17 miles S of Astoria, 79 miles W of Portland, 7 miles N of Cannon Beach
Seaside is the northern Oregon coast's favorite family vacation destination. The town is one of the oldest beach resorts on the coast (dating from 1899) and is filled with quaint historic cottages and tree-lined streets. However, it is better known for its miniature golf courses, bumper boats, video arcades, and souvenir shops.
This is not the sort of place most people imagine when they dream about the Oregon coast, and if you're looking for a quiet, romantic weekend getaway, Seaside is not the place. As one of the closest beaches to Portland, crowds and traffic are a way of life on summer weekends. The town is also a very popular conference site, and several of the town's largest hotels cater primarily to this market (and have the outrageous rates to prove it). However, the nearby community of Gearhart, which has long been a retreat for wealthy Portlanders, is as quiet as any town you'll find on this coast.
