Sunday, June 10 – We drove up to the town of Seaside, Oregon, today.
Seaside is called Oregon's first resort town because of the 1920's-era Promenade that runs nearly two miles along the beachfront. It is also here that members of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery party replenished their salt stores.
Today was a crowded beach day along the Promenade because a sand soccer tournament was being held. There were 100's of kids and adults playing soccer in the sand and 100's more walking throughout downtown waiting to play later in the day.
Notice…they dress a bit differently here on the beach than on the East coast. This time of year calls for …. Coats, hats, gloves, etc.
Broadway Avenue is the bustling downtown street where vacationers can explore the many small shops and grab a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants. The sidewalks were crowded, and the economy was alive and well in Seaside.
It is a really nice small town, and worth a stop along Costal-101.
When we attended the Sand Castle Festival, we did not take the time to visit the downtown area of Cannon Beach. We decided that this was a great time to do just that.
Cannon Beach was originally named Ecola by Wm. Clark of Lewis and Clark. It was renamed Cannon Beach after a cannon washed ashore from the schooner, U.S.S. Shark, which wrecked while attempting to leave the Columbia River on September 10, 1846.
This is a replica of the cannon. The real one is housed in the Museum in Cannon Beach.
The downtown area is filled with historic buildings. They have a walking tour, but Marsha granted Paul's wish and didn't make him do it this time.
This building was built in 1926 and housed the Round Table Restaurant. The 12-person round table was the local gossip center for many years. It is now the Post Office, and the gossip continues.
The Library isn't in a historical building but blends in so nicely with the rest of the surroundings.
The Coaster Theatre Playhouse is lovely.
Very attractive sidewalks in Cannon Beach.
Also, for all you film buffs, the film Twilight (2008) was filmed here.
On our way back down the coast to our campground in Nehalem Bay, we noticed the tide was out giving us access to the base of the famous Haystack Rock.
As stated in an earlier post, Haystack Rock towers 235 feet above the beach and is Cannon Beach's most recognizable landmark and one of the largest sea stacks on America's Pacific coast.
With the tide out, you could walk right up to the base of the rock and 100s of people were doing just that!
They had volunteers from the Haystack Rock Wildlife Refuge to answer questions, point out interesting features, and keep the people out of protected areas. It was wonderful listening to them discuss the marine life in this area. They explained how everything is connected to everything else.
At the base of the rock are fascinating intertidal creatures clinging to rocks and in the pools left by the receding tide. Sea stars, anemones, hermit crabs, limpets, snails, mussels, barnacles and dozens of other unique animals crowd the rocks and fill the intertidal zone with life.
Sea Stars in this area measure 2-12" and range in color from orange to purple. 
Anemones were everywhere in the intertidal zone .
The rocks are filled with Tufted Puffins (Unfortunately, they were hiding from the near-by Eagles, and we did not get to see them.), Western Gulls, Pigeons, Cormorants, Black Oystercatchers, Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. One of the volunteers had a monocular set-up so you could view a pair of nesting Black Oystercatchers and a Cormorant nest. That was very cool.
Black Oystercatcher nesting.
Western Gull nesting.
We really enjoyed our return trip to Haystack Rock and would encourage anyone touring the area to see the Rock at both high-tide and low-tide.
We spent the remainder of the BEAUTIFUL SUNNY day sitting outside, walking Bella on the campground trails, and doing a couple maintenance chores on the motorhome. Paul used the Solution to clean the entire motorhome. Marsha, of course, worked on her pine needle basket hobby! It was one of the WONDERFUL, BLESSED day of being outdoors.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!
Seaside was a popular summer resort back in the day because of the "Daddy Train." It ran between Portland and Seaside bringing the Daddies out for the weekend to join their families who were escaping the summer heat in Portland.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the walkability of Seaside. We used to rent a condo right on the Prom and walk to the restaurants. Much better than trying to drive and park in summer traffic.
Plus, Seaside has the best 4th of July fireworks if you are still in the area then. Families dig bunkers in the sand to protect them from the cold winds then the next day the road graders come out and turn it all into beach again. It's really something to see.
I like Seaside too. It's a great little town but it gets terribly crowded during the summer which is why we usually end up going a little farther south around Nehalem and Rockaway Beach.
ReplyDeleteCoats, hats and gloves just don't compute for a June day! What a charming town! It's amazing to see the differences between high and low tide and the variety and beauty of the intertidal creatures. So glad you got to sit outdoors and enjoy some natural sunlight instead of having to use the sunlamp!
ReplyDeleteSo neat to be able to walk to the Haystack. Are there signs with daily tidal charts so that people don't get caught unawares?
ReplyDeleteAnother great adventure filled day. Thanks for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place... I would have loved to have explored all those tidal pools. Interesting that Twilight was filmed there...one of my favorite movies.
ReplyDeletethe clothing attire is the 'norm' on the Oregon Coast..with the wind and sand blowing..beautiful!..not exactly a sun-tanning kind of place!
ReplyDeleteWhat I find so amazing is how different the coasts are from both east and west and north and south. Loved the pictures of the sea life at the Haystack. I think you guys deserve a day to sit and do nothing.
ReplyDeleteIt's another pinner! Thanks for such a thorough report.
ReplyDeleteGreat tour of Haystack Rock with photos of all the interesting sea creatures.
ReplyDeleteI've always preferred Cannon Beach to Seaside as a place to visit because it seems so much quieter and laid back.
I never knew about the washed up cannon being the reason for the name Cannon Beach!
Seaside and Cannon Beach are both interesting towns. We like to go after Labor Day when everyone is back to school and work!! Glad you finally got some sun although that doesn't help much when you're working on your "rust." (that's tan to Oregonians!)
ReplyDeleteSomehow Cannon Beach has changed a little since I was a boy. Our family had a cabin near Mt. Hood, and friends had a cabin at Cannon Beach. The families traded visits regularly. We also stayed at that same cabin in Cannon Beach on our honeymoon oh-so-many years ago. Thanks for the re-visit!
ReplyDeleteAren't you glad you had the "proper beach attire"? Not many people in the water on Oregon beaches in the summer...the water is very cold because of the upwelling Japanese currents. But...the beach combing should pick up this year!
ReplyDeletewasn't aware you could walk to the stack... guess last time I was there it was high tide...
ReplyDeleteLOVE that spot! Want to go back now!!
ReplyDeleteNina