Hotels In Seaside Oregon

Summertime tips for taking the kids to the beach

Squish, squelch, slip. In mid-May, the popular trail between Ecola Point and Indian Beach on Oregon's northern coast -- marked "easy" in guidebooks -- had yet to dry out.

Within 10 minutes of starting our "easy" hike (one parent lugging a heavy toddler in a hiking backpack, the other shouldering all the remaining kiddo supplies), our boots were sucking mud with every step. We slithered down, and up, and down, and up again. And then -- as if we weren't breathless enough already -- the trees cleared, leaving a pure vista of sky, sea and cliff.

"The book says the cliffside trail sections have fences," I said, staring at the thin, guardrail-free dirt track that vanished around the side of a steep, grassy slope. Far below, the surf smashed cheerfully into the rocky shore. Birds wheeled and called overhead.

"Good thing we trapped our child in a hiking backpack, then," said my sweating husband. We shuddered, contemplating the idea of a blithe toddler running ahead on the trail to this vertigo-inducing curve. And then we carefully trudged on, ignoring the spectacular view in favor of putting one foot in front of the other.

The coast is Oregon's top tourism destination. Vacationing families often head to the central and north-central coast, which offer such kid-friendly activities as a scenic railroad, an air museum, the Tillamook cheese factory , the Sea Lion Caves and the Oregon Coast Aquarium . But the last stretch of north coast is closest to Portland, making weekend getaways more feasible.

Each town here is dramatically different from the next, ranging from the discreet languor of Gearhart to the riotous carnival of Seaside to the beach-and-shopping bustle of Cannon Beach to the mellow calm of Arch Cape and Manzanita.

The problem? You're on your own for figuring out which parts of the north coast are amenable to kids. (As our hike demonstrated, "easy" for most folks doesn't always apply to families.) Here's a list of tips for sussing out where to stay, eat and play.

Lodging
 
Overnight options on the north coast run the entire touristic gamut, from campgrounds and RV parks through motels, hotels, resorts, and condo and house rentals.

Camping is usually a hit with older kids, although the local campgrounds fill up fast. The two major camping destinations along the north coast are Fort Stevens State Park in the north and Nehalem Bay State Park in the south.

Oregon Coast Lodging Openings for Fourth of July

(Oregon Coast) – If you need a place to stay on the Oregon coast for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, you're almost out of luck. Openings are extremely rare.

However, there is some availability in towns like Warrenton, Seaside, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach, Neskowin, Oceanside, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay and Yachats. In the Cannon Beach area it’s extremely rare and likely to be filled up quickly.

Make sure you call ahead of time after checking these listings as conditions can and will change quickly.

Insiders' Guide to the Oregon Coast

But unlike most of the hotels in Seaside, it is at the quieter south end of ... is relatively rare on the Oregon Coast, is available from the restaurant. ...

Moon Oregon

If you're just passing through or waited too long to call for ... A second grouping of hotels is in the center of Seaside, along the Necanicum River. ...

The Oregon Companion, An Historical Gazetteer of the Useful, the Curious, and the Arcane

Seaside This seaside resort town in Clatsop County is located at the mouth ... the Oregon Coast; small hotels such as the Moore were replaced by large chain ...

Day Trips from Portland, Oregon, Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler

This cool old museum includes exhibits on the history of Native Americans in the Seaside area, logging, and local hotels and tourism. The Seaside Museum is ...

Frommer's Oregon

... (all state-park campgrounds have hiker/biker campsites) or in hotels. ... VISITOR INFORMATION Contact the Seaside Visitors Bureau, 7 N. Roosevelt Dr. ...