Oregon Coast Experience

This city was christened after a cannon washed ashore from a fighting vessel in 1846. Cannon Beach is a more sophisticated Oregon coast city. There are dozens of art galleries on Hemlock Street which is a long strip of town between the beach and the cliffs. It is by the US 101.

Cannon Beach does get crowded. It has many outdoor cafes and patios. The town has a European setting that is not normally found in Oregon. This city is rustic, metropolitan and trendy even though it’s a small town. There are kite shops and galleries all over town. There are also unusual specialty shops and the art theater scene.  Buildings are built of sturdy, dark and unadorned wood.

This city is known for its natural wonders like Haystack Rock. This is a sea stack on the beach that is the tallest in the world. Much of it is a wildlife refuge. Ecola State Park is another natural place. Indian Beach is on the park’s north.  Tillamook Head Lighthouse, cliffs and sandy beaches are also close by. Rocky beach trails going through the lighthouse begin just above Indian Beach. These trails also lead to Seaside Oregon.

A local legend says that a Spanish pirate ship ran near Neahkanie Mountain south of Cannon Beach. This prompted the captain to bury shipments of gold and beeswax in this town on the beach. For hundreds of years people have tried to find what was buried with no luck. Maybe someday someone will get lucky.