Skip to content

Seaside Stories

What’s New in Seaside

December 12, 2024 | by Emily Gillespie

If you haven’t visited Seaside lately, you’re in for a treat on your next vacation. New businesses and amenities have come onto the scene, adding even more ways for you to make memories and helping make your getaway to the coastal town that much more enjoyable. Here are the exciting changes to keep in mind when planning your next trip to Seaside. 

New Lodging and Ways to Get on the Beach

Regardless of how many times you’ve visited, two excursions top the must-do list for any trip to Seaside: going to the beach and strolling the Prom. Now there’s a new lodging option that perfectly accommodates both. Located at the intersection of these trip highlights, the new Promenade Inn & Suites Oceanfront is an ideal base camp for your adventure. With rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the hotel wows guests with sunset views and relaxing amenities including a heated indoor pool and a hot tub, dog-friendly rooms and an on-site restaurant that’s also an Oregon Coast favorite, Mo’s Seafood & Chowder

When you’re ready to explore the beach, it is now easier for everyone to navigate Seaside’s sand with the installation of a second Mobi-mat location. Now located at two beach-access points, Avenue U and 12th Avenue, these electric-blue mats create a sturdy, flat surface that make the shoreline more accessible to people with mobility challenges and those bearing strollers or beach wagons. The mats, along with reservable fat-tire wheelchairs or motorized David’s Chairs, are one of many reasons Seaside is an ideal location for your next accessible beach adventure.

Marivel’s Kitchen (Photo by Jennifer Burns Bright)

New Food From Dumplings to Whoopie Pies

Seaside’s culinary scene just got a few new additions that are worth checking out on your next visit. The authentic menu at Thai Thai Fusion downtown, for example, has Thai favorites including a range of curries and pad Thai noodles alongside Chinese American favorites like crab rangoon and shumai dumplings. On the south side of town, female-owned Marivel’s Kitchen offers American and Mexican cuisine, to please all palates. Don’t miss the Mexican breakfast specialties like huevos rancheros or chilaquiles, made with chicken and cheese over sauced tortillas.

If you have a sweet tooth, indulge at Seaside’s newest businesses creating mouthwatering sugary delights. At the Seaside Outlets, you’ll find small-batch artisan treats at Seaside HAG Baked Goods. Sugar cookies frosted to look like oysters, birthday whoopie pies and chocolate-espresso bars are just a few of the decadent desserts to choose from. For even more sweets, head to nearby Candy Fun 101. Browse the shop’s selection of international candies, high-end chocolate bars and nostalgic treats. Need to get the sugar-high energy out? Stick around the outlets and play some games at the family-friendly Funtastic Arcade. With claw machines, fast-paced racers and dance-inspired interactivity, there’s enough entertainment for everyone.

Earth in Hand

New Shops for Art, Plants and Rain Boots

Finding treasures among Seaside’s shops and boutiques has always been an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, and now you’ll have new places to peruse. The artwork for sale at Beach Bum Laser Designs is unlike any other you’ve likely seen before. The store offers a collection of beautifully engraved goods, from elaborate wooden wall hangings to intricately etched glassware. It also does custom graphic-design work, so you can go home with a one-of-a-kind keepsake. 

Plant lovers will not want to miss Earth in Hand, a pop-up that sells houseplants and accessories. The business is new but already making a name for itself by hosting some fun community events including live music, Earth Day cleanups and gardening classes, where you can learn skills like how to propagate your plants. 

Opening early in 2025, look for high-end boutique clothing and accessories for both men and women at the latest location of Rachelle M. Rustic House. Owned by its fashionable neighbor C&R Mercantile, you’ll find brands like Frye, Filson, BED|STÜ and many stylish imports to outfit your Seaside weekend. Pro tip: For walking the Prom on a blustery day, check out the Ilse Jacobsen rain boots.

and so much more!

The War Years in Seaside

Blimp patrols were a common feature in Seaside during World War II.

The Daddy Train

The Seaside train depot was the major transportation hub before 1938.

Garden Circle Evolution

The evolution of Seaside's Turnaround garden circle.

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.

My First Trip to Seaside

Recalling a memorable first trip to Seaside, Oregon

Biking the N. Coast Mountain Range

Opportunities endless when hopping on two wheels to navigate Seaside area

The Sweet Side of Seaside

Above photo: A tray of sweets on display at A Sweet Affaire, held every February. In February, we invite you to bask in the sweet ...

Shell Road

Shell Road was the small, primitive pathway that eventually became Broadway.

A volunteer assists those watching whales at an unknown location along the Oregon Coast.
Where to Watch for Whales

It’s possible to see gray whales off the Oregon Coast year-round, but one of two peak periods occurs in late March, when some 20...

Hot Summer Car Shows help usher in the summer season in Seaside.
Hot Summer Car Shows

Two Seaside car shows help usher in and wind down the summer travel season

Seaside Nightlife

Above photo: A group enjoys some live music in a photo by Don Frank. Some visitors come to Seaside for the beach, some for the att...

How to Take an Extended Stay This Winter

It’s Sunday afternoon and you’ve been sightseeing, sipping and shopping in Seaside all weekend. It’s about time you start he...

Behind the Scenes at the Seaside Aquarium With Tiffany Boothe

The Seaside Aquarium has been a fixture on the Prom for as long as anyone can remember; it dates back to 1937, one of the oldest a...

Haunted in Seaside? Just like all towns with a deep history, there's chatter of the spookier side too. We dive in to find out when and where.
Spookiest Spots in Seaside

A fair number of sites in Seaside are thought to be haunted. So we took a deep dive to see what locals and experts had to say about the paranormal.

Exploring the North Coast Food Trail in Seaside

The North Coast Food Trail — a guide to unique, hyper-local food experiences in Seaside and many other cities from Neskowin to A...

Bring on the Bargains and Seaside’s Quiet Seasons

Though Seaside is fantastic all times of the year, the city quiets down after the busy summer season. After Labor Day in early Sep...

Whales and More!

Seaside’s beaches are great for whale-watching, with thousands of migrating gray whales swimming past its shores every year. How...

How to Bike Seaside in Every Season

If you like to ride a bike, there’s something for everyone in Seaside and something for every season, too. Be it a family of five, an avid mountain biker, friends on a weekend outing, a couple on a date, or someone who likes to combine biking and outdoor exploration, Seaside’s trails and roads, paved and otherwise, have you covered. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy biking in Seaside throughout the year. Here are some great biking experiences recent visitors have enjoyed in and around Seaside. Get inspired to plan your own trip.