From Groombug, June 2007 Cannon Beach, Oregon, is one of lifes pleasant surprises. If you go expecting to find rugged ocean beaches, emerald green rain forests, and cozy cabins along the bluff, you wont be disappointed. What will surprise you in this decidedly Cape Cod style resort town, are the gourmet restaurants, the ultra romantic hotels and inns, and the vibrant art and culinary scene that make Cannon Beach a Northwest treasure. This is the perfect place to spend your days hiking, biking, and surfing in the great outdoors, and your nights watching the sunset, dining on delicacies, and cuddling by the fire.
Heres what to do when youre in Cannon Beach…
Relax: Check in to one of Junebugs favorite places.
The Stephanie Inn: Heres where youll find deliciously comfortable beach front rooms overlooking Haystack Rock; complete with fireplaces, soaking tubs, and large LCD screen TVs. Be sure to make reservations in the dining room for one of their incomparable four-course dinners. The first people we met during our visit here were a couple from England who asked us to take their photo. They were celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary, and 22 consecutive years of staying at the Stephanie Inn.
Arch Cape House: This Northwest style castle has gorgeously appointed rooms; several with outstanding views of the ocean. We love the Tower Room, with its Louis XIV bed and breathtaking view from the deep soaking tub. Enjoy a three-course breakfast in the dining room for a perfect start to your day.
Surfsand Resort: The newly renovated Surfsand Resort will be finished in August of 2007. We cant wait to stay at this new top-tier property that features luxurious oceanfront rooms and suites, cozy gas fireplaces and 2 person Jacuzzi tubs. The whole place looks and feels like a home away from home.
Play:
Rent a beach bike from Mikes Bike Shop these bikes designed for beach combing allow you to cover miles of shoreline, while getting a fantastic workout.
Get yourselves surfboards and wet suits from Cannon Beach Surf and head to Shortys Beach, at Oswald State Park. This is a fun place to brush up on, or show off your surfing skills.
Soak up the sun! Just settle down on the beach thats nearest to your door, or grab a picnic lunch and head to Ecola State Park. This beautiful half moon beach boasts spectacular views of the Cannon beach area, plus tide pooling during minus tides.
Eat:
Have breakfast at The Pig and Pancake, featuring a crazy long list of yummy pancakes and breakfast combinations that are mm, mm good.
Grab lunch at Fultanos Pizza. This might be the best pizza on the West Coast, were not kidding!
Savor dinner at Gower St. Bistro. This romantic European charcuterie features mouth watering crab cakes, melt in your mouth steaks, an array of seasonal salads, and desserts to die for.
Get your coffee at Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters. These guys serve fair trade, organic coffee and delicious foamy espresso thats smooth like buttah. Being Seattleites, we like to stop in here a couple of times a day.
Indulge:
Shop at one of the many welcoming art galleries and specialty boutiques in town. Youll find handmade glassware, pottery, jewelry, and all kinds of must haves to take back home.
Lay back and enjoy a deep tissue massage, or luxurious facial at the Cannon Beach Spa.
Create your own delicacies at Evoo Cannon Beach Cooking School. The fun loving professional staff and delicious recipes at Evoo make this a special date; plus youre guaranteed to find some impressive dishes to make for your sweetie in the years to come.
Thinking about getting married in Cannon Beach?
Call Celebrations by the Sea to help with your wedding details and be sure to check out the Haystack Gardens and the Surfsand Ballroom, both are excellent reception site options.
Paris is every bit the unforgettable romantic adventure that you imagine it is, and a much easier place to navigate and enjoy yourselves in than rumors may tell. To wow your new wife with a truly incomparable Parisian honeymoon, all you have to do is arrive with these 15 memorized phrases of French, your Paris museum pass and Paris Visite transit pass, a curious attitude, and an itinerary that guarantees romance from Day 1.
Day 1: Walk, and fall in love with Paris! Start your morning with espresso and croissants from a nearby boulangerie, then head to the Luxembourg Gardens where youll feel right at home next to all the other couples in love. Take your time strolling through the Latin Quarter, down Rue St Michel and across the bridge to the cathedrals of Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. Youll want to catch the evening concert at Sainte Chapelle, so call ahead for details. Finish off your first day in Paris with a cruise down the River Seine, an ultra romantic way to see the city of lights, or head to the oh so Parisian jazz bar La Bilboquet. First drink prices at no cover jazz clubs are stunningly priced, so be ready to splurge.
Day 2: The Louvre Nothing can prepare you for the majesty of the Louvre. Even if youre not that into museums youll be absolutely blown away. With so much to see it can be overwhelming, so choose just a few things you would both like to see before going to lunch. We suggest the sculptures in the Richlieu wing and the large wall sized paintings in the Denon Wing as good places to start. Take an afternoon break and pick up a fabulous picnic at Les Délices de Verneuil, 42 rue de Verneuil, 01/42-61-24-12, to eat on the nearby pedestrian bridge, Pont des Artes. Return to the Louvre to see the next few things on your list. Dont try to see it all, just savor every moment. If you still have energy, go for dinner at the trendy Restaurant Georges in the Pompidou Center
(call ahead for reservations) and enjoy a gorgeous view of the city. Do be aware that the art of the pickpocket is also thriving in European tourist centers.
Day 3: Versailles Take the RER-C train to Versailles Rive Gauche, not Versailles C.H. to this utterly decadent, luxurious, and grand palace. Versailles was the envy of kings when it was built and remains the epitome of royal indulgence to this day. Only 45 minutes from Paris, it is well worth the excursion. Do visit on a weekday, take your museum pass and be sure to see the Hall of Mirrors. Dont forget to get outside the palace to enjoy the magnificent gardens, which are as impressive as the lavish interiors.
Day 4: Musee d’Orsay, Montmartre and Sacré Coeur After a light breakfast head to the Orsay Museum, this is truly one of the most memorable museums in the world. Housed in a beautifully restored train station, the architecture alone is worth the trip, but its the stunning collection of impressionist art that makes the Orsay world-renowned. Leave the Orsay around 2pm, (14:00) for the Montmartre area and Sacré Coeur cathedral. Youll want to go up into the dome of the cathedral before it closes to see a view of the city, unrivaled even by the Eiffel Tower. For dinner, youre off to nearby Le Basilic Montmartre where youll dine on delicious French country fare. End your evening sipping wine at an open-air café on the square at Place du Tertre. Here youll find a vibrant art scene that has been a cornerstone of Parisian life for centuries.
Day 5: The Marais Begin at Hotel deVille and make your way on foot to one of the most picturesque squares in Europe, the Place des Vosges. On the way youll find yourself surrounded by stunning medieval architecture and a million irresistible places to shop. It is easy to spend the whole day and night in the Marais, and we suggest that you do. For a beautiful musical treat youll want to stop in at St. Gervais Cathedral, just kiddy corner from the Hotel de Ville and find out when their music program begins. When day turns into evening, get a table for dinner at Ma Bourgogne, très romantique!
The “must have” resources to help you get around on your five perfect days:
PRINT THIS ARTICLE AND YOUR 15 PHRASES AND TAKE THEM WITH YOU TO PARIS! Or hang onto the link so you can reference them at an internet cafe (ask your hotel concierge where to find one.)
Pick up the latest copy of Rick Steves Paris. His travel store is in Edmonds and it has all the info you need to travel in France.
Use Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/. The directions given are not always the most efficient, but the maps are great and allow you to clearly see where you are and where you want to go.
Visit the Paris Regional Transit site:http://www.rapt.fr/ for great transportation information.
Special thanks to our friend, French translator, and Parisian insider, Michelle Bailat – Jones for her support with this article and our 15 french phrases. Check out her website at http://www.bailatjones.com/.
Style inspiration can come from anywhere, and as a passionate lover of food and drink I am often inspired by culinary colors, shapes, smells, textures, creative flavor combinations and just the pure joy of eating delicious food! Lately I have been happily devouring the ideas and gorgeous images from the blog Matt Bites, written by art director, food photographer and friend of my sister Matt Armendariz. His writing is fun and friendly and his colorful food photography sets off fireworks of inspiration in my mind. Just take a look at the images above and see how many wedding color palettes and concepts come to mind.
Arch Cape House: This Northwest style castle has gorgeously appointed rooms; several with outstanding views of the ocean. We love the Tower Room, with its Louis XIV bed and breathtaking view from the deep soaking tub. Enjoy a three-course breakfast in the dining room for a perfect start to your day.
Lay back and enjoy a deep tissue massage, or luxurious facial at the Cannon Beach Spa.
Day 1: Walk, and fall in love with Paris! 
Day 4: Musee d’Orsay, Montmartre and Sacré Coeur
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