[/caption]Carol Forsloff - Oregon’s Cannon Beach is one of those pristine places Oregonians, West Coasters and weary and well-informed travelers enjoy for its ocean ambiance; but this beach town has more than just that pretty “face.”
Cannon Beach is bouncing with tourists from everywhere. It’s local shops brim with merchandise that reflects a variety of tastes, from the arts to the great food and an array of services to aid comfort and quality of life. Like the rest of Oregon, Cannon Beach stresses going green with a fresh food Farmers Market, but one that promotes organic. Unlike other farmers’ markets around the country, this one has food as its focus, as there are no craft booths to steer customers away from what the food vendors believe is a need. That need is to elicit good public response and goodwill to food that is grown in healthy ways.
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[/caption]Crafts, however, are not overlooked by this town that has approximately 20 to 40 large and small groups that foster beauty in a variety of ways. Along the main street of the town, shops with multiple types of art welcome folks to browse or buy, take your pick. The Cannon Beach Gallery Group shows of sculpture, jewelry and “a feast for the senses” as its brochures describe. The Gallery is a part of the multidisciplinary, non profit Cannon Beach Arts Association that features the work of local and regional artists. These artists may be new to exhibition or seasoned professionals.
Andrea Mace meets and greets folks at the
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[/caption]Cannon Beach Gallery. Her world is filled with exciting things, and she speaks of how it meshes with what happens in Cannon Beach. “This is a great place. The farmers market is something to experience, and the arts are special. But we are more than just a beach town. We strive to make our town inclusive while at the same town promoting local business. We do that by prohibiting national chains like McDonalds to come in. That way people can develop local attractions and businesses. What you see along the coast, especially in this area, are local shops and chains, but not national ones. For Cannon Beach, it is actually in the Charter.”
A place to grow in health and going green, Cannon Beach is working its own path to make sure local folks have an opportunity to develop talents and enjoy the rich life of the area. As a place in America, and at a time when folks worry about the economy, Cannon Beach is finding its own solutions that accent what the residents believe is quality of life.