I can smell the Ocean. It’s around the corner. Round the bend, we enter Cannon Beach. Not too many people talk about Oregon’s coast. California gets all the attention. First time here. Don’t know what to expect.
That’s perfect. Love the unexpected. Especially when it’s a pleasant surprise.
An hour or so south of the Washington-Oregon border and about an hour west of Portland, Cannon Beach is a small seaside community. The type of town that probably welcomes new residents with apple pie, maybe even brownies and seafood.
West coast, laid back. What’s the rush after all? You’re on the edge of the continent. Sit, relax, have a drink and look out over the horizon. I do. With pleasure. And in doing so, I’m amazed at what I see.
With any coastline, you expect to see beauty. Sand, water and maybe even a cliff or two. Take some pictures and move on. But Cannon Beach has something more. In fact, its most popular attraction was unknown to me until I saw it myself.
Haystack Rock.
A massive, awe-inspiring, jagged rock rising from the Ocean and sitting a few feet from the beach. It’s that moment during a trip that you’re hit with something so unexpected, that you’re forced to sit and process what you’re looking at, what’s happening, where you are.
Ever have that moment?
If you like seeing popular attractions during peak seasons, then May through September is your time of the year. But there’s also a beauty to this attraction during the winter months as well. Rain and strong winds add a certain je ne sais quoi to this giant piece of protruding basalt.
Jim Bamboulis has held several posts over the past 12 years, including National Sportscaster, Food Host and Writer, Talk Show Host, Olympic Researcher and Travel Film-maker.
Born and raised in Toronto, Jim learned early on that the combination of travel and food meant ultimate living. Combining his insatiable creative spirit and desire to document his travels, Jim took his unshakable travel bug and set off to explore. Add the fact that Jim also grew up in a Greek household and he learned that not only does Mom always make the best meals, but as importantly learned the importance of understanding and appreciating the countless beautiful cultures and the integral role food plays in every corner of the World.
In August 2009, Jim founded Travel Mammal, a site that brings together his travels and experiences (both good and terrifying) with the hope that others are inspired to share their own. We are all storytellers, especially when it comes to travel and food. He urges everyone to be inspired, explore and love the world and the people that share it with us. Or in other words, Live to Travel and travel to live!
