Table of Contents
Intro & Logistics
Cannon Beach is a northern Oregon coastal town. It is ~80 miles west of Portland and ~205 miles southwest of Seattle. It’s situated in-between Seaside and Manzanita, both of which are also great location towns for stay and lodging within ~15 minutes of Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach is a quintessential beach and surfing town with a population of ~1,700 residents. Seaside has ~6,800 residents and Manzanita only has ~650. Manzanita is a bit less touristy. Seaside carries history as it was the end point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The weather is mild year-round, with winter temperatures ranging from mid-40s to low 50s and summer temps ranging from mid-60s to low-70s. As with any PNW location, precipitation can happen and is most likely in the winter months. The busiest months are July and August, when temps reach peak heat. We went during Memorial Weekend and were pleased to find the beaches fairly quiet.
The town and beaches are dog friendly.
LODGING
We stayed at the Inn At Cannon Beach, which is ~1 mile from downtown and ~500 feet from the beach. The rooms are spacious, clean and updated and the staff is accommodating. We borrowed blankets, chairs and beach towels from the lobby every night for our beach bonfires. It’s also dog friendly.
Hotel room rates range from ~$300-380 per night during the summer season. Prices drop during the winter months. The complimentary breakfast is skip-able (we only grabbed coffee in the mornings), but that’s sort of what I expect for complimentary… Below is Leia in the lobby and drying off on our deck after a day of swimming.
We’d definitely stay at the Inn again. Some of the restaurants in Cannon Beach lean on the side of touristy and it’s worth noting that the Inn’s rooms are standard hotel rooms, i.e., do not have kitchens. As I’ve gotten into fire cooking recently, I will be tempted to prepare a meal at our next coastal bonfire using this. (I’m also going through a Sarah Glover phase). Anyway, if you desire a real kitchen or want multiple bedrooms, The Lodges at Cannon Beach are a nice option and can be booked here. These are dog friendly.
For a luxury option in Cannon Beach, I’d checkout the new Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa, where room rates range from ~$500-$700/night. Coast Cabins in Manzanita are also fantastic and dog friendly. The cabins have different layouts, room sizes, etc., so play around on their website for more accurate pricing. There are airbnbs on the coast; however, many have mixed reviews and are better suited for larger parties.
DAY 1
3:00/4:00PM: Check into the hotel, then walk to Haystack Rock. Soak in the views of the beach and if you have a pup, let them take a dip in the ocean. Note the importance of recall if you unleash your dog… Stock up on any goodies needed for beachside, evening bonfires at Fresh Foods Market.
6:00PM: Grab some elevated bar food and bbq from Cannon Beach Smokehouse 
. While everything is good, I’ll call out the dirty fries and smoked cubano sandwhich for being terrific. They have a very small, outdoor space that’s dog friendly and inside is bar vibe. If you don’t have a dog, this is a spot where the indoor seating beats the outdoor. AD’s Review: 4.6.
8:00PM: Setup for your beachside bonfire and enjoy the evening on the ocean. Seaside, Cannon Beach, Rockaway Beach, Pacific City are some of the beaches that allow bonfires. Checkout some ground rules here and/or here.
DAY 2:
9:00AM: Get breakfast at The Lazy Susan Cafe, an old school, charming brunch joint. We had the Dungeness crab Benedict and waffle special. Both of which were great. Be aware, this is a cash only establishment and quarters are cozy! Get a scone to-go. AD’s Review: 4.75.
10:00AM: Pack some snacks (a scone from Breakfast) and drive to The Ecola State Park. Use the coordinates from the Indian Beach Trail via Ecola State Park hike for directions. This hike will take you through a beautiful forest from the parking lot to Indian Beach, which is ~1.9 miles. Once at the beach, enjoy the water, let any pups swim, then, embark on another short trek for some views of a lighthouse. The Clasp Loop from Indian Beach is ~2.8 miles round trip, once back at Indian Beach, take the Indian Beach Trail via Ecola State Park trail back to the parking lot (~1.9 miles). The combined two treks will be ~6.6 miles total.
3:00PM: Cap off the hike with a brew from Public Coast Brewing Co, which has a large, nice outdoor space to soak up good weather. Pelican Brewing – Cannon Beach is also a notable stop. Both options have decent bar food if you want a quick snack.
6:00PM: Select your own adventure for dinner. If you want a high-end experience, go with EVOO 
, which offers an out of this world experience. For slightly more casual, yet still sit-down fair, check-out Castaways 
, which features global cuisine and has outdoor seating.
8:00/9:00PM: Hit the beach for yet another bonfire with even more s’mores.
DAY 3:
8:00AM: Enjoy a quick coffee and pastry from Sea Level Bakery, which is popping up at Public Coast on Friday – Monday, from 7-11:30am until their main space renovation is finished. **Note they sell out quickly.
8:30AM: Drive to the Cape Falcon Trail for a ~5.2 mile hike. Be sure to get there early, as parking fills up quickly. On your way down, you can cut to Short Sand Beach to enjoy the fantastic beach.
Lunchtime: Head to Riverside Fish and Chips 
, just ~10 minutes away in the cute, small town of Nehalem. The joint is a food truck situated in the back of Spirits of the West distillery. Wait times can be long, but the outdoor space is a large, fun place to get drinks, hangout, and/or try donuts from Pacific Roots Coffee + Mini Donuts. Buttercup Ice Cream & Chowders is another terrific stop in this food and drink court area. AD’s Review of the fish and chips: 4.8.
Early Afternoon: Explore a few of Nehalem’s cute shops, including North Coast Mudworks and Wild Coast Goods and then head back to Cannon Beach.
6:00PM: Enjoy a bite for dinner at a whiskey bar called MacGregor’s of Cannon Beach, or checkout Bistro Restaurant and Bar 
. Hey, but maybe you’re in the mood to imitate some of Sarah Glover’s outdoor cooking.
8:00PM: Getting a bit repetitive, but finish with another beach-side bonfire. You can never have too many of these, I promise. Oh, and you can never have too many s’mores.
DAY 4:
8:30AM: Grab a coffee and power bar to-go and head over to Cannon Beach Surf Lessons & Rentals for a private surf lesson. This is an absolute blast and the staff is phenomenal.
11:30AM: Head out of town and grab another round of fish and chips, or most importantly tacos from Grizzly Tuna, a low-key, drive-through in Seaside. AD’s Review: 4.65.
Other Notable Mentions:
Depending on the time of year and which activities you want to swap out, remember that the coast has fantastic fishing opportunities. You can go to Mariner Market to get your a license and ice for clamming. Here’s some additional info on where to clam.
Kelly’s Brighton Marina is the perfect place to embark on a crabbing adventure. The staff is great and will walk you through the entire process.