Stephanie Inn
2740 S. Pacific
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
800-633-3466 or 503.436.2221
Stephanie Inn's Web Page

July 2001

Welcome to www.weloveourlife.com. This is our page dedicated to our experiences while staying at the Stephanie Inn in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Accommodations

We had reserved a second floor room on the ocean side. There was a small balcony overlooking the ocean with two chairs and a table. The room was very spacious and was accented by wood. There was a gas fireplace in a style reminiscent of the southwest. There was a tv, a king-size bed, a CD player, VCR, mini-bar stocked with spring water and Coke, and a wet bar. The bathroom was also trimmed with wood and contained a corner Jacuzzi (yes, most of the whirlpools we had in the Pacific Northwest were the Jacuzzi brand), two vanities, a separate compartment for the toilet, and a stall shower. We have never been in a corner Jacuzzi before, and found it surprisingly comfortable for the two of us. The room was very nice, although a little bit sterile.

We had ordered the anniversary package, which included a bottle of sparkling wine (in the refrigerator), keepsake glasses, confetti bubblebath, a scented candle, ½ dozen roses, chocolate, and rose petals on the bed at turndown. This inn had approximately 50 rooms and was more like a small hotel than an actual inn. It seemed as if they were trying to hard to be romantic it all seemed a bit contrived. But it was a really gorgeous place, including the very comfortable lobby.

Inn Amenities

The main attraction about the inn is the privacy of its rooms and the setting. We aren't aware of any exercise facilities at the inn. Each day there is a wine social in the oceanfront library, where complimentary wine, cheese, and hors d'oeuvres are served from 4-5:30. We noted we were the youngest in the room (we heard other guests talking about their retirement), so after a glass of wine, we headed into town for dinner. Note that this is really designed with adults in mind, and does not accept children under the age of 12.

Inn Food

The inn has a restaurant that serves a four-course prix fixe dinner, but we noted the evening's menu was limited to two selections, so we opted to have dinner in town instead. We did have breakfast at the inn, which was included with our room. Stephanie Inn's dining room is on the second floor. It is a beautiful restaurant with many windows, and it is possible to eat outdoors on a balcony in nice weather. It's a shame the restaurant overlooked the parking lot instead of the ocean. For breakfast, there was a lavish buffet. We had eggs with cheese and pepper bacon. There was fresh fruit and juices. There was also a table with fresh bread, and we toasted sesame bagels. Breakfast was very good and satisfying.

Inn Bar/Lounge

The inn had no bar or lounge, but they do offer complimentary wine each day from 4 to 5:30, and it is possible to order drinks with dinner.

Inn People/Service

The people we came into contact with were very warm and inviting. There is no stand-up registration desk, but rather, guests are greeted by someone on the staff who has them sit down in large chairs at an office desk while the greeter checks to see if their room is ready. Ours was not, so we went back into town for a little to decide on a destination for dinner. When we returned, our room was ready. We were assigned a porter (Toby) who took our bags, rode up in the elevator with us, and showed us where everything was and answered our questions. The inn takes pride in their service, and tries very hard to focus on their guests.

Area/Attractions

Cannon Beach is home to Haystack Rock, the second largest free-standing monolith in the world, after the Rock of Gibraltar. During low tide, it is possible to walk to the rock, but during high tide, there is water between the rock and the shore. It was mid-afternoon, hence low tide, and we could see people out at the rock.

Cannon Beach allows people to build fires, something which we weren't used to seeing. Cannon Beach was a quaint, sleeply little seaside hamlet. It was drizzling while we were there, but there didn't seem to be a great deal to do. There were lots of galleries, free parking, and the majority of the buildings had wooden shingles, which looked very much like New England. One thing that was unique was that people were permitted to build fires on the beach. Perhaps our opinion of the area was influenced by our rainy weather, but we didn't think there was much to see and do, especially for children.

Dining

When we were in town earlier, we had decided on Schooner Bay for dinner. It was Monday, and several restaurants were closed. Schooner Bay is located on the main street and is upstairs above a gallery of shops. They have karaoke and live entertainment on selected nights. Lori had clam chowder and fried scallops. Keith had salad and a mediocre cajun chicken pasta. We had a bottle of local white wine. The decor was unique, and they were decidedly better for seafood. We went into the tiny bar for an after-dinner drink. It truly was a small bar, and the outdoor deck was even tinier. While we were there, it started to pour outside. A couple women in their early 20s were sitting out on the deck drinking beer and they stayed out there, even in the rain. We waited for the rain to subside, then went back to our car and back to our room. There were some other restaurants that looked pretty good, but we did not have a chance to sample them. Again, several were closed on Monday.

Nightlife

This is a quiet town and most of the action was likely karaoke at Schooner Bay. Our guess is that people don't go to Cannon Beach for the nightlife.

Weather

We can't tell you a lot about the weather, because it rained while we were there. It was fairly cool, even though it was mid-summer, and we had to put pants and sweatshirts on.

Tips/Suggestions

There are other destinations in the Pacific Northwest where we found a lot more to do. If you are planning a trip with multiple stops, our suggestion would be to not have all of your time in Cannon Beach.