Day 2
Written by Sylvia Longmire, Spin the Globe, January 14, 2024
CLICk HERE for Day 1
Day 2 – Cannon Beach and the Oregon Coast
Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach is a famous, picturesque small-town village by the sea. It’s been recognized as the “best overall beach in Oregon,” one of America’s best art towns, and one of the world’s most beautiful places. Named after a naval cannon that washed up after a shipwreck in the 1840’s, Cannon Beach has a ton of character. Haystack Rock is a massive towering rock formation off the coast, with adjacent stone “needles,” vibrant tide pools, and flocks of seabirds adorning the landmark.
Nearby Ecola State Park is perched dramatically on the edge of a headland and offers panoramic coastal views, easy walking paths to scenic picnic areas, and extensive hiking trails. Known as one of the Northwest’s top art towns, Cannon Beach is replete with art galleries, specialty shops, cafes, and fine dining restaurants. Visitors can watch glass blowers at work in their studio or attend year-round live theater performances. This creative edge can be seen in everything from the sensibility of the town’s residents to the annual sandcastle building competition that spotlights stunning works of art adorning the sandy beach. The best view of Cannon Beach is from an overlook inside the state park. The gravel is relatively loose close to the fence along the cliffs edge, so it’s best for wheelchair users to stay on the paved path.
Pacific City Beach with David’s Chair. David’s Chair is a 501 C (3) nonprofit that allows people with mobility challenges to use their track chairs and Para Golfers for free. They do not manufacture chairs or help people purchase these outdoor mobility chairs, but rather own a fleet of track chairs and Para Golfers that they maintain for people to use free of charge. David’s Chair also hosts events called excursions at various locations throughout the year. The excursions are designed to allow a person with mobility challenges to go to one of our excursion locations to use our Track Chairs and not have to worry about transporting it. They also have the Tow and Go option for those that wish to tow one of their trailers paired with a track chair on their adventure.
At Pacific City Beach, I used a very special model of track chair that allowed me to stand fully upright, and still maneuver the chair around the sand! They allow you to use the chair for free for up to two hours, and you’d better believe that I milked that experience for every last minute. It was absolutely life-changing to trek across Pacific city beach at sunset!
Lunch at the Wayfarer Restaurant. The Wayfarer showcases its classic coastal seafood roots, with a menu focused on high quality, local, and seasonal ingredients: troll-caught salmon out of nearby Astoria, Dungeness crab with wild chanterelles, and fresh, local oysters. Grilled steaks and pan-iron chicken balance surf with the turf. Craft cocktails, Northwest beers on tap, and a whiskey bar accompany the beautiful ocean view. Breakfast and lunch are perfect for families, with favorites like cinnamon roll French toast, eggs Benedict four ways, a children’s menu, and a relaxed, sunny vibe.
Check-In at the Hallmark Resort. Located on the oceanfront, this beautiful Oregon coast resort features a salt water pool and spa. An ocean view and free Wi-Fi are provided in every room. A restaurant is onsite and the Oregon Coast Aquarium is 5 minutes’ drive away. Featuring a patio or balcony with an ocean view, each room provides free toiletries in the private bathroom at Hallmark Resort. Some rooms are also pet friendly, and room service is also available. Guests can enjoy on-site dining at Georgie’s Beachside Grill, where authentic northwest coast cuisine is offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I only got photos of one of the regular rooms, but aside from the hot tub, the layout is the same for the accessible room I stayed in. The bathroom had a roll in shower with a standalone seat, grab bars around the toilet, and I was able to self transfer into the bed. The accessible room I stayed in is on the ground floor, and while I was able to get out to the small patio slab outside the sliding doors, I wasn’t able to get past the concrete slab because the ground level patio area was loose gravel. In case you are temperature sensitive like me, please be aware that the resort does not have central air conditioning. However, they can provide a portable AC unit if necessary.
Join us tomorrow for Day 3.