was us! If I would have seen your rig, I would have come over to say hello. After we left Oregon to head back to Cali, we got stuck South of Grants Pass on the I5 right behind a big rig jackknife multi-car accident and single car roll over. Thank goodness for that last bathroom break or we would have been “In” it. We sat and played cards for the hour and a half till traffic got moving again. Next time I am looking for you no matter where we go. Because you never know……Huggles.

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  • Megan

    Many, many water sports here too! Whitewater kayakers come from far & wide to paddle the Siuslaw River near Swisshome in their little “squirt” boats. More gentle kayakers and stand-up paddlers enjoy the Siuslaw Water Trails on the rivers, streams and lakes… sailing on Siltcoos and Woahink lakes… Tons of fishing for salmon, steelhead, etc. on the rivers and lakes, crabbing and clamming come with the bonus of deliciousness… and did you know you can paddle your kayak or canoe from Siltcoos Lake literally to the OCEAN and play in the surf??? Siltcoos Canoe Trail is 3 miles long and winds through the forests, and sand dunes, with a succession of blooming wild rhododendrons, hydrangea and other flowers, a small dam with a portage & boat ramp, and a very gentle current so you can paddle back too.

    If you prefer to just look at water instead of get in or on it, there are wonderful walks and drives to many lovely waterfalls, too!

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  • Kat

    In August my friend and I spent a few days in Florence – Old Town was especially fun with neat craft shops – and drove up (and down) the coast to enjoy gorgeous views. Just north of the Sea Lion Caves is a nice road that circles around and down to one of the most beautiful beaches in the US. Watch the seabirds play in the freshwater stream that flows into the ocean there – they were having a great time surfing the confluence of ocean and freshwater while we were there. The pics we took are breathtaking!!

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    • The Oregon Coast is so beautiful! We can’t wait to go back!

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  • what a great way to see Florence Oregon, either on the sand or in the air! Love your video and your pictures, makes me want to visit there 🙂

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  • Did Jason just get a slider for the camera? Bumps production quality up a ton 😉

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  • John

    Nice post. Keep them coming. Have you been doing any boondocking lately?

    We are heading to Tybee Island and will be checking out the places you mentioned in your video on the island!

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  • paul van

    Beautiful beaches and dunes. So, how fast is sandboarding compared to snowboarding?

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  • Louise Jolly

    Sandboarding!!!! How awesome and fun is that? I’ve never heard of it before but sure would like to try it but at 55, I might break something. lol

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  • John DeCriscio

    Too bad you didn’t take a dune buggy ride. The dunes are great. A friend and I took our sand rails there many years ago. My nephews went with us also. It was beautiful and great fun. I think I remember you being at the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California, but I don’t think you had access to do a ride in the dunes with a sand rail. If you ever want to go let me know and I will see if I can arrange a trip with my friends and give you a real thrill.

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  • What?!?!?! Sandboarding!!! How did we miss this!!! Looks like so much fun.

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  • I must have driven right through there a few years back, I’ll have to return and better explore it !

    Thanks, fun article and awesome pictures as usual – esp. Sealion cave.

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  • mary

    Kite boarding is on my bucket list too!

    Love the Dunes in Colorado and have fond memories of finally making it to the top and then rolling down the dunes. I do have video : ) However, I can’t wait to try sand boarding! A sport I have never tried and is affordable!

    The photos are beautiful! I did not realize the beaches are so white!

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  • Gordon

    …….and most state park campgrounds have an electric hook-up included. Plus those cute yurts are available. Love Oregon.

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  • I live south of Florence in Coos Bay. Nice to see you close by. I love the town of Florence. Old Town is the best.

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  • Great account of one of our favorite parts of the world. We were just along the Oregon coast this spring, but we never heard of sandboarding before! Kiteboarding is definitely on our bucket list too! 😀

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