It’s a jewel in January, fantastic in February and magnificent in March. The Inn at Cape Kiwanda and all of its ocean view rooms provide a front row seat to the winter wonder of Pacific City, Oregon.
Winter weather might deliver massive waves that crash 100 feet over the top of the Cape, spellbinding scenes of reflections on the sand or serene sunsets that wash the Cape in burnished gold. There’s always something extraordinary to discover.
Whether you arrive for your visit to the Inn at Cape Kiwanda to find bluebird sunny skies or the drama of clouds framing the iconic haystack rock, there is always a feast for beachcomber eyes. Once you’ve walked the beach you may want to hop on one of the bikes available for guests at the Inn. Or you may want to play a game from many available in the lobby where floor to ceiling windows allow the “beachy goodness” inside.
After a day of watching surfers chase some glassy waves and a hike up to explore Kiwanda Dune, we cozied up by the fireplace in our room at the Inn while making plans for the evening. Across the parking lot the Pelican Pub is a favorite place to dine, sample an array of their brews and share a tower of onion rings.
Since we were here in late January, the sunset was just after 5:00. We decided to enjoy our balcony before heading out to dinner. From the vantage point of the wooden deck chairs we had a ringside seat for a spectacular sunset.
Across the way from the Inn is Headlands Coastal Lodge and Spa. We learned that guests at the Inn can purchase a day pass to enjoy the outdoor hot tub, lounges nestled by a firepit, the fitness room and even a yoga class at Headlands. We heard “hot tub and firepit” and decided to give those amenities a try.
From the moment we walked into Headlands Lodge until we were draped in cozy robes in the Spa the staff delivered friendly, impeccable service making sure our visit was top notch. And it was!
Guests at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda also have the opportunity to enjoy both an indoor pool and a hot tub located in the Cape Kiwanda Marketplace. It’s a short walk to a fun amenity for the entire family.
As the afternoon began to drift toward sunset time, we decided to join the many beach lovers who gathered family and friends around a fire to celebrate sunset. Wood is available at Cape Kiwanda Marketplace just across the street. It’s important to keep fires away from the dunes and to extinguish them completely after the sun has disappeared.
With the sun hidden below the horizon it almost seems like Pacific City’s massive Haystack rock seems to tiptoe closer to shore. As we gathered our things from the beach and headed back to the Inn for a hot shower and some fireplace time we were so glad to have escaped the freezing winter weather we had left back at home – just a few hours away!
For more stories “from the Inn” and some insights about our favorite local hikes just click on the links.
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