The Northern Oregon Coast

I love the sunshine, so the Oregon coast has never been my favorite place. It is beautiful, but most days of the year it is cold with a blistery wind. But I have started to become more fond of it, and a warmer day this past weekend might have helped. One of my new favorite spots is Short Sands beach in Oswald West State Park. It is in a cove and is a hot spot for surfers. There is a nice picnic area were we had some snacks we picked up from the Portland Famers Market. 

Cannon Beach is one of the nicer coastal towns. There are plenty of places to grab a bite and more art galleries then cheeky gift shops. The beach holds the famous Haystack Rock and is fairly long with soft sand and freezing water. Another part of Cannon Beach's charm is there are no chain stores or restaurants which makes the town feel quaint and unique.  

The town I really love, which is actually on the tip of Oregon where the Columbia River flows into the ocean, is Astoria. There are a number of breweries which are fairly new and unlike many coastal towns, you can find modern affordable lodging. My favorite place to stay in Astoria is the Norblad Hotel. Most of the rooms are private with a shared bathroom and the simple, clean decor keeps me coming back. A couple of my favorite breweries are Buoy, which just opened this year, and Fort George, which is conveniently located a block from the Norblad.