Introducing Manzanita

One of the more laid-back beach resorts on Oregon's coast is the hamlet of Manzanita, boasting lovely white-sand beaches and a slightly upscale clientele. It's much smaller and far less hyped than Cannon Beach, and still retains a peaceful atmosphere. You can relax on the beach, take part in a few activities and perhaps hike on nearby Neahkahnie Mountain, where high cliffs rise dramatically above the Pacific's pounding waves.

Manzanita is located near the Nehalem River, which creates a wide estuarial valley and then a bay that is protected from the ocean by a 7-mile sand spit. Just to the south and right on the river, the historic fishing villages of Nehalem and Wheeler are becoming centers for antiques and river recreation.