Florence, Oregon
Florence is located on the central Oregon coast at the mouth of the Siuslaw River, midway between Coos Bay-North Bend to the south and Newport to the north. Central to its economy are tourism, shipping, and commercial fishing. Florence is home to the Florence Municipal Airport, Peace Harbor Hospital, and the Port of Siuslaw Marina, and is renowned for its annual Rhododendron Festival.
The area surrounding Florence is popular with fishermen and outdoorsmen in general. Visitors have a wide variety of outdoor activities to avail themselves of, including beachcombing, camping, dune riding; fishing, hunting, boating, crabbing, clamming, hiking, wind surfing, swimming, picnicking, and sightseeing. The weather in Florence is fairly temperate, making it attractive to retirees, which comprise about a third of its population.
WHERE TO LAY YOUR HEAD AT NIGHT
Florence offers visitors many lodging options from which to choose. Here are our "sure bet" recommendations for travelers with various objectives and sensibilities.
Maximum Comfort and Amenities
Driftwood Shores Resort and Conference Center
88416 1st Ave
Florence, Oregon 97439
(541) 997-8263
(800) 422-5091
driftwoodshores.com
Rooms, suites, condos, beach view, restaurant, bar, and conference facilities.
Friendly and Homey
Blue Heron Inn Bed and Breakfast
6563 Hwy 126
PO Box 1122
Florence, Oregon 97439
(541) 997-4091
(800) 997-7780
blue-heroninn.com
Edwin K Bed and Breakfast
1155 Bay St
PO Box 2687
Florence, Oregon 97439
(541) 997-8360
(800-833-9465
admin@edwink.com
www.edwink.com
Home on Wheels
Mercer Lake Resort
88875 Bay Berry Lane
Florence, Oregon 97439
(800) 355-3633
mlroregon.com
Rustic cabins; boat ramp; moorage; boat rentals; tackle shop/mini mart; fishing license; RV campground: all spaces have water, electric, and TV hookups, some have septic hookups; dump station on the grounds.
Under the Stars
Alder Dune Campground
Located on Hwy 101 seven miles north of Florence.
Coastal forest abuts Alder Lake; 39 tent and RV sites; fire pits; picnic tables; water; toilets; trash containers; boat launch; nearby trails to the ocean and dunes. Open May 1 to September 30.
LOCAL FAVORITE EATERY
Waterfront Depot
1252 Bay St
Florence, Oregon 97439
(541) 902-9100
Intimate atmosphere; varied menu changes daily; local seafood is house specialty.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Siuslaw Pioneer Museum
Located at the corner of Maple St and 2nd St.
Ongoing exhibits featuring Florence historical artifacts, photographs, and books.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area extends 40 miles from Florence south to Coos River, and from the Pacific Ocean shoreline inland for 2 1/2 miles. It encompasses 10,000 acres of sand dunes and beaches, 30 lakes, 14 hiking trails, 13 campgrounds and nine day-use parks.
Sea Lion Caves
Located 11 miles north of Florence.
It is the only known remaining home of wild stellar sea lions on the North American mainland.
A Bridge Back - The Early Days of Florence, Oregon
A Bridge Back, The Early Days of Florence, Oregon is an entertaining romp into the early history of a rollicking town, at once "wild west" and "gentle natured." It was a small town with a big heart and many colorful characters. They followed in the footsteps of greatness, on the trail of Lewis and Clark, Jedediah Smith and in the shadow of railroad barons and spruce-winged airplanes. Meet the adventuresome dreamer-founder and his bandito-turned-poet brother; meet the bold editor of the town paper, who went on to be a senator; meet the brave settler who saved a wagon master from mob attack; meet the lovely Rhododendron Queen who married the founder's nephew; meet the fishermen who blew up bombs in the river and the young man who sauntered nude down the beach; meet the greedy publisher who sided with grasping barons to his own downfall; and meet the bumbling Romeo who snapped a photo of his girl as she sank in quicksand. If you know Florence, you will never see her the same way again. If you do not know Florence, prepare to fall in love.
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