Activities in Florence, Oregon

Florence is located on the central Oregon coast, about 61 miles due west of Eugene and 172 miles southwest of downtown Portland.

This small, quaint coastal town of fewer than 9,000 residents is bursting with opportunities, from the more traditional coast activities such as beachcombing, shopping and dining to the more extreme pursuits, such as ATV rides, sandboarding and hiking.

Old Town Florence

Florence's small, historic old town district is located on the waterfront, just east of Highway 101 on the northern bank of the Siuslaw River. Old Town has a handful of restaurants - including excellent seafood - as well as gift shops, candy stores and galleries.

Dunes

The Siuslaw National Forest surrounds Florence on all sides, with a 40-mile stretch of it comprising Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The dunes stretch along the coastline through Florence and to the north and south of town. Locals and tourists take advantage of all the sand by riding motorcycles, dune buggies, all-terrain vehicles and sandboards (think snowboarding on sand), and many companies along Highway 101 offer sand dune tours aboard long ATVs that can carry 10 people or more. There's even a sandboard park - called Sand Master Park - off Highway 101 that offers rentals, lessons and use of ramps.

Sea Lions

The Sea Lion Caves, which includes the world's largest discovered sea lion cave, are a popular attraction at the north end of Florence. Guests pay $12 each for adults and $8 for children, as of 2010, to descend more than 200 feet down the cliff in an elevator to reach sea level and view the Stellar sea lions in their habitat. The sea lions are often present year-round, hanging outside the cave on rocky ledges in the spring and summer and inside the cave in the fall and winter.

Golf

Florence is home to two 18-hole golf courses - Sandpines Golf Links and Ocean Dunes Golf Links. Prepare for a challenge at either course, as winds whipping off the ocean can wreak havoc on drives and high iron shots. Sandpines is just a couple of miles west of Highway 101, north of the Siuslaw River, and is surrounded by dunes and views of the coastal mountains. Ocean Dunes sits on the west side of the highway, also north of the river, and is built atop the sand dunes, offering unique scenery and challenges.

Other Activities

Florence offers a wide range of activities, including beachcombing along miles of sandy beaches and the South Jetty, hiking in the Siuslaw National Forest, and fishing in the ocean waters, inland lakes and the Siuslaw River. Just north of the Sea Lions Caves is Heceta Head Lighthouse, sitting atop a cliff at Heceta Head State Park.

Sources:

Florence Oregon
Florence Oregon Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to Florence, Oregon, Essential Links
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, US Forest Service
Old Town Florence
Sea Lion Caves
Sandpines Golf Links
Ocean Dunes Golf Links
Sand Master Park