Cannon Beach Travel Guide

You’d be hard-pressed to seek out an Oregonian who has by no means visited the seaside city of Cannon Seashore. Nestled on the Northern portion of the Oregon shoreline, the city is just below 1.5 hours from Portland, making it a well-liked weekend day journey or trip vacation spot.

“Cannon Seashore packs quite a lot of what all of us love in regards to the coast into this hamlet of lower than 2,000 residents,” Matt Wastradowski, lifelong Oregon resident and journey guidebook writer, advised Journey + Leisure.

However don’t let the small inhabitants mislead you into pondering it is a sleepy city. It’s a vibrant, bustling scene with gifted artists and native meals purveyors and is house to a number of actions for anybody, whether or not you’re hoping to exit for a hike, attempt contemporary seafood, or just loosen up together with your toes within the sand on the seaside.

“You may hike by way of groves of Sitka spruce earlier than lunch, stroll previous artwork galleries run by passionate locals, get pleasure from lunch at a brewery established to honor Oregon’s open seashores, nosh on domestically sourced seafood for dinner, and make s’mores underneath the celebrities and within the shadow of a world-famous sea stack,” Wastradowski mentioned. “And it is all so shut. None of what I discussed is greater than a 10-minute drive from downtown.”

Able to plan your journey to Cannon Seashore? Learn on for one of the best issues to do on this coastal city, together with the place to eat and keep throughout your go to.

Finest Locations to Keep

Stephanie Inn

This lodge was voted one of many best resorts in the West by T+L readers. With the sounds of crashing waves and rooms overlooking Haystack Rock, this keep is value it only for the view. Cozy up with a guide subsequent to the fireside or head to the on-site spa for a remedy utilizing lavender from its sibling-business Public Coast Farm. Chat with different company on the every day afternoon beer and wine gathering. Finish the day with s’mores and a glass of wine subsequent to a bonfire on the seaside, arrange by the inn’s employees year-round, relying on the climate. After a morning seaside stroll, you’ll be able to head to the Eating Room for a complimentary chef’s breakfast full with housemade pastries.

SurfSand Resort

This pet-friendly resort affords oceanfront rooms with decks or patios. You’ll discover contemporary cookies within the foyer, an on-site pool and fitness center, seaside cruiser bikes to borrow for exploring the city, and an ice cream social on Saturdays throughout the summer time. Its central location means that you can stroll proper out to the seaside or to simply stroll downtown for lunch or dinner.

The Inn at Cannon Beach

Situated on the south finish of Cannon Seashore, you’ll see the city’s well-known wild bunnies hopping throughout this property. Cozy Northwest-inspired rooms with heat woods are positioned in small cottage-style buildings with a backyard courtyard. Rooms are outfitted with fuel fireplaces, breakfast is included, and it’s a fast two-minute stroll to the seaside.

Finest Issues to Do

Go to Ecola State Park

Wind by way of Sitka spruce and Western hemlock bushes on the best way to this Oregon State Park, situated simply 10 minutes from downtown. There are miles of mountaineering trails, whether or not you’re hoping to trek by way of the forest or expertise cliffside views of the ocean, together with the chance to see the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse “Horrible Tilly” which operated within the late 1800s. You may stroll all the way down to Indian Seashore or get pleasure from a picnic with a view. Whereas exploring the park, Wastradowski says to maintain an eye fixed out for Roosevelt elk grazing within the meadows just under the primary parking space in spring and autumn. “It is a good shock once you get to see these majestic creatures huddled collectively so shut,” Wastradowski mentioned.

Stroll the Seashore to Haystack Rock

No go to to Cannon Seashore is full with out heading to the seaside to stroll the sand. You may enter the seaside from numerous aspect streets on the town for those who’re on foot. It’s also possible to park at one of many a number of public tons with shut entry. Whereas on the seaside, Haystack Rock can’t be missed. The 235-foot-tall sea stack consists of basalt rock towers excessive, making it the right spot to take a photograph. (You might even acknowledge it from the 1985 film “The Goonies.”) The protected rock is house to a colony of tufted puffins, which return in April and keep by way of July. On low tide days, you’ll be able to stare upon sea stars, crabs, and different sea life within the marine backyard under the rock. Volunteers of the Haystack Consciousness Program are on-site to reply questions in regards to the protected atmosphere.

Hike at Oswald West State Park

“The bluff on the finish of Cape Falcon is a superb place to look at for migrating grey whales, particularly in winter and spring,” Wastradowski mentioned. “It sits about 250 toes above the ocean and is fairly extensive open, so the views are in every single place.” This path and a number of other others with magnificent towering rainforest and coastal views may be discovered at this 2,484-acre state park simply 10 minutes south of Cannon Seashore. In case you go, be ready for extra rugged path situations. Wastradowski famous that the car parking zone can simply fill on summer time weekends, so hikers could need to get an early begin for extra solitude on the paths.

Take an Artwork Stroll

Cannon Seashore is house to a number of artists centered on many mediums together with stay glassblowing, wooden carving, sculpture, and portray. Spend a while with a cup of espresso in hand within the morning strolling the streets to peruse the various galleries downtown inside one mile of one another. There may be additionally a public artwork tour with seven installations all of that are walkable inside 1.5 miles of one another. When you’re downtown, go to different boutique outlets and pop into Bruce’s Sweet Kitchen the place colourful saltwater taffy is made on website.

Have a Bonfire on the Seashore

“On summer time nights, the seaside lights up like fireflies with all of the seaside bonfires, and that is an actual deal with to see,” Wastradowski mentioned. Sure, you’re completely allowed to have small fires on the seaside on the Oregon Coast so long as they’re constructed at the very least 50 toes away from seaside grass and driftwood and are stored smaller than two toes. A number of lodges and resorts provide companies to construct them for you — together with Stephanie Inn, Surfsand Resort, and The Inn at Cannon Seashore — or you’ll be able to typically buy provides to convey your personal firewood from the foyer the place you’re staying or at a comfort retailer.

Finest Eating places

Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge

Wayfarer is likely one of the few eating places in Cannon Seashore with a waterfront view. The inside decor nods to a nautical theme, with a whiskey lounge and the choice for patio seating. Begin your day with the cinnamon roll French toast with Oregon hazelnuts and marionberry butter or settle in for dinner with native seafood or Oregon beef on the menu.

Public Coast Brewing

“Public Coast sources quite a lot of elements — berries, fruit, hops, honey, and extra — from its farm, which provides a contemporary and enjoyable wrinkle to its lineup of pub grub,” Wastradowski mentioned. Whereas the beer is top-notch, the housemade creamy root beer is one other can’t-miss. Pair your drink with freshly caught fish and chips or fish tacos.

Stephanie Inn Eating Room

Visitors on the Stephanie Inn don’t have far to go for an distinctive meal. Nevertheless, for those who’re staying elsewhere, it’s nonetheless doable to get reservations. Sit by the fireside within the Eating Room and revel in a four-course, prix fixe dinner composed of domestically sourced elements. Don’t skip the non-obligatory chef’s wine pairings showcasing Oregon wines.

Ecola Restaurant & Market

The Oregon Coast is thought for its seafood, particularly contemporary oysters, Dungeness crab, calms, and albacore tuna. This seafood market, open since 1993, is one of the best place to attempt all of it. “The household that runs Ecola has been fishing the Oregon Coast since 1977, they usually personal their very own vessels — so it is doable to eat one thing for dinner that was caught just some hours earlier,” Wastradowski mentioned. Order your lunch to take with you for a seaside picnic or get pleasure from it on the restaurant’s rooftop patio.

Finest Time To Go to

The most effective time to go to Cannon Seashore is from mid-June to early September due to its stunning temperatures. Usually, you’ll see much less rain throughout these months as clouds half approach to shining sunny days. That is what makes Cannon Seashore so fascinating as a summer time trip spot. Nevertheless, if you wish to journey just like the locals do, contemplate heading to Cannon Seashore to expertise it throughout one other, less-popular season. “There is not any unhealthy time to go to, and totally different seasons provide totally different experiences,” Wastradowski mentioned. “In fall, cool, crisp afternoons result in a quieter expertise and extra elbow room on the metropolis’s eateries. Winter means winter storm-watching and a comfortable environment throughout city.” When you’ll need to pack a raincoat throughout late fall, winter, and spring, the dramatic panorama is totally beautiful.

Tips on how to Get There

Proper off of the Pacific Coast Freeway 101, Cannon Seashore is a perfect highway journey vacation spot. It may be accessed both from Freeway 101 to the North or South or Freeway 26 to the East. “Freeway 26 cuts by way of the Oregon Coast Vary,” Wastradowski mentioned. You’ll journey by way of an attractive, tall timber forest providing views the entire method.

The closest airport to Cannon Seashore is Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon’s largest metropolis, Portland, which is just below a two-hour drive. Renting a automotive from the airport is the best choice to get to Cannon Seashore, because it gives straightforward transportation whereas within the space. Wastradowski advised T+L that there’s additionally an intercity bus service referred to as POINT, which affords every day routes between Portland and Cannon Seashore. An alliance of public transpiration methods referred to as NW Connector additionally affords routes from Portland or different places on the Oregon Coast together with Newport and Lincoln Metropolis to Cannon Seashore.

Tips on how to Get Round

Cannon Seashore is a really walkable city, permitting entry to the seaside, lodges, eating places, and downtown outlets in a matter of minutes. Whereas there aren’t any rideshare companies in Cannon Seashore, there’s a NW Connector bus route that runs a number of stops on the town, with three-day passes accessible for $25 or seven-day passes for $30. Nevertheless, a automotive might be essential to entry locations exterior of city akin to state parks for mountaineering.