If you are travelling along the Oregon coast highway and go through Tillamook a stop at the cheese factory is always fun, even if it is just for a short stop to grab an ice cream cone and keep going on your way.
The Tillamook cheese factory located in Tillamook, Oregon has been a cheese making quality cheese since 1909 when the farmers / creameries in the local area came together. The Tillamook cheese factory is a working cheese making facility that allows visitors to see the process of making cheese. Their is a self guided tour and very large viewing areas that oversee the floor of the facility. Watch as the cheese blocks are cut and packaged for sale and the cheesemakers tend to the huge vats of milk becoming delicious Tillamook cheese. Their is a gift shop and restaurant that serves Tillamook Cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches and hamburgers with melted Tillamook cheese on top. The grovery area that has many types of Tillamook cheese products available for sale also has a sample train with many popular varieties of cheese for sample.
One of the special parts about any stop to the Tillamook Cheese factory is to get an ice cream cone with Tillamook Ice Cream, they have tonds of flavors and several options of cone, from wafer, sugar, to waffle or just a simple dish. The ice cream is very creamy and flavorful so be brave and adventurous and stray away from a simple vanilla or chocolate and try a Tillamook Mudlisde or Marionberry Pie.
Every Oregonian should make it to the Tillamook Cheese factory at least once, it is an Oregon Coast Treasure, as well as one of the few Oregon Coast brands that have become known across the country and world. The Tillamook Chedder Cheese was voted as the best Cheddar as late as 2010 and consistently viewed around the world as one of the best cheddar cheese available. Make sure to try more than just the yellow cheddar the colby, white cheddar, and sharp varieties can be amazing as well as specialty versions like black pepper corn cheddar. Check out the company website for more information on this special place of cheese.
El Mariachi Loco located in the small North coast town of Manzanita is a nice restaurant a block away from the beach and ocean. If you are visiting Manzanita and looking for an affordable place to sit down and get a quick bite to eat El Mariachi Loco will do the trick. There were a couple of issues with the food for us, however overall it was good and we would eat there again. The tacos came in a regular taco bell style taco shell instead of a more authentic corn tortilla with onions and cilantro. However the meat inside was delicious, a very soft and tasty beef. The black beans with the meal were a little dry and were not that great, but I tasted my wife’s re fried beans and they were fine, so I would stick to those here. The guacamole was excellent and good portion and both of our chicken dishes were excellent. The salsa was not too thick seemed a tad watery.
If you are in the need of a Mexican fix then El Mariachi Loco will do the trick and for a family grabbing a bite to eat the dinner won’t break the wallet. Other menu items included standard mexican dishes including burritos, quesadilla’s etc., and several other house specialties which would be worth a try.
The Oregon beaches and bays along the Pacific coast from North to South offer excellent opportunities for digging clams. Clamming is a fun activity that the whole family can participate in and be successful. The tools of the trade are pretty simple and you can find a whole clam dinner with even just a garden shovel or your hands if necessary.
A clam shovel or rake. Longer shovel blades are good but a basic shovel will do. Rakes that have long tines and are not spread to far apart.
If going for Razor clams many people like to use a clam gun which is a cylindrical tube that you press into the sand around where they are laying in the sand.
A collection device, tackle shops sell nice mesh bags, really anything will do, a 5 gallon bucket is what I tend to carry most of the time, especially if going for a short walk.
Boots or waders are ideal especially if you are clamming around the bays or shallow tide pool like areas where there is lower depressions that are full of water.
A valid shellfish license for the State of Oregon. For license and Clamming Regulations check out the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
When the tide is close to 0 on the low tide or below is the best times to walk the bays and likely beaches for clams. For most of the clams you can start digging and raking near the water and if there is clams in the area you will start to stumble on them.
After you get your catch, I was raised to let them sit in water with a little oatmeal and a bunch of the sand will get spit back out by the clam after a several hour soak, there may be other methods to clean them out a little before you cook them. Make a chowder, fritter, or any other delicious clam dinner and enjoy your hard work out digging in the sand. They also can be great just tossed in boiling water for a few minutes till they pop open and then dipped in butter and garlic or any other tasty sauce and eaten just like that.
If you are interested in going clamming anywhere along the Oregon coast I suggest you check out this website with a long list of clamming stories and discussions about areas to go and try depending on the species of clam you like.
4 of 8 Quick interview about the dunes sitting on the Suzuki Z400 as well details about some of the areas.
Find great places to eat around Coos Bay, Oregon for when you are done riding the dunes you can eat a well cooked meal.
If you are looking for a great deal on a Wednesday at the Oregon Coast check out the Fish Peddler located at the Pacific Oyster site in Bay City. The all you can eat dinner is a great way to stretch your dollars when you want to enjoy a big seafood dinner. You can choose from grilled, fried, and sauteed for the all you can eat dinner. They come out in 6 oyster batches along with the various dipping sauces. For the fried oysters I was provided cocktail sauce and a pretty good tarter sauce that was heavy and flavorful. Accompanying the oysters was a fresh coleslaw that was prepared well, not runny and still very crispy providing the fresh light crunch that is so good with fried foods. It also was served with a side of fries. The restaurant is located out on the end of the point, not the first blue building that you see when pulling in to park. There is a seafood counter with all kinds of seafood available for purchase from oysters to clams, shrimp, halibut, salmon and many other items. The restaurant has large windows that look out to the Tillamook bay.
The menu at the fish peddler has several kinds of oyster options from fried, grilled, sauteed, and also oyster shooters. There is kids options and other seafood fair like halibut and chips.
Pictures from our dinner at the Fish Peddler restaurant at the Pacific Oyster in Bay City Oregon.