Our two week west coast road trip began with a stop in Astoria, Oregon, on our way to Seaside (one of our favorite northwest beach towns). I’m not sure why we’ve never stopped at the Astoria Column before, which was absolutely worth the $5 cost to park (climbing up the column is free). The parking is also good for a full year, which we probably won’t use but for locals is wonderful. The column has a glass dome at the top, a spiral staircase, and a full 360 degree balcony at the top with amazing views. The paintings on the column, which represent the history of this area, are detailed and beautiful. Take the 15 – 20 minutes to stop here, you won’t be disappointed.
Seaside, Oregon is an old fashioned beach town with a 1.5 mile boardwalk, wide sandy beaches with volleyball courts and swing sets, and so many activities perfect for families. If you are traveling with adults only, consider staying in Canon Beach just south of Seaside. Seaside was designed with kids and families in mind with the huge arcade, bumper cars and a carousel all on the Main Street. All ages will enjoy feeding seals at the small Seaside Aquarium, established in 1937. It’s right off the boardwalk several blocks north of the promenade and worth a stop.
My daughter’s all time favorite thing to do in Seaside is play Fascination at the Funland Arcade. I should mention that my daughter is an adult now, but playing Fascination is still her favorite way to spend time together in Seaside. Fascination is an old game that was once found in arcades, boardwalks and amusement parks all over the US, where you roll a ball that goes into one of 25 holes in a grid with the goal of getting BINGO or blackout. There are only two places to play Fascination in the western US (one in Long Beach, CA) and at Funland in Seaside. Funland has 40 Fascination seats and sometimes there is a wait to get a spot, especially when it’s blackout and you can play for only $1 (normally $.50 for a much shorter BINGO game).
Other Seaside favorites: walk the boardwalk in both directions (it’s 1.5 miles end to end), make a campfire on the beach (we brought a picnic blanket, beach chairs and a cooler with us, fire supplies can be purchased at a store on the Main Street which is called Broadway), walk the beach (it goes on for miles and you never know if you might find an intact sand dollar), stroll through the cute shops (we love the toy shop in the carousel mall because they have a great puzzle selection), play a round of mini golf, and on a rainy day we like to take in a movie at the local theater.
Near Seaside: make the 15 minute drive to Canon Beach and visit their farmers market (Tuesday’s 11-3) or just stroll through town or head to the beach there. There are tons of cute shops and delicious restaurants (Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge is open late and serves hearty, tasty fare), but beach combing and exploring the tide pools is really the star in Canon Beach.
Where to stay: There are many hotel, condo and vacation rental options in Seaside (some right on the boardwalk). We typically stay at either the Worldmark (location, location, location) or I also like Ashore Hotel when the Worldmark is impossible to get. Ashore is an older building style but totally remodeled with so many modern amenities. The hotel room doors open to the exterior, which I normally shy away from, but this place has such a great vibe and the area around it is so safe that I feel totally comfortable here. And, it’s one block north of the main drag and one block in from the boardwalk. While it’s tempting to book a hotel right on the boardwalk to get an ocean view, keep in mind that the boardwalk is full of people morning to night, and you’ll probably end up keeping your curtains closed if you are on the first or second floor.
Picture above is Worldmark Seaside
