3. Cannon Beach
Dominating Oregon’s northern coast, Cannon Beach offers iconic Pacific Northwest scenery defined by the towering, 235-foot Haystack Rock jutting from the surf. While the Pacific waters are chilly, the expansive, flat sandy shore is a world-class destination for walking, beachcombing, and coastal photography. When the tide pulls out, it reveals a vibrant marine garden of tide pools teeming with starfish and giant green anemones. During the spring and summer, it’s also a prime spot to watch tufted puffins nesting on the rocky sea stacks.
