South Beach State Park has everything you want in an Oregon beach experience. The park starts at the Yaquina Bay jetty Newport and stretches several miles south. Kids will love the soft, white sand that feels so good between their toes, while parents will appreciate the clean, wide beach that never feels crowded.

South Beach is famous for the sand dollars scattered along the shore, so have a container ready to hold the handfuls your kids will be scooping up! They’ll also have fun spying sand crabs, sea birds, shells, and the occasional jellyfish. It’s just a great place for beachcombing, not to mention clamming if you bring a shovel and secure a license for kids over 14.

There are miles of trails, some paved, making it ideal for hiking and jogging, too. For the more adventurous, you can take a kayak tour, try your hand at windsurfing, or rent bikes in the park’s hospitality center. South Beach State Park is the kind of place that demands an entire day of your vacation. There is no fee for entrance or parking if you are here for the day.