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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.

 

 

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
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Seaside gives you coffee and / or treats to fill bags with beach litter. Seaside events
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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
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Be you a family or be you a collegiate: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach, Oceanside, Pacific City
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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
Seaside Celebrates 125 Years of Being N. Oregon Coast Hotspot
On February 17 the town turns 125, celebrationg at the museum. Seaside events
Second Winter Waters Fest Brings Culinary / Drink Exploration to Portland, Or...
Feb 2 - 29 in Portland, Dayton, McMinnville. Newport events, Lincoln City events, Pacific City events, Rockaway Beach events, events, Seaside events, Astoria events

 

 

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Explore Every Beach Spot in Hundreds of Oregon Coast Pictures

Astoria - at the northernmost tip of Oregon
Astoria

Where the Columbia meets the Pacific, Land of Lewis & Clark and loads of atmosphere & history
Seaside, Oregon
Seaside

The Promenade, Tillamook Head, family fun & broad, sandy beaches
Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast
Cannon Beach

A mysterious lighthouse, upscale yet earthy, a huge monolith, fine eateries & an art mecca
Nehalem Bay, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler and Rockaway Oregon Coast
Nehalem Bay - Rockaway, Manzanita, Wheeler

Manzanita's beaches, Nehalem and Wheeler's quirky beauty; laid back Rockaway
Oregon Coast: Tillamook Bay, Tillamook, Bay City, Barview, Garibaldi
Tillamook Bay

Garibaldi, Barview, Bay City, Tillamook & an oceanfront ghost town
Three Capes Loop, Oceanside, Netarts, Pacific City, Cape Lookout, Cape Meares
Three Cape Loop - Pacific City, Oceanside

The hidden secret of the coast: Cape Meares, a lighthouse, Oceanside, Netarts and Pacific City
Lincoln City, Cascade Head, Neskowin, Inland Highway 101
Lincoln City
& the Corridor of Mystery
Miles & miles of unbroken beaches, Cascade Head, Neskowin and manmade attractions
Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast
Depoe Bay

A spouting horn downtown, freaky hidden cliffs and whales, whales, whales
Newport, Nye Beach on the Oregon Coast
Newport

Time-tripping Nye Beach, a bustling bayfront, marine science-central and two lighthouses
Waldport, Seal Rock
Waldport / Seal Rock

Pristine, even secretive sands and wild geologic landmarks
Yachats
Yachats

Constantly dramatic wave action, a mix of the rugged & upscale
Between Florence and Yachats - oodles of secret beaches
Upper Lane County

25 miles of deserted beaches & oodles of wonders
Florence - on the central Oregon coast
Florence

A lighthouse, ancient bayfront and miles and miles of fluffy dunes

 

Seaside, Oregon Lodging, Hotels, Motels, Restaurants, Inns, Vacation Rentals, Attractions

Inn of the Four Winds, Seaside
Oceanfront, upscale feel while not as spendy
Seashore Inn, Seaside Hotel
Oceanfront, pet friendly, heated indoor pool, steps from beach attractions
Clementine's Bed and Breakfast - Astoria
Near Seaside: An engaging historic experience; vacation rental next door
Vacation Rentals in Astoria, Warrenton, Gearhart
Multi-bedroom houses, north Oregon coast luxury lodging to budget, including Seaside
Dining, Restaurants, Menus in Seaside, Oregon.
Find Restaurants, Dining in Seaside
Schooner's Cove Inn
Near Seaside: Oceanfront upscale w/ picnic lawn, decks, spa
Near Seaside: Tolovana Inn
Views of Haystack; classic luxury with saltwater pool, spa, spacious rooms
ATTRACTION: Seaside Aquarium
More than 70 years of letting you feed the seals
ATTRACTION: Seaside Virtual Tour, Map
100's of photos, details about Seaside, Oregon, including map
Oregon Coast and Seaside Lodging Fantastic Views on Video
From the balconies and patios of oceanfront hotels, motels and vacation rentals in Seaside and elsewhere

 

Literally over 100 homes available as vacation rentals – all distinctive and carefully selected to be special. Find them in Yachats, Waldport, Newport, Nye Beach, Otter Rock, Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach, Lincoln Beach, Lincoln City, Neskowin, Pacific City, Tierra Del Mar and Rockaway Beach. Some pet friendly.

On the Seaside Promenade, in Seaside

 

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