18 Fun & Best Things to Do in Seaside, Oregon

Seaside, Oregon was the final stop for the Lewis and Clark expedition; it was at Seaside Beach where they finally witnessed the Pacific Ocean and were able to begin their trek back east. Today, Seaside, one of Oregon’s first resort cities, is where locals and tourists delight in the convergence of where mountains meet the ocean, and the beach is hugged by a quaint and quiet historic town.

While you’re here, you can shop, dine, hike mountains, swim in the Pacific Ocean, walk the beaches, get pampered in a spa, stay in excellent accommodations, tour interesting places, and make unforgettable, lifelong memories.

Here are the best things to do in Seaside, Oregon.

TL;DR

• Most significant landmark – End of the Trail Lewis & Clark Statue
• Best park – Saddle Mountain State Natural Area
• Best free activity – Walk the Seaside Promenade
• Best activity for kids – Captain Kid Amusement Park
• Best activity for adults – Take a Guided Tour of the Oregon Coastline
• Best food – Camp 18 Museum and Restaurant
• Best nightlife – Capricorn Pub
• Best all-around accommodation – The Starry Night Inn

Fun & Best Things to Do in Seaside, Oregon

1. Go to The Prom (Seaside Promenade)

Address: South Promenade Road, Seaside, Oregon 97138

The Seaside Promenade is a 15-foot-wide paved walkway right on the beach that stretches from 12th Avenue to Avenue U. It was paved in 1920; prior to that, it was a boardwalk. With many fun things to do, the Prom is always busy all-year round; walkers, sunset strollers, cyclists, skateboarders, dog walkers, runners, and people in wheelchairs all frequent here.

It’s a great place for all ages and mobilities to have a gorgeous unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean and the Oregon coast. Consider grabbing a warm drink from a nearby coffee shop and enjoying one of the many benches along the way. Seaside Promenade is a lovely spot to admire the town and scenery together.

The Turnaround is part of the Seaside Promenade. It’s a roundabout at the end of Broadway Street, and has a dual purpose: a place for cars to turn around on Broadway, but also to signify the place where Lewis and Clark turned around on their expedition to head back east. In the center of the Seaside turnaround, sits a tall statue of Lewis and Clark to mark the “End of the Lewis and Clark Trail.” This is one of Oregon’s most iconic landmarks.

Family vacationers: there is a modest playground and restrooms adjacent to the Turnaround. Feel free to stay a few hours and make lifelong memories here.

2. Hiking Saddle Mountain

Address: Saddle Mountain State Park Rd, Seaside, OR 97138

Hiking Saddle Mountain should be on every moderately active person’s bucket list. This trail is situated in the Saddle Mountain State Natural Area, and wow, does it have a lot to offer.

This trail is breathtaking, literally and metaphorically. It’s a stunning hike that ascends to a 3,290-foot elevation summit. For the duration of the hike, you’ll gain 1,640 feet in elevation over two-and-half miles (it’s a five-mile hike in total because it is an out-and-back trail). It’s moderately steep but well-maintained throughout.

On this hike, you’ll see Oregon’s coastal forests, the Pacific Ocean, up and down the coastline, and many mountains. On a clear day, you’ll be able to spot Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and more.

In the warmer months, keep an eye out for rare species of wildflowers. During the Miocene era, basalt lava flowed down to the sea, causing steam explosions. These explosions tossed thin and rocky basalt fragments up and into the mountains.

This higher elevation soil was ideal for meadow wildflowers. When the last Ice Age happened, the flowers on the top of the mountain were more protected and survived into the modern day.

Early Blue Violet (which feeds the rare and beautiful Silverspot Butterfly, reintroduced in 2018) and Saddle Mountain Bittercress only grow on this mountain.

Many other rare species call the mountain home:

• Saddle Mountain Saxifrage
• Cope’s Giant Salamander
• Williamette Valley Larkspur
• Wandering Daisy
• Western Red Avens
• Frigid Shooting Star
• Queen of the Forest
• Alaska Long Awned Sedge

While on your hike, be sure to keep an eye out for these rare wildflowers, animals, insects, moss, liverwort, and lichen species.

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3. Take Your Kids (or Cool Friends) to Captain Kid Amusement Park

Address: 2735 S Roosevelt Dr, Seaside, OR 97138

This amusement park offers go-karting, an 18-hole mini golf course, a rock wall, a family roller coaster, kiddie old-fashioned car rides, rotowhips, gyroxtreme, wizzer, and several more rides and events for people of all ages. They also have a fun mining sluice set up called the Shangrila Creek Mining Company designed to be enjoyed by families. They’re open seven days a week; you can find the Captain Kid Amusement Park website.

4. Get a Drink and a Meal at Hop and Vine Bottle Shop and Tap Room

Address: 220 S Columbia St, Seaside, OR 97138

This underrated, little bottle shop and tap house doesn’t have a website but it isn’t lacking in fans nor loyal visitors. Here, you’ll find beers on tap, wine by the glass, beer coolers, prepackaged beer, growlers, growler fill-ups, ciders, and a few meals to choose from. Chips and salsa, sandwiches, and other light bites are available.

It’s a beautiful little tap room that features a turquoise and wooden color scheme, large flatscreen TVs, cool lighting, and many shelves absolutely loaded down with drinks to choose from. They also deliver! How convenient is that?!

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5. Check Out Seaside Beach

Address: 229-299 S Promenade, Seaside, OR 97138

During your stay at this west coast seaside beach town, you have to make time to catch a sunset from the Seaside Beach. The beach is flat and wide and the sand is clean, soft and ideal for walking or jogging.

Of course, the Seaside Promenade walk is nearby too if you’re wanting more solid ground. Kids love to play in the soft sands, and adults love to sunbathe here. Locals will swim and surf and partake in ocean kayaking, but visitors may find the waters too cold to be enjoyable.

You’re likely to find sand dollars washed up on the shores. If you wade into the ocean at low tide, you can spot star fish, sea anemones, and even more living sand dollars. Mornings and evenings usually provide moody foggy views that are ominous and yet peaceful.

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6. Explore the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge

Address: 46 Steamboat Slough Rd, Cathlamet, WA 98612

It will take you about forty-five minutes to get to this refuge from downtown Seaside, but it is well worth the trip. This cool place, thanks to smart conservation, has remained nearly unchanged for the past two hundred years. About twenty islands in the Columbia River call this refuge home, and countless flora and fauna residing here. Local wildlife is abundant and thriving.

At least 35 bald eagles nest and live here year-round. Migrating tundra swans, ducks, and geese have healthy populations here too.

In the river, you can spot American shad, bass, catfish, perch, Pacific lamprey, smelt, and starry flounder. Seaside harbor seals, California sea lions, beavers, mink, muskrats, river otters, and white-tailed deer can be seen where land and water meet.

The Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge also encompasses the mouth of the Columbia River where it meets the sea. Take the hiking trails or paddle the river as the Lewis and Clark Expedition once did, and see a whole new side of the Pacific Northwest that many people don’t take the time to fully appreciate.

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7. Feed Seals at the Seaside Aquarium

Address: 200 N Prom, Seaside, OR 97138

Seaside Aquarium, founded in 1937, is privately owned and known as one of the oldest aquariums on the west coast. It’s small, but affordable, friendly, and filled with fish and other sea creatures. I love the small and intimate feeling overall. When visiting Seaside with children, be sure to stop here. It’s set up well to keep the whole family feeling included and making unforgettable memories.

Pro tip: Stop by a restroom before your visit, because public restrooms are not available.

The aquarium is well stocked with fish species, crabs, snails, sharks, sea cucumbers, starfish, anemone, and two large octopi. They have captive seals you can feed too. All of the marine wildlife is local to the area, and not imported.

They have mock tide pools where you and your children are free to gently touch the small creatures and plants inside. While it’s not a long experience, it is a good one that will entertain and educate all ages. Find the Seaside Aquarium website here.

8. Get the Seaside Inverted Experience

Address: 111 Broadway St # 11, Seaside, OR 97138

If you like a good photo, you have to check out Seaside Inverted Experience. This is one of those fun places where you can embark on a one-of-a-kind photo adventure with vintage nautical-themed scenes.

Optical illusions, smart angles, staging, and clever editing (with professional help) is the name of the game here. This stop is sure to elicit some laughter and allow you to leave with great photographic evidence of your visit.

This is definitely marketed as a tourist attraction, but you’ll have so much fun you won’t care. You can leave with the photos on your phone, sent to you digitally, or printed out before you go.

The people who guide and assist you are fun, friendly, and energetic. Rates are very affordable. You can check out the Seaside Inverted Experience website here.

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9. Stay at The Starry Night Inn

Address: 811 1st Ave, Seaside, OR 97138

The Starry Night Inn is Oregon Coast’s only boutique art hotel, and it is a wonderful experience with Victorian rooms, cabins, private spas, soaking tubs, a full-body massage chair, and an infrared sauna. At the time of writing, the Inn has an impressive 4.9-star average rating with nearly 200 glowing reviews.

While here, you can schedule an art class; these classes can be as small as two guests, and feature complimentary coffee, tea, pastries, and cocktails. You’ll learn how to paint aquatic life and landscapes with the guidance of an artist. All materials are provided, and you can either paint indoors in the lobby or outside in the fresh air on their front porch.

They have three second-story rooms and three first-floor cabins with all of the amenities (and more) of a studio apartment. I have to say that Room Five with the queen bed is my favorite. I love the forest mural and sophisticated Bohemian aesthetic.

What’s so great about this Inn is its proximity to historical downtown Seaside. Once you arrive at the Inn, park your car and then walk everywhere you want to visit in Seaside. Book your stay at The Starry Night Inn.

10. Ride at Seaside Skate Park in Broadway Park

Address: 1140 Broadway St, Seaside, OR 97138

Seaside Skate Park is 11,000 square feet, and adjacent to the baseball field and indoor swim center. It’s small, but optimal for intermediate riders.

Here, you have mild to challenging lines that connect intuitively. The pool-style bowl flows nicely, and it has smooth ground, good hips, and interesting twists to play with.

Some people describe it as best for BMX-style skatepark, while others comment that it feels small enough that it feels like it’s designed for shorter adults or taller children. There are a few small ledges that are relatively easy, plus a downrail that is just plain fun to do.

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11. Take A Guided Tour of the Oregon Coastline

Address: Seaside, OR 97138

Just 14 minutes and 8 miles south of Seaside, you’ll find the stunning Cannon Beach. Check out the famous Haystack Rock, take in the dramatic sweeping views of sharp cliffs, beaches, lighthouses (including Tillamook Lighthouse), forests, the ocean, and sandy beaches.

Check out Neahkahnie Point, stroll downtown Manzanita, visit art galleries, antique shop, or grab a bite to eat. Your guide can pick you up from Seaside and the tour will last approximately 8 hours. Claim your guided land tour here.

12. Learn about Logging and Grab a Bite at Camp 18 Museum

Address: 42364 Sunset Hwy, Seaside, OR 97138

Camp 18 Museum encapsulates the Camp 18 Restaurant. It’s well worth a stop to stretch, stroll through the outdoor museum, and get a bite to eat after the seaside museum.

You’ll find antique machinery (logging trucks, tractors, bandsaws, a Dolbeer donkey, steam crane, a wooden water tower, and more), great information about the pieces, and the history of logging in Oregon. I like the Clark and Wilson wood-sided red caboose that used to trail logging trains.

Charming chainsaw carvings dot the property at random. I find them so whimsical and impressive. This is one of the best local restaurants to visit on your way to Seaside, and it’s disguised as a gorgeous rustic log cabin. It has a distinct home style of cooking which I find comforting and super cozy. Get the marionberry cobbler, it is simply perfection!

Something interesting about the restaurant is the 85-foot-long ridge pole in the main room; it’s the largest known structural member in the United States. And those massive fireplaces were constructed using 50 tons of local rock.

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13. Ride the Carousel at Seaside Carousel Mall

Address: 300 Broadway St, Seaside, OR 97138

Built from the old Bungalow Dance Hall, Seaside Carousel Mall is a hotspot for locals and tourists alike. It is a quaint mall that is small, but with plenty of fun things to do. Ten shops, two restaurants, and four activities call Seaside Carousel Mall home.

The shops are: By the Sea Shells and Gifts, Your Store, North Coast Leather, Oregon Coast Portraits, Rascals, Caffe Latte, Seaside Mostly Hats, The Aspirin Shop, West of the Moon, and Under the Big Top.

Your restaurant options are New Asian Garden Cuisine (which offers more than 175 menu items) and Caffe Latte (a coffee shop and small bakery, which also doubles as a gift store).

Activities include laser tag and an arcade, a shark ride, and the famous carousel ride. This carousel ride is exceptionally well-maintained with vibrant colors, and several animals (a cat, bear, seahorse rabbit, deer, giraffe, pig, ostrich, and several horses). These animals are reproductions of the originals at the San Francisco Carousel Museum. As you can imagine, this is a very family-friendly place to explore and enjoy.

14. Grab a Bite at Seaside Slushies & Dogs

Address: 550 Broadway St A, Seaside, OR 97138

Seaside Slushies & Dogs is in downtown Seaside with close access to the sandy beach and views of the coast range. They have some of the best all-beef hog dogs, chili dogs, corn dogs, corn dog nuggets, chili, slaw, slushy drinks, chips, mac and cheese, baked potatoes, loaded tots, and slushy drinks. This place even offers vegan brats and gluten-free buns.

Looking for slow things to do in Seaside Oregon? Grab a dog and drink from here and then walk to the Seaside Promenade to enjoy your day. Grab a bench or sit on the sandy shores to people-watch, smell the fresh, salty ocean air, and take a moment to relax.

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15. Visit the Eerie Wreck of the Peter Iredale

Address: Fort Stevens State Park, Peter Iredale Rd, Hammond, OR 97121.

This excursion will take you 15 miles north of Seaside to Fort Stevens State Park. History buffs will enjoy this one.

The wreck of Peter Iredale took place on October 25 in 1906. The ship had managed to successfully maneuver to the mouth of Columbia River despite thick fog. Unfortunately though, while waiting for a pilot, strong wind ruined the day. As Captain H. Lawrence recalled: “a heavy southeast wind blew and a strong current prevailed. Before the vessel could be veered around, she was in the breakers and all efforts to keep her off were unavailing.”

Luckily, all 27 members of the ship, plus two stowaways, were able to safely escape to shore. The very next day, tourists began flocking to the site at Fort Stevens. The ship is still there today. Though it is quite distressed, it is still an excellent place to stop and take the scene in. Visiting at low tide makes it easier to get up close to the ship.

16. Relax at Schooner’s Cove Inn

Address: 188 N Larch St, Cannon Beach, OR 97110

This oceanfront hotel, about 15 minutes from Seaside, offers suites with full kitchens, gas fireplaces, wifi, flat-screen TVs, HBO, and oceanfront decks or private balconies. The hotel also has a hot tub, barbecue facilities, picnic areas, loungers, and free parking. Rooms are tastefully decorated, have spacious vaulted ceilings, and stunning ocean views out of the big glass doors and windows.

It also prides itself on being child-friendly with kids books, DVDs, and music, plus kids stay free here. They also offer family suites that feature two queen beds, a hide-a-bed, a kitchen, a spacious deck, and some have fireplaces to enjoy those cold and rainy days inside.

All rooms are accessible by the elevator, making them wheelchair and child stroller accessible. The hotel is a short drive from Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach Coaster Theatre, and Indian Beach. It is 40 minutes west of Jewell Meadows Wildlife area. This inn is simply magnificent and may leave you wishing for a rainy day and an excuse to stay indoors.

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17. Stay at the Seaside Hillcrest Inn and Hillcrest House

Address: 118 N Columbia St, Seaside, OR 97138

Seaside Hillcrest Inn and Hillcrest House, as the name suggests, is on the crest of a hill in the middle of beautiful Seaside, Oregon. It has 26 units. Some are private rooms, while others are spacious cottages that will accommodate families.

The rooms and cottages are arranged nicely with a courtyard in the center, giving groups and families a great place to mingle, enjoy lunch on the picnic tables, play in the grass, or just have tea in the fresh ocean breeze.

This precious inn is only two minutes away from the beach and within walking distance of anything you could possibly want to see or do in Seaside.

It is very child-friendly with complimentary sand toys, wagons, beach blankets, beach towels, board games, movies, and kids’ toys. They also have a cute little play area for children in the yard. They’re also dog-friendly too!

Hillcrest is the most accessible and affordable accommodation in Seaside, and yet it still has so much to offer. The rooms are clean, and well-maintained, with quite a few amenities. Some of these amenities include: fireplaces, saunas, in-room spas, kitchens, freshly brewed coffee, teas, and various pasties every morning, popcorn, cookies, and cocoa are available in the lobby all day, wifi, cable TV and DVD players, free parking, laundry facilities and complimentary newspapers. Book your stay at the Seaside Hillcrest Inn here.

18. Experience the Nightlife at Capricorn Pub

Address: 118 N Columbia St, Seaside, OR 97138

If you’re looking for a friendly, welcoming atmosphere with excellent food, drinks, and people, Capricorn Pub is the place for you. It’s a full bar with sports, karaoke, a wide selection of drinks and foods, plus a great overall vibe.

You’re going to find that your bartender is fun, interesting, and really makes you feel like you belong right from the start. If you aren’t sure what to order (because that menu is so diverse), they will help you out with a smile.

Local tap beers, cabbage rolls, tequila shots, and Moscow mules are popular choices. Capricorn Bar has karaoke, pool tables, and several fun events, like comedy shows and live music.

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Where to Stay in Seaside, Oregon?

We have selected the three best accommodations for all price points for Seaside. Two of these inns (Starry Night Inn and Seaside Hillcrest Inn) are located in the heart of Seaside, so the entire town is easily accessible by foot or wheelchair. The third, Schooner’s Cove Inn, is a few minutes away from Seaside, but offers an incredibly elegant and luxurious stay.

For a high-end room, suite or cottage, go to Schooner’s Cove Inn. It has stunning oceanfront views right on the beach with vaulted ceilings, ultra-plush bedding, and top-notch service.

If you’re craving a more intimate Seaside experience at a fair middle-ground rate, go to the lovely Starry Night Inn. This place offers six rooms, each of which is art-inspired, colorful, cozy, and so interesting.

Finally, if you’re looking for a steal of a deal spot, the Seaside Hillcrest Inn is perfect. This inn, while very affordable, has a ton of amenities to offer, a great location, kind service, and the premises are quite safe, secure, and clean.

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