Hotel at a Glance: Clarion Inn Surfrider Resort

The Clarion Inn Surfrider Resort rests on a cliff overlooking the beach, with access to the Pacific Ocean. And it's not just the views that connect this resort to the ocean—the onsite restaurant celebrates the sea by serving locally caught seafood.

• Oceanfront dining: Almost every seat at the onsite restaurant overlooks the ocean.
• Relax in style: All rooms include a balcony or deck which overlooks the Pacific. They are also equipped with microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffee makers.
• Swim in the sunshine: Natural light pours into the indoor heated pool.
• Stay connected with free WiFi throughout the hotel.

Depoe Bay, Oregon: Whale Watching next to the World's Smallest Harbor

Through a narrow, rocky chasm along Oregon's coast, you can find the world's smallest navigable harbor; it's just 6 acres wide. The town that contains this harbor is Depoe Bay, and it's tiny too, with fewer than 1,500 residents. A natural sea wall protects the little town, and its main shopping streets closely follow the coastline, with nice views of the Pacific nearly everywhere you look.

There are a number of natural phenomena drawing visitors to Depoe Bay. One is the Spouting Horn—a natural underwater cave that transforms incoming waves into a powerful spray that often soaks Highway 101, which runs through Depoe Bay. Another is the pod of gray whales that swims through the bay 10 months out of the year, making the area popular for whale-watching excursions. There's even a state park, the Whale Watching Center, which sets up visitors to watch and understand whale migration. Close to 20,000 whales swim past the center before June annually.