Living in Pacific City Oregon: A Rural Coastal Retreat

Living in Pacific City, Oregon

So many cities on the Oregon Coast are scattered with condos and hotels that encroach on the natural beauty of the land. Beachfront properties are crammed together to the point that you can reach out your window and touch your neighbor’s house. Pacific City is more developed now than ever before, but it remains one of very few quiet and rural towns that touches the Pacific Ocean.

There are plenty of things to do in Pacific City, but it’s also a great place to do nothing. 

Here are the top 10 reasons I love living in Pacific City. Send me an email or leave a comment to share yours, and I’ll give you some more reasons on my list!

 

10 Reasons to Love Living in Pacific City

 

1. You don’t need a dinner reservation, most of the time.

If you want to dine at The Riverhouse, it’s a good idea to make a reservation. It’s a small space with limited tables that fill up quickly, even in the winter! The restaurant is popular among people who live in Pacific City and visitors alike, so calling ahead to be safe is recommended.

 

2. Bob Straub State Park.

This is my favorite amenity living in Pacific City. This video walkthrough shows how quickly it transforms from downtown shopping and dining to unobstructed nature for miles. The distance between Beach Walk – the Vietnamese fusion restaurant – and a “beach walk” is just 0.2 miles. 

 

3. Everyone is treated like a local.

Compared to the other 36 U.S. states I’ve visited, people who live in Pacific City treat visitors the most like locals. The town can be a little rough around the edges, but if you respect the people who live and work here, the same courtesy will be returned to you.

 

4. Driving on the beach.

Driving on the beach – if you have the right vehicle for it – is a great way to have a beach fire, star gaze, or explore the beaches of Bob Straub without walking for miles.

You’ll see a lot of people who live in Pacific City driving on the beach keeping an eye on our town. So, if your wheels get stuck, a local is usually around to help you out – usually just for a cold one if you have one.

5. Small-town U.S.A. vibes

Some of the best parts of the ‘wild, wild, west’ are preserved by people who live in Pacific City. It is one of the smallest towns on the Pacific Coast, and the surrounding farms, fields, forests, and mountains extend for miles.

Modern conveniences in cities are hard to part with – ride-sharing, food delivery, grocery delivery, superstores, nightlife venues, etc. You won’t find these living in Pacific City, but the full city experience is less than 30 minutes away.

6. Access to cities.

People who want to live in Pacific City have very little in common with buyers who want to live in a “city by the sea”.

If driving 25 minutes to a “super” market is a dealbreaker for you, Pacific City will not suit you. We have a charming little food store in town called Chester’s that sells the essentials, but superstore visits require planning and driving.

 

7. The weather.

When people think of living in the Pacific Northwest, they think of rain. Here’s what I have to say about the weather…

“It rains almost every day, but rarely all day.”

“When the forecast calls for rain, it’s usually just a light mist or drizzle.”

“Rain is why Oregon is so bountiful and beautiful – we need constant hydration to keep our rivers flowing, our lakes full, our trees and grass green, and our crops watered.”

 

The temperature on the coast is surprisingly mild compared to the valley. In the winter, snow and ice are uncommon. If the temperature drops, it’s a great time to sit inside with friends, cuddle up by the fire, or read a book.

Plus, the weather from July through October is unbeatable. September in San Francisco, Spring in LA, and Winter in Florida don’t come close to Summer on the Oregon Coast.

8. Fresh, local fruits, veggies, and seafood.

In the summer, farmers’ markets sell fresh vegetables and fruits. Plus, you can buy fish and crab fresh off the boat year-round. For example, the local-owned West Fish Co. (next door to the Grateful Bread) sells fresh, fresh-to-frozen, and canned seafood out of their fish shop in the summer. In the off-season, you can call to place an order or message them on Instagram.

If you prefer dining out, many restaurants in Pacific City purchase seafood from local fishers as well – namely Sportsman’s (try the fish and chips), The Riverhouse (the salmon dish is always perfection), and Grateful Bread (their rockfish tacos are delicious – photo below).

 

9. Sustainable living and homesteading.

Local produce, seafood, and meat are extremely easy to find in this area. If you spend enough time here, you learn all about butchering and processing meat, cleaning fish, shelling crab, shucking oysters, growing crops, and much more. The traditional dory boats that catch the seafood, the farms that raise animals and grow crops, and the plats where oysters are bred, are all minutes away from where we live.

When you live in Pacific City, you see this industry all around you. Soon, you’ll find yourself dabbling in homesteading yourself. Usually, it starts with a flower and herb garden. Then, you’re in a wetsuit netting crab. Next, you might try your luck at fishing. And if you get really into it, you could end up with several acres of farmland, a barn, a small petting zoo, a boat, and a new career or retirement hobby. The world – or Pacific City, rather – is your oyster! 

 

10. Wildlife and Constellations.

Before I lived in Pacific City, I told people I had a wildlife curse. I never saw wild animals, other than typical suburban critters (squirrels, groundhogs, chipmunks, deer, and maybe an occasional garter snake, hawk, or heron). When I moved to Pacific City, my “curse” was lifted. Blue herons, bald eagles, golden eagles, salmon, and Dungeness crabs surround us because there is plenty of space for these creatures to live and thrive.

This open space also welcomes the most beautiful night skies. I’m always amazed at how many stars and planets I see on a typical night. Even when it’s overcast, the constellations shine through the clouds and the full moon is the only streetlight you need.

Want to buy a Pacific City home?

Contact me for recommendations to make your next visit one to remember. I can help you discover what it’s like to live like a local, and turn your coastal living dreams into a reality!

 

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Read more about living like a local in Pacific City on my blog – The Pacific City Local.