Seaside, OR

Address:Seaside, Oregon

Seaside, Oregon is an idyllic Oregon coastal town, with three miles of white sandy beach, an old-fashioned downtown shopping district, a quaint boardwalk and museums. Local parks offer opportunities for outdoor leisure, with biking, hiking, fishing and camping in beautiful natural settings. The nicest aspect of Seaside attractions is their accessibility. Everything is within easy walking distance from a central parking lot, and all of Seaside's fun, learning and beauty is only a 90-minute drive from Portland.

Quaint and lovely, downtown Seaside has dozens of specialty boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, museums, arcades and cinemas. The area also has several shopping malls, including the Salmonberry Square in the historic Gilbert District, Seaside Factory Outlet Center with 30 manufacturer stores that offer quality-brand merchandise tax-free, and the Carousel Mall, featuring 20 unique shops that surround a full-size running old-fashioned carousel.

Make sure to let your sweet tooth loose during your visit, because Seaside is considered candy capitol of the North coast, with tons of salt water taffy, chocolates, fudge, caramel apples and ice cream with hundreds of different flavors to choose from.

At the Seaside Museum, feel like a part of history as you visit the end of the Lewis and Clark Trail statue and the Lewis and Clark Salt Works. The Tillamook Rock lighthouse has fascinating history dating back to 1881. On the beach promenade, visit the famous Seaside Aquarium, where you can feed the seals, observe displays of marine life and touch sea creatures at the Discovery Center.

Seaside is a great place to relax outdoors. There are bike and go-cart rentals of all sorts on the boardwalk and in nearby parks. Fort Stevens State Park, originally a Civil War fortification over the Columbia River in 1863, is one of Oregon's loveliest and largest parks. Enjoy the pristine beaches, freshwater lakes, picnic facilities, nature trails, boating, camping, biking, horseback riding, and swimming, or visit the wreck of the "Peter Iredale." Fort Stevens has over six miles of hiking trails and nine miles of winding bike trails. Coffenbury, Creep, Crawl, Cullaby and Crabapple lakes offer swimming, picnic tables, fishing and canoeing.

Winding out to sea through rugged sand dunes, the Necanicum River is popular for boating, crabbing and fishing. The Estuary Walking Trail, accessible from the 12th Avenue parking lot, winds for about a mile as you enter more unspoiled territory, and concludes at a rocky area near the mouth of the bay. Quatat Marine Park, part of downtown Seaside along the river, has nice picnic tables and a boat ramp. Seaside is also perfect for swimming, surfing, kite flying, volleyball, golf and tennis. Steelhead, trout, salmon and other game fish are just waiting to challenge anglers. Seaside's 12th Avenue Bridge is a crabber's dream!

For excursions outside the town, consider hiking the Oregon Coast Trail, which starts with a flat, 17-mile stretch from Seaside to the South Jetty of the Columbia River. Follow in the footsteps of the Lewis & Clark Expedition on the six-mile hike across Tillamook Head between Seaside and Cannon Beach and enjoy the forest and ocean views. Another beautiful spot is the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge. Accessible by boat, the refuge encompasses 313 acres of islands and sand bars in Oregon's Columbia River estuary, bordered by tidelands and open water. The refuge provides wintering areas for 1,000 tundra swans, 5,000 geese, 30,000 ducks and many other wildlife species. Skamokawa Vista Park is great for camping, and Oswald West State Park encompasses 12 miles of the beautiful Oregon Coast Trail, Neahkahnie Mountain and a hike-in campground.

Golfers will be delighted with Seaside's three golf courses. The Seaside Golf Club, with the Necanicum River running through it, is a great place for a serene, relaxing nine holes. The Highlands at Gearhart is a par 30 course, perfect for your short game, overlooking Gearhart Beach. Gearhart Golf is an 18 hole, public course located on the beautiful North Oregon Coast in Gearhart. The course, opened in 1892 as 3 holes strewn across the sand dunes, is the oldest course in the northwest and arguably in the Western United States. There are also tennis courts, a public swimming pool and a skateboard park.

For entertainment in the evening, Seaside has a billiard parlor, theater company, movie theater and bowling alley. Choose from an array of restaurants, taverns and eateries in town offering fresh seafood and renowned Oregon wines. Seaside offers accommodations in every price range, with a variety of charming bed & breakfast inns, condominiums, hotels, motels, resorts, R.V. parks and campgrounds, most within an easy walk of the beach.

Seaside is located on the Pacific Ocean, at the northwest tip of Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River. The nearest Airport is the Portland International Airport, roughly 90 miles away. Seaside is accessible via the scenic coastal Highway 101.