Guest Spotlight: A Dog-Friendly Guide to Yachats

Recently, guests Bryce LaDuc and Callie Sharp joined us for a long weekend in Yachats, Oregon. They stayed at Arbor House, a townhome we’re proud to manage with sweeping ocean views and quick beach access.

And the best part? They brought their beloved furry companions—Arlo, Finn, and Winnie—along for the trip. Take a moment to admire these good dogs.

If you’re a vacation rental owner and you’re considering opening your home to dogs, these three are reason enough. But, in case you need more convincing, here’s a fun fact: homes that accommodate pets have 10–20% higher vacation rental income and higher occupancy than those that don’t.

Bryce had such a blast during her stay, she offered to tell us all about the best parts of her vacation, including her experience with Vacasa and what makes the Oregon Coast such a special dog-friendly destination. Here’s what she had to say.

As a dog lover, I try my absolute hardest to never leave the dogs behind, even if that means scrolling for hours to find the perfect dog-friendly rental on a busy holiday weekend.

I stumbled upon Vacasa while searching for a dog-friendly vacation home on the Oregon Coast. My friend Callie and I wanted a place to spend a long weekend with friends, and we knew we had to have our three dogs included.

While browsing Vacasa’s website, I found an impressive, searchable database of pet-friendly rental options for us, and within minutes, I was able to select the perfect coastal destination and an ideal property. Just like that, we reserved the The Arbor House—a six-bedroom, six-bathroom oceanfront home in Yachats, Oregon.

Yachats is a charming little town tucked along Oregon’s central coast. Approximately three hours from Portland, four hours from Bend, and six hours from Seattle, it is the perfect destination for a coastal getaway. If you are like us and you love adventure mixed with relaxation, this is the place for you. It has a little bit of everything!

Here are some of my favorite dog-friendly activities in the area.

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

What a place! You can break the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area up into pieces and see only the things you want, or you can take advantage of over 30 miles of trails that will show you everything this park has to offer.

There are a handful of things here you won’t want to miss. The 40-million-year-old lava rock that lines the shore here has plenty of inlets and pools: Cooks Chasm, the Spouting Horn, and Thor’s Well, to name a few. They are incredible to see at high tide when the water swells inside these walls and surges out.

Devil’s Churn is also not to be missed when visiting the park. Best seen at high tide, a short trail will take you down to a narrow gully where incoming waves barrel up and over the cliffs. Don’t get too close, as the walls of the gully are steep and dangerous.

Next is my favorite part of the park: the Cape Perpetua Stone Shelter. You can either hike or drive to the lookout section above the park to access this gorgeous structure. The stone shelter was used as an observation post during World War II, and now it’s a place where visitors are offered a 70-mile view up and down the coast! It’s also an incredible spot to see whales during migration seasons.

Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint

About five miles south of Cape Perpetua is the Neptune Scenic Area. This is a perfect place to let your dogs run on the beach, beachcomb, and look at tide pools. I find the north parking areas to be the best spots for the tide pools during low tide. In certain pools you can find hundreds of starfish on a single wall. The pools here are vibrant and filled with sea life.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

If you keep driving, you’ll hit Heceta Head Lighthouse. Once you arrive, a short half-mile hike on a paved path will lead you to the lighthouse. Built in 1893, standing 56 feet tall, and perched 205 feet above the ocean, it is truly a sight to take in. The beacon can be seen 21 miles from land and is rated the strongest light on the Oregon Coast. Be sure to look for migrating whales, seals, sea lions, and nesting birds while you are here!

Yachats Brewing

Located in the heart of Yachats, dog-friendly Yachats Brewing is a favorite among locals, visitors, and pups alike. There is always a crowd here, so plan on waiting if you want a seat outside. Trust me, though, it’s worth the wait!

The taproom features 30 taps with 15 to 20 award-winning beers. If beer isn’t your thing, you can choose from house-made probiotic beverages like kombucha, Jun tea, or kefir. The food menu changes by the season to ensure the use of locally grown produce, local pasture-raised meats, and house fermented vegetables!

My favorite things to order here:

Beer: Thor’s Well IPA or Blackberry Stout
Food: seasonal pickles (i.e., house fermented vegetables), a side of kimchi, and creamy mac and cheese

Our Vacasa home

If you are looking to book your dog-friendly trip to Yachats, check out our vacation rental, the Arbor House, or search Vacasa’s website for other properties that fit your needs.

Here are a few more details about our rental:

The Arbor House (comprising two connected townhomes) can be rented as a whole unit or two separate units. The 804 Trail that stretches along the northern Yachats coast was just steps from our door. A short half-mile walk down this trail led us to a large beach where the dogs were able to run after their balls, play in the waves, and live their best vacation life.

The house was well-equipped, spacious, and exactly what we were looking for. As you can imagine, the oceanfront views were spectacular, and we enjoyed falling asleep at night to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocky shoreline.

Thank you, Vacasa, for our special weekend and the countless memories we made. And, thank you for saying yes to pets. We can’t wait for our next Vacasa adventure!

To follow along, check out our Instagram accounts @laducb and @life.with.winnie.

Guest spotlight: A dog-friendly guide to Yachats

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint

Heceta Head Lighthouse

Yachats Brewing

Our Vacasa home

Bring your best friend to Yachats

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