Four Distinct Inns Near Beach on Oregon Coast

One of the most photographed landmarks on the Oregon coast is Haystack Rock, a 235-foot-high landmark dotted with nests made by puffins and other seabirds. It's such a distinctive sight that some locals have wild theories about aliens plucking the sea stack straight out of Rio de Janeiro before setting it down in Cannon Beach. Whatever its origin, Haystack draws tons of visitors, especially at low tide, when you can walk right up to the monolith or look for crabs in the surrounding tide pools. Located about a block away, Cannon Beach Hotel Lodgings sits near the entrance to Haystack Rock and within easy reach of the area's sandy beaches and forested hiking trails.

The property is composed of four adjacent inns, each with its own personality: there's a historical hotel, an artisan-crafted lodge, a collection of modern suites, and a beach motel. Stay in Hearthstone Inn for rustic ambiance complete with a wraparound porch and beach-rock chimney. Alternatively, the Courtyard has a contemporary feel and a private brick courtyard adorned with a fountain and garden.

Individually decorated grand, premier, and exclusive rooms are spread out across the four inns. Most have fireplaces and many come with a private, mountain-view deck. Quaint furniture such as claw-foot bathtubs, overstuffed armchairs, and four-poster beds lend an elegantly old-fashioned vibe. Exclusive rooms tend to have more space, including one suite in the historic Cannon Beach Hotel that has a separate living area as well as a kitchenette.

Cannon Beach, Oregon: Quaint Coastal Hamlet Abounding with Outdoor Pursuits

Tucked between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean, Cannon Beach got its name from the wreckage of a 19th-century schooner—including a small cannon—that washed ashore here. Thanks to its laid-back atmosphere, the town built up a small artists' colony as creative types avoided the more bustling resort scenes on the Oregon coast. You'll find a number of local galleries alongside charming, cedar-shingled boutiques and wine bars.

The town’s greatest draw, though, is its natural, coastal grandeur. Travel + Leisure magazine once named it one of its Favorite Family Beaches, praising the shore's powdery sand and calm waters. Paying a visit to Haystack Rock is a must, but nearby Ecola State Park offers a more panoramic view of the Oregon coast. Here, hikers navigate forest trails once traversed by members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, passing through towering sitka spruces, douglas firs, and western hemlock and pausing at ocean overlooks to watch migrating gray whales in the distance.