This Renowned Beach City In Oregon Boasts Beautiful, Otherworldly Views

Whether you're a fan of whale watching or of incredible natural scenery, add the scenic Oregon coast to your bucket list. Along the 363-mile stretch of open beaches, you'll find quaint small towns, including Yachats, the "Gem of the Oregon coast," along with well-known getaways farther north. If you're a beach lover who wants to stay close to the action – and be steps away from iconic Haystack Rock – add a stop in Cannon Beach to your itinerary. The community of Cannon Beach was first called Ecola and took the name Cannon Beach in 1922 after the tiny beachside town of Arch Cape changed its name to reflect its iconic geographic feature. The city's name comes from its own under-the-radar iconic feature, a cannon recovered from the USS Shark in 1891, nearly five decades after it wrecked on Clatsop Spit. Today, the city's iconic cannon is on display at the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. 

While the beaches at Cannon Beach take center stage, you'll find beautiful views in town as well. Art lovers will love exploring the streets of what author John Villani calls one of "the 100 best art towns in America" (via City of Cannon Beach), where you'll find galleries and several renowned public art displays, as well as historic homes and cottages along the Presidential streets. You'll also find public art displays on and off the beaten path in town. The site of Ne'cus, the last Native American village before settlers came, is marked with a 10-foot Clatsop-Nehalem Welcome Pole and is easy to access from Spruce Street, just past the beautiful Little Pompey Wetlands.

The beautiful beaches of Cannon Beach, where soft sands meet jagged, towering rock formations jetting hundreds of feet above the shore, are noted as being some of the best in the country by National Geographic and U.S. News and World Report (via the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce). Even though the 235-foot Haystack Rock will draw your attention, don't forget to look down. At low tide, venture out to explore the rock and the nearby tide pools teeming with puffins and small critters, and ask the friendly volunteers in red jackets from the Haystack Rock Awareness Program if you have any questions about the rock, marine life, or birds in the area. From Haystack, you can venture as far south as Arcadia Beach. If you're looking to share your trek with wildlife, including possible elk and birds, don't miss venturing to Chapman Point from the north bank of Ecola Creek. Be aware of the tide times before you set off, and don't turn your back to the mighty Pacific.

While you'll have no shortage of beautiful beach views from the city, one of the coast's best secrets is nearby Ecola State Park, sandwiched between Cannon Beach and Seaside, the Oregon coast's favorite vacation destination. Hugging 9 miles of coastline, the state park boasts some of the best views and hiking trails in the area. Pack a picnic and head to Ecola Point day-use area, then venture on a hike down to the beaches nearby. The walks to Indian Beach and Crescent Beach are both kid-friendly and have magnificent views of the coast. Historians won't want to miss exploring the Tillamook Head trail, where William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition declared the view "the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed."

For a small city of roughly 1,500 people, Cannon Beach has a wide selection of restaurants where you'll find something to savor no matter what you're craving. Whether it's fish tacos, pizza, seafood, or a gourmet steak dinner, you'll find plenty of staples in Cannon Beach. You'll also have plenty of restaurants with unique character found in a few areas away from the Oregon coast. Have breakfast in a unique treehouse-inspired dining room at Pig 'N Pancake, or opt for a unique blend of world cuisine at Castaways, the top-rated restaurant in town on Tripadvisor. For a cold beer and a hearty meal, don't miss stopping at one of the city's many breweries. Public Coast Brewing Company and Pelican Brewing are popular new spots, joining Bill's Tavern and Brewhouse, the first local brewery in town, operating since 1932. 

Cannon Beach receives roughly 1.5 million visitors each year and swells with tourists during the peak summer season. If you visit during these more expensive summer months (when hotel prices can jump by hundreds of dollars a night), note that the beaches and priceless views are always free. Plan to walk around town to avoid the frustration of parking. If you're flying in to visit the Oregon coast, Portland is likely your first stop and roughly two hours away by car. On your trip from Portland, don't miss seeing unique local art in many of the coast's local art communities showcasing creativity and craftsmanship as you meander down Highway 101.