Holiday rentals in Seaside

A bustling beachside city, and one of the more popular stops on the Oregon Coast, Seaside offers great places to play both on and off the sand. Its compact downtown is dotted with arcades, carnival rides, and candy shops selling saltwater taffy — a popular confection at many of the beach towns along this stretch of the coast. Or hit the beach and you’ll see people building sandcastles, playing volleyball, and even surfing (in wetsuits) at Seaside’s Cove beach, just south of downtown.

Visit nearby Fort Stevens to learn about its shelling in June 1942 by a Japanese submarine. The site now encompasses a 4,300-acre park offering a variety of recreation adventures, including camping, beachcombing, a freshwater lake, hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and a historic shipwreck.

Temperatures are mild in Seaside year-round, and typically range from four degrees to 20 degrees Celsius, and rarely drop below 0 degrees or go above 25 degrees. The best time to visit Seaside is early July to late August, though, when the weather is relatively warm and only occasionally cloudy. As with any Oregon Coast visit, though, you should prepare for wind and cool evenings and random wind: bring layers.

Summer is a particularly lovely time for outdoor activities like hiking, swimming (although the Pacific Ocean water is chilly if you aren’t wearing a wetsuit), kayaking, biking, and golf. Summer in Seaside is also great for live music and fun events such as the Seaside Mullet Contest, an event celebrating the iconic hairdo.

In the fall, Earth & Ocean Arts Festival takes place in September and features a series of unique arts events including gallery exhibits and live art performances.

Winters can be cold, wet, windy, and mostly cloudy. For those who enjoy experiencing the natural beauty of the area and quiet windswept beaches, this can be an ideal time to visit. The winter months also offer the best waves for surfing, a popular activity for those prepared for the cold water.

Pacific Coast Birding

Seaside’s open spaces are an ideal place to view the more than 300 varieties of birds that reside in town year-round. The rich and varied birding habitats include local beaches Seaside Cove and Clatsop Beach, as well as nearby areas like Necanicum Estuary, Neawanna Creek, the Mill Ponds, and Elmer Feldenheimer Forest Reserve. Spring and fall also offer sightings of birds on the Pacific Flyway migratory route.

Hiking along the coast

From a stroll along the ocean promenade to a hike up nearby Saddle Mountain, Seaside offers hiking for every ability. The North Shore Land Conservancy, Necanicum Watershed Council, and Sunset Empire Park and Recreation feature special themed hikes at various times of year and publish a calendar of events.

Fort Stevens State Park

One of the largest public campgrounds in the United States, Fort Stevens State Park is set on the grounds of a former military installation. Located a 20-minute drive north of Seaside, the park is packed with things to do, including six miles of hiking trails, nine miles of paved bicycles trails, and freshwater lake swimming. Fort Stevens State Park is also home to the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale. In 1906 the steel sailing vessel ran aground and the remains are still visible on the beach.