Cannon Beach is awe-inspiring!

Highlights!? You want highlights, huh? THE highlight is Haystack Rock. It is absolutely the quintessential thing to see when you visit Cannon Beach. I talk more about that in my Haystack review, but definitely check that out. Cannon Beach is a picture-perfect setting of what America should be. There is a little school sitting right on the beach, and the children basically have recess on the beach. Why couldn't I have been raised there? While walking along the beach, you discover a free souvenir: sand dollars. Beautiful little sand dollars almost everywhere you step are yours for the taking. The best thing to do there: sit down in the sand on Cannon Beach, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and enjoy the moment. Enjoy that fact that you are in one of the most gorgeous places on Earth.

Quick Tips:

Check out cannon-beach.net.

Best Way To Get Around:

We drove there, but once we got there, we just parked and walked all around town. The town is small enough that you can cover the whole thing, including the beach, on foot.

Rustic lodge decor gives this nice family restaurant a warm, cozy feel, not to mention the enormous fireplace in the middle of it. We sat right next to the fireplace and just had a wonderful time. The food was delish, and the service was wonderful, too. About a block away from the beach, it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch or dinner. I am going back again this March, and I plan on eating there again. And I recommend it for you, too!

If you head toward the coast from Portland on Highway 26, you'll pass by Camp 18, a must-see place to stop, shop, eat and see all the nostalgic logging machinery. So don't pass by - make sure you stop and eat here.

The food is great, and the atmosphere is sure to be appreciated. It is fashioned into a great log cabin with huge log beams, antler chandeliers, and a warm fireplace in the center. There is even a loft for romantic dining for two (with reservations).

There are plenty of photo opportunities for the family. I still remember coming to this place with my cousins when I was like 8, and that was a LONG time ago, so this is definitely a place that will heighten the greatness of being on vacation and a wonderful place to make some memories.

Order breakfast all day or have a big ol' fat steak just the way the loggers and lumberjacks used to. Don't forget to check out their gift shop, too, with lots of cool souvenirs and gifts to bring home to the friends. It’s just a short 1-hour drive from Portland, and since you’re on your way to the coast, you'll be hungry along the way, so why not stop!

While the restaurant itself has a neat atmosphere, the service was quite annoying. When you first walk in, you can choose whether you need the "family section" with the young-uns or whether you want the pub environment. The decor is fun and the food is fantastic, but our waiter came a total of two times: once to take our drink order and a half-hour later to take our food order. An hour later we got our food, from a different staff member, and needless to say, a tip was not left. But if you like great food and fun atmosphere more than good service, then you'll like this place.

Haystack Rock should be one of the wonders of the world if you ask me. When you first see this wonder from afar, you will be amazed and your camera will be a snappin'! As you come up on the giant beast of nature, goose bumps will form as you sense the masterpiece you are looking at. The best thing about it is how it is alive! Starfish, sea urchins, and all kinds of other sea life live amongst the giant wonder. A natural biology class awaits your discovery here at Haystack Rock. I actually got to touch starfish and watch the sea urchins close into themselves as I grazed my toe over them. As the tide goes out, venture out onto the rock. But come back in before the tide comes in! It is definitely one of my favorite places in the whole world, and it will be yours, too!

Visiting Portland? Then put Cannon Beach on your list of things to do. Cannon Beach is only a 2-hour drive away and worth every minute of the drive. And the drive is scenic, as you drive through logging areas and beautiful forestry. Rent a car, or heck, rent a donkey; I don't care, but make sure you see Cannon Beach. My opinion is that your life isn't complete until you see Cannon Beach.