Florence, Oregon lies on the mouth of the Siuslaw River, approximately half way down the Oregon Coast. We spent our third night on the Oregon Coast in Florence, Oregon. The two previous towns were a bit of a let down, but Florence was a great surprise. For a small town, there is surprisingly a lot of things to do and check out. The city has a has a small old town area with a promenade and marina. It’s a small, quaint and full of charming buildings. I couldn’t help but revel in the cuteness of it all.
Note: Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). I would not recommend something if I did not enjoy it. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Don’t mind if I do.
Love this fountain!
I wouldn’t mind living here.
Or here…
Rules I can live by
I almost felt like I was in the wild wild west. Minus the wild. The buildings just had that shape.
We stumbled upon a tiny park.
Perhaps we’re off to Narnia? All it needs is a park bench. And maybe some snow.
Complete with its own gazebo.
And great views of the Siuslaw River.
The city is right on the edge of the Oregon Dunes National Park, a fact that didn’t seem real until you actually see the sand. We were driving over the bridge and to our right there was a huge pile of sand that dropped off suddenly into the water.
Can you spot the sand under the bridge?
What Seaside, Oregon lacked, Florence had in bucket loads and I finally realized what was missing in Seaside. Charm. Old school charm. With a bit of history thrown in.
Do:
Sea Lion Caves – North of Florence along Highway 101 are the sea lion caves. We attempted to go, but they were closed due to a malfunctioning elevator.
Sand dunes tour – Easily one of the best experiences on the whole trip. It was so much fun! Stay tuned for a full post on the experience.
Heceta Head Lighthouse – Explore this restored lighthouse that dates back to 1894.
Eat:
Homegrown Public House – This restaurant boasts of a farm to table approach to food using produce, meats and seafood from the Northwest. They offer local craft beers and drinks as well as a seasonal menu and daily specials. We came here for dinner and it was a pleasant affair.
Waterfront Deport Restaurant – Another highly recommended option with a similar approach to food. Its cuisine is a mix of Pacific Northwest food and Indonesian flavours. Reservations are recommended.
BJ’s Ice Cream Parlour – Who doesn’t want ice cream during the warm summer months? Stop for an ice cream before going on a stroll down the river.
Have you visited any charming small towns lately? Which ones surprised you?
If you’re new to Pack Me To, welcome! Stay on top of my adventures on Facebook and follow me on Twitter & Instagram.
Looks like a pretty cute town. Can’t wait to read about your trip to the sand dunes!
Looks like a really fun small town in Oregon with plenty of things to do!
That reminds me of the time we visited Florence on a road trip from the California coast to the Columbia river gorge. It was a cute town and we had great food there.
Looks like a cute little town full of old school charm! I love farm to table restaurants too. I can’t wait to hear about the sand dune adventure! I’m still bummed that I didn’t get to do that!
Florence looks like such a nice and cozy little town with relaxed atmosphere. Love those old wooden houses, they are beautiful! I agree, the houses really look a bit like the wild wild west, hehe.
Right?! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who sees it. I thought I was being strange…
What a gorgeous place! The houses and buildings are so beautiful! 🙂
I LOVE the Oregon coast! I haven’t made it to Florence but I will definitely have to now!!!
It’s a great home base especially if you like sand dunes and ATVing!
It’s funny Adelina because I have just been to Florence in Italy and this small town in Oregon does not seem to have too much resemblance with its namesake, besides the fact that they also have great ice cream. But even if it doesn’t quite look like Tuscany, this Florence still seems to be a nice and charming small town and it’s great to hear that you had such a pleasant stay there… 🙂
I think I like the other Florence significantly more, but you’re right, they’re so completely different.
I love charming little towns – and this is definitely a cool one! Those sand dunes look really interesting.
It’s funny to see the wild-west style false-front buildings in a place that green!
Hahaha yes exactly! They felt so out of place, but I bet it wasn’t always this green. I wonder how old the buildings are and if they’re the originals…
What a quaint little place, who knew there was another Florence that doesn’t even share it’s resemblance.
Exactly! So surprisingly and so completely different.
I LOVE those rules you can live by!! I want that sign in my front window lol. Looks like a perfectly charming seaside town – my favorite kind! 🙂
Yes! It’s a pretty cool card. Too bad the store was closed or else I would have picked one up.
That is an adorable little town. I can just picture myself spending a few days there relaxing. I can’t wait to read about the sand dunes.
I don’t know if I could spend more than a day here. It’s so very sleepy and small! I was definitely ready to leave by the time I left.
I wouldn’t mind living in Florence Oregon too, the town seems so serene and charming ….
Hi it’s Christa, host of the Sunday Traveler, I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for joining in on the fun! Great photos! I love your list of things to do and places to eat. The little town is adorable I would definitely visit!
This place really reminds me of a setting of a book i read, kind of cute and oldsy 🙂
Which book does it remind you of?
Didn’t know there was another Florence… and it looks very interesting! Looking forward to the sand dunes… I like a lot small charming villages 🙂
Oh, I just love to travel and visit a lot of different beach resorts all over the world. Now, this is another beauty to explore.
Yes, definitely! Though this city doesn’t have a direct beach, there are plenty nearby. There are also tons of other coastal towns with beautiful beaches.