Step into Spring

At Drifthaven in Gearhart, the changing season brings a quiet sense of renewal along the coast. Longer daylight, fresh ocean air, and wide beaches invite unhurried exploration, even while the coastal breeze keeps the air crisp.

March is a prime time for spotting migrating gray whales as they travel north, often visible from the headlands of Ecola State Park and Fort Stevens State Park. Watching from the bluffs as whales surface and spout offshore is a reminder that spring arrives first at sea.

Later in the season, the Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival returns to the Clatsop County Fairgrounds from April 24–26, 2026. The beloved coastal celebration features more than 150 vendors offering hand-crafted arts, coastal cuisine, Oregon wines, and local brews along with live music and a festival atmosphere. By May, Sundays in Astoria bring the return of the Astoria Sunday Market. Held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 12th Street, the market fills downtown with vendors offering locally grown produce, handmade goods, prepared foods, and regional music.

Between events, the landscape remains the main attraction. Forested trails invite cool-weather hikes, wetlands welcome migrating birds, and long shoreline walks unfold beneath wide coastal skies. Returning to Drifthaven afterward offers a quiet place to exhale, perhaps beside the fire pits, where the warmth and ocean air make lingering outside part of the evening ritual.