Need simple answers for Cannon Beach

Blunt and to the point...I%26#39;m limited in ability, time and brains. I%26#39;m on small chemo injections and harsh drugs...but I am living for all I%26#39;m worth. Basically need day plan ( 6-8 hours) to go from Portland to Cannon Beach to Astoria and back to Portland. This may be my only visit so please make it good. Name the Recommended basic very clean Breakfast place (eggs, pancakes, fruit, etc) for Wed. Sept. 13th for about 9:00 a.m. on the way from Portland to Cannon Beach. Then if we drive on highway 26 north to Cannon Beach, how long does it take to get from Portland to Cannon Beach? Cannon Beach to Astoria? Astoria to Portland? If I can only walk 1hour total at Cannon Beach but want to see BEAUTY...where do I go at Cannon Beach? (scenery of coast, animals: are there sea lions,etc.?) I am not sure of my ability level that day so maybe I can walk on the beach, maybe not. So are there views from cliffs or paved walkways? Recommended Lunch?(clean bar and grill with american food, good beer...need traditional food. I%26#39;m traveling with the guys) On the road from Cannon Beach to Astoria and back to Portland, what are the best places to stop for beautiful scenery? Pick 3 that require less than 1/2 hour of walking to see and enjoy. Will I be back in time for dinner in Portland or is there a place to eat on the way back? If there is a better route let me know but this is the route I comprehended from previous posts. Am I on the right path? Please keep your answers basic. My goal is to see the coast, forest?, green living stuff like fir trees, grass, etc. I did my best to communicate what I needed...forgive the chaos of it.

Need simple answers for Cannon Beach

I will let the experts answer your questions, and while you wait for them I suggest you check the ';go lists'; written by folks like Scarlett, Mtngrl and Den amongst others.

I went to Cannon Beach a few weeks ago - Ecola state park is wonderful and you get an awsome view from the parking lot - picnic tables right there and you can look over the cliff at the ocean and lighthouse. In Cannon beach we walked down to a boardwalk sort of area also, but as I said, let them advise you.

Good luck with your trip - hope you will be strong for it. We have good friends in Mesa...sorta fun to see that as your hometown as it brought them to mind.

Need simple answers for Cannon Beach

In Cannon Beach, both Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park are beautiful. Haystack Rock is great at low tide. You can stroll very slowly around it and see all sorts of sea stars and other creatures. Ecola State Park has trails so you can go as far or as little as you like. Picnic tables around as well, so you can rest if you need. From Portland, Cannon Beach is about 90 minutes. Along the way, you could stop and see the largest Sitka Spruce. There are signs, so you won%26#39;t miss it.

Hi

I don%26#39;t know if I have anything to add to Mtngrls answer, she is the one who tells me everything :) but I did want to wish you well.. on your visit to the Coast and for your health.

It takes us 90 minutes from our door to Cannon Beach, we live in downtown Portland..

We take 26 all the way, turning left( south) to Cannon Beach.

My favorite breakfast places in town ( in the Pearl) are Fullers or Everett Street Bistro. Open early and great food, just different atmospheres. Fullers is more diner, Everett St is more, well, Bistro :)

Along the way to the beach, you will go past the largest oldest Sitka Spruce tree..the first time we ever drove out to the Coast, we stopped there and stood and looked at that tree..with our mouths hanging open lol...

http://visitoldgrowth.com/sites/OR-Spruce.htm

No doubt in my mind you will get a day of Beauty, from the farms on the way, to the forests you pass through to the coast line and the charming town of Cannon Beach as well as Ecola State Pk.

In Cannon Beach, there are signs that will lead you to a big parking lot with clean bathrooms and there you can leave the car and walk the 3 or 4 blocks to the beach/ocean.

You can walk along the beach, take a zillion photos of Haystack Rock and watch the walkers and their dogs, the seagulls and waves and soak up the beauty of the place and some of the peace of the ocean ..

Traditional food in my mind might be Mo%26#39;s. You can sit in a room with all windows and watch the ocean and beach and enjoy clam chowder and typical beach food, burgers, fried stuff and salads.

There are nicer places like Gower St Bistro ( sister of Everett St Bistro in town) but I like Mo%26#39;s..it has it%26#39;s own atmosphere :)

You can browse the galleries and shops in town, then drive along the coast..you can be back in town by nightfall and have a very full day...it is tiring for me so I think you should just go at your own pace, that sea air will make you hungry and then sleepy :)

You will see all the green things and trees that you desire, I like the bent interesting trees that grow around the houses down near the beach in Cannon Beach ..

All the best to you, Scarlett

Two other good places for breakfast are Mothers and Lorn %26amp; Dotties. They are only a block away from each other.

Mo%26#39;s would fit the bill for you in Cannon Beach. Right on the water too, so you get nice views of Haystack Rock, and they have beer. Otherwise you might try Bills Tavern on the main drag. No views, but definite pub atmosphere.

Along the way on HWY 26 is a restaurant called Camp 18. I have not been there, but I hear the food is ok, but enormous portions. It is a huge place, lots of tour buses, so you can%26#39;t miss it. On the south side of the highway.

Your words are bringing back memories... my wife%26#39;s been where you are. And chaos is the right word.

I%26#39;ve been going to Cannon Beach for almost 40 years, and have stopped at the huge Sitka Spruce only twice (that I can remember). Impressive! But not memorable. Your choice.

Hopefully you have some time in Cannon Beach near low tide, to explore tidepools around Haystack Rock. Fascinating. And don%26#39;t forget the life on the rock itself. Then, head up to Ecola State Park, and take the short paved walk to the platform overlooking sea lion rocks and Indian Beach, to the north. Don%26#39;t get your hopes up; you probably won%26#39;t see any sea lions. But the view is beautiful regardless. If you%26#39;ve got the time, drive into Indian Beach. Shouldn%26#39;t be crowded at that time, and beautiful peaceful, not to mention more good tidepools around the rocks at the south end.

If you%26#39;re still in Cannon Beach around the lunch hour, have a bowl of clam chowder at Gower St. Bistro. Not like any you%26#39;re probably ever had, but if you can deal with some spicy peppery heat, you%26#39;ll love it. If you or the guys aren%26#39;t up for this, go to Ecola Seafood Market %26amp; Restaurant. Beer, wine, chowder, and deep fried fish and seafood of whatever kind they could want. You%26#39;ll like it too.

Astoria is a working port near the mouth of the Columbia. If it%26#39;s of interest, there%26#39;s a paved walking path along the river. But I think you%26#39;d more enjoy climbing Astoria Column and flying airplanes off the top. The climb is not too strenuous, and the view from the top is spectacular. If you%26#39;ve got spare time, take the 15 mile drive up to Cape Disappointment State Park near Ilwaco, WA, and go to the interpretetive center overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River. Skip through all the history if you like, but the view at the end is worth the admission.

Have a great trip.

Pardon my repeating others%26#39; suggestions. ;-) And frankly, if you asked my wife what she%26#39;d like for lunch in Cannon Beach, she MIGHT say Mo%26#39;s or Bill%26#39;s (can%26#39;t believe you%26#39;re recommending Bill%26#39;s, Mtngrl??). but really, it%26#39;s ALL good.

One other thought. If you do drive north from Cannon Beach, turn off 101 into Gearhart, and get onto the beach at the north end of the town. You can drive along the beach almost all the way to Ft. Stevens, which provides a much better than the view you%26#39;d get from 101.

Thank you for your guidance thus far. Thanks for the wish for peace and a good day. I%26#39;ll be on small dosages of chemo and immune suppressers to slow the degenerative disease the rest of my life so I am learning to gets details for travel and two or three options. I write down a good day route, fair day route, and then a not so fair day route. So my detailed questions are for a good reason. Here%26#39;s further questions for clarification. Any transportation from the parking lot at Cannon Beach to the beach itself? (3-4 blocks might be OK but I don%26#39;t know if I could walk the beach even with rest if I have to walk 3-4 blocks first). Secondly, I missed the time it takes to drive from Cannon Beach to Astoria and from Astoria to Portland. Are there suggestions to just take 29 back from Cannon Beach to Portland on 29 and skip Astoria and highway 30 back to Portland? Is the extra mileage going to Astoria and back to Portland really worth it? (Varied scenery, greenery) On the atlas it marks route 30 as scenic. I don%26#39;t know how long it takes so I don%26#39;t know if going back that way is too much. If it is only 30-60 min. more, than route 30 back would be more interesting. If it take 2-3 hours more in driving alone, I would like to know that. Third question if we take the beach road from Gearhart to Ft. Stevens is there a way to get back onto the main drag at frequent intervals or are you stuck on it. Then how long does it take to get to Ft. Stevens or back onto 101 or 30 using the beach road? Good day vs fair day. Savy? Thanks.

HI there and welcome to the forums! CB to Astoria is aboaut 30 minutes. Here are some websites for you:

www.oldoregon.com

www.cannon-beach.net

Check out the Ship Inn in Astoria for some great seafood in a casual setting, I have a review with photos of the majority of the restaurants in Cannon Beach %26amp; Astoria. You can see what interests you from there. Have a great time! :) Oh, you will most likely see the sea lions from the dining room at Ship Inn, fantastic river views here also. Let me know if you have more questions about Astoria, we have loved having a home there for many, many years! :)

There is not a shuttle onto the actual beach, although there is a shuttle through town. Don%26#39;t worry though, there are some parking lots that are basically right across the street from the beach. On Hemlock and Gower is a nice lot, with public restrooms right across the street next to the beach.

A poster called Rivergallery lives near Astoria so hopefully she will see this and help you with that area.

mistletoe--LOL! Yes, not the usual recommendations:) I did not know that Ecola Seafoods had beer. How has my DH missed that???

Syrahgirl--So when will you back back to OR for your next visit?

But syrahgirl, I thought you said you rented a cottage in Seaside?

I hear you are going to Kauaii...please post a trip report!! cheers!

Personally, my opinion is that Cannon Beach is large enough and pretty enough to enjoy without driving as far as Astoria ..which I think might be a tiring trip ..