Activities around Seaside, Oregon

Here is a collection of ideas around Seaside for your spouse or families, while you attend the VHF Conference.

Seaside

  • 24 Things to Do in Seaside, OR (off-site)
  • 30 Things to Do in Seaside, OR (off-site)
  • Seaside Carousel Mall (off-site) is easy walking distance from the Shilo. Lots of small shops and restaurants there. Try some Tilamook ice cream, or maybe salt-water taffy. While it's a resort, Seaside is a very small town.
  • There is good mall of antique shops to the east.
  • Don't forget the outlet stores east of HWY 101.
  • Dooger's Seafood and Grill (off-site) and Norma's Seafood and Steak (off-site) are excellent. And the food at Shilo Inn is quite good, although it might be too close to the conference.
  • Camp 18 Restaurant (off-site) is a must! It's eighteen miles from the coast on the south side of highway 26. Marionberry cobbler!
  • Sadly, there are no wineries in the Seaside area. And only two much further down toward Newport. The closest ones are about an hour away on Highway 47 just past the exit off Highway 26. There a couple of good wine bars in Astoria.

Cannon Beach

Nearby Cannon Beach is an easy 6 miles to the south.

  • Cannon Beach is picturesque with nice shops and good food.
  • Haystack Rock (off-site) is worth a walk on the beach.
  • Ecola State Park (off-site) is very nice - right on the ocean. Part of the movie "Kindergarten Cop" was filmed there.

Astoria

Astoria is a one-hour drive to the north of Seaside. It's an interesting trip on the way to or from Seattle.

Note the Great Columbia Crossing 10K (off-site) will reduce the Astoria Megler Bridge to one lane on Sunday 10/12/2014 from 8:30 to 11:00 am.

  • Astoria Vistors Center (off-site) is right on the way into Astoria from Seaside, and the folks there are overflowing with information on things to do. We found that one day was not nearly enough for nearby Astoria.
  • Astoria Trolley (off-site) is inexpensive ($1) and a fun ride along the waterfront. Check operation time and days.
  • Columbia River Maritime Museum (off-site) can easily consume your entire afternoon - very worthwhile.
  • Fort Stevens State Park (off-site) is a huge flatland park at the mouth of the Columbia, with carriage guns and historic buildings, where the freshwater river meets the saltwater sea. This is a great place to hike, bike, camp, explore the beaches and see wildlife and river traffic.
  • Fort Columbia State Park (WA) (off-site) offers much history, 593 acres and a mile of freshwater shoreline.
  • Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center (off-site) on the Washington side (above the tunnel) and the near the north jetty.
  • Astoria has been the setting for a lot of films, and there's a nice little film museum there as well. You may be able to find found the house and elementary school where most of "Kindergarten Cop" was filmed.