Calm Your Brain at the Beach

 

Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach

A trip to the Beach is good for your brain.

 

You know that overall feeling of peace that you experience when you’re at the beach?

It’s for real.  Scientists are now referring to it as “blue space.”  Fresh smells and the sound of the rolling ocean calm your brain.  And, the way your brain reacts to that environment leaves you happy, relaxed, and energized.

Experiencing refreshing “blue space” at the beach is like hitting a reset button for your brain.  

Are you ready for a reset? 

  • Reduce stress. Water is nature’s cure for the stress of life. So whether you jump in for a swim or dip your toes in the water, you’re sure to experience a feeling of relaxation. 
  • Boosts creativity.  If you’re in a rut, blue space allows you to clear your head.  The calmness allows you to tune everything else out and reflect on what you need to resolve, allowing you to approach problems or projects with a fresh perspective.
  • Reduce feelings of depression. The calming environment of the beach provides some relief to feelings of depression. The hypnotic sound of the waves can clear your mind in a safe space away from the chaos of daily life.

Is it time for you to “reset?”  Book your room online today.

What’s your Cannon Beach summer tradition?

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Vacation isn’t complete without a recumbent bike ride only the beach.A tradition is based on passing on a custom from generation to generation.  And, many visitors to Cannon Beach have their traditions that make their every visit complete.

Regardless of all the fun and relaxation enjoyed at the beach, there are always one or two things you have to do to during your stay.

Maybe it’s looking for sand dollars in the morning tide and looking around the tidepools at Haystack Rock?    Perhaps a jog along the shoreline?  Or a  stop at Bruce’s Candy Kitchen for sea foam and saltwater taffy?  Maybe it’s shopping for beach souvenirs for your kids or new art for your home.  

Traditions are often based on fond memories of good times.

There are always plenty of things to enjoy when you stay at Tolovana Inn in Cannon Beach.

What’s your Cannon Beach tradition?

Tolovana Inn Showcased as an Ideal Destination for Groups

 

All the things that make Cannon Beach an ideal destination for tourists also make it an ideal fit for groups and corporate gatherings, particularly in the off-season of October through May.

With new brew pubs, lots of dining options and dozens of notable galleries and shopping, there’s plenty for people to do in town year-round. 

Tolovana Inn, with ample meeting space and the largest number of guestrooms in Cannon Beach, is well-suited to many special events.

With 2,500 square feet of meeting space and a large adjacent foyer, Tolovana Inn offers flexible space that easily can host receptions up to 150 people, theater-seating up to 160, and dining for groups of 96.  More intimate gatherings can also be accommodated there. Additionally, a separate, executive board room comfortably seats 14.

Best of all, with its various lodging options, Tolovana Inn works out well for spouses and family members who want to attend and enjoy spacious, ocean-front rooms, balconies. and fireplaces, all steps from the sand.

Why not plan a memorable event at Tolovana Inn in Cannon Beach?

 

Father’s Day: Spend time together

A walk with Dad along the beach.

Father’s Day was established to honor all fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who have influenced your life.

Father’s Day is regularly observed on the third Sunday of June.

Sure, you can send a card, buy him tools, gadgets, or a new polo shirt, but you know that dad really wants is to spend time with you.

Why not surprise him with a trip to Cannon Beach and a stay in an oceanfront room at Tolovana Inn?   Reserve your room today, or order gift certificates for a future stay.

Father’s Day was first noted in June 1910 in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA.  Sonora Smart Dodd told her pastor she thought fathers should have a day of recognition like Mother’s did.   She was inspired by her own father who raised six children as a single parent.  Her pastor agreed as did his colleagues.  On the third Sunday in June 19, 1910, “sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout the city.”

Despite several initiatives, including merchant-driven efforts that were greeted with some cynicism, it took several decades for Father’s Day to be fully recognized.  President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, in 1966,  designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.    Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

History aside, fathers are critical and spending time with the men in your life who matter is a great tradition to uphold.

 

Cannon Beach first among “10 Beaches That Are Better in the Off Season”

Accordinbeach fireg to a recent online article in The Huffington Post, Cannon Beach tops the list of the 10 Beaches That Are Better in the Off Season.    Key reasons cited are smaller crowds, empty swaths of sandy beaches and lower lodging rates in September and beyond.

Specifically, the article points out how Cannon Beach visitors can cozy up into the evening with a twilight bonfire and a fine bottle of wine to watch some of the year’s most incredible sunsets.    Unlike other beaches, there is no rule against alcohol on the Oregon coastline.

Exploring the tide pools at Haystack Rock was also highlighted.  And, it goes on to point out that the wildlife really comes out when the crowds disperse, with lots of bird watching along the shore and at neighboring Ecola State Park where visitors can watch for elk and migrating grey whales offshore.

Storm chasers are advised that that fall and winter’s unpredictable weather that can bring crashing waves, best enjoyed from an oceanfront hotel.   Fortunately, Tolovana Inn’s ocean front rooms and suites are perfect for that.

Other notable beaches highlighted in the article include  Moshup Beach,  Massachusetts, near Martha’s Vineyard, Kennebunk Beach, in Maine,  Sunset Beach, North Carolina and  Pfeiffer Beach, California’s Highway 1, near Big Sur.  Rounding out the list are Shi Shi Beach, in the Olympic National Park, WA; Mackinac Island, Michigan; Cove Beach, New Jersey and Malaquite Beach, Texas on the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Coastal Sunsets at Cannon Beach a Spectacular Display of Color

Glorious Oregon coastal sunset, (George Vetter Photography)

Glorious Oregon coastal sunset, (George Vetter Photography)

As the days get longer, rooms with a view at Tolovana Inn are even more desirable.

That’s because Mother Nature’s gorgeous coastal sunsets are a beauty to behold and almost impossible to describe.

When the sun drops toward the Pacific Ocean horizon, the backdrops of color are breathtaking.  A maritime layer can turn the sun into a glowing ball of orange and the landscape a sky of golden light.   The evening sky can reveal a color palette from pink, purple and blues to orange, yellow and red.

Spring and early summer nights frequently offer a show-stopping display of nature’s glory that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime, and fortunately for most Oregonians, much more than that.

Tolovana Inn provides front-row viewing for magical nights on the coast, one of many highlights of any trip to Cannon Beach.

Call today to reserve your stay in one of the spacious rooms or suites at Tolovana Inn

 

 

Cannon Beach “Spring Art Unveiling” First Weekend in May

Painting by David Jonathan Marshall at Modern Villa Gallery

Painting by David Jonathan Marshall at Modern Villa Gallery

The Spring Art Unveiling provides another great reason to stay at the Tolovana Inn in Cannon Beach.

At the weekend long Spring Art Unveiling, hosted by the Cannon Beach Gallery Group, its members spotlight new work by their chosen artists during special demos and receptions with live music.

For the fourth year in a row, the spring art weekend will include “Art from the Chef’s Table” as twenty-nine of the towns chef’s, candy makers and baristas prepare  unique food and drink creations, inspired by featured gallery works,  and available just for this special weekend.

A complete list of gallery events and inspired menu items can be downloaded from the CB Gallery group site.

For reservations at Tolovana Inn, call 1-800-333-8890.

Honoring the Oregon Beach Bill in Cannon Beach

The lines were once drawn in the sand, where drift wood was once stacked to keep the public off public beaches.

The lines were once drawn in the sand, where drift wood was once stacked to limit access to the beach.

 

It was 1967, when Oregon Governor Tom McCall signed the Oregon Beach Bill, declaring “the public would have free and uninterrupted use of the beaches.”

On Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, at 4 p.m., Cannon Beach will unveil the first commemorate sign on the beach, recognizing this progressive legislation, now 48 years old.

At the 1967 bill signing, Governor McCall honored former Governor Oswald West, who authored 1913 legislation declaring all state beaches to be a public highway, thus maintaining public access.

As the bill became state law, McCall quoted West, saying of the Oregon coastline: “No local selfish interest should be permitted, through politics or otherwise, to destroy or even impair this great birthright of our people.”

What a blessing that has been to all Oregon citizens and guests!

Tolovana Inn is proud to honor this important legislation on Earth Day, and every day.

Specially, the Oregon Beach Bill declares that all wet sand lying within 16 vertical feet of the low tide line be the property of the state of Oregon, with public easements of all beach areas up to the line of vegetation. It also requires that all property owners seek state permits for building and other use on the ocean shore.

 

 

Governor Oswald West, who in 1913 called the shoreline the public's "birthright," was the first guest at Warren Hotel, built in 1911, on the site of today's Tolovana Inn.

Governor Oswald West, who in 1913 called access to the  shoreline the public’s “birthright,” was the first guest at Warren Hotel, built in 1911, on the site of today’s Tolovana Inn.

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Cannon Beach Yoga Festival, March 6-8

Yoga-Canon-Beach-Sarahjoy-2015

Yoga: World Class Instructors; World Class Location

If you are a regular practitioner of yoga, or have thought you might like to learn more about it, there is no better way to immerse yourself into this stress-reducing and healthful activity that at the Cannon Beach Yoga Festival,  March 6-8.

The festival draws yogis and students from around the region and beyond for a weekend full of workshops, lectures, discussion and meditation.  Come with an open mind and you are sure to be inspired by the experience–and by the stunning beauty of Cannon Beach.

Events are held at various locations around town, including the Tolovana Inn.  A full festival pass includes opening and closing ceremonies, ten hours of workshops and shuttles between locations.  You can also purchase a one-day pass, or a partial festival pass, providing access into individual workshops, as space allows.

Learn more about this uniquely relaxing event and register online at Cannon Beach Yoga Festival.   When you book accommodations at the Tolovana Inn, be sure to ask about special festival rates.

 

 

Holiday fare: Fresh, Oregon Dungeness Crab

Dungeness-Crab-Salad

The peak harvest for fresh Oregon Dungeness crabs runs from December through April, and that means right now, is a great time to plan a special holiday meal around the flavorful crustacean.

Oregon Dungeness crab is versatile and easy to prepare at home, or when staying at the coast in a spacious, Tolovana Inn suite in Cannon Beach.

Dungeness crab can be purchased at specialty seafood markets and supermarkets throughout the region with retail prices typically lowest during the winter when the harvest is in full swing.

The simplest method of preparing  Dungeness crab is placing live crab in boiling salted water and cooking  for 18-20 minutes–after the water returns to a boil—and the shell turns bright orange.  Immerse the crabs in cold water to cool before cleaning.  Fresh cooked crab can be served chilled or heated in a steamer, broiler or oven for 4 to 5 minutes.

Crab can be simply served with melted  butter. Add a crisp Oregon Riesling and warm garlic bread, and a wonderful, local dinner is ready to enjoy.  For more elegant fare, crab meat can be served cocktail style as a tasty appetizer or featured as a hot entrée in crab cakes, pastas, seafood soups and  casseroles.

Besides enjoying the tender, sweet flavor of fresh Dungeness crab, you can feel good about the selection since Seafood Watch has given the crab a sustainable seafood rating of ‘Best Choice’  Selection.

For more information about Oregon’s state crustacean (as proclaimed by the Oregon legislature in 2009)  visit the Oregon Dungeness Crab commission web site.

Cheers for the Oregon coast and the winter Dungeness crab season!

 

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