Astoria to Florence, Or, thoughts on parks, sights?

Here is info I provided to another who was traveling south to north. Read first paragraph backwards. Reedsport to Florence has losts of sand dunes. Florence has nice waterfront. Intresting stop is the Darlingtonia park on north end with carnivorous plants. Sea Lion Cave is interesting stop just before Heceta Head and lighthouse. Cape Perpetua has tide pools, spouting horn and vistor center. Newport has aquarium, Hatfield Marine Science Center, waterfront, Nye Beach, Yaquina Head natural area. Tillamook - 3 capes scenic loop, cheese factory, and wonderful pioneer museum. Cannon Beach is arts center. Seaside is resort center on the coast. Astoria area is filled with history - Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astor Column, Fort Clatsop (Lewis & Clark), Fort Stevens, Flavel House. Several communities have live theater in summer. That should give you some ideas.

Campgrounds:
We like all of the state parks - Fort Stevens, Nehalem Bay, Cape Lookout, Beverly Beach, Beachside, Umpqua Lighthouse, South Beach, but especially Sunset Bay. Tillicum Beach is a nice USFS CG right on the beach. There are some nice private parks also. Harbor Vista in Florence is great county park.

Food:
Agree that Mo's is not my favorite chowder.
Dooger's in Seaside is good.
Pig n Pancake is great for breakfast.
Oceanside has a nice restaurant and tunnel through the rock/mountain on the beach.
Newport has good places in Nye Beach. Original Mo's is on waterfront.
Seal Rock has great Japanese restaurant.
Adobe Resort in Yachats has some of best food on coast, including chowder.
Florence has good restaurants on waterfront.
Winchester Bay has a couple good ones - Griff's for seafood.

That's probably enough to get you going.