Skip to content

Seaside Stories

A Year in Seaside – Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall Tips

December 10, 2019 | by Shellie Bailey-Shah

While Seaside is an enduring summertime destination, our beach town increasingly draws visitors to its sandy shores throughout the year. Each season brings with it new opportunities for discovery: rain-forest treks in the winter, whale spotting in the spring, beach campfires in the summer and history lessons in the fall. Let us show you how to Seaside year-round.

WINTER

Winter is when our weather takes center stage and The Prom becomes a walkway for storm watching. Wear layers!

Many of us start the new year with resolutions to be more active, so make your first workout of the year an epic one. Take the Tillamook Head Trail to the point where you can see Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, nicknamed “Terrible Tilly,” in the distance. For more favorite hikes in Seaside, click here.

If you encounter some blustery weather, spend the afternoon slipping in and out of the inviting galleries, shops and cafes in the historic Gilbert District, just east of the Broadway Street Bridge. Check out these Oregon Coast page-turners at Beach Books, all recommended by the owner. A door in the shop connects to neighbor Dough Dough Bakery, where you can grab a sweet or savory bite and a cup of coffee — or a mimosa or beermosa, if you’re really feeling daring. If you’re looking for those fancy coffee drinks topped with foam art, walk down to Seaside Coffee House across the street on Holladay. Don’t forget to take advantage of indoor shopping at the Seaside Carousel Mall and hop from storefront to storefront along Broadway.

SPRING

Spring is your best chance to spot a whale. Keep your eyes attuned to the water as you stroll, especially at the start of sun breaks.

The third week of March is spring Whale Watch Week along the Oregon Coast — time to spot gray whales and their calves traveling north to their summer home in Alaska. There are roughly two dozen designated “Whale Watching Spoken Here” locations in Oregon, with friendly volunteers to help you spot whales and answer questions. You’ll find the closest one at Ecola State Park.

Whales aren’t the only wildlife you’ll see along the Oregon Coast. Seaside sits along the Pacific Flyway migratory route. While you can bird-watch year-round, spring is the ideal time for a visit to glimpse brightly colored migrants such as Wilson’s warblers, orange-crowned warblers and warbling vireos. Our short trails are flat and family friendly. Find birding spots here.

You can always rent a surrey and pedal around downtown Seaside; find your wheels at Prom Bike Shop or Wheel Fun Rentals — just look for the bright-red historic trolley. If you’re seeking more of a challenge, hop on a mountain bike to ride through a coastal forest. The newly opened Klootchy Creek Trails — the coast’s newest mountain bike destination, just south of Seaside and soon-to-be-connected by trail — offers 4 miles of fun, flowy single-track for all skill levels. To choose the right trail, click here for trail descriptions, directions, distances and elevation gains. Learn more about biking in Seaside here

During the spring, you can catch the first bursts of color in Seaside’s pocket gardens planted along Broadway Street. Each of the patches tells a story expertly woven by local landscape designer Pamela Fleming. Click here to learn how to take a self-guided walking tour. You can also head out on foot to explore all the Instagram-worthy murals around town. Grab your camera and follow it here. If you happen to be visiting on the first weekend of the month, don’t miss Seaside’s First Saturday Art Walk in the Gilbert District. In addition to gallery openings, you’ll enjoy live music and wine tastings of Oregon vintages.

SUMMER

Summer is when Seaside becomes its most bustling beach town self. And be on the lookout for beach volleyball players and Hood to Coast runners.

One of the best ways to see Seaside’s natural beauty is to get out on the water. Head over to Cleanline Surf to rent a kayak and then launch at nearby Broadway Park; the kayak launch is ADA-accessible. Then paddle north on Neawanna Creek for about an hour until you reach Necanicum Estuary for some of the best wildlife viewing in Seaside. Find directions and more tips in this paddling guide.

Learn what it really means to “Hang 10” in Seaside, one of the top surfing destinations in the Pacific Northwest. Grab some fresh sushi to go from Tora Sushi Lounge on Broadway, and head to The Cove on the south side of Seaside’s beach to watch experienced surfers catch their waves.  Oregon Surf Adventures offers private and group lessons. Find out more about surfing in Seaside here.

In August Seaside hosts the world’s largest amateur beach volleyball tournament, drawing players from across the United States and Canada. More than 20,000 spectators turn out for the four-day event, so be sure to reserve a place to stay well in advance.

At the end of your day, build a campfire on the beach. Yes, you can do that in Seaside! Just make sure to follow these safety rules. If you don’t have your own supplies, no worries — head over to The Seashore Inn, north of the Turnaround. There you can buy fire kits complete with wood, kindling and s’mores fixings.

FALL

Fall features our favorite weather of the year. Perfect for long walks with stunning views at sunrise or sunset, or both!

Take part in an Oregon Coast rite of passage: crabbing. The best time to go crabbing is in the fall, when Dungeness crabs are more filled out with a higher portion of quality meat. Head to the 12th Avenue Bridge and drop your crab pot off the side. Follow these crabbing tips from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. You can pick up supplies and the required Oregon Shellfish License at Trucke’s 1 Stop on Highway 101. 

Or maybe you prefer razor clams. If so, you simply need a bucket, a shovel and, again, an Oregon Shellfish License. Head to the south end of Seaside’s beach, near Tillamook Head, about two hours before peak low tide. Keep in mind that razor clamming is subject to closures annually. Check here for current closures and here for clamming tips.

What better way to serve those clams than with a nice glass of Oregon wine? Every fall the Seaside Downtown Development Association hosts a Fall Wine Walk. Sip samples from more than 20 Oregon and Washington wineries and enjoy complimentary appetizers from participating at dozens of spots within walking distance in downtown Seaside. 

Finally, spend some time learning about Oregon Coast history. Just north of Seaside, you’ll find Fort Clatsop, the winter encampment for the Lewis and Clark expedition from December 1805 to March 1806. Rangers will guide you through the replica fort, similar to the one built by the famous explorers. Seaside Historical Society Museum also delves into Seaside’s beginnings as a popular beach getaway. Look for the photos and story behind the so-called “Daddy Train.”

and so much more!

A Glimpse of the Turnaround: Circa 1940

Seaside's classic turnaround circa 1940.

Learn More
Clamming in Seaside: Then & Now

A brief look at clamming in Seaside and Tillamook Head and a comparison of how they

Learn More
Watching Nature Run its Course in Seaside

Wonderful natural beauty in Seaside,

Learn More
Biking the N. Coast Mountain Range

Opportunities endless when hopping on two wheels to navigate Seaside area

Learn More
Bell Buoy Stays in the Family

SEASIDE SPOTLIGHT: Our first profile in a series focused on the behind-the-scenes movers who make Seaside the unique destination i...

Learn More
The Iron Horse Comes to Town

A look at the train that connected Seaside to Portland in 1898

Learn More
The Seaside Parade of Lights is one of many holiday festivities
Holiday Festivities in Seaside

Seaside is one of the Coast’s most beloved destinations for holiday shopping and seasonal celebrations. Plan a visit around thes...

Learn More
Everything but War

An image of a classic World War II sign that point from Seaside to all of the major conflicts raging around the world

Learn More
5 Ways to Social Distance in Seaside

With miles of wide sandy beach and clean sea breezes sweeping along the oceanfront Promenade, Seaside is one of the best places to...

Learn More
Northwest Travel Magazine: The Fresh Side of Seaside, Oregon

Feature story on Seaside Oregon, highlighting top attractions in Seaside OR

Learn More
How to Experience Seaside’s Prom Centennial

Centennial anniversaries don’t happen all too often. Once every hundred years, in fact! We’ll show you how to celebrate all ye...

Learn More
The Succulent Season

Celebrating the arrival of the Oregon Coast

Learn More
A Beach Bicycle Built for Two

Beach Bike Rentals in Seaside, Oregon

Learn More
Portland to Seaside by Bus

Visiting Seaside without a Car

Learn More
Discover the Beach Less Traveled in North Seaside

If your idea of the perfect beach getaway includes stretches of empty sand, hunting for sand dollars to the sounds of waves crashi...

Learn More
Driving the Oregon Coast Highway

Unique views are plentiful along all 363 miles

Learn More
Eat Your Way along the North Coast

Seaside is now the starting point for the self-guided North Coast Food Trail that travels south to Neskowin and includes more than...

Learn More
Seaside Promenade

I walked along the Prom last weekend on a beautifully bright and sunny day and found myself surrounded by walkers, runners, people on all sorts of wheels, strollers, couples holding hands, and dogs of all sizes leading their people around. I also heard all sorts of accents and languages-and saw plenty of cameras.

Learn More