On the way into Yachats (pop. 617; pronounced YA-hots), beach loops on either side of the Yachats River give a sense of why the area is called “the gem of the Oregon coast.” It’s a great place to wander and get lost and found again, but one place to catch up on life hereabouts is on US-101 at 4th Street, where the New Morning Coffeehouse and Bookstore has good espresso and a (sometimes) sunny outdoor deck-cum-sculpture garden. For the past 25 years, Leroy’s Blue Whale (541/547-3399), on US-101 at 580 Coast Highway, has been serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, featuring fluffy pancakes, fresh chowders, and fine fish-and-chips.
The word “cottage” is a popular lodging label here, usually referring to a moderately priced, self-contained cabin or duplex with kitchen. On US-101 between Waldport and Yachats are a half dozen different cottage complexes, each fronting the beach. Cape Cod Cottages ($55–95; 541/563-2106), two-plus miles south of Waldport at 4150 US-101, is a good choice for location and comfort. If you want more than a simple place to spend the night, the Oregon House ($75–175; 541/547-3329) on US-101 nine miles south of Yachats has spacious apartment-like rooms, some with fireplaces and ocean views, and all with access to the well-tended grounds and trails leading down the bluffs to a gem of a sandy cove.
