9 Best Things to Do in Seaside

The Camp 18 Museum presents a wealth of exhibits tracing the entire history of the logging industry as well as education about forestry preservation and restoration efforts. The museum is entirely outdoors and has vintage logging equipment, a gigantic bandsaw, steam-powered machines, a railway logging car, and other artefacts.

Each has a placard discussing its place in the history of logging. Additionally, the museum has an indoor collection of vintage photographs, some dating back 100 years. The Museum is located approximately 26 minutes by car from city centre to the southeast.

Seaside Inverted Experience is a unique upside-down photography studio in Seaside where you can have a whole suite of photographs taken to make it look like you're upside down. All of the sets in this studio are arranged to be inverted—chairs and counters are bolted to the ceiling, for example—so when you pose, it creates a whimsical optical illusion.

This one-of-a-kind photo opportunity allows you to instantly share your images online and get prints of the photos you take. Studio sets include everything from beaches to kitchens, living rooms to saloons. It's located centrally in city centre Seaside.

Turnaround at Seaside has a commemorative statue memorialising Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery who mapped the western continent in the 19th century. This famously grueling expedition, that opened the gateway to the West, ended in Seaside at the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The Turnaround itself is the point where Broadway meets the Promenade.

The statue is 4 minutes city centre by car to the west of the town centre. The statue features Lewis & Clark as well as their famous dog, Seaman, who travelled with them the entire way.

Saddle Mountain Trail is 4.5 miles of a heavily trafficked hiking trail with brilliant wildflowers. The trail is generally utilised for hiking, biking, running, bird watching, and other nature trips and outdoor adventures. It’s an ideal trek for experienced hikers due to its difficulty rating and is accessible year-round.

The trail is dog-friendly, so you can bring your furry friend with you, as long as they're kept on a leash. You can access the trailhead about 42 minutes by car to the east of city centre Seaside.

Tillamook Head Traverse Hike exhibits astounding views of the Pacific, rock climbing, and historic locales that can be traced to Lewis and Clark. The trailhead is located at a promontory, a rock formation that ascends to over 1,000 feet above sea level, overlooking the coast.

The entire hike is a 12.6-mile return and takes you through wetlands, spruce trees, abandoned World War II radar stations, mossy woods, and plenty of switchbacks and side trails. The trailhead is a mere 8-minute drive from the centre of town.

The Arcadia Beach State Recreation Area renders a full mile of a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle. You'll find calming seaside breezes and tranquil ocean views. On either side of the recreation area, the beach opens up to views of the coast and headlands. It's something of a hidden gem that’s less crowded than other local beaches.

The area has basic amenities including picnic areas and bathrooms, making it a good option for a day of relaxation and fun in the sun. It's right on the shore, just minutes from the centre of city centre.

The Seaside Carousel Mall extends a number of small, independent boutique shops for a unique and fun shopping experience. The primary attraction is the carousel. The merry-go-round attraction is quite traditional and almost magical with hand-painted horses in a variety of poses as well as other animals, like pigs, ostriches, and more fantastical creatures. Surrounding the carousel is gift shops with arts and crafts.

Take a break from shopping to go inside an old-time photo booth and get your picture taken in a Wild West Saloon or a 1920s back alley. You’ll also find a classic 1950s style malt shop where you can grab a shake. It's located in town, just 2 blocks from the beach.

The Lewis & Clark Salt Works commemorates the 1805 expedition of the Corps of Discovery with an enduring rock furnace that dates back to the journey. By the time the travellers reached Oregon, they had run out of precious salt. This is the site where the group set up a furnace system to extract salt from the ocean.

Visitors can view this furnace that stands as a reminder of those difficult times and the very first European expedition to map the Western United States. The furnace monument is right in town, just a 4-minute drive from the centre of the city.

Seaside Beach provides a wide range of activities for the entire family, such as beach bonfires, biking, razor clam digging, surfing, and swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Whether you're here to build a sandcastle, fly a kite, seashell hunt, or plan a picnic, there's plenty of fun to be had. Of course, the beach is completely free to the public.

Shops on the beach rent out surfboards and boogie boards, offer surfing lessons, and have a variety of beachwear and toys to enhance your enjoyment. The Beach is in town, just 4 minutes from the centre of city centre.