Day 2: Immerse Yourself in the Local Culture
Itinerary for the day:
- Tillamook Air Museum
- Tillamook Creamery Tour
- Lunch: Tillamook Creamery or Blue Heron French Cheese Co.
- Garibaldi Maritime Museum
- Dinner: Garibaldi Portside Bistro
Tillamook Air Museum
The Tillamook Air Museum is housed in a massive World War II blimp hangar, one of the largest wooden structures in the world. The museum showcases a fascinating collection of vintage aircraft, aviation artifacts, and exhibits detailing the history of aviation and the role of blimps during the war. The unique setting and extensive collection make it a must-visit destination for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs.
Tillamook Creamery Tour
No trip to Tillamook would be complete without a visit to the famous Tillamook Creamery. You can take either a self-guided tour or opt for a guided-tour, which is what we did. The tour included a walkthrough of the creamery’s cheese-making process, complete with tastings of their delicious products (like aged-cheddar cheese, yum!) The tour is definitely worth it.
There’s also a dining area with a menu featuring items made with their cheeses, an ice cream shop where you can grab a scoop or two… or three. There is also a big shop on the ground floor where you can grab some Tillamook swag and many of their dairy products. The building is fully accessible, featuring push-button entrances, elevators, and accessible bathrooms.
Lunch: Tillamook Creamery or Blue Heron French Cheese Co.
Since you’re there, you may as well grab a bite to eat and some ice cream! However, another fantastic place just down the road is Blue Heron French Cheese Co. This neat business has a menu of grilled sandwiches, soups and salads. It also has wine tasting, a petting-farm, and gift-shop selling cheeses, honey, smoked seafood, and more.
Garibaldi Maritime Museum
This nice little museum offers visitors a glimpse into the rich maritime history of the Pacific Northwest. Dedicated to Captain Robert Gray, the first American to navigate the Columbia River, the museum features exhibits on early sea exploration, shipbuilding, and the fishing industry that once thrived along the Oregon coast. The museum is wheelchair accessible, however, in order to access the 2nd level, you will need to go outside and around the back (there is an incline). But most of the exhibits are on the ground level.
Dinner: Garibaldi Portside Bistro
Unwind and enjoy a nice bistro dinner with a diverse menu, patio seating, and mouth-watering food.
This story was featured in Wheel the World’s Accessible Tillamook Coast blog. Read the entire piece here.
Our Wheel the World project has been funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon.
