NORTH OREGON COAST 35 VISITTHEOREGONCOAST.COM gives you a glimpse into vacation cottages at the turn of the last century, and the adjacent garden is a welltended, peaceful spot to relax. Just east on Broadway over the Necanicum River, find Seaside’s historic Gilbert District, a vibrant four-block area filled with lively art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. More than 30 businesses, including Beach Books and Fairweather House & Gallery, call these cozy spaces home. Paddle the local waterways via the ADA-accessible dock at Broadway Street and Neawanna Creek. Paddlers can head north from there to explore the Necanicum Estuary. Cleanline Surf offers kayak rentals. From the south end of Seaside, enjoy panoramic summit views along the challenging but rewarding Tillamook Head Trail into Ecola State Park. Continue by sipping your way along the North Coast Craft Beer Trail; pick up a passport at the Seaside Visitors Bureau, an official Travel Oregon Welcome Center with information about exploring statewide in addition to Seaside. Hoist a pint of locally crafted brew at Seaside Brewery, housed in the old Seaside city jail. Visit 10 of 12 breweries along the trail to collect a souvenir pint glass. CANNON BEACH A hub for the arts, Cannon Beach has been named among “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America” for its thriving gallery, theater and music scenes. Acclaimed restaurants, craft breweries and vibrant shops reflect that creative spirit. A shuttle along Hemlock Street makes it a breeze to explore the town. Sample the arts scene with a play, concert or musical year-round at Coaster Theatre Playhouse or in Cannon Beach Arts Association’s exhibits of local and regional artists; the gift shop features jewelry, arts and crafts from a range of local makers. Find a beach read or get a recommendation at independent shops like Cannon Beach Book Company or Jupiter’s Rare & Used Books. In the fall, the Stormy Weather Arts Festival features theater performances, poetry readings, visual art and live music. The Cannon Beach History Center and Museum has interactive exhibits, a Native American longhouse and the famed cannon that gave the town its name; it washed ashore in FROM TOP: TIFFANY BOOTHE / SEASIDE AQUARIUM; CHRIS IN THE WATER PHOTOGRAPHY 1846 after the USS Shark wrecked near Tillamook Head. You can sample regional wines — including dozens of Oregon pinot noirs — at the Wine Shack, while Public Coast Brewing Co. and Pelican Brewing Company are standouts in the local craft-beer scene. Stroll the town’s 4-mile (6.4-km) stretch of beach for views of iconic Haystack Rock, a 235-foot (71.6-m) monolith that’s one of the most-photographed spots in Oregon. Bring your binoculars and Audubon guide: Birding opportunities here are plentiful, with tufted puffins, black oystercatchers, guillemots, cormorants and western gulls among the species found on and around the rock. Tide pools are accessible at low tide, and seasonal interpreters are on-site to offer their knowledge, answer questions and guide your exploration of marine life. For a unique low-tide-only hike, walk south on Cannon Beach to Hug Point, where you’ll have to “hug” the headland as you round it via a primitive roadway used by stagecoaches and early autos as Seaside Aquarium Cannon Beach
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