Discover Seaside

When looking for a hotel in Seaside, you can consider which themes you want to shape your stay: the aquarium on the beach, the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, insights into local life, or a specific feature at Quatat Park. These different areas of focus provide a basis for tailoring your travel plans to your own interests.

Seaside Aquarium and Butterfield Cottage

Seaside Aquarium has been located on the beach since 1937 and is the oldest privately operated aquarium on the West Coast. Its history and location give the aquarium a special connection to Seaside. On summer weekends, the aquarium’s Discovery Program offers free hands-on learning activities on the beach in front of it. This program provides a different focus from the building’s long history: here, hands-on learning takes center stage. For your travel planning, the seasonal schedule is important, as the program is offered on summer weekends.

Butterfield Cottage offers another perspective on the area. It was restored as an interpretive museum and represents a beach house and lodging with room rentals dating from 1912. It is also the only surviving cottage from Seaside’s original Grimes Grove. This brings together a portrayal of an earlier type of lodging and a specific connection to the history of Grimes Grove. If you are interested in the history of overnight stays, the cottage offers a historical look at beach houses and room rentals; its connection to Grimes Grove adds a distinct local dimension to this perspective.

Lewis and Clark History at the Turnaround

At the Salt Works in Seaside, members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition boiled seawater to make salt during the winter of 1805–1806. The Turnaround is considered the expedition’s official endpoint. The two locations highlight different aspects of history: the Salt Works are about a specific activity during the winter, while the Turnaround marks the end of the journey. The End of the Trail statue also stands there, where Broadway Street ends at the historic Seaside Promenade. If you are interested in the expedition, these sites help distinguish two different questions: What did its members do in Seaside, and which place is considered the official endpoint of their journey?

People and Practical Information

The “Our Stories” exhibit at the Seaside Museum & Historical Society focuses on people who worked and lived in Seaside and called it home. It thus draws attention to local lives and work, complementing the expedition’s history with a different perspective. During your visit to Seaside, you can distinguish between these themes: this exhibit focuses on people and their connection to the area, while the Salt Works and Turnaround are associated with the expedition’s journey.

Quatat Park adds a practical aspect to the historical and cultural themes. The park has a floating dock with a ramp wide enough for manual and electric wheelchairs. If this feature matters to your travel planning, the explicitly stated ramp width provides a specific point of reference.

Discover more destinations: Arch Cape, Cannon Beach, Gearhart, Astoria, Warrenton

For the broader travel overview: Clatsop.