Budget Travel Friday: Cannon Beach, Oregon

Posted on April 6, 2012 3 Comments

Today’s photo inspiration comes from the west coast: Cannon Beach, Oregon:

Haystock Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon

This photo is a little blurry, but it’s from 2005 and was taken with my old camera. We got a great deal on a little inn when we stayed there – our own fireplace, a walk-out path out to the beach, and convenient access to all kinds of cute little places to explore. It was cold when we went, which is why everything was so cheap, but still a great place to visit. 

Plus, you can drive to some wonderfully scenic hikes, full of tall trees and forests that I call “magical,” like this:

Nice Bridge in Oregon

And at nearby Ecola State Park, you can spend hours exploring tide pools to find gems like this…

Starfish at Ecola State Park

Those who live on the west coast probably know about Cannon Beach, but in Illinois I’ve only ever run into a handful of people who have heard of it. When we went, we flew into Seattle, where we spent a few nights before driving south along the coast to reach the beach. You can also fly into Portland if you can find a good deal on the fare. If you’re looking for a new place to vacation, I would recommend checking it out during the off-season. There’s plenty to do, the food is fresh and tasty, and the locals are friendly. We will definitely go back one day!

About Budget Travel Friday – Photo Inspiration

The idea is this: I am a champion budget traveler. I have traveled to beautiful places, both remote and urban, across the United States, every year since I’ve had my own job, and have never needed to dip into my savings to do so. I have this crazy wanderlust that drives me out of the city every so often and pushes me to learn about new places, explore them, and meet new people along the way.

I also happen to love photography and while I’m less great at it than budgeting, I have a collection of photos from the east coast to the west coast and everywhere in between to share with you.

You know the tactics behind budget travel: research and plan ahead, go off-season, use Hotwire or Priceline for hotels – or try camping, purchase air fare when prices are cheap (or just fly Southwest ;), shop at grocery stores and local markets instead of eating at fancy places, visit museums on free days, etc.

OK, you have the tools, but where should you go? I hope you’ll check in with me every Friday for a photo example. If I’ve been there, you know it’s on the cheap, and you’re only a few clicks away from being there yourself.

Category: Life
   Tags: Travel

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