Oregon Coast - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 596

South of Tillamook, US 101 loses the beaches and headlands and follows the Nestucca
River through pastureland and logged-off mountains. The slower but prettier Three
Capes Scenic Drive begins in Tillamook and follows the coast.
Sights & Activities
Pioneer Museum MUSEUM
( 503-842-4553; www.tcpm.org ; 2106 2nd St; adult/child 10-17yr $4/1; 10am-4pm Tue-Sun)
This worthwhile museum has a great taxidermy room and some very interesting pioneer
artifacts. There are also curiously carved Neahkahnie stones (actually beeswax) meant to
point to a legendary buried treasure, plus an Abraham Lincoln room with a sexy Norman
Rockwell print of the president.
Tillamook Naval Air Museum MUSEUM
( 503-842-1130; www.tillamookair.com ; 6030 Hangar Rd; adult/child 6-17yr $9/5; 9am-5pm)
Aircraft-lovers shouldn't miss the large collection of fighter planes and the 7-acre blimp
hangar. It's 2 miles south of town; there are plans to move the planes to Madras in 2016.
Munson Creek Falls WATERFALL
At Munson Creek State Natural Site, 7 miles south off US 101, an easy quarter-mile hike
through old-growth spruce reaches Munson Creek Falls, the highest waterfall in the
Coast Range at 319ft (though some figures incorrectly claim it's 266ft).
Tillamook Forest Center MUSEUM
( 866-930-4646; www.tillamookforestcenter.org ; 45500 Wilson River Hwy; 10am-5pm, lim-
ited hours outside summer, closed late Nov-Feb) Located 22 miles east of Tillamook on
Hwy 6, this excellent forest center educates the public on forest fires and the area's first
white settlers. Cross a 250ft-long suspension bridge, watch salmon migrating, climb a
(reproduction) fire lookout tower and tour the surrounding forest.
Tillamook Cheese Factory CHEESE TASTING
( 800-542-7290; www.tillamookcheese.com ; 4175 N US 101; 8am-8pm mid-Jun-Labor Day,
till 6pm rest of year) Two miles north of town is this tourist wonderland. Line up for free
cheese samples, lick down an ice-cream cone or peek into the factory floor assembly
line; there's a cafe, gift shop and fudge counter too.
Blue Heron French Cheese Company CHEESE TASTING