On Thursday of last week I decided I was ready for an ESCAPE. For real. No imaginary trip to a castle in Scotland was going to do this time. I called my husband and sheepishly said, “Do you want to leave the kids this weekend and head to the beach?” He said, “You mean for the day, right? The beach house isn’t done yet.” And I said, “No. I’m talking about going to The Cannon Beach Hotel — for two nights.”
I could hear him smile on the other end of the phone. It was a spur of the moment idea, the sun was shining and I knew we had a window of opportunity that probably wouldn’t come again until summer. And I was ready to get out of town NOW! This is not something we do very often — just taking off spontaneously without the kids. And normally it involves a bit more planning and reality is, it usually involves an anniversary. This time, it was all about being spontaneous and fun. And continuing in my resolve to be deliberately disconnected from the computer in order to live a full life in the real world.
I called the charming Cannon Beach Hotel and lo and behold, they had a vacancy! We threw our bags in the car the next morning and off we went! One and a half hours later (and a Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard for each of us), we arrived. YAHOO! A weekend, UNPLUGGED and CHILDLESS! I think all that talk about the beach house and coastal kitchens last week, coupled with the “Disconnect Challenge” finally merged. A Beach Weekend, Unplugged. I was determined to live out my dreams, yes indeed.
I have to say that we are pretty much homebodies most of the time. We love travel but our life usually revolves around kids, schedules, our house, computers, cleaning, cooking, laundry, working and starting over again the next day with the same routine. Typical days for families with several children. The routine grows comfortable and familiar. Life is good and we are happy with it. But every now and then it is good (and necessary) to escape and get away as a couple (or even alone or with friends!). And that we did. Usually we’d escape to our own beach house, which we are so blessed to have, but knowing that it is still a ways from completion, we splurged on a hotel.
We had breakfast in bed overlooking a cozy fireplace, leisurely walks, tasty food from real restaurants (no Burger Kings), coffee breaks in charming bistros and time to breathe in the fresh sea air. The sun was shining most of the time. We took a couple of naps. We had time to talk about anything and nothing all. We had no where we had to be. And no computer in sight.
I loved this little espresso cafe (below). It had tons of vintage Scottie stuff and antique paintings everywhere. We sat at the copper counter and drank lattes and ate cinnamon rolls. Yummy. The cafe was in Gearhart, a town just a few miles from Cannon Beach near Seaside. Super quaint beach town.
Across the street from this cafe was an adorable cottage shop. Much to my utter embarrassment, my husband got the hiccups (very LOUD hiccups) while we were chatting with the owner, oohing and ahh’ing over all the cute stuff she had. I tried to usher him quietly out the door, but the owner stopped us and graciously shared her natural remedy for hiccups. She ran and got him a lovely bottled water and a cup. You would have laughed hysterically had I taken photos, he was drinking out of a cup upside down bending over in the middle of her cottage shop. She was carefully instructing him how to drink from a cup while upside down. I was mortified. But, it worked. He was hiccup free the rest of the trip. Thank goodness.
Cannon Beach has some really charming shops, restaurants and buildings. I never tire of wandering through them. In the summer all the flower beds are absolutely gorgeous bursting with blooms and greenery. In the winter all the trees are covered in magical white lights.
This is an adorable theatre where we have seen a few plays over the years. My parents just bought season tickets so I’m sure it will become their regular hangout!
I couldn’t resist taking a few little charming Drive By beach cottage photos just for you, my chickadeees! Yeah, my husband graciously pulled over and backed up and nearly drove off the side of a cliff for me to snap a few photos for you. He’s a gem. I tried not to take too many as I was trying to be completely unplugged from blogging. This was just a wee compromise. We do both enjoy houses so it wasn’t too torturous for him.
I had to show you photos of these furry Easter bun buns. Aren’t they adorable? They were just romping around freely in one section of Cannon Beach. Tons of them hopping all over the place. I’m a sucker for little cute animals. I love them.
OH, yes, and speaking of bunnies, I saw a movie I absolutely adored. I rarely love movies, most of them leave me snoring, but I thought this one was exceptional.
Miss Potter. The story of Beatrix Potter.
I am definitely buying it and will add it to my other list of favorites, including Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride II. It has a great story, cast, awesome scenery and houses (a must for me!), and cute little animals frolicking about. My husband even liked it, which was a miracle because it had nothing remotely to do with sci-fi, action or aliens.
There you have it, My Beach Weekend — Unplugged.
I feel like I was there…We are still many feet deep in snow, and no coast in my near future. Thank you for uplifting my day!
qui da te è sempre bellissimo!!
Baci mary
Thanks Melissa,
You provided us with an experience, not just a visual tour. I am chomping at the bits to get away for a couple days. Alas, some big changes coming up involving lots of time and energy. So I will just enjoy vicariously for awhile.
Lisa & Alfie
Melissa,
Thanks for sharing your trip with us, love all the drive by pictures and the quaint hotel photos.
Hugs,
Sue
What a marvelous weekend! How lovely for you both. Thank you for all the pictures — I felt like I was on a mini-vacation just perusing them.
xoxo,
Mary
Melissa – what a charming town and hotel! i’m getting a little concerned for you – are you having a mid life crisis? : ) jk
Joni
Love this post~! Thank you for sharing with us!
Oh, my gosh, that was funny, Joni. Am I having MID-LIFE CRISIS? Ah, yeah. I am. Is it that obvious? LOL!
I loved your tour Melissa, I happened to visit you just as I’d poured myself a cup of coffee, I felt as if I was on a weekend away myself, thanks for the ejoyable break you gave me!
I love Cannon Beach. I wish I could live there. Breakfast at the Gower Street Bistro is the best: mmm biscuits & gravy with blue cheese crumbles and tomato jam. Did you happen to visit the Buttery? It’s one of my favorite places to shop.
Melissa,
Fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing. My husband and I are sneaking away to Laguna Beach, this weekend, so I will share when we get back. I loved looking at your photos, and hearing about your adventures. Unplugging is a bit more difficult for me, as my hubby likes to bring the computer with him when we go away. He owns his own business and likes to get some work done while he can. It’s okay, but I would prefer it if he didn’t bring it along. If it makes him feel more relaxed, I can put up with it.
Have a restful evening, my friend!
Hugs and love,
Debbie
Melissa, Cannon Beach is a glorious little town. One of my favorite wee towns I’ve ever visited. Thanks for sharing, and for all the wonderful reminders (P.S. I’m sure I visited every shop in town but now imagining all the new ones since I was there in 2003!). Glad you had a lovely trip too and hope you came back re-charged! Sweet photos!!! xo Terri
Oh Melissa – how ROMANTIC!!
Child screaming !!
gotta FLy!! love you!!!
I’m back – child dressed and fed and now feeding next child
One day I’ll be able to do this kind of getaway that youve done, again
for now I’m enjoying the joy of small cherubs
FelicityXOX
Oh, Melissa – this is so perfect. Thanks for posting your time. I loved this post. I could so feel what what were feeling! Oh, how I miss by ocean so much. If it wasn’t for my precious Artie and daughter, I would pack up and move back to the coast in the blink of any eye! Love, Esther
Oh it all looks quite delicious! And the bunnies are adorable. I have the film too – missed it in the theatre; recently bought it on DVD.
Ahhh Melissa, thank you ever so much for taking me with you on your romantic weekend away lol
I absolutely adore storybook coastal and country towns, Australia has some very similar.
My husband and I desperately need a kid free getaway very soon!
Anna
it was so fun to see your pics of cannon beach. hubby and i honeymooned down there 24 years ago, and have been visiting every so often since. now we’re in idaho and its a bit more of a drive, but oh how we love CB. i think we’ve been there during the summer, spring and winter.
i’m sure its grown and got more wonderful shops since the last time we were there several years ago. thanks for all the photos. love, love, LOVE it!
Melissa, I loved everything! The bathroom wallpaper, the café with all the wonderful portraits, the turquoise trim–looks like such a lovely and relaxing time! Congratulations on unplugging so successfully!
What a wonderful place to escape to, I want to live there, in one of those fabulous houses:) Rachael
Yikes–70 comments!! so of course I had to add to the amount of comments—hey, I wonder how many is the most you have ever gotten???? But I glanced over your “get-a-way”. I had to smile because this is something my husband and I occasionally do also. We escape to Charleston, SC–a nice old city not to far away. We also take pics of the old homes and gardens, have fun eating at nooks and crannies, and just totally relax. Blessings!
Melissa, I’m so glad you got to get away. I love the shower that was in your room and I especially loved the portraits on the wall of the little café! Your drive-bys are my favorite! (Funny, someone who didn’t know what your “drive-bys” were about would be puzzled at this.)
Wow, what a gorgeous place!
I would love a long weekend there with my darling husband!