I absolutely love the Oregon Coast. Growing up first in Portland, and then in Eugene, we were always only a little over an hour away from the coast, and my family definitely took advantage of it. Bandon, Waldport, Florence, Yachats, Newport, Lincoln City - just a few of the wonderful coastal towns Oregon has to offer and that I’ve been lucky enough to visit. Now that I’m located in Seattle, it’s a bit longer of a drive to even get to the northernmost beach towns, but I can safely say the drive is still worth it.

By far one of my favorites is Cannon Beach. It’s smaller, though it’s steadily gotten more attention since the 80s, largely due to the iconic Haystack Rock, the picturesque beaches, and an annual sandcastle contest in the summer. But it is also perfectly charming, in the way a coastal town should be, with a main downtown street full of eclectic little shops selling anything from salt water taffy to alpaca wool accessories and sweaters. Cannon Beach is also perfectly situated to visit the area’s state parks, should you desire something a little more strenuous than strolling the vast beaches.

Now, of course it’s easy to think about visiting the coast during the summer. A bit of heat inland plus endless sunny days, and we all probably daydream about getting away to the waves and the sand. But I have to say, the Oregon Coast is worth a visit any time of year. We recently returned from a weekend away in Cannon Beach at the end of February, and it was glorious. So here’s a few reasons why you shouldn’t let things such as seasons stop you from getting out to beautiful Cannon Beach.

Haystack Rock, the iconic sea stack at Cannon Beach.

Off-season trips often mean more availability, and lower prices, for places to stay. We were able to book a vacation rental with only about two weeks notice, which in the summer is pretty much unheard of. At the time we booked, there were several other rentals still available, and most of them were on winter rates, which in some cases can be close to forty or fifty dollars cheaper per night. And once we got to town, there were still many inns and motels that listed vacancies as we wandered by.

More availability also translates into less people. It can get pretty busy in Cannon Beach during the summer, with upwards of 16,000 visiting the little town a day. (It’s an easy day-trip distance from Portland.) But in the winter, you will find the wait for food shorter, the little shops less crowded, and swathes of beach empty and vast, even at sunset.

A basically deserted beach at sunset. There were definitely other people around, but not many.

Yes, you need to go into it prepared for winter weather. (May I suggest packing some wellies?) But winter storms on the Oregon Coast can be magnificent. If you’re going out to storm watch, I’d recommend getting a rental or hotel room with a view of the ocean, so you can stay warm and dry while enjoying the spectacle.

You may also get lucky with the weather and enjoy dramatic skies with sun breaks, crisp sunny (and windy) beach days, and brilliant sunsets framed by artistic clouds. One thing about the sunsets on winter days like these: You won’t know if you’re getting a great one until it appears. While we were there, I was sure that the sun was going to set behind the bank of clouds that was rolling in, and we’d see nothing but some faint light disappearing in the distance. Instead, we got this:

Another thing about the weather: If you’re visiting the area for the hiking, you will definitely want to check conditions in the state parks ahead of time. The winter can close trails, or make them almost impassable due to mud and flooding. In that case, you may want to wait for conditions to improve, or bring some serious mud-capable hiking gear.

The plus side in this case for us was that entry fees were waived, and we were able to drive up to Ecola State Park for some beautiful views when the sun came out without having to pay for a quick look around. (But still support state parks! Entry fees of $5 a day are crazy low for the amount of natural beauty you can enjoy there.)

This view is right near a parking area, which meant we could easily access it despite weather closures.

If the winter chill becomes too much, you can always explore the shops and restaurants in downtown Cannon Beach! You can find almost everything on the main drag of Hemlock Street, with an easy stroll from a Park & Ride near Pelican Brewing to the little square with a whale statue commemorating Lewis & Clark’s exploration of the area. We enjoyed grabbing some typical brew pub grub at Pelican, exploring the shops downtown (including a candy store that had way too many goodies, plus free samples of salt water taffy), and wrapping up the evening with dinner at Driftwood Restaurant, where we snuggled by an outdoor fire with blankets and wine.

I’d also recommend checking out the Wayfarer Restaurant, which has a great view of Haystack Rock from some seats and delicious brunch. And if you’re a coffee drinker, we stopped at Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters, which we enjoyed so much we took some of their beans back home with us.

Plenty of skylights means Pelican Brewing is wonderfully sun-filled when the weather is right.

Cannon Beach isn’t just a summer destination; it’s worth a visit all year round. So even if you have to drive through a little snow to get there (the scenic route from Seattle winds through some coastal mountains!) don’t hesitate to explore this beautiful Oregon Coast town.