Plot twist: The happiest beach in America doesn’t have endless rows of cabanas, crystal-clear water, or year-round temps in the 80s. Instead, it’s in the misty, magical Pacific Northwest — Oregon’s Cannon Beach, to be exact.
Roughly 90 minutes from Portland, the stunning stretch of coastline is known for spectacularly rocky coves and shores, lush forests, an abundance of wildlife (hello, puffins), and a quaint downtown that punches above its weight. Think: vibrant boutiques and art galleries, quintessential PNW coffee shops, oceanfront hotels with postcard-worthy views (stay at Surfsand Resort), and seafood that actually tastes like the ocean. So, yeah, if you hit snooze on Cannon Beach, that’s on you.
🌊 We’re not usually sticklers for rules, but you can’t go to Cannon Beach without seeing its claim to fame — specifically, Haystack Rock. The towering monolith (you might recognize it from The Goonies) is best visited at low tide, when you can walk right up and check out the colorful tidepools teeming with sea life. And that’s just the start: Nearby Oswald West State Park boasts a dense rainforest and two dramatic headlands, while Ecola State Park offers miles of hiking trails, surfer-friendly waves at Indian Beach, and picture-perfect views of the “Terrible Tilly” lighthouse.
👟 Cannon Beach may be tiny, but it’s big on charm. Experience the city’s creative side with a 1.5-mile public-art walking tour (don’t miss the Lewis and Clark-inspired bronze whale), followed by some gallery hopping. Standouts include: Northwest by Northwest Gallery, popular for its collection of pieces from — you guessed it — Northwest artists; White Bird Gallery, a cornerstone of Cannon Beach’s art scene for over 50 years; and Icefire Glassworks for sculptures, plates, and handblown vases. As you wander, pop into some of the city’s cute shops, like Antler + Alder (expect coastal-chic pottery, candles, and home decor) and Bruce’s Candy Kitchen (the saltwater taffy is made on-site and is ridiculously good).
🍴 The Oregon Coast is famous for its freshly caught oysters, razor clams, and Dungeness crabs — so consider a stop at Ecola Seafoods to be basically mandatory (order the crab dinner). For something more upscale, make a reservation at Anna’s Table, a buzzy sea-to-plate spot serving halibut cheeks, hearty seafood stew, and Manila clam linguine. Finally, if you want to sample the coast’s best brews while snacking on life-changing fried soft pretzels, Cannon Beach Hardware and Public House has you covered. Yes, it’s also a hardware store. No, we’re not kidding.