Cannon Beach, Oregon is a fantastic destination if you’re seeking a memorable family vacation. So what exactly is there to do in Cannon Beach? Their family friendly beaches are incredible, there are so many opportunities for outdoor adventures like hiking, it has a charming local vibe, and provides a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. We enjoyed our time there so much, and we actually wished we had more time. This is definitely a place I’d return to in the future!

Day 1: Arrival and Exploring

We flew into Portland, Oregon and rented a car at the airport. From there we drove to Cannon Beach, which was a 1.5-2 hour drive. We stayed at the Hallmark Beach Resort & Spa. It’s an older property, but we were comfortable there, and the location is incredible.

We arrived and headed right out to take in the view of Haystack Rock. We spent time exploring the iconic beach, with its famous Haystack Rock and tide pools. This is great for kids to explore and play.

We had dinner at Driftwood Restaurant and Lounge, which had seafood options and a cozy setting. The outdoor terrace had small fireplaces at the tables, which looked really cozy too. I did make reservations here since it was busy season and we were a larger party.

Day 2: Nature and Relaxation

Morning:

We had breakfast at Pig ‘N Pancake, a family-friendly spot known for its breakfast options. They had a pretty extensive menu and everyone found something they liked.

After breakfast we hopped in the car and took a drive over to Seaside to do some exploring. Seaside is a town just north of Cannon Beach. It’s a little larger and has some more chain places if you need to buy specific products. There is a really nice promenade along the beach and we enjoyed walking down it and letting the kids explore the dunes.

Then we drove over to the Seaside Cove and the kids loved walking along the rocks onto the beach. After that we headed to the Tillamook Head Trail. We hiked for about a mile, and then turned around. The trail itself is much longer. There is a parking lot at the trailhead.

Midday: 

We stopped at Ecola State Park, which has trails with stunning views of the coast and you can often spot some wildlife. Unfortunately, we were there on a very foggy day, so we didn’t get the views, which include the historic lighthouse, but there were still some cool things to see. Part of The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop were filmed here. There are hikes you can do from here as well. 

By this time, we were all hungy, so we stopped for lunch at The Local Grill & Scoop, and we had a nice lunch sitting outside. After lunch, we stopped for ice cream at Schwietert’s Cones & Candy. I had the marionberry pie ice cream and it was delicious!

After lunch we headed to Hug Point State Recreation Site. Just south of Cannon Beach, it offers caves, tide pools, and a waterfall at low tide. We climbed up the rocks at the waterfall and the kids went upstream a little to find rocks and splash around. We ducked into caves and saw some cool spots.

Afternoon/Evening: 

We headed back to our hotel and changed to go down to the beach. The hotel offered Adirondack chairs (you just need to take them out yourself and bring them back afterwards), so we grabbed some and sat out for a good while. Eddie and Caleb did their own “cold plunge” – the water was about 55 degrees F. Chloe loved chasing the waves, and I just sat in my chair and took it all in. It was a great way to spend some time unwinding in the afternoon.

For dinner, we headed to Wayfarer. This was a nice restaurant with some great selections, too. Their oyster shooters with a Tajin rim were memorable, and the cocktails were delicious. The restaurant has a patio with a really nice view, but we sat inside.

After dinner, we grabbed some firewood and marshmallow kits (we purchased them in our hotel lobby) and had a bonfire at the beach.

The next morning, we headed out to our next destination, which was Seattle. We drove around the edges of Astoria, but I would have loved to have been able to spend a little more time there – it looked beautiful. We drove over the Astoria- Megler bridge to get into Washington state, which was a very cool experience.

Additional Tips for Cannon Beach:

Weather: Check the weather forecast, as Oregon’s coast can be unpredictable. We were prepared for anything, but there were points in the day where we were warm, and points in the day where we very much needed our jackets, and the swing would happen in a matter of minutes.

Timing: Consider visiting popular spots early in the day to avoid crowds.

Reservations: Make dinner reservations, especially during weekends or peak season.

Drinks: Try some local Oregon wines – all the ones we had were delicious!

Check out my Plannin profile with all my recommendations linked. If you book your hotel through there, I get a small commission, but you don’t pay anything extra!

If you’ve been to Cannon Beach, let me know what I’m missing in the comments!

xoxo,

Jenise