Seaside Stories

Seaside Stories is a look at life in Seaside from those who live and play on the north Oregon Coast. Feel free to leave your comments and suggest topics you'd like to see us write about. We also blog weekly about Seaside's rich history. Check that out by clicking here.

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Seaside, OR Carousel Mall [+]  Add your comments 12/2/2010 11:29:26 PM My family occasionally enjoys taking a mini-vacation right in our own backyard by heading to one of our favorite places, the Seaside Carousel Mall. Today was their 25th anniversary Open House! The moment we entered we were immediately enveloped by inviting sights, smells and sounds, a feeling reminiscent of Disneyland’s Main Street USA, nostalgic and whimsical with only the briefest glimpse of the outside world. We started off at Caffe Latte for some coffees and hot cocoa. While the kids’ cocoas cooled, Mom and Dad took turns riding with them on the carousel. After the kids downed their cocoas and wiped off their whipped cream moustaches, it was off to Under the Big Top Toys, a friendly place with great toys you won’t necessarily find in larger commercial chains. There were plenty of things to touch and try. We love that no one gives you the evil eye if you spend an hour poring over every inch of the store, which my kids definitely do, trying to figure out how to spend their small allowance. Then it’s time to grab a bite to eat. So it’s off to our favorite Chinese restaurant, the Golden Horse. On the way, the kids insisted on trying on crazy hats at Mostly Hats. After lots of giggles and great photo opps, we finally made it to the Golden Horse for a deliciously authentic meal with something on the menu to please every finicky palate. While we waited for the food to arrive, I ducked out to do some quick Christmas shopping, heading to the Country Bungalow for some fragrant soaps and lotions for my mother and By the Sea Shells & Gifts for a nautical gift for my father (while hubby and the kids played with their new purchases at the table). After lunch, we inevitably gave in to one more ride on the carousel, and then finished our day eating treats from the Flashback Malt Shoppe & Collectibles while admiring the many window displays at the stores we hadn't made it into. Luckily, our 3 hours felt like a full day away, roaming at a leisurely pace, spending money on trifles, forgetting our cares and enjoying one another’s company. I can’t wait to head back to downtown Seaside to see the Carousel Mall again. Hope to see you there! By Shanda Bonn [+]  Add your comments Subscribe via Reader Subscribe via Email [+] Please add your comment Name Email Address  (Not Published) Website Comments Remaining     Captcha      Required fields! Subscribe in a Reader Subscribe by Email Latest Posts Seaside Snapshots : Our town through your eyes.. Celebrating the moms in our life.. Telling the Seaside Story through photos and words.. The Best Part of Waking Up .. The Columbia River Maritime Museum: On the Water’s Edge.. Celebrating Spring.. Beach Bonfires – Under a Dome of Stars.. Biking the N. Coast Mountain Range.. Craft Beer Bonanza .. Driving the Oregon Coast Highway.. Share RSS feed Atom feed Bookmark Google Delicious Digg MySpace Facebook Diigo Yahoo Stumble Reddit My Aol LinkedIn Tag Cloud Recreation Oregon coast Family fun Seaside sunday Broadway Entertainment Wildlife Gilbert district Dining Birding Photo project Driving Fishing Highway 101 Camping Viewpoints Motherhood Roller derby Sweets Clatsop Posts by Date  2013 May (3) • Seaside Snapshots : Our town through your eyes • Celebrating the moms in our life • Telling the Seaside Story through photos and words April (3) • The Best Part of Waking Up • The Columbia River Maritime Museum: On the Water’s Edge • Celebrating Spring March (5) • Beach Bonfires – Under a Dome of Stars • Biking the N. Coast Mountain Range • Craft Beer Bonanza • Driving the Oregon Coast Highway • Riders of the Storm February (4) • Bird is the Word: Birding on the North Oregon Coast • Ice Cream for dinner • A Smashing Good Time • Wildlife along the coast January (4) • Seaside Treasure Quest Kickoff • Derby Days • A changing streetscape • The Succulent Season  2012 December (5) • Natural New Year • Wrapping a bow around Seaside • Enjoying the breaks in weather • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in Seaside • Find your muse at the Seaside Art Walk November (3) • Holiday traditions • Roaming the sand for treasures • New North Coast brewery offers up history and education October (3) • Spooky happenings at the coast • Falling for rain • Digging for the Bounty! September (5) • Crabbing at the 12th Avenue Bridge • Seaside chefs participate at FEAST Portland • Sweets in Seaside • Convention Center Adds Outdoor Mural • Broadway Field is a community gem August (3) • Riding the Streetcar in Seaside • Establishing another world record • Pedal boating through Seaside July (4) • Seeing Seaside on a Surrey • Minus tides an impressive wonder • "Fascinated" on Broadway • Saddle Mountain State Park excursion  2011 December (2) • We Wish You A Merry Christmas... • The Dog Ate My Flip-Flops November (2) • Decorating for the holidays... • Where everyone knows your name October (4) • Rise and Shine with a Sunset Swim • Times of change... • My first trip to Seaside • Birthday celebrations in Seaside September (5) • Fall in Seaside • A game of hide and seek... • Mocha at the Beach • 2011 Hood to Coast Recap • The Tale of the Driftwood Forts August (3) • Kids Activities: Futuristic Jewelry Making • Paragliding on the North Coast • Night of All Knowledge July (4) • A Chinook Fishing Tale • Antiquing in Seaside • Bruce’s Candy Kitchen • Library Events… Jo Pomeroy-Crockett Art Exhibit June (9) • Fourth of July Celebration in Seaside • Picnics in Seaside • Hood to Coast 2011 • Seaside Farmer • Summer at Parks and Rec • Ice Cream in Seaside • Seven Dee’s • Churches in Seaside OR • Seaside Library Summer Events May (10) • Fishing at Coffenbury Lake • June 4 Seaside Beach Soccer! • The Perfect Smore • Camping in Seaside • Golfing at the Beach • Making Seaside Beautiful: Gardens • Pet Boarding in Seaside • Let the Sun Shine In! • Honeymooning in Seaside • Big Bounce Toys April (8) • Welcome to the Klahowya Café • Seaside OR: Beachside Weddings • Let’s Fly a Kite • Seaside Easter Acitvities • Seaside: All America City Finalist • Wave Energy • Seaside Icon: Stubby Lyons • Seaside Skatepark March (10) • Flash From the Past • Seaside Aquarium • A Weekend of Discoveries • SOLV Beach Clean Up • Seaside OR Cove • Gloria Linkey, Seaside Treasure • Salt Making in Seaside • Spring Break Biking • Seaside • Seaside Coffee House February (9) • Renewal at the Coast • Frisbee! • Seaside Oregon Birds • Pouring at the Coast • A Date in Seaside • Seaside Elk • How Sweet it is! A Sweet Affaire • Ode to Neo • Hiking Options in Seaside January (10) • An Afternoon at the Seaside Cinemas • Snacks in Seaside: Bagels by the Sea • Seaside OR Promenade • Where to P.L.A.Y in Seaside • Stars Love Tranquility in Seaside OR • Barbershop Quartet in Seaside OR • Lodging Spotlight: Seaside International Hostel • Happy Peaceful New Year! • Business Spotlight: Oceanfront Shilo Inn • Business Spotlight: 360 Degrees Cafe  2010 December (14) • The Great Indoors • Seaside OR- Beachy Keen Fun • Business Spotlight: Tsunami Sandwich Company • Warm Lights of Christmas in Seaside OR • Gone Fishin • Seaside Spirit • The Big Storm • Business Spotlight: Oregon Storm Tours • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in Seaside OR • Holiday Gift Fair in Seaside OR • Christmas Trees in Seaside • Seaside, OR Carousel Mall • Seaside’s Art Walk - To Paris and Beyond! • Parade of Lights - Parade of Magic November (6) • Watching nature run its course in Seaside • O Christmas Tree! • The Smokin Rack Shack is . . . Smokin! • Lodging Spotlight: The Inn at Seaside • Surreying Seaside • A Seaside Jewel October (1) • Seaside slowing down as winter approaches September (2) • Seaside: More than just a resort town • Our timeless ocean August (2) • "World’s Largest" • Living with cooler temperatures   Powered by WorldWide Merchant