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You are here: Home / Destination / 29+ Things to do in Manzanita, Oregon

29+ Things to do in Manzanita, Oregon

Our favorite beach on the Oregon North Coast is Manzanita. If beaches were sisters, Manzanita would be the poised, quiet one – compared to Cannon Beach, the driven, successful sister, and wild, crazy Seaside.

Where is Manzanita, Oregon?

Manzanita is on the Oregon North Coast, south of Cannon Beach.

Why visit Manzanita?

For a quiet beach getaway, Manzanitas at the top of our list.

Miles of walkable beach, a charming main street, and laid-back refinement are a few of the reasons Manzanita is a favorite destination for Pacific Northwesterners.

First stop

Manzanita Visitors Center on Laneda Ave will help you get familiar with the area and its offerings.

Manzanita Visitors Center

Outdoors and nature in Manzanita

Manzanita Beach

Nehalem Bay protects the south end of the beach creating a graceful crescent shape. Often this geo protection blesses Manzanita with slightly better weather than its neighboring beaches. However, we’re talking about the Oregon Coast, so “good weather” is relative!

Manzanita is a special place, the beach offers 7-miles of unobstructed walking. It’s rarely crowded, especially during the shoulder seasons, but it is popular with kiteboarders, kite flyers, and families.

Manzanita Beach

four children playing in the surf on Manzanita Oregon beach
Time-honored Oregon Coast tradition – flirting with the waves.

For more Oregon Coast inspiration check out our 9 other favorite beaches on the North Coast:

10 Best Beaches on the Oregon North Coast

Trails

Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain Trail

If you can tear yourself away from the beach, hike up NeahKahnie Mountain and take in the view.

It’s a 3-mile forested trail with about 4 switchbacks: it’s a moderate climb. The view of Nehalem Bay is worth the effort.

There are geocaches on Neahkahnie – see our post to help you get started:

How to Get Started Geocaching

Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain Trail

campfire on the Manzanita beach
S’mores on the beach.

Family fun in Manzanita

Bahama Mama’s beach rentals

Try out a fun cycle or beach cruiser.

Bahama Mama’s also rents surfboards, boogie boards, skimboards, and wet suits for brave souls.

But make no mistake, the Oregon Coast waters are treacherous. Only experienced swimmers should consider playing in the water above their knees.

Bahama Mama’s

SUP Manzanita 

If you want to learn the art of stand-up paddleboarding on your next vacation, check out SUP Manzanita.

Private lessons, group lessons, and tours are available.

SUP Manzanita 

Museums in Manzanita

Hoffman Center for the Arts

Not exactly a museum, but the Hoffman has a lot going on.

You may want to check out the following:

Clay Program

Hoffman Gallery

Horticultural Arts

Visual Arts

Writing Programs

Hoffman Center for the Arts

Nehalem Valley Historical Society

Photographs, letters, journals, maps, and documents tell the story of early Nehalem.

Currently open Saturdays, from 1-4 p.m.

Nehalem Valley Historical Society

path leading to the Pacific Ocean through a sand dune
Manzanita Beach has many access points.

Shopping in Manzanita

Walk along the strip in Manzanita, and you will come across several interesting boutiques with home decor, jewelry, clothing, and gifts.

Here are a few:

finnesterre

finnesterre

Unfurl

Unfurl

Syzygy

Syzygy

T-SPOT

T-SPOT

Oregon Coast Clothing Co.

For local t-shirt and baseball cap designs, stop at Oregon Coast Clothing.

Oregon Coast Clothing Co.

Wisteria Chic

For the littles.

Wisteria Chic

Toylandia

A lovely toy store. If the kiddos run out of things to do on a rainy day, pop in, and pick up a new game.

Toylandia

Cloud & Leaf Bookstore, LLC

A charming indie bookstore packed with unique titles.

Cloud & Leaf Bookstore, LLC

Treat Yourself

Spa Manzanita is the perfect place for a little pampering.

Check out their special packages for the ultimate day at the beach.

They offer gift certificates!

sunset over the water in Manzanita Oregon
What could be better than an evening beach walk as the sun sets?

Good eats and drinks in Manzanita

A Mighty Thai

Big menu of classic Thai dishes.

Be aware they charge an extra $1 for each to-go item.

They have indoor seating, but tables are best for 2-4 guests.

A Mighty Thai

Big Wave Cafe

One of our favorite beach restaurants, you’ll find hearty seafood dishes, steak, and burgers.

Big Wave is a good choice for halibut fish and chips and fried, grilled, and seared seafood.

Big Wave Cafe

El Trio Loco

Great Mexican food that will make your pickiest eaters happy.

I prefer El Trio Loco if we want to eat in the restaurant (they do have take-out).

El Trio Loco

Left Coast Siesta

For a Mexican take-out vibe, stop by Left Coast Siesta.

The menu is straightforward – you start with a burrito, taco, enchilada – and customize.

A good, satisfying option for lunch, or grab a burrito and head for the beach.

Left Coast Siesta

Marzano’s Pizza Pie

Delicious pizza, take-out only. The perfect easy indulgence to take back to the beach house after a long day in the sand.

Be sure to order well ahead of time. In the busy season, wait times can be up to 2 hours! You’ve been warned.

Marzano’s Pizza Pie

San Dune Pub

Yummy classic beach food – burgers, seafood, etc.

Sand Dune is a 21+ bar – no youngins’.

San Dune Pub

Bunkhouse Restaurant

American (and Mexican) stick to your ribs diner food.

Bunkhouse serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Bunkhouse Restaurant

Riverside Fish and Chips

A local favorite, Riverside has plenty of outdoor seating (indoor too) overlooking Nehalem Bay.

There are a few items on the menu, but really, go for the fish and chips.

Riverside Fish and Chips

The Pizza Garden

Pizza Garden has a pretty extensive menu of Italian-American food.

The Pizza Garden has indoor seating.

The Pizza Garden

Coffee and breakfast in Manzanita

Sisters and Petes Coffee and Treats

If you’re looking for a sweet treat to go with your coffee, Sisters and Petes is the place.

Pies, cinnamon rolls, and cookies top the menu.

The space has a grandma’s house feel – perfect for waiting out some Oregon rain.

Sisters and Petes Coffee and Treats

Manzanita News & Espresso

Right on the main drag, Manzanita News is your quintessential coffee shop. It’s the place to read the paper, borrow some wifi, and get your beachcombing off on the right foot.

Manzanita News & Espresso

Wanda’s Cafe + Bakery

Our favorite place to go out to breakfast is Wanda’s.

You’ll find classic breakfast options; biscuits and gravy, omelets, scrambles, huevos rancheros, and waffles.

Friday – Sunday freshly baked bread and BIG cinnamon rolls are on the menu.

Wanda’s Cafe + Bakery

Manzanita drinks

MacGregor’s Whiskey Bar

Indoor and outdoor seating 21+.

Small plates and…you guessed it…whiskey.

200-ish bottles to choose from!

MacGregor’s Whiskey Bar

Nehalem Bay Winery

Located in the charming historic Mohler Creamery building (1909), the tasting room is open daily 10-5 p.m.

Tasting is complimentary with the purchase of a bottle. Or you can buy a flight of 5 tastes for $10.

There are currently 20 wines listed on the website. If you’re looking for a quintessential Oregon gift, I highly recommend Nehalem Bay Winery.

Nehalem Bay Winery

The Winery At Manzanita

Another fabulous location for wine lovers, The Winery at Manzanita, is near the beach.

A beautiful space indoor and out, you will find small plates, flights, and wine by the glass.

The Winery At Manzanita

4 children hugging one another in front of the Pacific Ocean
The sun may be shining on the Oregon Coast, but that doesn’t mean it’s warm!

Other eats in Manzanita

Wild Grocery

Hard to categorize, Wild Grocery is part deli, part health food store.

You will also find all manner of drinks – a juice bar, tea, coffee, beer, cider, kefir – whatever you’re fancy.

Wild Grocery

Manzanita Sweets

In the middle of the action, on Laneda Ave, Manzanita Sweets is a great place to pop in and get that quintessential saltwater taffy.

They are also known for their chocolate, fudge, and seasonally inspired candy and confections.

Manzanita Sweets

Manzanita Grocery & Deli – The Little Apple

One of the two grocery stores in town, this one is on the main drag of Laneda Ave.

If you’re walking around town or staying within walking distance of Laneda Ave, this is a good place to shop. Parking can be sparse when Manzanita is busy.

Manzanita Grocery & Deli – The Little Apple

Manzanita Fresh Foods

Just a few blocks away, you’ll find Manzanita Fresh.

When we’re out and about in the car, Manzanita Fresh has a dedicated parking lot and is more convenient for finding a parking space.

But we frequent both stores.

Manzanita Fresh Foods

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Ariel view of crescent shape Manzanita Beach in Oregon. Nehalem Bay is in the background

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