Day Two: Warrenton, Seaside & Cannon Beach
We woke up on Day 2 ready for some beach exploration. After grabbing breakfast at the hotel, we headed out towards Cannon Beach, with some stops on the way.
What to Do
On the way out of town, you’ll pass the Astoria-Megler Bridge. It’s an impressive four mile structure. One part sits high, to allow for boat traffic to pass beneath, then the roadway drops steadily to sea level. It feels like you’re skimming the top of the river as you drive across. The bridge connects Oregon and Washington state. If you feel like a short detour, cross over to Washington, then loop back around and get back on your way.
KidTripster Tip: While in Washington, you may also consider visiting Long Beach. Here are some KidTripster recommendations for things to do when visiting the Long Beach Peninsula.
Given that it was a short 25 miles (or approximately 45-minute drive) from Cannon Beach from Astoria, we made several stops along the way.
The first stop being the wreck of the Peter Iredale. As previously mentioned, this area is referred to as the Graveyard of the Pacific due to the hundreds of shipwrecks that have happened here. One of those is still visible and accessible. The Peter Iredale ran ashore in 1906. No one was able to remove it, so the ship sits on the beach to this day, although it’s decayed significantly over the years. Explore the Peter Iredale at low tide. You can walk inside of it. You don’t have to go out of your way to see it as it’s right off the parking lot next to the beach at Fort Stevens State Park.
After we left the Peter Iredale, we made our way to to Battery Russell, part of the military installation at Fort Stevens that was built to guard the mouth of the Columbia River. Battery Russell was decommissioned in 1944, but the structure remains. We walked into dark corridors, peeked inside long abandoned bunkers, and climbed around the structure. We weren’t the only ones. This is one of many abandoned military sites in this area of NW Oregon and SW Washington. And they’re something of a tourist attraction nowadays. There are additional sites nearby at the Fort Stevens Historical Site that you’ll want to visit, too.
Although we didn’t visit it on this trip, Fort Clatsop is located just a few minutes away from Fort Stevens. This is the location of the Lewis and Clark Historical Park (92343 Fort Clatsop Road). There’s a replica of the encampment that the Corps of Discovery built during the winter of 1805. Explorers Lewis and Clark spent three months here. There are 14.5 miles of hiking trails here including the 6.5 mile Fort to Sea Trail. Kids can get their Junior Ranger badges here by completing a series of activities at the park. The park is open every day except Christmas. Entrance fees are $10 per person for anyone 16 and older. Guests can also use the Oregon Coast Pass or the National Parks and Federal Lands Passes for entrance.
Our next stop was Seaside, about a 20 minute drive from Warrenton. I’m gonna be honest here and tell you that I’m not a fan of Seaside. Since I hadn’t been in years, I decided we’d stop here for lunch and give it another chance. If you need lunch suggestions, check out this list of 5 places to eat chowder in Seaside.
Unfortunately, it was just as I’d remembered. I realize that this may be an unpopular point of view as lots of families do enjoy visiting Seaside. It’s got all the makings of a classic beach town – a promenade, a carousel, arcades, candy shops, etc. Yet every time I’ve visited, I’ve found it to be crowded, dirty, and, in my opinion, kind of tacky. So that’s all I’m gonna say about Seaside.
After lunch in Seaside, we jumped back in the car and continued south to Cannon Beach. The two towns are only about 15 minutes apart and, yet, the difference between them is striking. If you’ve ever seen a photo of the Oregon coast, it’s likely that it’s of Haystack Rock. This Oregon icon is located in Cannon Beach. It’s hard to miss, rising 235 feet from the edge of the shoreline.
That’s not the only draw here, the many shops, galleries, and restaurants in Cannon Beach are tourist attractions, too. Click to read more about why we love Cannon Beach.
Where to Stay
Since it was early afternoon by the time we arrived in Cannon Beach, we checked into our hotel. We chose the Hallmark Resort & Spa Cannon Beach (1400 S Hemlock Street) for its proximity to the famous rock. The room was spacious and included a large kitchenette including a full-size fridge, microwave, toaster, sink, etc. Had we wanted to cook, there was a tub of disinfected cooking tools for our use.
After making a quick clothing change, we headed to the beach. Although a little windy, it was a beautiful sunny day. The hotel has beach blankets and beach chairs available to borrow. We followed the short path down the stairs to the beach and spent the afternoon there. The kids waded their toes in the freezing Pacific Ocean, but mostly enjoyed time just playing in the sand.
What to Eat
After an afternoon in the sun and water, we’d worked up an appetite. Restaurants fill up quickly in busy summer months. You might find yourself waiting awhile for a table. The good news is that there are lots of great places to eat. We ended up grabbing dinner at Pizza a’ fetta (231 N Hemlock Street). This restaurant is a Cannon Beach classic, since opening in 1988. There’s often a line out the door for its hand-tossed, gourmet pizza. But if your family’s like mine, a good pizza is always worth the wait! We filled up on pizza, but managed to save just enough room for an ice cream cone from Osburn’s Ice Creamery (240 N Hemlock Street) just across the street.
Another dining option near the Hallmark Resort is Pelican Brewing (1371 S Hemlock Street) which has indoor and outdoor seating. There are three Pelican locations on the Oregon coast. Food choices include burgers, flatbreads, and fish and chips. There’s also the unique Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House (1235 S Hemlock Street). Yes, it’s just as you might imagine … part-hardware store, part-pub. The menu includes Cajun tater tots, house smoked pastrami Reubens and more. Order inside and claim a picnic table outside.
Full from dinner, and tired after a busy day of exploring, we headed back to the hotel. We turned on a movie for the kids, and sat on our patio with a glass of Oregon pinot noir.
Day 3 of our road trip was spent learning about the creatures that live at Haystack Rock and what it takes to make cheese. Click below to keep reading.
