Things to Do in Forest Grove

For the past decade, Coast Guard–licensed master captain David Stiles has crisscrossed Oregon’s Pacific Ocean in his Dory motorboat, leading fellow fishermen along routes ideal for hooking fish including tuna, sea trout, and halibut. Up to five passengers, including children and adults, can clamber aboard for aquatic adventures, exploiting onboard troves of fishing and safety gear rather than shopping for their own equipment or luring fish into the boat by doing the Worm.

Brian Cameron loves Tillamook County and the Pacific Northwest so much that he's spent nearly 30 years exploring its landscapes. He shares that passionate expertise through Tillamook Eco Adventures, introducing visitors to landmarks and local industry and nature on up to five-hour guided expeditions. He leads guests on gentle hikes through backcountry forests, bayside beaches, and hidden waterfalls, and guides them on walks to nearby dairy farms, wineries, cheese factories, and breweries. To keep his roster of expeditions fresh and prevent neighborhood owls from discovering his identity, Brian sometimes partners with other eco-tour guides such as Kayak Tillamook.

Plumes of steam puff from the locomotive as it travels along the Pacific coast. A mountainside blanketed in evergreens towers above the vessel as waves pound against the boulder-strewn shore below. Guided by the vision of president and engineer Scott Wickert, the nonprofit Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad serves as both a living history museum and tour operator for the state's forested coastline. Antique locomotives that hearken back to the region's logging origins take guests on waterside excursions as conductors feed the engines recycled motor oil and coal-flavored candies. Seasonal events bring about the railroad’s dinner trains, which treat guests to four-course meals as they gaze at the sparkling water of Tillamook and Nehalem Bays. For an even more immersive experience, conductors sometimes let passengers ride in the cab of the locomotive.