8 Best Towns On the Pacific Coast For A Two-Day Recharge
From dramatic vistas of rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean to hidden fishing villages, nothing recharges your batteries quite like a weekend on the Pacific Coast. Leave the noise of the city (and your racing mind) behind, and replace it with the blissful sounds of the waves crashing on the shoreline. Here, the air smells sweet and salty, the views will take your breath away, and your worries will start to drift away with the tides. When you’re ready for a West Coast escape, check out these delightful little retreats. Just make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen!
Cannon Beach, Oregon
If Cannon Beach doesn’t recharge your batteries, you may want to check your connection for faulty wires! It’s where the air is salty and sweet, and the views are magnificent. There are plenty of public beach accesses where you can relax along the water, but Cannon Beach Public Access is the most famous of the bunch. It’s where you’ll find the iconic Haystack Rock, one of Oregon's most recognizable landmarks. This moss-covered basalt sea stack rises 235 feet out of the ocean. At low tide, you can walk right up to it to find a variety of sea life at its base.
The beaches aren’t the only thing captivating about Cannon Beach. It’s a place free of commercialization, with beach cottages scattered throughout the shoreline. Downtown is a collection of small cottages that feels like an old-timey fishing village. You can shop for treasures at places like Icefire Glassworks or Sandpiper Square. The best place to stay in the area is the Stephanie Inn, where you can wake up seaside to the sounds of the tides crashing on the shore, and head down to its dining room for an amazing meal.
Pismo Beach, California
Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles is the easy-going beach community of Pismo Beach. The walkable downtown district is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, with fun and colorful businesses along brick walkways highlighted with palm trees. There’s always a party happening at the Pismo Beach Pier Plaza, where you can grab a bite to eat at a food truck, stop in a souvenir shop, or just sit back and watch surfers catch waves in the ocean below.
If you want to spend the day taking in the salty sea air, you have a few unique options. The Wilmar Stairs are a beautiful set of wooden steps that lead to a quieter place in Pismo Beach. The rocky shoreline means there aren’t as many swimmers, so it’s a great place to go for a peaceful walk. If you want to plant a beach umbrella and go for a swim, the Pismo State Beach is your best option. When you’re ready to call it a day, the Cliffs Hotel and Spa is one of the most popular accommodations in the area. Rooms offer views of the dramatic cliffs overlooking the ocean, and it has a full spa, pool, and onsite dining.
Friday Harbor, Washington
Isolated on San Juan Island in northern Washington, Friday Harbor is the perfect way to end a stressful week. Time seems to slow down as you take the ferry to the isolated island, free of commercial high rises and bright lights. Walking the quiet streets of Friday Harbor yields unique experiences, like the Whale Museum, where you can explore whale exhibits and check out their sightings map to locate where you can see whales in the area. There’s also the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, with a revolving collection of exhibits in a modern facility.
When you’re ready to explore the natural beauty of Friday Harbor, the San Juan Island National Historical Park is one of the most beautiful parks on the island. The park has historical ruins from the “Pig War”, a confrontation between the U.S. and Britain over a border dispute in 1859, so named for the shooting of a pig. If you want to spend the weekend feeling like a local, staying at the Tucker House Inn is your best option. It’s a delightful little cottage not too far from the ferry that offers cozy accommodations and gourmet breakfasts.
Avalon, California
Located in the isolation of California's Catalina Island, Avalon offers a quiet island pace that’s never boring. It’s a perfect walkable city with wide brick sidewalks shaded by palm trees, and so many interesting places to explore. The Catalina Museum for Art and History is a must-see for history lovers, detailing the history of Catalina Island with artifacts that are over 8000 years old. After the museums, you can walk to the beloved local candy store, Lloyd's of Avalon, for beach snacks!
The most popular beach in Avalon is Descanso Beach, known for its sandy shores and calm water. While the beach access is public, there is also a private club with cabanas, food and drink service, and cozy chaise lounges. If you prefer peaceful walks along the water to take in the natural beauty of Avalon, the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden is a 38-acre garden with a wide variety of native plants to the area. To end your day in Avalon, the Avalon Hotel is one of the more popular accommodations. It offers seaside rooms, a Continental breakfast, and free taxi service to the ferry.
Westport, Washington
At the southern end of the Olympic Peninsula is the sleepy village of Westport, known for its beautiful beaches and public parks. Downtown Westport feels like a fishing village locked away in time, with cozy diners like Bennett's Fish Shack where you can sit down seaside for some of the best seafood in the state. As a working fishing village, the seafood doesn’t get any better than what you’ll discover in Westport!
The seafood in Westport may be great, but the miles of untouched shoreline and beautiful public parks are even better. If you want to spend the day along the water, the Westport Light State Park is one of the most tranquil spots in the area. You can walk along miles of shoreline or explore the beautiful Grays Harbor Lighthouse for some of the best views of the area. If you really want to lean into recharging your batteries, the Chateau Westport Resort is your best option. With seaside suites, an indoor pool, and 27 acres of scenic woodland trails, you may find it hard to leave the resort to explore the rest of Westport.
Crescent City, California
Less than four miles from the entrance to the Redwood National Park is the lovely seaside escape of Crescent City. It is settled along the rugged coastline of Northern California, famous for its dramatic cliffs that cut into the shoreline. The rocky beaches are more secluded than other California beaches, but one of the most popular places is Pebble Beach. With miles of sandy shores and basalt sea stacks rising out of the ocean in the distance, it’s the perfect place to let your worries melt away.
But there’s so much more to Crescent City than its natural beauty. It has unique attractions downtown, like the popular aquarium of Ocean World, which houses sharks, seals, and rays. It also has a petting zoo and sea lion shows. The best place to recharge your batteries in Crescent City is the Anchor Beach Inn. It’s an affordable ocean-side hotel with views of the ocean, continental breakfasts, and cozy rooms.
Newport, Oregon
Newport is one of those rare Oregon gems that blends tourist attractions and tranquil views in one complete package. If you want to spend your weekend relaxing along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Newport has picturesque beaches, like Historic Nye Beach, with white sandy shores and rocky cliffs towering in the distance. North of central Newport is Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, an ideal spot to get in touch with nature, and famous across the country for its excellent tide-pooling. It boasts 93 acres of rocky shoreline blooming with wildflowers, hiking trails with seaside waterfalls, and Oregon’s tallest lighthouse, Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
When you want your hotel to be in the center of all the best restaurants and shopping in Newport, the Hallmark Resort is a great choice. Imagine waking up and grabbing a cup of coffee to sip on your balcony, with breathtaking views of the ocean below. The resort is much more than a place to sleep at the end of the day; it's an idyllic resort with bright rooms, on-site dining, and an indoor saltwater pool.
Cambria, California
Located between San Francisco and Los Angeles is the hidden gem of Cambria. If there’s anything that will help you slough off a stressful week, it’s a walk along Moonstone Beach.There, you can stroll down the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, a wooden path that traces the shoreline, or simply set up an umbrella on its white sandy shores. One of Cambria's most unique and meditative sites is Elephant Seal Vista Point, where you can watch massive elephant seals soak up the sun at the beach.
The best place to stay while visiting Cambria is the cozy Fireside Inn. Situated on the shores of Moonstone Beach, it positions you in the center of all the best attractions and beaches in Cambria. Imagine waking up with a view of the ocean, or heading outside to take a dip in its outdoor heated pool. With concierge services and an on-site gift shop with snacks and drinks, you may find yourself spending more time at the inn than at the beach!
Experience Seaside Serenity on the Pacific Coast
Whether you want to sunbathe at the Pismo State Beach or never leave your hotel room at the Chateau Westport Resort in Westport, these lovely towns will help you slow down, if only for a weekend. They are far from the busy resort towns you often find on the West Coast, where you often have to get up at the crack of dawn to find a good spot on the beach. So, when you are ready to leave your workweek worries in the dust, these hidden hamlets are sure to help you catch your breath.
