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I’ve been trying to plan a trip to the Oregon Coast for the past 3 years. I remember going there when I was little and playing on the sandy beach. So, when I had the opportunity to check out the Inn at Cape Kiwanda, I jumped on it!

This post about Inn at Cape Kiwands was written by PNW family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

Where is the Inn at Cape Kiwanda?

The Inn at Cape Kiwanda is located in Pacific City, Oregon. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Portland, depending on traffic.

This Oregon Coast hotel is right across the street from the beach. All their rooms and suites directly face Haystack Rock and the Pacific Ocean.

You can check prices and availability here.

The O’Neill Surf Suite

My family had the opportunity to stay in the O’Neill Surf Suite (named for the popular surf brand created by Jack O’Neill.)

Let me tell you, out of all the places we’ve stayed over the years, this was the BEST set up for our family.

The bathroom was quite spacious and had an actual tub (which is always important when going anywhere near sand with kids!)

There was also a little kitchenette with a microwave, mini-fridge, coffee maker and sink.

And in the living area, there’s a gas fire place, a couch (that is also a queen size pull out bed,) coffee table, as well as a breakfast table and chairs.

KIDS SLEEPING AREA

The biggest feature of the O’Neill Surf Suite for families with little kids is that there’s a separate kids sleeping area.

This sleeping area has the cutest bunk beds we’ve ever seen! They are built to look like a VW surf van.

Plus, there’s a cozy bean bag chair on the floor next to a little bookcase filled with children’s books (including our favorite Pete The Cat book!) And a set of Megablocks!

For older kids, there’s also an XBox set up with a mounted TV.

As a mom with a 2 year old and 4 year old, I appreciated that it was semi-private. There isn’t a door so my kids felt like we were all in the same room.

It’s also the first time ever that my toddler has slept in a “big boy bed” and I credit that to the fact that he was excited to sleep in the surf van!

[irp posts=”1720″ name=”Family Travel Guide to Portland, Oregon with Toddlers”]

Why Families Should Stay Here

Pacific City is a sleepy beach town and the Inn at Cape Kiwanda embraces that same laid-back vibe. It’s one of those hotels where you’ll still have fun even if you are just hanging out in your room.

STIMULUS COFFEE + BAKERY

Parents will love that there’s a really great cafe right downstairs. It’s called Stimulus Coffee + Bakery and their lattes are delicious!

They also have quite a few kid-friendly options. My kids loved drinking their apple cider and eating yogurt parfaits.

And they have an extensive menu of food that is made in house. There’s even windows outside where you can watch them cook!

While there are lots of tables and chairs inside the cafe, they also have places to sit outside.

MOVIES

I also liked seeing a huge bookcase filled with movies that are available for families to borrow.

Each room has an LCD TV mounted on the wall. We actually spent one evening snuggling in bed watching Frozen and it was awesome!

BIKES

While our kids were a bit too young to try, we saw that they offer complimentary use of beach cruiser bikes!

If your kids are older, this would be such a fun way to explore the town and really get into the beach lifestyle.

You could also pack your kids’ bikes and tricycles and use these bikes to join them for a ride!

BOARD GAME/PUZZLE AREA

On the second floor, right outside the elevator, they have a loft area with kid-friendly board games and puzzles.

One afternoon, our toddler needed a nap in the room and it was raining outside. So, I took our 4 year old to the second floor and we did puzzles for an hour.

It was very relaxing to chat with him as we worked on the puzzle. Plus, we could watch the rain and the ocean and it was quite nice.

WINE TASTING IN LOBBY

If you are there on a Friday or Saturday night, the Inn at Cape Kiwanda hosts Welcome Receptions that feature local wine, beer, or cider and snacks.

When we were there, they had an assortment of Pelican beer. My kids enjoyed watching them rearrange the lobby for the event!

Plus. the lobby has a cool telescope where you can look for surfers and see what’s happening on the beach!

GROCERY STORE NEXT DOOR

My husband and I appreciated that we could grab a few groceries right next door.

Our kids are used to drinking milk every morning as soon as they wake up and it was nice that we could walk over there and stock up our fridge the night before.

They also have other items you might need, like beach stuff, in case you forgot to pack.

Oh, and they have fudge there!

DOG-FRIENDLY ROOMS

I know one stress of families with dogs is finding someone to take care of their dog on weekend getaways.

The Inn at Cape Kiwanda has select rooms that are dog-friendly.

Not only are they dog-friendly, but they are set up to spoil your dog with dog towels, leashes, blankets and dog treats!

There’s even a wash station available, which I’m sure would come in handy after playing on the beach!

[irp posts=”6529″ name=”Best Kid-Friendly Weekend Getaways from Seattle”]

What to do on the Oregon Coast

Pacific City is a convenient place to stay on the Oregon Coast with kids, especially if you’re doing an Oregon Coast road trip. There’s lots to explore and many attractions are nearby.

THE BEACH!

The biggest attraction in Pacific City is the beach! It’s massive and so much fun!

Since we were on the Oregon Coast in September, we wore layers of clothing and rain boots to play at the beach and it was perfect.

Our kids loved running and jumping in the waves and throwing sand into the water.

We saw several families walking along the beach and kids building sandcastles.

The weather got a bit drizzly when we were hoping to make a beach fire, so we have to save that for our next trip.

Our kids were looking forward to sitting around a fire to roast marshmallows and make s’mores!

Insider Tip: Make sure to grab complimentary beach chairs and towels from the Inn at Cape Kiwanda before you head over!

KID-FRIENDLY DINING

We enjoyed Stimulus Coffee + Bakery both mornings we were there. It’s really very good!

We also got take out from Pelican Brewing Company, which is right across the street from the hotel on the beach.

The kids and I enjoyed our flatbread pizza and my husband loved the sandwich he ordered. We saw many families walking over there for dinner.

Oh, they make their own root beer and it’s soooooo goooooood!

Another dining option is Meridian Restaurant & Bar located at Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa across the street. If mom and dad can get away for an evening out, this is the perfect spot for them!

We didn’t have a chance to try it this trip, but their menu features a lot of seafood and sounds incredible!

OREGON COAST SCENIC RAILROAD

One of the highlights of our trip was getting to ride on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.

It had been on my radar for the past 2 years and our family thoroughly enjoyed it!

We caught it at Garibaldi. It’s about 50 minutes from the Inn at Cape Kiwanda, and totally worth the drive.

The whole excursion is 1.5 hours. The train takes you up the coast where you can see rock formations, fishing boats, and just gorgeous scenery.

It’s probably the most beautiful train route we’ve been on, and we ride a lot of trains!

TILLAMOOK CREAMERY

If you haven’t heard, the Tillamook Creamery just got a brand new visitors center and it is awesome!

It’s located about 40 minutes from the Inn at Cape Kiwanda (and it’s on your way back from the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.)

You can read my full post about the Tillamook Creamery here.

[irp posts=”8647″ name=”Tillamook Creamery on the Oregon Coast is FREE Family Fun”]

Additional Places to Stay in Pacific City

The Inn at Cape Kiwanda also has some sister properties that are worth checking out:

HEADLANDS COASTAL LODGE & SPA

This is located right at the beach (across the street from the Inn.) They have a full spa, cooking classes, seafood restaurant, exercise classes and more.

You can stay in one of their 33 guest rooms or opt to rent a luxury cottage. Check prices and availability here.

HART’S CAMP

For a completely different experience, rent an Airstream trailer at Hart’s Camp, which is directly behind the Inn.

It’s kind of like glamping since the Airstreams have fully equipped bathrooms and kitchenettes and bunk beds! Check prices and availability here.

Thanks to the Inn at Cape Kiwanda for hosting our stay and the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad for the train ride tickets. All opinions are my own.

More Fun Things to do in Oregon

Tillamook Creamery on the Oregon Coast is FREE Family Fun
Family Travel Guide to Portland, Oregon with Toddlers
How to Explore the Oregon Zoo in Portland with Preschoolers
Pacific Northwest Girls Weekend in Astoria, Oregon

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