Seagulls, Haystack Rock and the Needles at sunset, Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA

Needles and a haystack

At low tide, seabird and human alike tread the soggy sands that sprawl in the shadow of Haystack Rock. Whether you’re a beachcomber seeking seashells or a gull scavenging stranded crabs, this 235-foot Oregon Coast landmark (and the surrounding sea stacks, known as the ‘needles’) is a spectacular site. Even Hollywood agrees: Haystack Rock made for a memorable backdrop in the coming-of-age classic ‘The Goonies.’