March 17, 2023

The Ultimate Weekend Itinerary to Lincoln City, OR

If you are looking for a beach vacation in Oregon with some adventure and a small town feel, Lincoln City is the perfect place. Situated along the Central Oregon Coastline, Lincoln City is a splendid little town. Lincoln City was established in 1964 when 5 towns voted to merge to one. Today it has everything you would need for a luxurious or budget friendly weekend. We are budget travelers at heart so the activities listed in this post are suited for budget travel.

Where to Stay

You will find a variety of lodging options along the coast in Lincoln City. Like many locations, however, the pricing of lodging was seeing record highs (Summer 2022) so finding a spot in our budget was difficult. We found the Sea Horse Lodge and it suited the majority of our needs. On the beach, swimming pool, kitchen area in the room and close to all the popular things to see and do. Here are some other places with good reviews organized by type of budget:

When to Visit

Summer is the best time to visit for having nice days on the beach. All of the shops and restaurants are open during the summer as well so there’s a plethora of things to do and places to eat. If you’re wanting to avoid the crowds spring and fall are good times to visit.

Related Post: Visiting Neskowin Ghost Forest

The Itinerary

Friday Night

Dinner Check in and head out to grab some dinner! Tie Dye Pizza was recommended to us, but was closed at the time. We still recommend trying out their pizza!

Sunset Head to Oregon State Park Public Beach and enjoy the sunset. This lovely sand beach is great for people watching and tidepool exploring.

Saturday

Breakfast If you have not tried the chain Pig ‘n Pancake this should be your breakfast stop. The staff is super friendly and the food is delicious. We really enjoyed the crepes and omlettes.

Hike Put on your hiking boots and head to the trailhead for God’s Thumb. This 4.7 mile loop trail holds epic views of the coast line and a birds eye view of the city below.

Lunch Pack a lunch and enjoy the view from the top of The Knoll. The Knoll is along the way to God’s Thumb and has sweeping views of Lincoln City below.

Explore Stroll through the cute shops and thrift stores. There are a lot of unique places to find and ice cream to be eaten. Or check out the prehistoric museum to learn all about the dinosaurs and ocean creatures that used to live in this area.

Dinner For whatever reason, I love to eat Mexican food while on vacation. Melo’s Taqueria is a fabulous Mexican restaurant to enjoy.

Beach Time We really enjoy our beach time so after dinner we headed back to the public beach to build sand castles. You could also explore Road’s End State Recreation Site.

Sunday Morning

Breakfast Otis Cafe is a great breakfast spot that makes their own baked goods on site.

Last Minute Fun Head down to Alder Island Nature Trail for an easy 1 miles loop hike. This trail is along the inlet areas of Lincoln City so it’s a great spot to find wildlife. It’s also super kid friendly.

Lunch There are tons of dining spots with ocean views in Lincoln City. Treat yourself to a nice lunch at Kyllo’s Seafood Grill. This is a pricier restaurant, but it was SO GOOD. You don’t want to miss out on this one. Try some fresh oysters and salmon. Pair with a seasonal or featured cocktail. I loved the High Vibes cocktail.

Nearby

On a separate trip we went whale watching in Depot Bay which is just south of Lincoln City. Check out our experience here: Whale Watching in Depot Bay, OR

If you pass by Tillamook, OR on your way to or from home, Tillamook Creamery is a MUST. They have the best ice cream we have ever tasted and their cheese curds are to die for. Many flavors and their cheese curds are only available at the creamery so be sure to check it out! We have been several times.

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