The Goonies, Beautiful Haystack Rock, and Special Memories to Treasure for Life

There are some traditions that sneak up on you.

They don’t start out as grand plans or bucket list items. They start quietly—almost by accident. One night at the beach. One room at a cozy inn. One slow moment where the chaos of life gives way to calm.

For us, that tradition became Cannon Beach—yes, the same one made famous by The Goonies. But for us, the magic has always been more personal—especially at the Hallmark Inn, where we’ve built a decade of memories.

We’ve gone every year for over a decade, always for my birthday at the end of June. And while other families take week-long vacations to far-off places, this one night at the coast has been our entire vacation for the year. One perfect reset. One deeply rooted ritual.

Our routine never really changes—and that’s what makes it so comforting.

First stop: the Chocolate Café. My kids know the drill. We grab a hot drink and savor the start of something we’ve looked forward to for months. Then we head to the hotel, check in, unload the car, and take that first deep breath that only comes when the ocean is finally in view.

We always head down to the beach before dinner. We stroll through town. We pop into the gift shops just to look (and sometimes buy something small to remember the year). The Hallmark’s warm, inviting lobby is like an extension of home—with cozy seating, a game shelf, and fresh cookies in the afternoon. Hot drinks are always available, and the staff? Always friendly.

After dinner, the kids’ favorite part begins: the pool and hot tub ritual—always around 9pm. That little pocket of joy before bedtime is their highlight, and mine too. And of course, no birthday night is complete without a bonfire on the sand before midnight. We roast marshmallows. We laugh. We watch the fire and listen to the waves. It’s simple. Sacred. Ours.

Back in the room, we play games before finally crashing. And just like that, one night feels like a full-blown vacation.

We’ve done this every single year.
We’ve done it through hard times.
We’ve done it through grief, single motherhood, job loss, and moments when life felt like it might unravel.
We’ve done it with very little money, but just enough to make it happen.

And somehow, this one night… this one place… became the tradition that saved our sanity.

I’ve been celebrating my birthday at Cannon Beach since I was 18, and I’ve been coming to the Hallmark Inn since before I had kids. We first went with my parents when my husband and I were newly married and had just started our family. And now, even though it’s just the three of us, we still come back. Because we always come back.

Except this year.
This year, we had to cancel.
And honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around that.

We’ll still make a day trip out of it—because we can’t stay away entirely—but not spending the night feels like the end of something sacred.

Because here’s the thing: day trips are lovely, but they’re not the same. They don’t come with pool swims at 9pm or lobby cookies or our familiar room window looking out at Haystack Rock. They don’t come with sleepy board games after midnight or bonfire hair that smells like summer dreams.

There’s something about the Hallmark Inn.
Something that feels like home.
Something that’s held space for us for over a decade.

And no matter what, we’ll be back.
Because traditions like these don’t disappear.
They pause.
They wait.
And when the moment is right, they welcome you home like no time has passed.

I also want to give a heartfelt thank you to Mike Locke, General Manager of the Hallmark Inn in Cannon Beach. Over the years, Mike has shown genuine kindness and care for his guests, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. That kind of leadership is rare—and it’s part of what makes this place feel like home.

Thank you, Hallmark Inn, for being that place for us.

💙
Kat Spencer
WitsEndTravel.com