How to enjoy Cannon Beach without the crowds

In the latest episode of the

Peak Northwest

travel podcast, hosts

Jamie Hale

and

Vickie Connor

remind us of something we often forget: Some of the best adventures don’t require extensive planning, overnight stays, or even your car. Sometimes, the perfect getaway is

just a day trip away

.

“I am a huge proponent of the local day trip, a good opportunity to get away from home without spending too much time or money,” Hale shares in the podcast, highlighting how these shorter excursions can be just as rewarding as elaborate vacations.

But what truly sets apart a good day trip from a great one? According to Hale and Connor, it’s often about what you

don’t

bring along – namely, stress.

• 
  
  Generative AI was used to summarize a recent episode of the
  
  
  Peak Northwest podcast
  
  
  . This story was reviewed and edited by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
  
  

People flock to Haystack Rock during a winter sunset in Cannon Beach on the north Oregon coast.

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The freedom of public transportation

One of their conversations in the episode centers on taking public transportation to popular destinations like Cannon Beach. Hale recounts his experience

taking the bus from Portland’s Union Station to Cannon Beach

on a summer day.

“You just don’t have to worry about finding parking, and you don’t have to worry about paying for a hotel or staying there overnight, so this is just such a clutch way to go,” Hale explains.

The beauty of this approach is multifold. Not only do you avoid the notorious parking situation at Cannon Beach (which can quickly spiral into a frustrating treasure hunt), but you also experience a different kind of freedom. There’s something liberating about stepping off a bus just blocks from the beach, carrying only what you need for the day.

Hale notes that packing light is key. “We brought a couple of bags… just enough for snacks and our stuff… just like a day bag basically, a little towel to lay on the beach, and some things to eat and some water.”

A bucket of freshly-picked honeycrisp apples at Draper Girls County Farm in Hood River, a prominent stop along the Fruit Loop.

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The weekday advantage

Another nugget of wisdom shared in the podcast comes from Connor’s experience at the

Hood River Fruit Loop

. After visiting this popular destination with Hale on a weekday and then returning with family on a weekend, she said the former approach is much easier.

“It gets really crowded on the weekends, like crazy crowded… if you can make it on a weekday you know towards the end of the week think that might be your best bet.”

This simple adjustment — shifting your adventure from a Saturday to a Thursday — can dramatically transform your experience. Fewer people means more space to breathe, shorter lines and a more intimate connection with the places you’re visiting.

More than just saving stress

What becomes clear throughout the podcast conversation is that these stress-reducing strategies aren’t just about avoiding annoyances — they fundamentally change how you experience these destinations.

When you’re not constantly checking your watch to make sure you don’t exceed your parking limit or feeling pressured to “see it all” because you drove so far, you can be more present. You notice details you might otherwise miss. You linger longer at spots that captivate you.

Reducing the logistical stress of travel helps you reconnect with why you wanted to go in the first place: to escape, to explore, to experience something different from your daily routine.

Ready to plan your own stress-free day trip? Check out the full episode of Peak Northwest for more insights and destination ideas that will help you make the most of your PNW adventures this summer:

Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s travel and outdoors podcast Peak Northwest on


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,


Spotify


,


YouTube


or


anywhere else you listen


to podcasts. Hosts


Jamie Hale


and


Chiara Profenna


take you to some of the greatest destinations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Check out more Peak Northwest episodes below.

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