Oregon Coast - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 597

( 800-275-0639; www.blueheronoregon.com ; 2001 Blue Heron Dr; 8am-8pm Jun-Aug, till
6pm Sep-May) The Blue Heron French Cheese Company, just north of town, offers much
less hype than the Tillamook Cheese Factory. There are cheese, wine and jam tastings,
along with a gourmet food gift shop. Its farm-animal petting pen and picnic grounds
make it more of a country experience.
Pacific Seafood OYSTER SHUCKING
( 503-377-2323; 5150 Oyster Dr; 10am-8pm Jun-Sep, till 7pm Oct-May) To witness some of
the fastest oyster shucking you'll ever see, head to Pacific Seafood in Bay City. The cas-
ual restaurant offers simple seafood dishes ($8 to $18) and a fish counter, but in the back
is the assembly-line processing of oysters. Go early - the shuckers are sometimes done
by noon.
Sleeping
Western Royal Inn MOTEL$
( 503-842-8844; www.westernroyalinn.com ; 1125 US 101; d $90; ) Right next to Blue Her-
on French Cheese Company is this decent motel with spacious rooms. To avoid highway
noise get a suite with bedroom in the back.
Information
Chamber of Commerce ( 503-842-7525; 3705 N US 101; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm
Sat & Sun) In the parking lot of the Tillamook Cheese Visitors Center.
Getting There & Away
Tillamook County Transportation (The Wave; 503-815-8283; www.tillamookbus.com )
buses provide service within Tillamook city. They also depart from 2nd and Laurel Sts to
Oceanside and Netarts on the capes, as well as to Manzanita, Lincoln City and Portland.
THREE CAPES SCENIC DRIVE
Cape Meares, Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda are some of the coast's most stun-
ning headlands, strung together on a slow, winding and sometimes bumpy 40-mile
alternative to US 101. It's a very worthwhile drive, though in March 2013 a section
of road north of Cape Meares began sinking and was closed. Repairs are ongoing,