Located near the mouth of the Siuslaw River, Florence is a picturesque coastal city in Oregon’s Lane County. It was originally inhabited by the Siuslaw people before the arrival of French, Russian and Spanish explorers and was eventually established as a river port in 1909. Fishing, canning and the lumber trade have all played an important role in Florence’s fortunes.
Things to do in Florence
In the heart of Florence is the Historic Old Town, where you’ll find antique stores, art galleries and the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum. Browse the vintage clothing, antique tools and everyday objects on display before admiring the beautiful Siuslaw River Bridge. Designed by Conde McCullough as a double-leaf bascule bridge, it opened to traffic in 1936.
Wildlife enthusiasts can visit the Sea Lion Caves, a large network of caverns that provide a habitat for Steller and California sea lions. Above is the 19th-century lighthouse of Heceta Head, which is a nesting site for a variety of marine birds. Keep your eyes peeled for oystercatchers and rhinoceros auklets, together with grey whales that are occasionally spotted in the surrounding waters.
Florence lies directly north of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, which protects the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America. It’s a popular destination for off-roading, horseback riding and hiking, as well as canoeing and fishing. Among the area’s most popular walks is the Carter Dunes Trail, with the four-kilometre-long route taking in wetlands and coastal scrub.
Getting around Florence
Florence is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Eugene and just over an hour from Eugene Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Buses connect to Florence, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the area. Florence’s Historic Old Town is ideally explored on foot.