Travel Guide: Seaside, Oregon

The weather is finally getting warmer and we’ve been missing the beach.

Paul and I have been exploring the Oregon Coast from our home base here in Portland. We are so lucky because the lovely town of Seaside is a quick little weekend trip away and we stopped in for our very visit earlier this month.

We couldn’t imagine visiting the beach without our dog BINGO so it was a priority for us to make this trip as pet-friendly as a trip as possible. Luckily, Seaside is an extremely dog-friendly community and there are lots of options for those of you thinking of visiting with your pup.

Getting There – We drove from Downtown Portland and it took us about 90 minutes with stops for snacks, gas and washroom breaks. I definitely recommend leaving the city before 3 PM, when the traffic starts to get heavy and you still have lots of light to enjoy the journey to Seaside.

Where To Stay – We checked in to the ultra hip Ashore Hotel, a former motel that underwent a major renovation and opened last July with almost brand new everything. We loved the sliding metal barn door, the warm wood paneling, the retro fireplace in our room and the 2-minute walk to the beach.

If you’re looking for a hip hotel in a fun beach town with an amazing location, The Ashore Hotel is it. I’ll be writing a longer blog post about my stay later this month – so stay tuned for more details and more photos!

Do Happy Hour – One of the first things we wanted to do after our drive from Portland and a visit to the beach, was to grab a drink! We spotted the newly-opened Lilikoi Grill with its patio spot for BINGO and their tropical and teal decor. We felt like we were in paradise. I highly recommend going there for a Mai Tai and trying their coconut shrimp.

Grab a Gelato + Watch the Sunset – After dinner and drinks, stop by Sea Star Gelato for a few samples and a cup of your favourite flavour. Grab it to go and stroll on over to the beach to watch the sunset. We tried Cookies & Cream and Passionfruit – both were super yummy!

Stroll the Prom – One of our favourite things to do in Seaside was to ‘Stroll the Prom’. BINGO loved sniffing his way up and down this paved promenade that runs along the coast. It’s the perfect place to go for a morning jog. If you want to cover more ground, consider renting a bike from Wheel Fun Rentals to ride along the prom and to explore the cute little town of Seaside.

Lunch By The Sea – For a delicious lunch with views of the ocean, Maggie’s on the Prom has the perfect little dog-friendly patio where you can relax and soak it all in. BINGO spent most of the time tanning on their sun-filled patio.

I absolutely loved my crab cakes made with big chunks of juicy Dungeness crab with chive foam on top. Also not to be missed are the seared halibut fish tacos with avocado and pico de gallo.

See The Coast! – Depending on the weather, you can get up in a helicopter with Seaside Helicopters and see the gorgeous Oregon Coast. Just make sure to call ahead as fog, rain and wind conditions change often in the area. If you’re planning a romantic getaway or your parents are visiting from out-of-town, this is a fun little surprise to add to your trip.

Where To Shop –  If you’re looking to get some shopping done while you’re on vacation, be sure to check out all cute little boutiques along Broadway – the main strip in Seaside. I really enjoyed Tiptons for home decor, Ter Hars for beach clothing and Beach Puppy for BINGO. Don’t forget to fill up a box of saltwater taffy from Phillips Candies.

Make sure to also scope out the Seaside Outlet Mall as a rainy day activity. There’s a Pendleton, Helly Hansen and Nike outlet that were all well-stocked.

Seaside Carousel Mall is also full of quirky little shops and an indoor carousel for those traveling with children. If you’re looking for a take-out dinner option after a long day at the beach, do check out New Garden Asian Cuisine. It’s a hidden gem and local favourite. We had the War Wonton Noodle Soup and Vegetable Fried Rice – both were delicious! They have a 4.5 star Yelp rating which convinced us to check it out and we’re glad we did!

Brunch It Out – The Osprey Cafe is a hearty breakfast option with seriously amazing pancakes. They also serve a mean chilaquiles and breakfast arepas. Do note that they are open for breakfast and lunch only. They also have a couple picnic tables in front for dining with your pup.

Our other favourite was Bagels By The Sea for freshly made boiled then baked bagels. We got them to go with some hot coffee and ate our bagels on the beach.

The View of the Beach

Overall, we had a really great trip to Seaside, Oregon and it was fantastic to escape the heatwave in Portland that week. It’s the perfect weekend escape from the city and I loved that we could bring our dog with us and not have to pay to put him in boarding. BINGO loved playing on the beach and meeting other dogs that we will definitely return before the end of the summer!

To learn more: Visit Seaside online.

 

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