Oregon Coast Popular Travel Seasons
The Oregon Coast has so much to offer and each season brings unique adventures and gorgeous sights. Check out our list of don't miss seasonal experiences to plan your next coastal vacation! We offer relevant and helpful details on the Oregon Coast Popular Travel Seasons for those frequently asked guest questions to catch these can't miss amazing experiences that are unique and special to the region: Whale Watching Season, Oregon King Tides, Lincoln City Finders Keepers, & more.
We do welcome our guests to contact us online or Call/Text us at (503) 362-2965 for with any questions and we are happy to add more details and information by request! We will continue to strive to be your one-stop resource for simple, direct information for planning your fantastic Oregon Coast vacations!
The wonderful things about the Oregon Coast however, is that there is always something to see and do, whether you are visiting for a specific time of the year to see an Annual Festivals & Holidays, and can check our site for when to stay, or escaping for a getaway and can take take advantage of our Oregon Coast Events Calendar. You will never run out of coastal experiences!
WHALE WATCHING SEASON [APR-OCT*]
| Depoe Bay, Click to Learn More: Whale Watching Season Visit "The Whale Watching Capital of the World" Guests of Blue Pacific Vacation Rentals enjoy the excitement of watching whales splashing and spouting from their front row oceanfront seats at The Village at North Pointe condos. Our resident grey whale pod frolics in the bay during whale watching season. During the busiest part of the season thousands of grey whales migrating through Depoe Bay, with a special treat including humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, porpoise and even blue whales! The typical "season" stretches from the spring migration through Depoe Bay up to Alaska and the winter migration back down to Mexico, with two "Watch Watching Weeks" typically held in March or April and then in December. Some whales do not necessarily fully migrate but like to hang out in Depoe Bay! We refer to these grey whales as our "resident" grey whales (or, "Pacific Coast Feeding Group") and we average there are about 40 of them that hang out between Lincoln City and Newport regularly, with up to 200 that we call "part-time" residents. They prefer to use Depoe Bay as a feeding ground, rather than use the normal longer migration route. Contrary to popular opinion, the whale watching "weeks" are not the best time to see the whales! The best time to see whales is actually during the summer months from June through September when the whales are residing in Depoe Bay. BEST TIME OF DAY DURING THE SEASON Breaching: We all hope to see the awesome sight of a whale breaching! This is when the length of the upper body comes up out of the water and then crash lands with a tremendous splash. If you`re lucky the whale might put on a show and breach several times in a row! Did you know that it`s been shown that it`s typically the calves that breach more than adults? Spy-Hopping: The whale form of peek-a-boo! This is a peek out of the water surface to take a look around, perhaps to hear better? They like to get a look around too! Lop-Tailing: Grey whales like to slip their tail, or fluke up out of the ocean and slap the water surface and it can be loud! Did you know this can be heard several hundred feet underwater? A fun sight and sound! HELPFUL WEBSITES The Whale`s Tail, LLC: Whale Tales Travel Oregon: The Hidden Lives of Whales Travel Oregon: Get Ready for Whale Watch Week Oregon State Parks: Depoe Bay Whale Watching YouTube Channel Frequently Asked Questions At the height of the season, you could see between 5 and 15 whales every day, Depoe Bay is the called, "the whale watching capital of the world!" This depends on the season -- but if you travel during June to September, ANY time during the day is great! They reach about 40 to 50 feet in length, and between 50,000 and 80,000 pounds. Look for the mixed colors of grey like spots, similar to a dapple pattern from light to dark grey, and many grey whales can have barnacles or whale lice. Grey whales do not have dorsal fins, but dorsal fins towards their backs and they have two (2) blowholes. You will also identify them by their very wide tail flukes, they can measure up to almost 10 feet wide to the extent that when hitting the water they will leave an imprint shape of of the tail on the water. She is our most famous resident grey whale, nicknamed "Scarback" due to the large scar that identifies her right dorsal hump, which is a wound believed to be from an exploding harpoon from the late 1980s. We still see her and the whale lice that you see on the scar actually help her as they eat away the damage at the wound sight!. Grey whales are the most visible in Depoe Bay, but your can possibly see humpback whales, orcas, sperm whales, minkes, dolphins, porpoise, blue whales, seals, otters... and even some of these sea life young! The Whale Watching Center, located at 119 US-101, Depoe Bay, OR 97341 also known as the Depoe Bay Ocean Wayside, is an Oregon State Parks-staffed visitor center in Depoe Bay, Oregon. You can observe whales and learn more from the local volunteers all year long. You can also visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center or the Oregon Coast Aquarium for educational options in the region. Dockside Charters | Tradewind Charters | Whale Research EcoExcursions | Whale`s Tail Charters Binoculars, sunglasses, camera, warm clothing, and sunscreen are great recommendations! Request your tour with Whale Research EcoExcursions with Carrie Newell and her "faithful first mate" Koda, the Whale Watching dog! Per their website, "Carrie trained Koda to find and get excited about whales when she was a pup by taking her downwind of a gray whale and smelling the blow (smells like bad gas), seeing the whale and hearing its blow, then Carrie would excitedly say "Whale, whale, whale!" and Koda connected the dots. No treats just lotsa love!" Koda even has her own Facebook page! *This is identified as the more active migration period, but you can still see whales year round as there is what is termed the "resident pod". |
OREGON KING TIDES [NOV-FEB]
| Depoe Bay & Lincoln City, Click to Learn More: Oregon King Tides The King Tides occur annually each winter season in Oregon on the coast. A natural phenomenon and must-see, spectacular sight! They can be safely viewed directly from our Blue Pacific`s Depoe Bay, Oregon properties at The Village at North Pointe and guests return year after year to witness the splendor and mightiness of these crashing waves! The higher-than-normal tide combined with heavy winds and coastal storms can produce waves as high as 35 feet! If choosing to leave the properties and view the waves offsite, Oregon State Parks has three tips: pick a safe spot, mind those fences, and watch your step while exploring after a storm. Remember to observe storms from a safe distance (swells can reach more than 100 feet above typical tides, be extra careful near cliffs and vistas, and never turn your back on the ocean. Suggested viewing locations:
Here are the dates for the 2023-2024 Winter Season: November 26 & 27, 2023 -- Click to Check for Open Properties December 14, 2023 -- Click to Check for Open Properties December 25, 2023 -- Click to Check for Open Properties January 11 & 12, 2024 -- Click to Check for Open Properties February 9 & 10, 2024 -- Click to Check for Open Properties |
FINDERS KEEPERS [YEAR ROUND]
| Lincoln City, Click to Learn More: Finders Keepers Experience Finder`s Keeper`s, a fun hidden treasure hunt held throughout the year in Lincoln City, Oregon. Be on the lookout for hand-blown glass floats hidden along the 7-miles of beaches, and keep what you find! Special "Drops" are also made through the year in certain months. At times float colors are even themed for the month! JANUARY - Opening Weekend, 100 Floats FEBRUARY - Antique Week, 100 Floats - Valentines, 50 Floats MARCH - Spring, 100 Floats APRIL - Earth Day, 100 Floats MAY - Mothers Day, 50 Floats - Memorial Day, 50 Floats JUNE - Fathers Day, 50 Floats - Casino Anniversary, Floats by Number of Years - Valentines, 10 Floats JULY - na AUGUST - na SEPTEMBER - College Ball, 20 Green/Yellow and 20 Oregon/Black Floats - Fall Kite Festival, 10 Floats OCTOBER - Halloween (Glow in the Dark!), 50 Floats NOVEMBER - Harvest, ~50 Floats DECEMBER - Basketball, 50 Red/Black Floats |