Besides the cheese factory that this town has built its most recent fame around, there are more than a handful of reasons why Tillamook is a great place for a weekend getaway or vacation.  Home to wonderful beaches, two cheese factories, multiple wineries, a golf course, and a very historic air museum, this quaint north-central Oregon coastal town has something for everyone.

Whether you chose to drive to Portland then over to the coast or to follow the scenic, Pacific Ocean flanked Highway 101 to Tillamook, getting there is a great journey in and of itself.  On the way you'll pass through lovely rolling hills covered in everything from flowers to vineyards to forests.  Once you arrive you'll notice that the terrain around Tillamook is a rolling, lush, sleepy landscape, often shrouded in coastal fog.

Accommodations are abundant in town and there are several hotels for those of you who like to travel and sleep in a comfy bed.  If camping is more your style there are plenty of campgrounds around the town as well as on the coast.  The town of Tillamook itself is a few miles from the coast, but it's in a great centralized location if you're looking for other activities besides the beach.

Tillamook's two cheese factories are fun for the entire family to visit.  They even have ice cream and other delicious treats like fudge to help quell the need for sweets in any kid.  You can watch the cows as they are milked and even get a feel for the history of the town over the years.  There are wine tastings at the Blue Herron cheese factory located about two miles south of the larger, more prominent Tillamook Cheese Factory.  Be sure to check out both of these locations to get a more complete idea of what Tillamook has to offer those who are stopping by for a visit.

My favorite attraction in Tillamook is the air museum.  It's located about a five minutes south of town by car and housed in one to the world's largest wooden structures, a blimp hangar.  Hangars like these were commonplace shortly before and during World War Two.  In fact, the Tillamook hangars (only one currently still stands) were used by the US Navy to patrol the Oregon coast in search of Japanese submarines.  Inside the museum there are dozens of World War One, Two, and later model aircraft.  They have some of the only types of certain aircraft still remaining and visitors can even tour the large "Mini-Guppy" transport aircraft parked outside.  This museum is a must see for anyone visiting the Tillamook area.

The beaches surrounding Tillamook are some of Oregon's most beautiful and secluded.  Cape Meares is home to a lighthouse as well as miles of sandy and rocky beaches.  There are campgrounds and fire pits located nearby and it's a great place to have a campfire and enjoy the stars on a warm summer night.  While the water is quite cold, temperatures can often reach well into the 80's during the early summer months, so it's a great place to head if you're looking to work on that tan.

No matter what you're looking for, Tillamook, Oregon is a great place to go to enjoy a little down time and relaxation.