Oregon beaches are renowned for their rugged coastline and charming small towns. Despite the unique style of each of these beach hamlets, the ruggedness of the cold, harsh waves, often splashing below cloudy, gray skies, remains a constant. People’s idea of warm oceans comes from places like music and movies, but rarely from their own experience. You are less likely to find volleyball tournaments on the sand or surfing competitions at an Oregon beach. Instead, you will most likely see people wearing windbreakers and gloves while hunting for seashells, or kids in hoodies and long pants throwing around a football. The culture is just as unique as the oceanfront. Fortunately, it is not always cold and rainy there. The other weekend, I took my family on a fun day trip to the beach, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that we needed to wear shorts and apply sunscreen. There is much to do here, even if you make a day trip out of it like we did.
Cannon Beach is a wonderful destination for an Oregon coastal getaway. Being only about a 90-minute drive from the Portland metropolitan area, it makes for an ideal day trip as well. I am a big fan of vacations that involve overnight stays, but sometimes simply spending a day out of town provides the recharge we all need. Plus, depending on where you live, the short drive won’t cause massive boredom for the little ones. With the drive being fairly quick, you also won’t have to spend a lot on gas, and making it a day trip means saving on hotel costs. Something that my family enjoys doing is arriving at Cannon Beach early in the day. This small town gets bustling, especially during the summer months. But in the early morning, it will feel like your family will have this little community all to yourselves. And if you make a day trip out of it, you will most likely make the drive back home once the crowds start forming and parking fills up.
There are regular events at Cannon Beach that are great to attend. On June 21st, the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest takes place, where dozens of professional and amateur artisans will create mind-blowing sand projects. Checking this out will be fun for the whole family. On the 4th of July, there will be the town’s Independence Day Festivities, which include a parade and the Great Puffin Watch. Did you know that Cannon Beach has the second largest on-shore Tufted Puffin population in the Continental United States? Because I didn’t. I had no clue. But I do know that I have always loved puffins, so now I feel personally inclined to take my family there on the 4th. From September 12th to 14th, the Cannon Beach Cottage Tour is hosted by the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. There are numerous other community events throughout the year that are also worth enjoying with your family.
Playing on the sand in Cannon Beach is a great deal of fun, especially with the picturesque Haystack Rock in the background. The sand is even and smooth, making for rejuvenating walks, playing catch, or building sandcastles. The beach here is also extremely clean, making it a worry-free spot to hang out. There are plenty of things to do within the town itself as well. Bruce’s Candy Kitchen is a 4th generation, family-owned store known for its award-winning saltwater taffy. You can sometimes even see them making their saltwater taffy right through their large front windows. Center Diamond is a fantastic fabric store for those with a passion for arts and crafts. It is also nearly impossible not to mention Mo’s Restaurant. This classic Oregon staple has been serving up some of the best fish and chips and clam chowder since 1946. You can seamlessly visit all of these destinations on a day trip.
One of my favorite places to stop by in Cannon Beach is Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters. This charming little coffee house is situated close to the sand and serves delicious, organic coffee, tea, and food. The great people at Sleepy Monk told me that what sets them apart is their commitment to only roasting the best coffee available. Roasting coffee beans in small batches, they have been doing this for almost 25 years and have perfected their craft. They even have an in-house baking team that creates their pastries there overnight. Sleepy Monk is an eclectic shop with a laid-back atmosphere that fits perfectly with the charm of Cannon Beach. A bonus here is that on their porch, they keep heat lamps, blankets, and chairs to enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in the sounds of the ocean. There is a wealth of activities to enjoy at Cannon Beach. A day trip here will give you and your family the recharge that we all need from time to time.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His book, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ is available wherever books are sold.