In part 2, Dooger's & Buoy's Best, and the rest of Seaside.
We'll fuel up for the rest of the day, at Doogers Seafood & Grill, where you will find steamer clams, scallops, crab cakes, fresh halibut and of course, clam chowder.
A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of Oregon coast clam chowder... And don't forget to grab a Dooger's Chowder Kit on the way out.
OR.
Fuel up for the day at Bell Buoy, more like a snack bar than a restaurant.
See pictures.
Follow along with pictures...
Then, go to Bell Buoy, and menu.
I'll pause for a moment while you get there...
pause
pause
...
OK.
Seaside may not be a port town, but it knows some fishermen. Buoy's Best Restaurant (eighteen hundred South Roosevelt Drive), has the finest, freshest seafood in town, straight from the Bell Buoy Fish Market next door. One of the only places approved to clean, and sell razor clams. Cut out the middleman and get the clam chowder, which made a respectable showing last year. It's rich & buttery, thanks to an overnight marinade. Also be sure to grab, oyster shooters ($3) and breaded cod with waffle fries ($10). Learn more here.
(SEE ALL SEASIDE EATS)
Next, is the historic Gilbert District, and Boardwalk.
When we get there, we will turn right from highway 101, and for the next 2 blocks, is Seaside’s beautifully restored Gilbert District, peppered with historic architecture from days of old – including two of the city’s oldest buildings framing the intersection at Broadway and Holladay Drive. Stroll with us down Broadway and hear the classic Gilbert District tales from the distant past HERE.
We can either drive, or stroll by. Anything is an option here.
Then, we'll relive our childhood and amuse ourselves with 'Blasts from the Past' from the 1930s and earlier--
With...
Piggin Pancake, on the left, A Family-Run Pancake Empire, that originally drew in the crowds in the ’60s.
Then, at the next block, the Seaside Carousel Mall, to the right, where we'll buy that, CHEESY, NEON green, Seaside hoodie.
You can't leave Seaside without it! (Also at The Freedom Shop (111 Broadway).
Up on the left, A Sweet Legacy Continues
Rows upon rows of rocky road, homemade saltwater taffy, caramel corn, and all the gummy treats, delight sweet tooths of all ages at Phillips Candies, today, just as they did back in 1897.
Making it the oldest continuously run business in Seaside.
Right after Phillips, is...
The Funland Arcade, one of the country's last remaining Fascination parlors, where players roll rubber balls across a bingo-style game table, and attendants walk the aisles collecting money, and handing out prize coupons, while the announcer calls games over a microphone.
Or for $3, ride on the vintage Lusse Auto Scooter bumper cars (like the 1953 model styled after the curvy, chromed-out, Chevy's of its era).
And an original Tilt-A-Whirl, all over 70 years old...
Then, we might head next door, to Pronto Pup, for a made-to-order corn dog.
And last, it's not a cheesy beach trip, until you've wandered into The Seaside Candyman, at 21 North Columbia Street.
Here you can spin a giant wheel to win free taffy and popcorn. Is like a tiny beach-town take on Willy Wonka.
pause
pause
pause
We’ll pause for a moment.
Then next, when we arrive, is the Turn around, Promenade, & Lewis & Clark.
At the Promenade, the "end of the trail" statue of Lewis and Clark greets you. The Promenade was built in 1921, and the town hosted a huge celebration to honor the occasion.
See pictures. Seaside turnaround during the celebration in 1921.
And postcard from 1911.
See pictures. Seaside turnaround during the celebration in 1921.
And postcard from 1911.
In the next pictures.
The Promenade and beach, looks pretty much the same as it did, 100 years ago.
To the south, in this picture, you will see Tillamook Head, the prominent headland.
Just on the other side of this headland, is Cannon Beach.
Then.
See pictures, view from the crow's nest Towers, Just What the Doctor Ordered, and Going for a Dip in the 1920s.
See pictures, view from the crow's nest Towers, Just What the Doctor Ordered, and Going for a Dip in the 1920s.
pause
pause
pause, while we check out those pictures.
Take a dip.
Don’t forget, to take a dip in the ocean.
It may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
You choose.
Be a brave soul, and wade out and enjoy confronting the waves in a head-on collision, feeling of the full majestic power of the ocean.
Or, like more modest folk, venture in the ankle deep waters, where the shallow tide flows back against your feet, gently pulling sand around your exposed toes. One can clearly see that both temperaments are represented here in the late 1920s – and if you head down to Seaside’s beach during high summer this year, I’ll bet you can see the same oceanfront antics.
By the time Lewis & Clark makes it to Fort Clatsop, 15 miles north of here, their salt cache is gone.
The captains sent five men to establish the salt camp here.
Join me for a visit to a reproduction of their salt-making camp, and close to the end of their trail.
The Salt Works reconstruction is a 12 minute walk south.
We can also drive there.
A block from the beach, the reconstructed salt oven shows, how a small party, boiled saltwater for salt.
Interpretive signs are there.
To make salt from sea water, the men built a stone oven, lit roaring hot fires, then boiled huge kettles of sea water day and night. When the water boiled away, the result was white sea salt, which was packed into wooden kegs.
See pictures.
Salt Making Camp
See pictures.
Salt Making Camp
They chose Seaside because the seawater had a high salt content, and the animals and wood were abundant. Captain Clark pronounced the salt "excellent white and fine."
They used the briny bounty, to cure elk and other wild game, for charcuterie, to nibble alongside wild onions, licorice root and berries they traded with local tribes, during their journey home.
salt-making camp.
Salt Works
Also, from here, you can view Tillamook Headland, to the South. Tillamook Head is the furthest the Lewis & Clark party went. More on that shortly.
Walk 'the prom', and Feed the seals.
Seaside is known for it's aquarium, the Seaside Aquarium at the Promenade, just to our North, 1 block. Formerly, it was known as the Seaside Natatorium.
It's provided a place of attraction for over 80 years, one of the oldest aquariums on the west coast (1937- History)
The building was once, one of the 2 Seaside Natatoriums, a salt water bath house and swimming pool.
See pictures.
Seaside natatorium and aquarium.
See pictures.
Seaside natatorium and aquarium.
It's maybe the best $8 you can spend on the coast. Pay the extra $2, to throw fish at the seals and see many of the sea-creatures who've made their homes there.. Also check out the open fish tanks where you can touch sea anemones and starfish.
Finally, you can visit the Seaside Museum, & Butterfield Cottage, with history going back 2000 years, at 570 Necanicum Drive.
To visit may require a deletion of other parts of your tour, or an extension.
The Butterfield, is Oregon's one and only, historical, beach cottage museum. They're open Monday through Saturday 10 to 3. Admission, $3 each. Listen, HERE, for more museum and historic beach cottage info.
We'll fuel up for the rest of the day, at Doogers Seafood & Grill, where you will find steamer clams, scallops, crab cakes, fresh halibut and of course, clam chowder.
A visit to the Oregon coast just isn't complete without a steaming hot bowl of Oregon coast clam chowder... And don't forget to grab a Dooger's Chowder Kit on the way out.
OR.
Fuel up for the day at Bell Buoy, more like a snack bar than a restaurant.
See pictures.
Follow along with pictures...
Then, go to Bell Buoy, and menu.
I'll pause for a moment while you get there...
pause
pause
...
OK.
Seaside may not be a port town, but it knows some fishermen. Buoy's Best Restaurant (eighteen hundred South Roosevelt Drive), has the finest, freshest seafood in town, straight from the Bell Buoy Fish Market next door. One of the only places approved to clean, and sell razor clams. Cut out the middleman and get the clam chowder, which made a respectable showing last year. It's rich & buttery, thanks to an overnight marinade. Also be sure to grab, oyster shooters ($3) and breaded cod with waffle fries ($10). Learn more here.
(SEE ALL SEASIDE EATS)
Next, is the historic Gilbert District, and Boardwalk.
When we get there, we will turn right from highway 101, and for the next 2 blocks, is Seaside’s beautifully restored Gilbert District, peppered with historic architecture from days of old – including two of the city’s oldest buildings framing the intersection at Broadway and Holladay Drive. Stroll with us down Broadway and hear the classic Gilbert District tales from the distant past HERE.
We can either drive, or stroll by. Anything is an option here.
Then, we'll relive our childhood and amuse ourselves with 'Blasts from the Past' from the 1930s and earlier--
With...
Piggin Pancake, on the left, A Family-Run Pancake Empire, that originally drew in the crowds in the ’60s.
Then, at the next block, the Seaside Carousel Mall, to the right, where we'll buy that, CHEESY, NEON green, Seaside hoodie.
You can't leave Seaside without it! (Also at The Freedom Shop (111 Broadway).
Up on the left, A Sweet Legacy Continues
Rows upon rows of rocky road, homemade saltwater taffy, caramel corn, and all the gummy treats, delight sweet tooths of all ages at Phillips Candies, today, just as they did back in 1897.
Making it the oldest continuously run business in Seaside.
Right after Phillips, is...
The Funland Arcade, one of the country's last remaining Fascination parlors, where players roll rubber balls across a bingo-style game table, and attendants walk the aisles collecting money, and handing out prize coupons, while the announcer calls games over a microphone.
Or for $3, ride on the vintage Lusse Auto Scooter bumper cars (like the 1953 model styled after the curvy, chromed-out, Chevy's of its era).
And an original Tilt-A-Whirl, all over 70 years old...
Then, we might head next door, to Pronto Pup, for a made-to-order corn dog.
And last, it's not a cheesy beach trip, until you've wandered into The Seaside Candyman, at 21 North Columbia Street.
Here you can spin a giant wheel to win free taffy and popcorn. Is like a tiny beach-town take on Willy Wonka.
pause
pause
pause
We’ll pause for a moment.
Then next, when we arrive, is the Turn around, Promenade, & Lewis & Clark.
At the Promenade, the "end of the trail" statue of Lewis and Clark greets you. The Promenade was built in 1921, and the town hosted a huge celebration to honor the occasion.
See pictures. Seaside turnaround during the celebration in 1921.
And postcard from 1911.
See pictures. Seaside turnaround during the celebration in 1921.
And postcard from 1911.
In the next pictures.
The Promenade and beach, looks pretty much the same as it did, 100 years ago.
To the south, in this picture, you will see Tillamook Head, the prominent headland.
Just on the other side of this headland, is Cannon Beach.
Then.
See pictures, view from the crow's nest Towers, Just What the Doctor Ordered, and Going for a Dip in the 1920s.
See pictures, view from the crow's nest Towers, Just What the Doctor Ordered, and Going for a Dip in the 1920s.
pause
pause
pause, while we check out those pictures.
Take a dip.
Don’t forget, to take a dip in the ocean.
It may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
You choose.
Be a brave soul, and wade out and enjoy confronting the waves in a head-on collision, feeling of the full majestic power of the ocean.
Or, like more modest folk, venture in the ankle deep waters, where the shallow tide flows back against your feet, gently pulling sand around your exposed toes. One can clearly see that both temperaments are represented here in the late 1920s – and if you head down to Seaside’s beach during high summer this year, I’ll bet you can see the same oceanfront antics.
By the time Lewis & Clark makes it to Fort Clatsop, 15 miles north of here, their salt cache is gone.
The captains sent five men to establish the salt camp here.
Join me for a visit to a reproduction of their salt-making camp, and close to the end of their trail.
The Salt Works reconstruction is a 12 minute walk south.
We can also drive there.
A block from the beach, the reconstructed salt oven shows, how a small party, boiled saltwater for salt.
Interpretive signs are there.
To make salt from sea water, the men built a stone oven, lit roaring hot fires, then boiled huge kettles of sea water day and night. When the water boiled away, the result was white sea salt, which was packed into wooden kegs.
See pictures.
Salt Making Camp
See pictures.
Salt Making Camp
They chose Seaside because the seawater had a high salt content, and the animals and wood were abundant. Captain Clark pronounced the salt "excellent white and fine."
They used the briny bounty, to cure elk and other wild game, for charcuterie, to nibble alongside wild onions, licorice root and berries they traded with local tribes, during their journey home.
salt-making camp.
Salt Works
Also, from here, you can view Tillamook Headland, to the South. Tillamook Head is the furthest the Lewis & Clark party went. More on that shortly.
Walk 'the prom', and Feed the seals.
Seaside is known for it's aquarium, the Seaside Aquarium at the Promenade, just to our North, 1 block. Formerly, it was known as the Seaside Natatorium.
It's provided a place of attraction for over 80 years, one of the oldest aquariums on the west coast (1937- History)
The building was once, one of the 2 Seaside Natatoriums, a salt water bath house and swimming pool.
See pictures.
Seaside natatorium and aquarium.
See pictures.
Seaside natatorium and aquarium.
It's maybe the best $8 you can spend on the coast. Pay the extra $2, to throw fish at the seals and see many of the sea-creatures who've made their homes there.. Also check out the open fish tanks where you can touch sea anemones and starfish.
Finally, you can visit the Seaside Museum, & Butterfield Cottage, with history going back 2000 years, at 570 Necanicum Drive.
To visit may require a deletion of other parts of your tour, or an extension.
The Butterfield, is Oregon's one and only, historical, beach cottage museum. They're open Monday through Saturday 10 to 3. Admission, $3 each. Listen, HERE, for more museum and historic beach cottage info.