Travel
Cannon Beach is a Classic Oregon Beach Town
When only a place with sand and waves will do, Cannon Beach is the perfect spot.
By Jessica Yadegaran August 14, 2017
This article originally appeared in the May 2017 issue of Seattle magazine.
You may have visited Cannon Beach to explore the abundant sea life at Haystack Rock, walk along the miles of beach or watch bald eagles soar through Ecola State Park. Northwesterners flock here to take in the scenery, play in the sand and engage in indulgent hours of easy relaxation, making it one of Oregon’s most popular beach towns.
But there are new reasons to visit this essential beach spot, and most of them are unabashedly indulgent. Start with a stay at the family-friendly beachfront Surfsand Resort, where kiddos can feast on bottomless saltwater taffy (offered in jars by the front desk), and the recently renovated beach-level rooms feature sliding glass doors, private patios and chic plank flooring. Don’t forget to book a beachside bonfire package, complete with artisan s’mores and a fire butler.
Need a bit more sustenance? Pack a picnic with goodies from Fresh Foods, a new gourmet market at the south end of town with an abundance of organic produce, tasty grab-and-go meals, and the best beer and wine selection in town. In the morning, take a short walk to Sea Level Bakery for single-origin coffees, house-made soups, açai bowls and baked goods made from scratch, including deliciously unique, stuffed kouign amann.
For lunch or dinner, head to downtown’s latest, the massive Public Coast Brewing for a Juiced Up citrus IPA, Haystack O’ french fies sprinkled with Jacobsen sea salt and a 7-ounce Harris Ranch burger. But, consider holding the cheese—the Tillamook Cheese Factory (open during construction of a new Olson Kundig–designed visitor center coming in 2018) is about an hour’s drive south, and totally worth a visit. Tours are free, and samples are generous. It’s Disneyland for dairy lovers.
Image Credit: Cabell Tice
Jason and Liz menke invite you to enjoy coffee or a meal at Sea Level Bakery
Insider Tip: Want to avoid the summer crowds at Haystack Rock? Chapman Point, to the north, and spots south of the Tolovana Wayside often have less foot traffic.
Details:
Stay
Surfsand Resort, from $129 surfsand.com
Eat
Fresh Foods; Facebook, “Fresh Foods Cannon Beach”
Sea Level Bakery sealevelbakery.com
Public Coast Brewing publiccoastbrewing.com
Do
Ecola State Park oregonstateparks.org
Tillamook Cheese Factory Tillamook, 4175 U.S. Highway 101 N; tillmook.com/cheese-factory
Follow Us
Bellingham, Whatcom County Grapple with Plummeting Tourism
Visits from Canada are down about 30%
The city of Bellingham is just one of the many victims of the political turmoil roiling the United States right now. Dylan Deane-Boyle is on the front lines of it. Deane-Boyle has served as president and CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism for more than two years. He watched with apprehension as President Trump first talked…
Four Exciting New Hotel Openings for 2025
Urban luxury, European inspiration, and a wine-themed resort
Unlike other options, hotels offer more than just a bed for the night. They turn lobbies into social hubs, become neighborhood anchors, and raise the bar on food and drink. These new hotel openings for 2025 should be just as exciting for Seattleites as they are for visitors. Hotel Westland: A New Era for Pioneer…
Thinking About Moving to Ireland? You’re Not Alone.
Washington leads the nation in searches for a path to Ireland
Two years ago, my family took a trip to Ireland. We hiked through lush green hills, rode shaggy horses in open fields, wandered through small towns, and, of course, ended most nights in a pub with a pint of Guinness and live music. Lately, my thinking has taken a turn. Post-election madness, the looming recession,…
Sea the City
Escape winter with a float on a hot tub boat
Here’s a hot (or at least comfortably warm) attraction for Seattle’s cold winter months: a soak in 104-degree water on Lake Union in the city’s original hot tub boat. Hot Tub Boats is the brainchild of Adam Karpenske, who — after moving back to Seattle after working on super yachts in the Caribbean for more…