Cannon Beach, Oregon

Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack rising out of the surf, is the reason most people come, and the long flat beach in front of it is made for slow walks in any weather. Its tide pools hold starfish and crabs, and terns and puffins nest on the rock. The town itself is small and low-key, with galleries and cafes rather than big resorts, and the Oregon coast's cool, misty days make a fireplace room feel earned rather than indulgent. Bring rain jackets; the gray days are part of the charm.