During your stay at our north Oregon Coast inn, don’t miss the local Independence Day celebrations at Cannon Beach and Manzanita:

2012 Cannon Beach 4th of July
Cannon Beach might be a small town, but we know how to celebrate a great 4th of July! The Cannon Beach Independence Day Parade will be on Wednesday July 4, 2012 around 11 a.m. If you love strawberry shortcake, show up earlier at the US Bank at 107 N. Hemlock. There will be fresh strawberry shortcake offered at the front steps starting at 10 a.m. until every last piece is gone!

The parade usually forms at Spruce and Monroe and continues up Spruce to 3rd Street and then goes back down Hemlock. The parade wraps up with an Open House at Legion Hall at 1216 S. Hemlock. Bring your lawn chair or lay out your blanket and cooler of goodies anywhere along the parade route as you watch the floats, crazy cars and marching bands go by.

The fun continues with a 3 p.m. free concert at Cannon Beach City Park. Conductor Larry Johnson will lead the North Coast Symphonic Band in all the great patriotic songs. This isn’t your ordinary sit-and-listen concert. Everyone is invited to sing along. Belt out your best Star Spangled Banner with the rest of us at the Cannon Beach City Park concert.

After the concert’s over, don’t leave the City Park just yet! Bobcat Bob, a local jazz and blues guitarist will play from 7:30-9:00 p.m. And there’s no more appropriate entertainment for the evening than fire dancing by Flamebuoyant Productions. Watch their fiery and acrobatic performance from 9:15 to 9:45 p.m.

4th of July 2012 in Manzanita
If you’re in Manzanita, you can enjoy their Wednesday July 4th parade which makes it’s way through their downtown area. The parade starts at 1 p.m. It’s good to get to downtown before then. Not only can you claim your spot along the parade route, you can also support area disaster shelters. The Emergency Volunteer Corps will be hosting a fundraising cookout from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Windermere parking lot (5th & Laneda). Have a Tsunami Burger, veggie burger or a Disaster Dog to show your support!

The Independence Day Celebration in Manzanita will end with a fireworks display by Western Displays Fireworks. This is also on Wednesday, July 4th at the beach. The show starts at dusk.

After all the excitement’s over, you can settle down in your comfortable bed at our Cannon Beach bed and breakfast inn.

Ten miles south of Cannon Beach, you will find one of the best places to experience the beauty and variety of the Oregon coast: Oswald West State Park. Take a day hike Neahkahnie Mountain or simply stroll through the old-growth forest trail which leads straight to the beach.

Located just off Highway 101, choose from any of three parking lots which are only a quarter mile from the sandy shores of the Oregon coast. Grab a map before heading out as there are many paths through the forest (but don’t worry, the main paths are marked) and enjoy the diversity that this state park has to offer. From day hikes to short walks, the Oswald West State Park has something for every skill level.

If you’re looking for stunning ocean views and a have a few hours to spend, take the time to enjoy Neahkahnie Mountain trail hike. At 1,680 feet, this mountain offers full views of the ocean and beaches stretching on for miles. This hike is 7.6 miles round trip. For a hike with less elevation gain at only 300 feet and 5 miles round trip, you can enjoy the more leisurely pace of the Cape Falcon trail branching off to the north.

Are you a surfer? Beginners and advanced surfers alike enjoy the swells at Short Sand Beach.

Surrounded by mountains, the rigors of everyday life will be stripped away by the time your feet hit the sands of this unique beach, whether you are here to ride the waves or have a picnic.

It’s almost summer and here on the Oregon coast, that means taking the time to enjoy the weather in the great outdoors.  If you’re looking for something different this year, look no further than Northwest Women’s Surf Camps!  Located just 15 minutes north of Arch Cape, NWSC in Seaside, Oregon offers classes for women and men of all skill ranges.  The only thing requires from you is the ability to swim and the desire to learn.

Do something new this summer!

Starting Saturday June 23rd, sign up for a one-day or weekend surf camp, led by qualified and passionate surf instructors.  The one-day camp includes all necessary equipment, a catered lunch (with beverages and snacks), a morning Beach Yoga session, safety instruction, surf instruction with two in-water sessions, and a great goodie bag!  “Weekenders” provide all of the same perks, but by adding a second day of surfing, students have an opportunity to build on new skills, learn more advanced techniques, and create a deeper bond with other participants.

All of the surf instructions are highly experienced and trained with over 100 years of surfing time between them.  They have travelled all over the world and are certified in CPR, Lifeguarding, and First Aid.

Don’t want to surf alone? NW Women’s Surf Camps also offers getaway packages.  Choose to surf the waters of Cannon Beach, Seaside, or Pacific City with your closest girlfriends!  Enjoy morning yoga, an organic lunch, and hours of hands-on instruction with these all-inclusive packages.  Guys won’t be left out – the Guys Getaway package has lunch options specifically catered to men.  Take a break from the same old golf game and book a weekend with your friends that you won’t soon forget! After the camp, area activities and steak houses can be recommended.

To find out more about NW Women’s Surf Camps and all of their packages, visit http://www.nwwomenssurfcamps.com.