Seaside: Oregon's Beach Resort

A resort town is a wonderful place to have fun on the coast, and Seaside, Oregon is no exception. Seaside is Oregon's most popular beach resort, and despite this, the town remains a pleasant, relaxing place full of fun activities and ways to take it easy.

Seaside's popularity in part stems from its easy access to Portland, Oregon's biggest city. Seaside is less than an hour and a half drive along an excellent road, U. S Route 26. You'll come into Seaside from the south, and soon you'll turn onto Broadway, the heart of Seaside.

Shops, restaurants, and recreational activities line Broadway, along with benches and flowers. Many hotels, both older and cozier and new and glamorous, are with two blocks of Broadway. Here, you'll find caramel apples, Hawaiian shaved ice, saltwater taffy and other coastal treats, along with tasty seafood and fine dining. Choose from cutting-edge Northwest cuisine, or go for old coastal favorites like Pig n' Pancake for a yummy breakfast or lunch.

Broadway also features several arcades and amusements, such as bumper cars and a carousel, along with terrific shopping of all sorts. From charming seashore gifts and relics to clothing and international imports, you'll find something to fascinate you on this great street.

At the end of Broadway is a scenic turnaround just before the beach, featuring a statue of the famous explorers Lewis and Clark, who established a salt-making facility here over two hundred years ago. A replica of the facility can be seen in a Seaside neighborhood, near the southern end of the beach.

Along its beautiful beach, Seaside features a long promenade, often called the Prom, that is excellent for a relaxing walk, a morning jog, or a bike ride. The beach itself is large and wide-open, with plenty of room for kite flying, picnicking, building sand castles, playing volleyball, or just walking and enjoying the surf. To the south, you'll see majestic Tillamook Head looming in the distance.

On the other end of Broadway is the Necanicum River, featuring a number of bridges as well as a large public deck great for picnics or relaxing with your shaved ice or your caramel apple. Here, you'll also find a dock that rents bumper boats and paddle boats.

Seaside is also ideally located for other coastal activities, as well. Heading south will take you to Ecola State Park, a beautiful oasis of forest and secluded beaches, where you can picnic, whale watch, and enjoy the beauty of the ocean. You can also hike up a mile-long trail to the top of Tillamook Head, where you can see the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse atop an island off the shore, spend a night in a primitive hiker's camp, and visit a creepy old World War II underground observation post. Another four mile long trail leads all the way to Seaside itself, if you're in for an epic hike.

Just south of Ecola State Park is another great Oregon resort town, Cannon Beach, which features excellent shopping, art galleries, and the majestic Haystack Rock, a mountainous and oft-photographed feature protruding from the beach. You'll find tide pools here as well, filled with sea anemones, urchins, and starfish!

If you're new to the Oregon Coast, or you're looking for a great place to have fun and relax on a weekend from the city, Seaside is waiting for you!