Coastal Character

The town of Cannon Beach has done an amazing job of keeping an architectural integrity. The weathered cedar shingles and siding that compromise the town's visual theme are almost unavoidable.

As for shops and attraction, the main drag is chock full of small specialty shops selling everything from kites to fine lingerie. There are several small restaurants including the coastally ubiquitous Pig and Pancake. The beach is pure Oregon coast at it's best. Cool at most times of year, but on a clear day incredibly bright and bracing.

Quick Tips:

For a short day trip, here are my suggestions:

Start your visit with a quick tour through town, checking out the shops and eateries, and stopping to buy a kite. Stick with something simple. Then head to the beach. Haystack rock is always a great photo op as it dominates the south end of the beach. Fly your kite, stroll the beach, chat with other people, and prowl the waterline for interesting flotsam and jetsam.

Next, head back to the main drag for a meal, then explore the town more fully, lingering in the shops and looking for that elusive souvenir.

Best Way To Get Around:

Cannon Beach is 69 miles from Portland on Highway 26(the Sunset). Simply follow the signs. It's best to start early as public parking fills up quickly. The town is best seen by foot, so find that elusive parking and hit the bricks.

In my opinion, the best place to stop fo a bite and a drink. It's very unpretentious and the food is decent. The best bet is to sit outside and enjoy the passing parade of people. On my last visit we grabbed a couple of plates of appetizers and a couple of pints and just soaked up the passing day.

The Pig and Pancake is pure Oregon Coast. It's a clean and pleasant place that shines at breakfast. There are several locations, though the one at Cannon Beach is newer. If nothing else you'll be able to tell your friends that you've actually been to a place called the pig and pancake!

No trip to a tourist place would be complete without a stop in some t-shirt place and this is one of the sharpest little places. It stocks the newest and most shocking of images and slogans. Worth a look even if just to browse and laugh.

The Oregon Coast is made for kite flying. It's a great way to get in touch with the raw force and unpredictable nature of the elements. There are a couple of small kiteshops in Cannon Beach and they'll happily sell you as much kite as you can possibly handle. My advice is to spend 25 bucks and they'll put together a small kite with decent nylon string that looks good and will fly in most conditions. I've splurged several times on more exotic kites, but if you're launching one for the first time since elementary school it's best to start small.