Bella Beach, Oregon: Rentals, food + things to do

We spend a ton of time on the coast, and Bella Beach, Oregon is now one of my favorite little communities to vacation. Just a few minutes south of Lincoln City, Bella Beach is a wonderful place to stay on a family vacation, a quiet retreat, or a mom’s getaway, which is what four friends and I recently did.

These beautiful babes and I have been dear friends since college (though Erin and I go back to when we were 14, which means we’ve been friends for well over half our lives!!!). We each have two kids, and we have made a tradition of going on a moms’ getaway once a year. It’s so critical for friends to intentionally carve out time to spend together, and our weekend at Bella Beach made for a rejuvenating weekend of connection.

Bella Beach is a small community between Depoe Bay and Lincoln City, Oregon, full of adorable rentals. It also has a French-inspired cafe, a gorgeous park, and a walkway to a long, sandy beach.

In this blog post, you’ll find everything you need to know about Bella Beach, Oregon. Find out about Bella Beach rentals, restaurants and things to do while you’re here. Something tells me you’re going to love this quaint community as much as I do.

 

Where to stay: Bella Beach rentals

When I recently spent a weekend at the Oregon Coast, we stayed at the Beachcomber, an adorable Bella Beach rental. It was a five-minute walk from the beach and is a sweet, quiet community. This 4-bedroom, 2-bath rental in Bella Beach, which my friend owns, had everything we needed: a gas fireplace, a grill, a washer/dryer, and reliable wifi (not always something you can find in beach rentals!).

Four girlfriends and I stayed comfortably in this Bella Beach rental, where we spent an amazing weekend walking the beach, cooking together, laughing until our sides hurt, and drinking altogether too much wine (which of course is just the right amount on a girls getaway).

I’ll be back to the Beachcomber as soon as we can. There’s plenty of room for me and my husband, my kids and my in-laws. Plus, it’s pet-friendly, so we can bring Finn (because that pup LOVES the beach).

Best things to do in Bella Beach, Oregon

When you stay in Bella Beach, I recommend taking it easy: You don’t have any sort of schedule or itinerary when you stay on the Oregon Coast. That said, here are my favorite things to do in Bella Beach, Oregon.

Walk the beach

It should go without saying that the best thing to do when on the Oregon Coast is walk the beach. The stretch at Bella Beach lets you walk for several miles without interruption. Even at high tide, there’s still room to explore (particularly if you head south from the stairs at Bella Beach).

Hunt for agates on Bella Beach

Bella Beach is one great agate beach in Oregon, where you can find stones polished and shined by sand and waves. You’ll find more agates here in the winter and early spring, when storms wash away the sand that covers agates in calmer weather.

As you walk the beach, keep an eye out for these shiny rocks. You’re most likely to find them at low tide where the waves wash up on shore.

Watch for whales

Gray whales live year-round near Bella Beach, and you can spot even more of them during peak whale migration times. You might also spot other marine mammals, including humpback whales, orcas and porpoises. You can see them right from Bella Beach — but if you’re not having any luck, you can either join a whale watching tour or head to the Whale Watching Center.

Just south of Bella Beach, spot whales with the help of volunteer experts at the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay, OR. Although there are definitely peak times to see migrating whales—especially mid-December to mid-January and April to June.

Sing karaoke in Lincoln City

Just about every town on the Oregon Coast has karaoke most nights of the week. Why? I have no idea, and Lincoln City isn’t an exception.

Join a bar full of locals at Maxwell’s, where Saturday night karaoke is lit!

(If you ask me nicely, I might tell you my favorite go-to karaoke song!!!)

Shop at the outlets

Just north of Bella Beach, the Lincoln City Outlets have just about every mainstream outlet store you could want.

I didn’t do much shopping this trip (I’m focusing on drastically reducing my waste, which includes shopping second-hand—message me if you want to talk more!), but you can snag major deals at Carter’s, Eddie Bauer, Maidenform, Pendleton, Old Navy and many more.

If the weather isn’t cooperating during your beach vacation, read my post on 12 Things to Do at the Oregon Coast on a Rainy Day.

Where to eat in Bella Beach, Oregon

Bella Beach is tiny, so you won’t find a lot of restaurants here. After all, that’s part of the charm of staying in a small, tight-knit community.

Cafe C’est La Vie

That said, you should definitely make a point to stop at Cafe C’est La Vie, where the air smells of butter and croissant. (YUM.) This French-inspired cafe specializes in crepes and other breakfast goodies, but it’s just as good a spot to grab a coffee or a scoop of Tillamook ice cream, which is made just 50 miles away.

A word to the wise: Service is friendly but on the slower side. When we went, there were just two people working there on a weekend morning, and it took about 15 minutes to make my chai latte. But when you’re on Oregon Coast time, you’re not in a hurry.

Side Door Cafe

If you’re looking for a nice restaurant in Bella Beach for dinner, head to the Side Door Cafe, about a 5-minute drive up Highway 101.

This upscale restaurant has an excellent wine list, delicious seafood, and vegetarian-friendly menu items. I also found the restaurant to be helpful in accommodating food sensitivities in our party (because apparently once you turn 35, you and all your friends have food sensitivities).

I had the potato rosemary soup and the bouillabaisse soup—I know, I know, I felt ridiculous for ordering two soups but #YouDoYou.

Bella Beach: A lovely vacation community on the Oregon Coast

If you’ve been looking for where to stay on the Oregon Coast, know that Bella Beach, OR is one of my go-to spots. Pretty much every Bella Beach rental is within a 5-minute walk of the ocean, it’s quiet and safe, and it has a gorgeous beach.

Please let me know if you have questions about Bella Beach or anyplace else on the Oregon Coast. Honestly, this area is my happy place, and I’d love to help make it yours, too!

PS – Looking for other places to visit on the Oregon Coast? Then read my posts about Florence, Oregon on the Central Coast, the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, yurt camping at Ft. Stevens, or staying a weekend in Astoria, Oregon.