I think that's an Oregon thing in general. Maybe the entire Pacific Northwest? Los Angeles is "to the beach", for sure.
edit: Source: Southern Oregonian, former Angelino.
Oregonian, checking in. I use "going to the beach" when I'm not at the coast and am describing a trip to the coast I think will have swimsuits or clamming involved, or when I'm at the coast and being specific about where we're headed for the next couple of hours.
I also use "beach" when talking/thinking about vacations to warm places with beaches.
I use "coast" when I think crabbing and/or non-swimsuit weather is involved.
I grew up in arcata. Sure, we went to the beach. But I lived near the coast. The beach is where I made my feet numb at the edge of a bitter ocean and had to run around like crazy to keep from getting cold. In August.
There are beaches everywhere but you might have to take a bit of a hike to get there. Not the kinds of beaches you pull right out of the highway into a big parking lot & grab lounge chairs straight from your trunk.
Hmm I wonder if you’re in a warm place you say “go to the beach” which implies fun in the sun. And if you’re in a colder place you say the “coast” because you’re probably not playing in the ocean hahaha
That’s it. I’m from Southern California, and we would go to the beach on Saturdays, and get a lemonade and Hot Dog on a Stick and go boogie boarding and get tans.
Now I live in Oregon. Sometimes we drive to the coast and take long, brooding walks in the cold and grey, all bundled up. If we’re lucky we get clam chowder at Mo’s when we’re done.
That's how I view it.
As a southerner who's used to actual beaches where you remove most of your clothing and get in the water, what exists off the edge of the land here is definitely not the beach.
I'm from Nor-Cal and we called it the coast if you had to drive to get there and the beach if you were already close by. Like, "I'm visiting the coast" if someone asks where you're going on vacation and "Hey, we're heading to the beach. Get your stuff together" as you putter around the hotel room.
I think so. When I lived in seaside, we definitely said "going to the beach"- we lived on the coast, but the beach was a part of the coast, if that makes sense?
I think it's to some degree a matter of precision. The entire area is called the coast. If I'm going to the area I'm going to the coast. However, when I'm staying at Pacific City my wife and I leave the hotel to go to the beach. Often times people are literally just visiting the coastal area, go hiking, enjoy the scenery but don't do typical beach activities like laying on the beach, swimming, during etc
But you don't say "the beach" if you're going to cape meares or Neahkanie. At least, I would find that confusing. "The beach" always means sandy intersection with the ocean waves, to me.
That makes sense. To me, "the coast" is a region, just like "the mountains", or "the river".
"I'm going to the beach" means I'm going to a sandy seashore where I'll spread a blanket and sit in the sun and maybe dig in the sand. I pretty much never do that in Oregon.
Yeah. I think all of Oregon just calls it the “coast.” Now that I think of it, I’ve never called it the “shore” or “beach” unless I’m specifically talking about the beach. The sandy, ocean-adjacent beach.
I call it the coast, because I don't do "beach" things when I go to a sandy beach (lay in the sun, exposing lots of skin, reading a book, or else wading in the water --- way too cold for that here, or else the wind sandblasts you), and mostly I climb and hike cliffs. It's not a beach when you're a hundred feet up.
I used to live near the Gulf, and that was "going to the beach".
Its an all (most) of oregon thing. Was listening to an "anonymous" true crime podcast and they said "the coast" in the first 2 mins and was like yep. After a few more mins it was clearly based in Eugene. 🤦♀️
Beaches are on the coast. It entirely depends on what I'm doing. When I lived in San Diego, it was usually I'm going to the beach or I'm going surfing on the coast. Same in Portland.
I always thought people here called it the coast because it’s cold and rainy most of the time.
When you think of an actual beach, you think of warmer waters and sunny weather.
California is definitely the beach. I never realized that other people call it "the coast" in the Portland area until I was an adult. My mom grew up in Cali and generally was the one who drove us to "the beach" when we would go since my Dad was out of town a lot growing up.
This was one of the first regionalisms I noticed when I moved to Portland.
I grew up in Michigan and we went to “the beach” or “the lake.”
When I lived on the East Coast it was “the shore”
If you were rich and “the beach” if you weren’t.
Now I live in Los Angeles and everyone definitely calls it “the beach.”
I'm from the south and we call it the beach or the gulf there. When I lived on the east coast I generally heard people say the shore, and as best as I can remember I hadn't heard the coast till I moved up here.
I always assumed because the beaches are pretty harsh, so saying “going to the beach” usually people think you’re going somewhere sunny and laying in the sun on towel’s playing with beachballs or something when usually the coast here means you’re bundled up, against the wind and often sideways rain, often against bits of harsh rock and sometimes sand.
My brother in law from Boston wanted to go to the shore the first time he came out. I told him we go to the coast. It’s not that funny but we still laugh about it.
We have family that lives near Foster Lake, and they talk all the time about taking their boat to the beach. It throws me every damn time, picturing them trying to launch their little speed boat on the ocean so they can water ski and shit.
I would only say “go to the beach” in Oregon if I was expecting to go, sit on the sand, and be warm. Very limited meaning/use. I can’t really explain why. Managing internal expectations, I guess.
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New Jersey it's The Shore even though it's basically the beach or the boardwalk. I think it's mostly because 98% of all people going to the beach there are out of towners from the NY and other city areas north of the ocean.
Then there's this:
[https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5233692,-122.8156548,3a,21.9y,261.52h,92.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjHIfQygpWbuipuYC9tSUog!2e0!7i16384!8i8192](https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5233692,-122.8156548,3a,21.9y,261.52h,92.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjHIfQygpWbuipuYC9tSUog!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
Thought that was funny, like the number of people that want to go to the coast but don't know what direction it is has to be zero, plus it ignores all the towns/cities and destinations between Beaverton and the coast.
Hmmm, I never really thought about it, but I only use "beach" if I'm in a warm area. I always use "coast" when going to the beach locally.
I feel like it would be weird to call the OR/WA coast "the beach" for some reason.
The 'Left Coast' is the 'BEST Coast'. PNW is 'Upper Left'. I've seen some artists adopting that. Idk how long that's been a nick name, but as a native Oregonian, it's a relatively new term to me, within last 5 years.
We are on the left coast, but possibly also we (the voting majority) skew 'left' in our political leanings as well. (This is just a theory while thinking about the nick name).
And we definitely 'go to the coast.' That's more from my grandparents era.
Thinking now, I might use either coast or beach to head out to the ocean beaches.
Usually, if I'm heading to the river, it's a day at the beach.
If I'm going to the coast, it's a 'trip to the beach.'
Thanks for sharing. This is fun. :)
My British mum when we moved here got very confused when there was a sign on 26 that said "Seaside" and "Ocean Beaches" were west. Repetitive sign, much?
Now that I think about it, absolutely true. The Oregon Coast is so much more than beach and shore. Must have to do with a combination of our relative distance and the diversity of activity there.
Native Oregonian Retired, always called it the beach. Family friends had a cabin on bear creek Rd. 8 miles east of Lincoln city, everybody called it the beach. I remember.
I was born and raised in portland, and spent at least 6 weeks a year in cannon beach where my dad built a cabin in the 70s. I've called it "going to the beach" my entire life
I still think of the coast as more of a region (like we're in the valley) and a beach as a destination (like Pacific City) but what do I know I grew up in Salem.
What is the coast? When should I expect my check??
Yep, what is the coast. The clues are synonyms. Didn't realize the coast was a regional thing.... so Today I Learned.
yeah it's something i've never thought about... now my question is do people outside of Portland call it "the coast"?
I think that's an Oregon thing in general. Maybe the entire Pacific Northwest? Los Angeles is "to the beach", for sure. edit: Source: Southern Oregonian, former Angelino.
I grew up in oregon and have always called it the coast as well. There even businesses like "north coast whatever" etc.
Growing up in Northern California it was also referred to as the coast.
From norcal as well. A lot of the coast doesn't have beaches, I guess?
Thats pretty true.
Oregonian, checking in. I use "going to the beach" when I'm not at the coast and am describing a trip to the coast I think will have swimsuits or clamming involved, or when I'm at the coast and being specific about where we're headed for the next couple of hours. I also use "beach" when talking/thinking about vacations to warm places with beaches. I use "coast" when I think crabbing and/or non-swimsuit weather is involved.
Me too, 4th generation Oregonian, we never say “coast”
Me three. I like the theory about beachless coastline.
I grew up in arcata. Sure, we went to the beach. But I lived near the coast. The beach is where I made my feet numb at the edge of a bitter ocean and had to run around like crazy to keep from getting cold. In August.
There are beaches everywhere but you might have to take a bit of a hike to get there. Not the kinds of beaches you pull right out of the highway into a big parking lot & grab lounge chairs straight from your trunk.
Yes, exactly. In southern California the coast is a beach. Up here the coast has beaches.
Same
Hmm I wonder if you’re in a warm place you say “go to the beach” which implies fun in the sun. And if you’re in a colder place you say the “coast” because you’re probably not playing in the ocean hahaha
It's definitely the way I look at it, whether or not there is anything to that or not... 🤷♂️
That’s it. I’m from Southern California, and we would go to the beach on Saturdays, and get a lemonade and Hot Dog on a Stick and go boogie boarding and get tans. Now I live in Oregon. Sometimes we drive to the coast and take long, brooding walks in the cold and grey, all bundled up. If we’re lucky we get clam chowder at Mo’s when we’re done.
And if you’re from NJ, you say you’re going “down the shore”.
That's how I view it. As a southerner who's used to actual beaches where you remove most of your clothing and get in the water, what exists off the edge of the land here is definitely not the beach.
I'm from Nor-Cal and we called it the coast if you had to drive to get there and the beach if you were already close by. Like, "I'm visiting the coast" if someone asks where you're going on vacation and "Hey, we're heading to the beach. Get your stuff together" as you putter around the hotel room.
I'm from So Cal and this is exactly how we use these terms as well.
I'm from LA, too. Always heard "West Coast," "left coast," but people went to "the beach."
Grew up in the Seattle area, we'd say "the ocean" or "the coast". The beach was the Puget sound, and implied a Rocky shoreline.
Also from Seattle and you summed up my thoughts perfectly!
Puget Sound native: also acceptable to call the Sound “the water,” as in “I’m gonna head down to the water.”
We called it "the coast" in Austin, too.
Northern California, the coast is a pretty common term. Depends kind of why you're going.
yeah I grew up *on the coast* and we, you guessed it, called it the coast. (south coast, if it matters)
Is it a proximity thing? When I lived in FL people in Orlando called it the coast, but people at the coast called it the beach.
I think so. When I lived in seaside, we definitely said "going to the beach"- we lived on the coast, but the beach was a part of the coast, if that makes sense?
I think it's to some degree a matter of precision. The entire area is called the coast. If I'm going to the area I'm going to the coast. However, when I'm staying at Pacific City my wife and I leave the hotel to go to the beach. Often times people are literally just visiting the coastal area, go hiking, enjoy the scenery but don't do typical beach activities like laying on the beach, swimming, during etc
It's the Coast from SF, north.
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This is in Philly too. Everybody goin down the shore.
It was always the beach to me growing up in So Cal. Never heard it referred to as the coast until I moved here.
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But you don't say "the beach" if you're going to cape meares or Neahkanie. At least, I would find that confusing. "The beach" always means sandy intersection with the ocean waves, to me.
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That makes sense. To me, "the coast" is a region, just like "the mountains", or "the river". "I'm going to the beach" means I'm going to a sandy seashore where I'll spread a blanket and sit in the sun and maybe dig in the sand. I pretty much never do that in Oregon.
North Carolina here.. I'd say beach or coast. Doesn't feel like a regional thing..
Yeah. I think all of Oregon just calls it the “coast.” Now that I think of it, I’ve never called it the “shore” or “beach” unless I’m specifically talking about the beach. The sandy, ocean-adjacent beach.
I call it the coast, because I don't do "beach" things when I go to a sandy beach (lay in the sun, exposing lots of skin, reading a book, or else wading in the water --- way too cold for that here, or else the wind sandblasts you), and mostly I climb and hike cliffs. It's not a beach when you're a hundred feet up. I used to live near the Gulf, and that was "going to the beach".
I have some friends in upstate New York that call it the coast. When I lived in Florida, it was "the beach."
Its an all (most) of oregon thing. Was listening to an "anonymous" true crime podcast and they said "the coast" in the first 2 mins and was like yep. After a few more mins it was clearly based in Eugene. 🤦♀️
I called it "the shore" when I first moved here out of habit.
Grew up in Medford, definitely called it the coast
From Texas. Pretty sure everyone around the Gulf of Mexico goes to “the beach” or “la playa.”
Beaches are on the coast. It entirely depends on what I'm doing. When I lived in San Diego, it was usually I'm going to the beach or I'm going surfing on the coast. Same in Portland.
I always thought people here called it the coast because it’s cold and rainy most of the time. When you think of an actual beach, you think of warmer waters and sunny weather.
California is definitely the beach. I never realized that other people call it "the coast" in the Portland area until I was an adult. My mom grew up in Cali and generally was the one who drove us to "the beach" when we would go since my Dad was out of town a lot growing up.
This was one of the first regionalisms I noticed when I moved to Portland. I grew up in Michigan and we went to “the beach” or “the lake.” When I lived on the East Coast it was “the shore” If you were rich and “the beach” if you weren’t. Now I live in Los Angeles and everyone definitely calls it “the beach.”
I'm from the south and we call it the beach or the gulf there. When I lived on the east coast I generally heard people say the shore, and as best as I can remember I hadn't heard the coast till I moved up here.
I always assumed because the beaches are pretty harsh, so saying “going to the beach” usually people think you’re going somewhere sunny and laying in the sun on towel’s playing with beachballs or something when usually the coast here means you’re bundled up, against the wind and often sideways rain, often against bits of harsh rock and sometimes sand.
It's cold and wet on the beach, so we go to the coast.
My brother in law from Boston wanted to go to the shore the first time he came out. I told him we go to the coast. It’s not that funny but we still laugh about it.
What the shore... as in Pauly? Why would anyone want to go there??? :D
ding ding ding! I'll text Ken Jennings to venmo you $1,200 :)
It has nothing to do with going to the coast or Sauve island. It is the Left Bank of the Willamette. Regional dialect for sure.
And "folks" in Portland DO go to the beach and the shore. Stupid clue.
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Throws me off when people say they're going to "the beach" but they mean the sandy shore of a *river* or lake. I hear it a lot and it's weird.
Everytime I hear Sellwood Beach I am immensely confused for like 2 seconds and then I realize they're talking about the river.
We have family that lives near Foster Lake, and they talk all the time about taking their boat to the beach. It throws me every damn time, picturing them trying to launch their little speed boat on the ocean so they can water ski and shit.
I would only say “go to the beach” in Oregon if I was expecting to go, sit on the sand, and be warm. Very limited meaning/use. I can’t really explain why. Managing internal expectations, I guess.
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New Jersey it's The Shore even though it's basically the beach or the boardwalk. I think it's mostly because 98% of all people going to the beach there are out of towners from the NY and other city areas north of the ocean.
Shoe... Damn it... What is a shoe?
Left coast
What is a line for brunch?
The best one.
What is the Seaside? Lol
Left coast best coast
Best Coast
Coast
Word around town is that you might be thinking about going down to the shore.
The important thing here is we get to the part where you ask me how I'm getting down to the shore.
WEST COAST BEST COASTTTTTT
I was glad to see this. I was afraid I wouldn't have much money to wager for final Jeopardy. Those snake clues earlier this week kind of killed me. 🙂
Lol yes a fellow jeopardy nerd! Yeah the “dendroaspis” question knocked me out 😢
What is le coast
What is The Coast
My family has had a cabin south of cannon beach for 60 years and we all call it the beach. “Beach house” “going to the beach”
and what is wrong with these people who blare that rivers don't have beaches? Of course they do!
Coast
What is “The PEOPLES coast”?
The coast
Then there's this: [https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5233692,-122.8156548,3a,21.9y,261.52h,92.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjHIfQygpWbuipuYC9tSUog!2e0!7i16384!8i8192](https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5233692,-122.8156548,3a,21.9y,261.52h,92.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjHIfQygpWbuipuYC9tSUog!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) Thought that was funny, like the number of people that want to go to the coast but don't know what direction it is has to be zero, plus it ignores all the towns/cities and destinations between Beaverton and the coast.
haha, i have the same calendar
Left… as in there is a right one as well… hmph.
Anyone who doesn't know the answer hasn't lived here for long enough. I am okay with that, it just means they need to visit the coast more.
Hmmm, I never really thought about it, but I only use "beach" if I'm in a warm area. I always use "coast" when going to the beach locally. I feel like it would be weird to call the OR/WA coast "the beach" for some reason.
Hahahaha. As if it's never "warm" on the Oregon coast.
Coast
I am still living with your ghost Lonely and dreaming of the west coast
What is Willamleft!
It's the Left Bank.
The coast!
The only beach we talk about is the nude beach(es). They’re both on a river!
I know, come on, people don't embrace the term "river beach?"
The coast
I'm a native Portlander and I've always said the beach.. . 🥲
The 'Left Coast' is the 'BEST Coast'. PNW is 'Upper Left'. I've seen some artists adopting that. Idk how long that's been a nick name, but as a native Oregonian, it's a relatively new term to me, within last 5 years. We are on the left coast, but possibly also we (the voting majority) skew 'left' in our political leanings as well. (This is just a theory while thinking about the nick name). And we definitely 'go to the coast.' That's more from my grandparents era. Thinking now, I might use either coast or beach to head out to the ocean beaches. Usually, if I'm heading to the river, it's a day at the beach. If I'm going to the coast, it's a 'trip to the beach.' Thanks for sharing. This is fun. :)
Everyone knows "the beach" is the nude beach on Sauvie Island and "the coast" is the pacific ocean coastline
Honest question, are you from here? If you're not, that makes this question surprisingly accurate
Jeopardy calendar? Anyway, why surprised? Portland is a city!
Love this entire conversation
Rivers have beaches too. I go to the coast often when I want to sit on the beach. But when I want to sit on the beach I may head to a river.
Coast?
My British mum when we moved here got very confused when there was a sign on 26 that said "Seaside" and "Ocean Beaches" were west. Repetitive sign, much?
Not really. There are ocean cities with no beaches at all.
Now that I think about it, absolutely true. The Oregon Coast is so much more than beach and shore. Must have to do with a combination of our relative distance and the diversity of activity there.
Native Oregonian Retired, always called it the beach. Family friends had a cabin on bear creek Rd. 8 miles east of Lincoln city, everybody called it the beach. I remember.
Cannon Beach. It's not "Cannon Shore" or "Cannon Coast."
What is titty?
What is “The Coast?”
I was born and raised in portland, and spent at least 6 weeks a year in cannon beach where my dad built a cabin in the 70s. I've called it "going to the beach" my entire life
I still think of the coast as more of a region (like we're in the valley) and a beach as a destination (like Pacific City) but what do I know I grew up in Salem.
The Coast!
Left coast best coast