There are several things to do in Tillamook, OR, if you ever find yourself there.
Tillamook, Oregon, is recognized by many for its cheese and its unique geography. With so many attractive places, Tillamook is truly a tourist paradise.
You can visit the Cape Lookout State Park, the Tillamook Forest Centre, the Tillamook Air Museum, Munson Creek Falls State Natural Park, et cetera. Running out of fun activities is almost impossible when in Tillamook, OR.
Now, walk with us as we highlight mouth-watering things about this beautiful city that you wouldn’t want to miss!
Where is Tillamook?
Tillamook is the county seat of Tillamook County and the largest city in the county.
Tillamook is also located at the end of Tillamook Bay, about seventy-three miles west of Portland (Oregon).
In the minds of so many people, the name Tillamook is synonymous with cheese. This is so because Tillamook is also known as a dairyland region, particularly during the early twentieth century.
The city logo is designed using a cow’s head and the iconic words, “The DairyLand.”
Tillamook, Oregon, has a rich history and was once inhabited by a tribe of Indians who spoke Salish. The name Tillamook is from this tribe. This tribe roamed the villages south of Tillamook Head for over twelve thousand years.
The first white settler in Tillamook was Joseph Champion in 1851, and the first person to record the name Tillamook was a surveyor named A.N. Armstrong in 1857.
See Also: Fun Things to Do in Sisters (Oregon)
Fun Things to Do in Tillamook, OR
Tillamook, Oregon, is a lovely place replete with beautiful scenery, and we’ll be showing you the best things to do in Tillamook, Oregon, for couples, families, adults, kids, and for the weekend!
1. Munson Creek Falls State Natural Park
One of the best things you can do in Tillamook visits Munson Creek Falls State Natural Park for fun.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department handles the Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site in Oregon state park.
The state park is best known for its fantastic waterfall. It tumbles over a distance of 319 feet, making it the highest of its kind in the Coast Range.
The park’s fantastic landscape is also dotted with Sitka spruce and western red cedar trees. This incubator also provides necessary spawning facilities for salmon in the Pacific Northwest.
Munson Creek has a beautiful trail that leads to breathtaking views of the waterfall.
However, one of the most prominent natural landmarks is the Sitka tree, which rises more than 260 feet above the park’s terrain.
Address: The Munson Creek Falls State Natural Park is in Oregon, 97141, United States.
2. The Tillamook Air Museum
The Tillamook Air Museum is a charming aviation museum located south of Tillamook.
The museum is located at the former Hangar A of the United States Navy Blimp Hangar, which used to be the largest clear-span wooden structure worldwide.
The museum was named by USA Today as one of the country’s top private World War II aircraft collections in 2004, highlighting the several collections curated by the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum.
Among the several displays of this museum are the Douglas A-4B Skyhawk and a Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-17F. The Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger and a Cessna 180F Sky wagon, the first light aircraft to land at the North Pole, are also on display.
The museum also displays some unique aviation and wartime artifacts, such as preserved artifacts from the German Hindenburg airship.
This is arguably one of the best fun things to do in Tillamook if you love aircraft.
Address: The museum is at 6030 Hangar Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141, United States
3. You can Visit De Garde Brewing for Beer Tasting
This brewery is located on the Oregon Coast and is dedicated to unique offerings of their craft while drawing on local experimentation and famed traditions.
The process here in this brewery is quite interesting. For them to ferment the beer, the wort is cooled naturally in a cool ship.
What this means is that no additional yeast is cultured in a laboratory.
After cooling the wort, everything is transferred to oak barrels of varying sizes (big, medium, and small). Each beer in the barrels ferments in its own time.
Beers often take between six months to over five years in barrels before they are finally packaged for consumption.
The tasting room hours are open from Thursday to Saturday (12 pm to 7 pm) and Sunday (11 am to 5 pm).
Address: The brewery is at 114 Ivy Ave, Tillamook, OR 97141-2214.
4. Tillamook Forest Center
The Tillamook Forest Center is an educational center located within Tillamook State Forest.
It is located about 22 miles east of Tillamook, along Oregon Highway 6, and is home to the most prominent regional forest-based learning center and an outdoor classroom.
The center focuses on the Pacific Northwest’s forest regions and the legacy of Tillamook Burn.
The center also offers hands-on exhibits and periodic screenings of Legacy of Fire, an award-winning documentary.
Address: Tillamook Forest Center is at 45500 OR-6, Tillamook, OR 97141, US.
5. The Whiskey Creek Hatchery
Whiskey Creek is in southern Tillamook County. The Whiskey Creek Salmon Hatchery hugs the entire shoreline at Netarts Bay and raises more than a quarter-million Fall and Spring Chinook salmon yearly.
Since the late 1980s, the Tillamook Anglers Association has owned and managed this hatchery.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife supplies the fish while donations and membership keep the operation alive.
The fish here is extraordinary; they are known by many as Oregon’s ‘premier’ salmon. They are cherished for their rich taste and high oil content.
Address: This attraction is at 7660 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141, United States
6. The Octopus Tree of Oregon
The tree (also known as the Monstrosity Tree, the Candelabra Tree, and the Monstrosity Tree) is more than three hundred years old.
It has a central base of about 50 feet, and instead of shooting straight into the main trunk, its body splits into several smaller trunks. Its stunning pavilion has long been a tourist favorite.
It is believed by many that the giant Sitka spruce came from natural conditions such as extreme weather.
However, the tree’s thick vertical trunks were nurtured by Native Americans in the area in practice known as “tree burial.”
Address: This tree is at Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, Tillamook, Oregon, 97141.
7. The Cape Lookout State Park
The park is south of Tillamook and boasts astonishing panoramic views of the Pacific ocean.
The 50-foot-high stone revetment helps protect the Cape Lookout beachfront.
It is accessible by the public all year-round for paragliding, hang gliding, and beachcombing. Eight miles of walking and hiking trails meander through the park’s old-growth forests.
Address: The Cape Lookout State Park is at 13000 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook (OR 97141), United States.
8. The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum
The museum was founded in 1935 by the Tillamook County Pioneer Association.
It houses a collection of over 55,000 items and 20,000 photographs and ephemera.
The museum’s 19 galleries showcase artifacts from prehistoric times to the present, including military memorabilia and indigenous artifacts.
Address: This attraction is at 2106 2nd St. Tillamook OR 97141, USA.
9. The Tillamook Store
The store offers both clothing and exciting products from the Tillamook Creamery. Fantastic merchandise made by local workers can be purchased here.
You can also buy unique gifts in the shop, such as specially-made kitchen staples. Products sold here are very affordable.
Address: The Tillamook shop is near the Tillamook creamery.
10. The Cloud and Leaf Bookstore
If you enjoy reading books, visit the Cloud and leaf bookstore, a priority when in Tillamook.
The Cloud and Leaf bookstore stocks all books, including science and fiction.
The owner is likely to recommend some books according to your preference.
Address: This bookstore is located at 148 Laneda Ave, Manzanita, OR 97130, United States.
11. Take a Hike on the Tillamook Quilt Trail
Quilts have always been a part of Tillamook County culture. So, it is impossible to talk about Tillamook County without mentioning Quilts.
You’ll likely find colorful quilt blocks stationed on businesses and barns throughout the county.
Address: The address of this trail is Tillamook, OR 97141.
12. The Tillamook Creamery
The Tillamook creamery offers the best creamery products in Tillamook. Visitors are free to taste and learn about the creamery’s operation.
A self-guided creamery tour is usually advised, where you can see the windows and videos and interact with workers.
This creamery makes use of only fresh, organic, and healthy ingredients.
An espresso machine, a yogurt bar, and an ice cream counter are all present in the creamery’s dining hall.
Address: The Tillamook Creamery is at 4165 N Hwy 101, Tillamook, OR 97141, United States.
See Also: Fun Things to Do in Bend (Oregon)
13. The Pirate Festival
Pirate Festival takes place in June, and this Tillamook County tradition is entertaining for the entire family.
The Pirate Festival in Tillamook is both adventurous and eventful.
The Rockaway Beach Pirate Festival attracts visitors to the city, making our list of top things to do in Tillamook.
Address: This festival is hosted in Yarmouth Fairgrounds, 669 MA-28, West Yarmouth, MA 02673.
14. The 2nd Street Coffee House
They are usually open between 8 am and 4 pm from Tuesday to Friday, while 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.
This coffee house makes our list of top things to do in Tillamook.
The services rendered by this establishment are top-notch; you should give it a try.
Address: This coffee house is at 1912 2nd St, Tillamook, Oregon, 97141.
15. The Coast Scenic Railroad Oregon
This adventure allows you to enjoy the fresh air while exploring the city. This rail route offers some of the best views you can imagine.
Hopping on a train on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is one of the best fun things in Tillamook.
Address: The Coast Scenic Railroad is at 402 American Ave, Garibaldi, OR 97118, United States.
16. Nevor Shellfish Farm
Nevor Shellfish Farm is open every week from 12 pm to 5 pm.
Nevor Shellfish Farm attracts several tourists to see the farm and eat some Dungeness and barnacles in the restaurant.
Address: The Nover Shellfish Farm is at 6060 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141-8319.
17. The Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge
This wildlife refuge is a forest that covers almost 140 acres and is surrounded by lush green forest. Plenty of wildlife species can be viewed from different spots throughout the area.
The headland is also a great spot to spot migrating grey whales, seals, and sea lions.
In the refuge, you can find land animals such as black bears, elk, and black-tailed deer. You can as well enjoy beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean from this spot.
Address: This attraction is in Tillamook, OR 97141, United States
18. Manzanita, Oregon
This is arguably the best place to visit in Tillamook if you intend to purchase a gift for your loved ones while in Manzanita.
Manzanita is a famous Tillamook gift shop that offers the best gifts in town.
The shop also sells a variety of favorite gifts, including art crafts, jewelry, rugs, jewelry, wine glasses, and home décor.
Address: This attraction is in 97130, Manzanita, Tillamook, Oregon
19. The Tillamook Store
The store is near the Tillamook creamery. It offers both clothing and products from Tillamook Creamery.
Excellent merchandise made by local workers can be purchased in this store.
You will also likely find outstanding gifts in the shop, such as specially-made kitchen staples. The merchandise sold here is very affordable.
20. La Tea Da Tea Room
The La Tea Da Tea Room is a famous tearoom that has served Tillamook residents for over 15 years. A mother and daughter own the establishment and make the teas usually served in the Tearoom.
The teas are made and maintained fresh from organic ingredients daily using different flavors and cooking techniques.
They also offer desserts, scones, sandwiches, and signature teas. You are at liberty to order lunch at the Tearoom, which also offers sandwiches and soups with your choice of salad.
The Tearoom also serves international teas together with their other creations.
Address: This is at 904 Main Ave, Tillamook, OR 97141, United States.
21. The Cape Meares Light
The lighthouse has two keeper’s homes, two cisterns, and two oil houses and was built in 1890 as Tillamook Bay’s primary light station.
A 1,000-foot boardwalk connected it. The United States Coast Guard in 1963, nearly deactivated the light.
However, with the citizens’ efforts it was transferred to Oregon State Parks Department. As a matter of fact, the lighthouse, since 1993 has been on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cape Meares Light, a historic lighthouse still in use near Tillamook Bay and open to the public as an interactive living history museum, can be found on Cape Meares.
Address: It is at 3500 Cape Meares Loop, Tillamook, OR 97141, United States.