TRAVEL AWAITS: 11 Fantastic Things To Do In Scenic Seaside, Oregon

The original article was published in Travel Awaits on Aug. 13, 2022.

There was a year when we wanted a vacation from our months of full-time RVing. We also wanted to make our wedding anniversary more special than usual that year. As we were coming down from Vancouver, Canada, we chose the romantic town of Seaside, Oregon, for a special stop. awesome scenery, fantastic shopping, and amazing history.

There were two days of drizzles, three days of partly cloudy weather, seven days of strong winds, and two days of sun. But having lived in Seattle for three years, we were familiar with this kind of weather. It’s part and parcel of life in the Pacific Northwest. No matter the weather or how long you have, here is our advice on where to stay, eat, and play on a getaway to this West Coast beach town.

Located about 80 miles outside of Portland, Seaside is known as the Jewel of the Oregon Coast. A town in Clatsop County, it has a population of well under 7,000 but it is in the middle of a historically important area: the last stop of the two-and-a-half-year, 8,000-mile Lewis and Clark expedition that led to the doubling of the size of the U.S. Blessed with a romantic name that comes from Seaside House, a historic summer resort built in the 1870s by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, the town is not only historical; there is also an outstanding beach, lots of shopping, and many beautiful spots to spend hours with your camera in tow.

1. See Seaside Beach

It was tremendous luck that the American Kite Fliers Association’s 39th Annual Kite Festival was going on during our stay. The competing kites were quite a sight as we luxuriated in the hot tubs beside the pool of our resort. The beach and sky were a wide canvas littered with the giant colorful beings that danced to the hum of the ocean and the songs of the winds.

Even if you don’t make it there during a kite festival, you can enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean, and, because there are always such good winds, you could even try flying your own giant kite. The beach area is so wide and expansive that there are always people milling around, playing volleyball, biking, or skating in addition to flying kites.

2. Stroll The Seaside Promenade

The best feature of the beach is the grand Seaside Promenade. There are always many strollers walking along this special place. Where the Seaside Promenade ends at Broadway Street, you’ll find the Seaside Turnaround, a small pedestrian and vehicular rotunda that reaches out to the shoreline and marks the actual spot of the historic end of the Lewis and Clark Trail. Their statue, together with the iconic Seaside, Oregon, sign, aptly stands in the middle. Friendly strollers took our souvenir photo.

3. Check Out Lewis And Clark National Historical Park

Fort Clatsop is about a 20-minute drive outside of town. This is wFort here Lewis and Clark were encamped in the winter of 1805 and 1806. This memorial was later grouped with the other spots the duo explored around the vicinity, and the whole area was preserved as Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. History will be recreated for you as you meet Sacagawea and wander through historical replicas of the last stop of the famous explorers’ historic expedition.

4. Explore Fort Stevens And See The Iredale Wreck

Just 10 minutes north of the park is Fort Stevens State Park. It was built near the end of the American Civil War. It had such great infrastructure that it continued to be of very good use as an active military reservation, protecting the harbor all the way up to WWII. But it was the sailing ship Peter Iredale that ran aground at its beachhead in 1906 that has drawn tourists to the area. The Iredale wreck proved to be a great photo opportunity for me.

5. Trek Tillamook Head

A lovely promontory, Tillamook Head is defined by a steep rocky bluff jutting out into the ocean at approximately 1,200 feet high. It was named after the Tillamook, a Salishan-speaking tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the coast around the area in the 19th century.

In 1806, Clark led a team that traveled south from Fort Clatsop to harvest blubber from a beached whale in the area. Today, the area is called Ecola State Park. “Ecola” is the Salish word for big fish.

6. Swing By The Seaside Aquarium

Back in town, you can visit Seaside Aquarium. This privately owned aquarium was an indoor saltwater public bath in the 1920s. Water was pumped from the Pacific Ocean through a still-visible pipe. In 1937, it became an aquarium, meaning it is one of the oldest in the U.S. In fact, it was the first to breed harbor seals in captivity. An even more interesting fact is that during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a boat drifted from across the Pacific and washed up on the shores carrying trapped live fish. The remaining of these so-called tsunami fish are still on display in the aquarium. Kiddos will enjoy getting up-close-and-personal with sea life at the Touch Tank exhibit.

7. Stop By The Seaside Historical Society Museum

The small Seaside Historical Society Museum will take you back thousands of years through its many exhibits. If you allow at least an hour for an overview, then you can have the chance to go through the Native American, logging, historic hotels, old Pacific pier, Turnaround Building, Broadway Billiards, railroad history, and Hall of Fame exhibits.

8. Eat At Mo’s

The most important thing we had to decide was where we were going to dine to celebrate our anniversary. We went around town to scout for the special place. We tried Osprey Cafe, Maggie’s on the Prom, and Sam’s Seaside Cafe. The food was good at all these establishments.

But we were ecstatic when we found the place: Mo’s Seafood and Chowder on the ground floor of Shilo Inn Seaside Oceanfront. It had the ambiance we were looking for with huge picture windows for scenic dining by the sea.

9. Ride A Carousel

Shopping is one of the activities I loved in Seaside. We started downtown at the Seaside Carousel Mall. It was built in 1985 on the site of the old Bungalow Dance Hall. This hall was built in 1920 for the big-time bands of the era. It ran for 20 years, and greats like Bing Crosby and Glenn Miller performed there. Locals say that Seaside was the place to be during those days.

Today, the mall is full of crafts, local products, and food outlets aside from fun things to do like riding the carousel that is right in the middle of the quaint mall. My husband thinks riding a carousel is one of the most romantic things in the world so, of course, we had to take a spin.

10. Shop Seaside Outlets

But it was at the Seaside Outlets where I found a lot of treasured items. Featuring outlets for 22 name brands, it was at an Eddie Bauer store that I found a light black jacket on sale at a 70 percent discount. It has become a favorite of mine and is still in good use today. What surprised me most, however, was the multi-station recharging area near the mall. It was the first time I saw such a thing for Tesla vehicles.

11. Stay At WorldMark Seaside

We had enough Club Wyndham timeshare points to stay in a spacious one-bedroom unit at the four-star WorldMark Seaside resort. Also available for booking by the public, it is recognized as one of the state’s best waterfront locations. It was a great choice and became a wonderful home (not on wheels) for a full week.

There is a large pool area that looks outside to the beach. It is surrounded by several hot tubs where we spent many hours of relaxation. We also frequented the game room, where we enjoyed playing table tennis. The fitness center saw us every day for our exercise regimen. At the end of the day, however, we thoroughly treasured our drinks and appetizers on our balcony. It offered such a great view of the town, the nearby hills, the beach, and the ocean. Since our unit was equipped with a kitchen, we bought a lot of seafood and other supplies at the grocery store and prepared most of our breakfasts and dinners.

Bonus: Day Trips From Seaside

Locals will tell you that taking some half-day and day-long trips to nearby areas will afford you even more connections to the area’s history, plus fantastic scenery. The historic city of Astoria with its historic column and so-called bridge to nowhere is just 20 minutes to the north of Fort Stevens. And the scenic town of Cannon Beach with Haystack and the Needles is just 15 minutes to the south of Tillamook Head.

Our week in Seaside was such a welcome break from all our months of RVing. Our anniversary that year became a special celebration. We had everything from history and scenery to shopping and beaches. The weather may not have been perfect, but you don’t need that in Seaside. There is something for every kind of day. It was a luxurious treat we deserved to have.

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 Why This Quaint German Town Was the Perfect Base for Our European Adventure

10 REASONS PUERTO VALLARTA WINS MANY HEARTS

Bill had vacationed in Puerto Vallarta (PV) many times with his family while he was still working but he eventually chose to go to Mazatlan on a regular basis. That’s why we are in Mazatlan three months a year. But my daughter and son-in-law had a fantastic couple of times in Puerto Vallarta and have urged me to go and see. So Bill brought me to PV. I wanted to know what the more southern Mexican city is all about. Bill found a changed and grown PV and I found ten reasons she wins many hearts.

Malecon

<os Arcos, an icon of the Malecon

PV’s Malecon is only a mile long and very touristy. It is now jammed by many bars and restaurants for great nightlife and shops and stores for daytime shopping. Many palm trees provide shade and there is a renowned sculpture every hundred feet, top-billed by the colorful Puerto Vallarta city sign with the signature Sea Horse in the middle. Various artists perform their acts along the boardwalk, at the end of which stands the Naval Museum and another emblematic structure, Los Arcos. With all the things going on, I was glad there were kiosks of the Direccion de Turismo, very helpful for first-timers like me.

Shopping and Markets

entering Cuale Market from the bridge that spans the Rio Cuale

There are many flea, artisanal and municipal markets in PV so shopping is particularly fun. We came across the Cuale Market first, after the Malecon, towards the east. It is a unique area carved out of an island on the Rio (River) Cuale, dotted on both sides by many makeshift stores. Unique features—like a centuries-old tree, a pair of hanging bridges that connect the island to the two river banks, a welcoming giant Mexicana, festive banderitas, and an upscale open-air restaurant— add color to the market.

Just outside Old Vallarta west towards the Port are high-end malls for upscale visitors and residents. Farther away in the suburbs are the national chains like Mega Soriana and La Comer and international ones like Walmart and Costco to make the North American snow birders really happy and feel at home.

Zona Romantica

the Pier on Zona Romantica

the Old Seahorse

Farther east, on the other side of the Rio Cuale and beyond the Malecon, is the Zona Romantica. A series of restaurants and bars line the popular Playa Los Muertos. This area is the center of vibrant nightlife. The Pier, completed in 2013, adds pizzazz to the Playa. We went in the day but I was told it is spectacular at night.  At the end of the Playa is the “original” Seahorse. Actually, the original was installed there in 1960 but was swept away by a strong storm. In 1976, a larger replica was built.

Nightlife extends to the many restaurants and bars that line Calle Olas Altas, parallel to the beach. On the same street is Plaza Cardenas which is now more popularly called Plaza de Azulejos because almost every inch of it has been covered with colorful tiles. Many residents have volunteered to install them in sections that they choose. That is also where the office of the Direccion de Turismo is housed and where we planned our visits with the help of the officer-on-duty, Erick Reyes.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church

The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe sits just two blocks from the beach, fronting Plaza de Armas. It is "the most endearing" of the city's landmarks, towering over all the other buildings. Started in 1903, it was not really considered complete until its “coronation” in 1965 with a wrought-iron crown hoisted by angels. The original was destroyed by an earthquake 30 years later and the current one is a replica.

Gringo Gulch

Just to the north of the church, up above on a hill accessible by stairs, is a neighborhood called Gringo Gulch. In other words, this is where the Caucasians make their home. As a matter of fact, it is where Elizabeth Taylor lived while she filmed The Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton. Her house—now

known as Casa Kimberley, a hotel—is connected to the Richard Burton house on the other side of the street by a white bridge. It was built to make access to each other more easily. It is just too bad that the set of the movie, the legacy of their love story, is no longer there as It once was kept on the Mismaloya Beach.

Beaches

During the winter months, the temperatures in PV are comfortable — highs of 81 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 65. There seems to be less wind, too. The Bay of Banderas makes the city (and Nuevo Vallarta, NV) land-locked and protected.  Waves are also not crazy strong, making the beaches a family playground.

I was blown away by Playa Los Muertos and its busy beach vibe but Riviera Nayarit (see Nuevo Vallarta below) is very different, quiet, and pristine. We were not able to go to the ones on the southeast that are only accessible by water taxis. They say those are the most fabulous. And those in the Marietas Islands are at yet another level. Yes, the beaches are a lot of fun in PV.

a regular brisk walk on the beach behind our hotel

Nuevo Vallarta

We stayed in a hotel/resort in NV which is a planned residential-resort community located in the Mexican state of Nayarit, about fifteen minutes north of PV's airport (PV is in the neighboring state of Jalisco). NV is a federal government project for PV’s overflow residents and tourists. It was begun over twenty years ago. Luxury villas, estates, resort hotels, and plush condominiums have arisen, many including canals lined with tropical gardens, each with private docking piers connected to the Marina. There are more than 5 miles of white sandy beach that is now known as Riviera Nayarit.

the Marina beside our hotel resort

The following three other reasons I will write about on my next post:

Bay of Banderas

Bahía de Banderas (or the Bay of Flags) is within the Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. It is home to prominent features like the Marietas Islands and the Los Arcos. The port, the resort city of PV and the resort community of NV are all on the bay.

Sierra Madres

PV and NV are nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. This is the reason the port city is so jammed up; the available land is small. But the mountains also provide the opportunity for jungle excursions. Bill and I enjoyed the Canopy River, an oasis on the Cuale River up in the mountains.

Magico Pueblos

Mexico has 121 magico pueblos—magical towns designated as such by the Ministry of Tourism. Jalisco has eight and Nayarit has three. We went to three on this trip: Sayulit and Compostela of Nayarit and San Sebastian del Oeste of Jalisco.

Now I know why PV, and also NV, win(s) many people’s hearts. A lot of them stay.

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Visiting Family and Making More Discoveries

Living in this big beautiful country allows us to settle where there are opportunities. Bill’s children live in Idaho, Colorado, and Alaska. My eldest daughter lives in California and a sister used to make Alaska her home. Actually, another daughter lives in Canada and the youngest lives in Australia. After all, it is also a big beautiful world! Having family all over allows us to visit many places and make more discoveries.

Denver, Colorado

Recently, we went to the high school graduation of Bill’s granddaughter Cassie in Denver, Colorado. It was an inspiring ceremony, there were joyous photo-ops, and lots of celebratory meals afterward. This granddaughter loves to visit different places, ever expanding her view of the world. We had cold May days with showers, however, so we went to the Butterfly Pavilion instead of the Wild Animal Sanctuary.

Rosie, the tarantula

my first ever butterfly photos

After registering, I found out I had the opportunity to hold a tarantula on my palm! Her name is Rosie and we learned how gentle these arachnids really are. Then we were led to the Pavilion. I was at first not sure if I would enjoy the trip. I thought butterflies, fleeting from one flower to the next, would be very difficult to photograph. Judge for yourselves how much fun I actually had. I was engrossed following them on their flights. Soon I became selective about the backgrounds, the flower, the leaf, or the ground, where they chose to settle, to provide great contrasts in colors.

This was a short trip since we had to go to the next family obligation. But, the surprise of surprises, the night before we left, it snowed…in late May! So we woke up to beautiful winter scenes right at the home of Bill’s daughter. The scenes at the backyard and in front were so wintry wonderful. And all throughout our trip down Colorado and even part of New Mexico, I could not put my camera down and even braved opening the windows to chilly air so I could capture the winter scenes better.

winter scene in May

Show Low, Arizona

When we reached Show Low, Arizona (to where my sister had transferred from Anchorage, Alaska), we found out that it also snowed there the day before. The town’s elevation is close to 6,500 feet…even higher than Denver at 5.280 feet. We were there for the housewarming of her home, now only three hours from our Phoenix home. It has natural wood siding, high vaulted wood beam ceiling, and huge windows all around with a large deck looking out to the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

the forest from the deck

When all the cooking and entertaining was done, we set out for a pretty little hike around the Woodland Water Reservoir of the towns of Show Low,-Pinetop, and Lakeside. With an area of 18 acres and a depth of 20 feet, it was not even a mile of a trail but it was an easy and comfortable hike as the temperature had climbed up to the low 60s. There was even a covered bridge, there were people doing trout fishing with friends and family and children were frolicking in the playgrounds.

Woodland Water Reservois

We stopped at the Saturday Farmer's Market on the way home. And there we all went our individual ways to taste the food that was offered: Schreiner’s (Phoenix’s favorite and ours) sausages, spicy lasagna, and hearty crunchy tacos. But what I was surprised about was that there was a kiosk selling CBD oil-infused soaps (very expensive though). I was surprised because I thought marijuana use is illegal in Arizona. Upon further research, I found out that medical marijuana has been legal in the state since 2018. Bill brought home bottles of green chile pepper jam, blackberry jam, and Asian sweet-hot dipping sauce. They are all yummy!

at Show Low's Saturday Market

The next day, we were already going back to Phoenix when my sister mentioned that Show Low has a Trump Store! Of course, we wanted to go…Trump is quite a character. It was the former headquarters of the Trump campaign in Navajo County. The enthusiastic owners converted it into the “only Trump Store in the country.” I bought this Adorable Deplorable tank top for a party and Bill bought a Trump Inaugural Mug for a friend. Also on display are four personal letters from the WH.

The Trump Store

Having the family all over the country (and the world) gives us lots of perks. Since we visit them, not just once but many times, we explore deep in the areas where they live. Each time we make new and exciting discoveries.

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Shopping to My Heart’s Content

Because we had driven to Mazatlan, we packed too much. So we really didn’t need to shop for anything. But when we found out that the prices are so much cheaper than in Mesa, Arizona, our last few days became a shopping frenzy. We discovered that there are five main shopping areas: 1) the Zona Dorada all around El Cid, 2) Walmart and Gallerias Mall toward the north, 3) Soriana/Gran Plaza southeast, 4) Juarez Sunday Market further southeast, and 5) the Old Mazatlan Mercado in the Downtown area.

the market in Old Mazatlan, downtown

my US$100 stash

There were so many great value items for swimming, nice local shirts, etc. but Bill didn’t seem to notice any of them. So, after a while, I decided I didn’t have to wait for him and bought what I wanted, just like a normal woman. My final stash included: black classic slacks for US$10, four tops ranging from US$7-20, black socks for US$2, black fashion hat for US5, beaded Mexican necklace and bracelet set for US$10, one gold and one silver shawls each for US5, Aztec earrings for US$20, and two knock-off Dior reflectorized dark glasses for US$10. I got one or more from every single one of the shopping areas. I just couldn’t help myself. ! spent all of US100 for my complete makeover.

When I ran out of eyebrow liners, we drove to the Walmart/Galleria Mall. And because they were much cheaper than in the US even if they were the same brands, I finally got to buy all sorts to try which one best suits what I want to do with my brows. I did the same thing for my lipstick. I also found out that the Grey Away spray I use to hide the white in my hair so I do not have to dye as often was only US$4 when it is US$10 in the US. So I bought a nine months’ supply to last until my next trip in January 2020. We found bargains for hair dye, shampoo, body wash, and mouthwash, too. Bill finally had to stop me. He said there was no more space in the car.

Soriana, the biggest local supermarket chain

By the time we were packing to go home, we panicked because we had not bought any “pasalubongs” (arrival gifts) for friends and family at home. So we rushed to the El Cid Shopping Arcade which had a few souvenir stores. For friends, I bought 11 beaded bracelets and Bill bought El Cid golf towels and ball cap markers. I also found another reflectorized fashion dark glasses like the one I bought for myself. A granddaughter said they were sweet shades. Bill got four zip-up hoodies with Mazatlan logos and designs for each of his grandkids, too. Of course, he didn't forget the tequila!

tequila section

But the prized articles we are bringing home are two. The first is the ceramic tile painting we bought from an El Cid Hotel shop featuring the Malecon with the Valentino, the party place, as its iconic focal point. And the second and high value one is a unique photo collage of 16 Mazatlan doors mounted on two wooden door panels. We found this art piece during one of the First Friday Art Walks in the Centro Hispanico of Old Mazatlan.

our art pieces

Next year, we promised ourselves that we would not bring so much with us in the car, list what we need throughout the year, and buy them in a more organized fashion in Mazatlan. We would not only save millions, but we would also have so much fun right from the very start!

pottery and ceramics by the roadside

PS On the drive home, there were roadside shacks that attractively displayed tons of pottery and ceramic works.  Of course, I begged Bill to stop at one. I bargained myself into a clay pot and mortar and pestle to display on my kitchen counters.

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