Updated: Weekly
Seaside, Oregon - Complete Travel Guide
to Seaside
(Seaside,
Oregon) – Six generations of tourists can’t be wrong.
With its beautiful promenade (built in the 20s), a long
stretch of wind-sheltered beach, its charming streets, its family/carnival
atmosphere and a lengthy history of being one heck of a party town for
the over 21 set, Seaside has something for just about anyone.
Portlanders have vacationed here for more than six generations,
creating a history that is rich and colorful for over 100 years. The promenade
– more than a mile long - is proof of this, as are the visits to
this area by explorers Lewis and Clark. Well, sort of, anyway. There is
a monument to the pair sitting in the middle of the picturesque and famed
turnaround.
Seaside often gets maligned for its commercial vibe. And
while the crazed, frenetic atmosphere of the downtown area isn’t
for everyone, there is much more to Seaside than that. This is something
that’s always overlooked by travel writers.
There
are hidden chunks of nature to explore, an upscale neighborhood with a
gourmet slant, and history to get lost in – all away from the hustle
and bustle of the more family-oriented Broadway area. A recent shift towards
more affluent residents - part time and full time - is changing many areas
of Seaside, most notably the Gilbert District. And if that still doesn't
appeal to you, stick to the colorful but quiet, upscale vibe of Gearhart,
a couple miles away.
The town has all the amenities you could ask for: scrumptious,
sometimes innovative cuisine, major grocery stores, a liquor store, a
large movie theater complex and an outlet mall filled to the brim with
60 stores.
Seaside is notorious for kicking into high gear around
Spring Break, so be prepared for massive crowds of collegiates, high schoolers
and their families. Summer, too, brings at least as many young folks as
it does families, giving the town an interesting dose of youthful madness.
In August, as everyone heads to the beach for a last minute vacation,
even weekdays acquire a buzzing, crowded state, and late at night, the
beach is often dotted with bonfires surrounded by younger folks until
dawn.
While
some will find this energy slightly refreshing compared to other coastal
towns, the youthful element in Seaside seems to have taken its toll on
the town, and the conservative nature of many small towns like this is
sometimes accentuated by the occasional problems created by crazed late-teens
and early twentysomethings. When looking for lodging, you may find some
motels and hotels with policies which won't allow renting to folks under
the age of 25 years old.
For those over 21, the town’s kooky bar scene provides
amusement on a variety of levels. The other tourists and some of the locals
are true, oddball characters, with the out-of-towners often getting a
bit looser than they normally would at home. Both categories provide lots
of inadvertent humor. The locals - colorful or otherwise - are simply
exceptionally cool people.
This tour actually begins just south of Warrenton, in the
area surrounding Gearhart.
THIS PAGE IS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION
In the meantime, for the full complete guide to Seaside / Gearhart, see the book Ultimate Oregon Coast Travel: Seaside - Gearhart. Every Beach Access, Odd Facts, Fun Finds
Not only does the book contain a listing and detailed look at every single beach access in the areas of Gearhart through Seaside, but a host of fun historical facts, oddities, weird science and travel tips that no one talks about.
What can you find on one Seaside beach you can't find anywhere else? Discover historical surprises like the doomed structures here 100 years ago, Seaside's part in influencing rock history, the odd story how the town got its name, and some structures you can find now that tie into the town's curious past, indeed the formation of the early United States. See the remarkable and strange story about how and why beaches and dunes in the area have changed. And what happened to one section of beach that abruptly changed it?
Plus, wild facts and curiosities like glowing sand, singing sand, where to find agates - and more unique travel tips to the area than you'd ever imagined.
Also available now: Ultimate Oregon Coast Travel: Cannon Beach.
SOLVE Still Seeking Volunteers for Oregon Spring Cleanup on Coast, Elsewhere
It runs through April 22 with the beach on April 20. Newport events, Lincoln City events, Pacific City events, Rockaway Beach events, events, Seaside events, Astoria events, south coast events, Florence events
North Oregon Coast's Labor Day Riots Focus of Seaside Talk
April 18 local writer / author RJ Marx gives history talk. Seaside events
Oregon Coast Whale Watch Week May Bring More Whales for Variety of Reasons
Spring Whale Watch Week to the region March 23 - 31. Newport events, Lincoln City events, Pacific City events, Rockaway Beach events, events, Seaside events, Astoria events, south coast events, Florence events
Coffee 'n Treats for Trash: N. Oregon Coast Town Makes Picking Up Litter Yummy
Seaside gives you coffee and / or treats to fill bags with beach litter. Seaside events
Spring Cleanup in April Needs People - Including Oregon Coast
Between April 13 and April 22. Newport events, Lincoln City events, Pacific City events, Rockaway Beach events, events, Seaside events, Astoria events, south coast events
Oregon's North Coast and Its Varied, Layered Spring Break Experience
Be you a family or be you a collegiate: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach, Oceanside, Pacific City
And the Winners for Oregon Coast's Busiest State Parks Are....
In 2023, Oregon's state parks witnessed an impressive surge. Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Newport, Waldport, Yachats, Florence, Reedsport, Coos Bay, Bandon, Port Orford, Brookings
Seaside's Wilder Side: A Historic Kind of Oregon Coast Rugged and Unruly
A chunk of stuff to do in the natural world
UPDATED: A Rare Stranding on Oregon Coast, Fin Whale Washes Up Near Seaside
About 40 feet, it washed up at Gearhart
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