Cannon Beach, OR

Located on the northern Oregon coast about 25 miles south of Astoria, Cannon Beach is a scenic coastal town with around 1,500 year-round residents. Life here is quiet and closely tied to the outdoors, with morning walks along the wide shoreline below Haystack Rock and easy access to the clifftop trails at Ecola State Park. It offers a relaxed Pacific Northwest setting where everyday life moves at a gentle pace.

The town itself has a strong creative streak, centered around a walkable commercial district full of local art galleries, cafes, and gatherings like the Stormy Weather Arts Festival. For families, children can attend the local Cannon Beach Academy charter school or the nearby Seaside School District. Between the tight-knit community and miles of surrounding parks and beaches, it provides a grounded, small-town atmosphere right on the Pacific.