mom2boys

Traveling via auto throughout the West this summer with tow boys ages 10 & 11. Our travels include Mt. St. Helen's then a turn back towards Denver. Any suggestions on a good beach to visit in the Portland vicinity?

beachbum

Kids that age would like Seaside, with its Santa Monica/Coney Island wannabe atmosphere. You, on the other hand would probably much prefer the less kitschy commercial Cannon Beach. Depending on how much time you have, there's no reason you couldn't visit both. They're less than 10 miles apart; both are about 75 miles from Portland. If you're planning an overnight stay, best to make reservations asap.

happytrailstoyou

Beachbum is right on. Seaside is the closest thing Oregon has to a New Jersey shore town. Cannon Beach is more upscale and the beach features a beloved monolith--Haystack. About 12 miles south of Cannon Beach is a much quiet little town that is gaining fans--Manzanita. Cannon Beach is right between two state parks you will want to visit..

kimamom

Your boys might enjoy the Fort Steven State Park beach where you they could view the wreck of the Peter Iredale. It's a great place to take pictures!

Seaside is very fun. There is a small aquarium, carny rides, cool beach shops and a nice prom for walking, biking, roller blading. Make your reservations asap for Seaside in the summer, tho. Have fun! ***kim***

geraldineb

Hi Mom2 boys,
Continue from Mont St. Helens in Washington state to Astoria via the exit to Longview and then over the Columbia River bridge.Continue driving toward Astoria (Famous for the movie "Kindergarden Cop") They have a weekend farmers market in the summer, a beautiful Marine Museum, and a huge white Column for climbing to a wonderful view. Your boys would love the Lewis and Clark Fort that is right after Astoria. It is a great fun place with actual people tanning hides and shooting the old time rifles and dressed as the early explorers. Seaside is a kids dream place for an ocean resort on the west coast! Our kids loved it so much we went every summer. Sometimes we'd camp at Fort Stevens state park. Seaside also has a discount outlet mall which we love because Oregon has no sales tax! I do not know when you are going but in the middle of August is the Westcoast Volley Ball Sand Tourament. Get your hotel now for that month! We are renting a house for that time this summer. You can drive to Cannon Beach which is quite a bit more $$ for lodgings but the bakery there is great! Go up the hill to the state park lookout too! We saw 8 Whales one time in August! You can also drive to the wonderful Tillamook cheese factory and the Lincoln Shopping center going south from Cannon beach or you can go straight out to Portland to return back to Denver.

kimamom

The museum is actually called the Maritime Museum. Your boys would love this place. We took our newphews last summer and they had great fun there.

The market is called the Sunday Market and actually only runs on Sundays. It is located down 12th Street and runs from 8-2 every Sunday through October in Astoria. It's a great way to sample local produce, see local artwork and photography and be around the locals in Astoria.

The column is called the Astor Column. www.oldoregon.com will give you more info on Astoria and surrounding areas. The fort the previous poster mentioned is called Fort Clatsop and your boys would really enjoy this. There are rifle demonstrations each afternoon around 1:00pm, a movie about Lewis & Clark and a really cool fort where you can try on hats and coats that are replicas of the ones Lewis and Clark wore. Lots for your boys to do there and it's educational, also. ***kim***