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

“Cannon Seaside 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 proficient artists and native meals purveyors and is residence to a bunch of actions for anybody, whether or not you’re hoping to exit for a hike, attempt recent seafood, or just loosen up together with your toes within the sand on the seashore.

“You possibly can hike by means 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 regionally sourced seafood for dinner, and make s’mores underneath the celebs and within the shadow of a world-famous sea stack,” Wastradowski stated. “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 Seaside? Learn on for the very best issues to do on this coastal city, together with the place to eat and keep throughout your go to.

Greatest Locations to Keep

Stephanie Inn

This resort was voted among the finest resorts within the West by T+L readers. With the sounds of crashing waves and rooms overlooking Haystack Rock, this keep is price it only for the view. Cozy up with a ebook subsequent to the hearth or head to the on-site spa for a therapy utilizing lavender from its sibling-business Public Coast Farm. Chat with different company on the each day afternoon beer and wine gathering. Finish the day with s’mores and a glass of wine subsequent to a bonfire on the seashore, arrange by the inn’s workers year-round, relying on the climate. After a morning seashore stroll, you may head to the Eating Room for a complimentary chef’s breakfast full with housemade pastries.

SurfSand Resort

This pet-friendly resort provides oceanfront rooms with decks or patios. You’ll discover recent cookies within the foyer, an on-site pool and gymnasium, seashore cruiser bikes to borrow for exploring the city, and an ice cream social on Saturdays throughout the summer season. Its central location permits you to stroll proper out to the seashore or to simply stroll downtown for lunch or dinner.

The Inn at Cannon Seaside

Situated on the south finish of Cannon Seaside, 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 seashore.

Greatest Issues to Do

Go to Ecola State Park

Wind by means of Sitka spruce and Western hemlock timber on the best way to this Oregon State Park, situated simply 10 minutes from downtown. There are miles of mountain climbing trails, whether or not you’re hoping to trek by means 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 possibly can stroll all the way down to Indian Seaside 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 slightly below the primary parking space in spring and autumn. “It is a good shock while you get to see these majestic creatures huddled collectively so shut,” Wastradowski stated.

Stroll the Seaside to Haystack Rock

No go to to Cannon Seaside is full with out heading to the seashore to stroll the sand. You possibly can enter the seashore from numerous aspect streets on the town for those who’re on foot. You may also park at one of many a number of public heaps with shut entry. Whereas on the seashore, Haystack Rock can’t be missed. The 235-foot-tall sea stack consists of basalt rock towers excessive, making it the proper spot to take a photograph. (You might even acknowledge it from the 1985 film “The Goonies.”) The protected rock is residence to a colony of tufted puffins, which return in April and keep by means of July. On low tide days, you may stare upon sea stars, crabs, and different sea life within the marine backyard beneath 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 good place to observe for migrating grey whales, particularly in winter and spring,” Wastradowski stated. “It sits about 250 ft 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 might be discovered at this 2,484-acre state park simply 10 minutes south of Cannon Seaside. In case you go, be ready for extra rugged path situations. Wastradowski famous that the car parking zone can simply fill on summer season weekends, so hikers could wish to get an early begin for extra solitude on the paths.

Take an Artwork Stroll

Cannon Seaside is residence 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’s 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 web site.

Have a Bonfire on the Seaside

“On summer season nights, the seashore lights up like fireflies with all of the seashore bonfires, and that is an actual deal with to see,” Wastradowski stated. Sure, you’re completely allowed to have small fires on the seashore on the Oregon Coast so long as they’re constructed at the least 50 ft away from seashore grass and driftwood and are saved smaller than two ft. A number of resorts and resorts provide providers to construct them for you — together with Stephanie Inn, Surfsand Resort, and The Inn at Cannon Seaside — or you may typically buy provides to convey your individual firewood from the foyer the place you’re staying or at a comfort retailer.

Greatest Eating places

Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge

Wayfarer is likely one of the few eating places in Cannon Seaside 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 recent and enjoyable wrinkle to its lineup of pub grub,” Wastradowski stated. 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

Company on the Stephanie Inn don’t have far to go for an distinctive meal. Nonetheless, for those who’re staying elsewhere, it’s nonetheless attainable to get reservations. Sit by the hearth within the Eating Room and luxuriate in a four-course, prix fixe dinner composed of regionally sourced elements. Don’t skip the elective chef’s wine pairings showcasing Oregon wines.

Ecola Restaurant & Market

The Oregon Coast is understood for its seafood, particularly recent oysters, Dungeness crab, calms, and albacore tuna. This seafood market, open since 1993, is the very 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 attainable to eat one thing for dinner that was caught only a few hours earlier,” Wastradowski stated. Order your lunch to take with you for a seashore picnic or get pleasure from it on the restaurant’s rooftop patio.

Greatest Time To Go to

The most effective time to go to Cannon Seaside is from mid-June to early September due to its lovely temperatures. Sometimes, you’ll see much less rain throughout these months as clouds half approach to shining sunny days. That is what makes Cannon Seaside so fascinating as a summer season trip spot. Nonetheless, if you wish to journey just like the locals do, contemplate heading to Cannon Seaside to expertise it throughout one other, less-popular season. “There isn’t any unhealthy time to go to, and completely different seasons provide completely different experiences,” Wastradowski stated. “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 comfy environment throughout city.” When you’ll wish to pack a raincoat throughout late fall, winter, and spring, the dramatic panorama is totally gorgeous.

Find out how to Get There

Proper off of the Pacific Coast Freeway 101, Cannon Seaside is a perfect street 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 means of the Oregon Coast Vary,” Wastradowski stated. You’ll journey by means of an attractive, tall timber forest providing views the entire manner.

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

Find out how to Get Round

Cannon Seaside is a really walkable city, permitting entry to the seashore, resorts, eating places, and downtown outlets in a matter of minutes. Whereas there aren’t any rideshare providers in Cannon Seaside, 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. Nonetheless, a automotive will likely be essential to entry locations exterior of city similar to state parks for mountain climbing.