Cannon Beach – Voted Best City For Pet Travelers

In their own pet friendly version of March Madness, GoPetFriendly.com launched a tournament pitting 64 of the most pet friendly destinations in the US and Canada against each other. Round by round, the contenders were taken out until only two remained. Cannon Beach, Oregon vs. Seattle, Washington – and Cannon Beach walked away with the win!

If you’ve never visited this beach town voted Best City For Pet Travelers by Take Paws’ readers, let’s take a little tour.

Years ago, a forward thinking state government designated every beach in the state of Oregon a public recreation area, making them free and accessible for everyone. It’s the perfect place to run, splash and play with your dog. The only requirement of the dog friendly beach in Cannon Beach is that dogs must either be leashed or under the voice control of their owners – and there is plenty of space to find a stretch all to yourself.

Honestly, have you ever seen a dog look happier?

After a day of romping and relaxing, you can head back to town for a little shopping and something to eat. The downtown vibe can best be described as Carmel-by-the-Sea meets the Jersey Shore – in the nicest possible way. The cottages around town look comfortable and lived in – exuding a shabby-chic-and-proud-of-it attitude that leads one to believe that tracking in some sand will not be the end of the world.  It’s casual, friendly, and has everything you’d expect of a well-appointed beach town … boutiques, a top-notch ice cream shop, and a nice selection of pet friendly restaurants.

After dinner, everyone – including the dogs – heads out to their favorite spot to watch the sunset.

And Mother Nature doesn’t disappoint.

Whether you’re looking for a pet friendly hotel, rental property, or campground, you should have no trouble finding accommodations in Cannon Beach. We stayed in in a local RV Park, but the Hallmark Resort, with it’s balconies over looking Haystack Rock and pet friendly policy, was particularly tempting!