The Best Small Town on the Pacific Coast For a 3-Day Weekend
Cannon Beach sits on Oregon's Pacific Northwest coast. Though just four miles long with 1,500 residents, Cannon Beach’s mix of forest, beach, and mountain scenery attracts over 1.5 million visitors each year. It has plenty to offer around town, including historical landmarks and natural wonders that highlight the region’s coastal character. Portland International Airport lies 80 miles east, making Cannon Beach an easy Pacific Coast weekend trip.
Coastal Accommodation
Cannon Beach Hotel is a New England-style hotel and one of the last remaining historic boutique hotels on the Oregon coast. Rooms range from standard quarters to deluxe suites, all featuring modern amenities including custom mattresses, Wi-fi, and Roku-enabled TVs. Cannon Beach Hotel is situated where guests can conveniently explore the outdoors or local boutique shops, galleries, restaurants, and breweries in town.
Rooms at Stephanie Inn vary from oceanfront, mountain view, carriage house, or specialty suite, although some constants remain the same. Each room comes with a gas fireplace, soaking tub, soft sheets and bathrobes, and binoculars for seabirds and lanterns for stargazing in the closet. Throughout the year, the guest services team at Stephanie Inn organizes a variety of catered experiences for guests, including winemaker dinners, guided foraging and crabbing excursions, and cooking classes featuring the preparation of caramel, vinaigrette, and truffles.
Local Hot Spots
Bruce’s Candy Kitchen is a family-owned business that has been in operation since 1963, producing a large variety of homemade confections, including salt water taffy, hand-dipped chocolates, peanut brittle, caramels, caramel corn, caramel apples, fudge, gourmet popcorns, and hard candies. Icefire Glassworks is a local studio and gallery in Cannon Beach that specializes in a variety of blown, fused, and hot-sculpted glass created by local artists. Visitors can watch glassblowing demonstrations and meet the artists.
Wayfarer Restaurant and Lounge is an award-winning restaurant with seasonal outdoor seating that grants diners views of the Pacific Ocean. They specialize in Northwest coastal dishes and boast of using only fresh, local ingredients, including vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. Wayfarer is the only restaurant in town that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
History
Coaster Theatre Playhouse originally operated under the name Coaster Roller Rink from the 1920s to the 1950s. It was purchased by Maurie Clark, a Portland patron of the arts, in 1972, and was founded as the Coaster Theatre Playhouse. Coaster Theatre Playhouse became a non-profit organization in 2001 upon Maurie’s death, and now hosts plays, musicals, and special performances by artists and musicians. It is the center for community activities for residents and guests on the North Oregon Coast.
The playhouse is located on Hemlock Street in Cannon Beach. Parking is available in a lot behind the theatre and in designated locations in the street.
Explore the Pacific Coast Outdoors
Haystack Rock is one of Oregon’s most iconic landmarks, a 235-foot-high basalt sea stack that rises from the ocean. Each season offers a distinct experience. Winter brings roaring king tides and the raw beauty of Oregon’s storm season. Spring is when Tufted Puffins arrive at Haystack Rock to breed and nest. Summer is best for the weather and exploring tide pools. Finally, fall is the least crowded time to visit.
The nearest public parking lot is situated at the junction of Hemlock and Gower Street, adjacent to City Hall. The beach is accessed west of Gower Street, and from there, the walk along the coast to Haystack Rock takes between 12 and 15 minutes.
Ecola State Park stretches 9 miles of coastline through the old-growth rainforest before emerging at one of the Oregon Coast’s most famous views, overlooking numerous rock formations and the capes and headlands miles to the south. While hiking trails to panoramic viewpoints are the main attraction, other outdoor activities include: picnicking, tide pooling, surfing, and wildlife observation. Ecola State Park rewards visitors year-round with shifting scenery and wildlife activity. Whales can be spotted off the coast year-round. However, late March to May is when they are closest to the shore. December is likely a less crowded time, and August is the best time to visit for good weather, as it rains on average only 7 days out of the entire month. The park is accessed from the north end of Cannon Beach to get to the Ecola Point parking lot, where a $10 day-use permit can be purchased.
The Perfect 3-Day Weekend
Cannon Beach blends the Pacific coastline with a charming beach village. Whether you want to relax and get pampered in a boutique hotel loaded with modern amenities, soak up the local culture and history, sample handmade cuisine, or explore the rugged natural surroundings of the Pacific Coast, Cannon Beach has something to offer for everyone, regardless of their 3-day agenda, personal travel style, or pace of adventure.
