Student speaker Brian Torres Rodas cracks up during his speech to fellow graduates during the Newport Harbor High School’s 94th annual commencement Thursday June 5, 2025 in Newport Beach.

Now, the media site Condé Nast Traveler has come up with a list of “The 13 Best Beach Towns on the West Coast,” singling out standout places in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Anyone driving into Yaquina Bay State Park, in Newport, Oregon, will see a majestic Sitka spruce standing in the middle of the road, overlooking the ocean.