Travel Guide: Brookings, Oregon - Discover This Small Coastal Town!

Brookings, Oregon, is a small coastal town that has more to offer than a walk on the beach! Even though the beach combing is very enjoyable in Brookings, Oregon, there are many other activities to participate in and you will not be able to do it all on your first visit. Brookings,Oregon, will become a travel destination that you will want to return to again and again.

Getting There:

Brookings, Oregon is located on the southwestern corner of the state; you can reach Brookings by car on the scenic Highway 101. It is the last Oregon town before you cross the state border into California. There is a small airport located in Brookings but it does not service commercial flights. Crescent City, CA. has a small airport with limited commercial flights, but if you are flying into Oregon, Medford is the closest international airport and is approximately 130 miles from Brookings, Oregon. Driving by car to Brookings from Medford will take about 2 ½ hours. Take I-5 north to Grants Pass and exit at the junction for Highway 199. Continue on Hwy. 199 to Hwy 101 then head north about 15 miles and you will enter the beautiful coastal town of Brookings.

Things to Do:

Fishing, including deep sea and salmon fishing are what attracts a lot of visitors to Brookings. The annual Slamin' Salmon Fishing Derby which takes place Labor Day weekend is a must partake-in event for any avid salmon fisherman. There are also charter companies that you can hire to take you out on a deep sea adventure that might include whale watching providing it is the right time of year.
Slamin' Salmon Information
Tidewater Charter Service

If fishing isn't your favorite pastime that is okay because there is also hundreds of hiking trails to explore in the Brookings area including the famous Pacific Coast Trail. My favorite trail to hike is the Natural Bridges Trail located inside the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. The trail leads you to the Natural Bridge rock formation along the rocky Oregon coastline. This trail is 2.6 miles long and is steep in places but offers spectacular views of ocean, rocks, trees and wildlife. I have actually seen wild goats on this hike!
Brookings Area Trail Guide Link

Fly a Kite during the annual kite festival! Or anytime there is a little wind. Many local shops sell kites and it is a blast to take a kite down to Sporthaven Beach or Harris Beach and let the wind do all the work.

Annual Kite Festival Website

Surfing is popular among the locals in Brookings, Oregon but requires special gear. The ocean is cold in Brookings but that doesn't stop people from swimming or surfing in the waves. Most surfers wear thick wet suits and hoods as well as booties to keep themselves warm. If you want to take on this adventure and don't have your own gear Session's Surf Shop rents boards and suits.

Session Surf Shop

These are just a few of the many activities available to do in the Brookings area. Of course beach combing, storm watching, walking the docks in the port and building a fire from drift wood on the beach and roasting a marshmallow is not to be passed up.

Places to Stay:

My favorite accommodation in Brookings, Oregon is the Best Western Beachfront Inn. Every room is beach front. They offer suites with Jacuzzi's in the room and small kitchenettes. This hotel is so popular the rooms are booked in advance a year out for the 4^th of July. You must make a reservation! There are other hotels and vacation rentals available some beachfront and some not. Check the links below for more options.
Best Western Beach Front Inn
Brookings Accommodations Link
Brookings Vacation Rentals

Shopping:

There are many gift shops lining both sides of Chetco Ave., the main street through Brookings. You will find many unique gifts with a coastal theme as well as small trinkets and souvenirs. There is a used bookstore, a music store a scrapbooking store, art galleries and many more small shops to fill an afternoon of shopping. Also located in Brookings, Oregon is a Fred Meyer department store. Fred Meyer's carries everything from groceries to hardware including fishing supplies and camping gear.

Places to Eat:

You will find a few great places to eat seafood in Brookings, Oregon. I have always thought there should be a better restaurant selection in this tourist minded town. My favorite seafood restaurant is Chetco Seafood and it is my favorite for the food not the ambiance. It is actually frequented more by the locals as a seafood market. It is located at 16182 Lower Harbor Rd, Brookings, OR 97415. A lot of people enjoy the Hungry Clam also located on Lower Harbor Rd in the small mall near the port. My favorite restaurant in Brookings is actually a Mexican Restaurant! La Flor is located at 541 Chetco Ave. And their menu does include some seafood such as shrimp fajitas as well as shrimp wrapped in bacon as an entrée.

The Best Time to Visit Brookings, Oregon:

As far as the weather is concerned it changes so fast on the Oregon Coast there really isn't a best time to visit because of better weather conditions. There was a 4^th of July we were watching the fireworks on the beach with coats and hats on. And there was another time in December we were picnicking on Harris Beach wearing T-shirts. Added to the weather conditions there are so many events happening all the time in this quaint town that any time you visit there is bound to be an activity to participate in.

Here is a link to the Brookings, Oregon Chamber of Commerce with a lot more information on this Oregon coast town.

Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce

Sources:

My own experience