Oregon CoastFamily Vacation

If you love puzzles and riddles, head to the Cannon Beach Escape Room. The mind-bending challenge starts in a locked room where up to ten participants gather clues to find the key and escape. Cannon Beach currently features two themed rooms – one is a captain’s quarters with one hour to escape before you walk the plank. The other needs you to reclaim evidence from a prank before the camp director bans you from camp forever.

To call Schwietert’s a “candy shop” is more than an understatement. You can smell a sweet aroma wafting from the store as you walk up the front steps. Yes, there is candy – lots of it – including a wide variety of saltwater taffy, jellybeans, and assorted novelty candies. They’re also well-known for their ice cream selection, proudly serving Tillamook ice cream with homemade waffle cones. To top it all off – the shop offers fudge, caramel corn, cotton candy, chocolate truffles, and coffee. Schwietert’s also has locations in Seaside and Astoria, so a sweet treat is never far from reach!

Family FUNcycles is your go-to stop for bike rentals in Cannon Beach. They offer low-to-the-ground Funcycles, beach cruisers, and fat-tire bikes to fit your preferred style. Bikes are rented in 90-minute increments, and toddler trailers are available at an additional charge. It’s a great way to explore the beautiful stretches of beach, feel the ocean breeze, and ride past Haystack Rock and the Needles. When the weather is nice or the winds are low, head over to Family FUNcycles and enjoy the ride.

Providing family fun in Seaside since 1931, Funland Arcade is the largest arcade on the North Coast. A key draw at Funland is their row of Fascination tables (think bingo meets bowling), but they have an assortment of other attractions to enjoy. There are classic arcade games like Skee Ball, Dance Dance Revolution, and Air Hockey that earn points to redeem for prizes. There are electric-powered bumper cars for all ages (must be 44” in height) and “whale racing” where friends compete by rolling a ball to advance your whale in the race. And, when hunger strikes after rounds of gaming, enjoy Fultano’s pizza on-site.

On the south end of Seaside is Captain Kid Amusement Park filled with fun times for the whole crew. With recent additions including an 18-hole mini-golf course, a brand new go-kart track, and a gem mining experience, family members of all ages can jump in together. Other activities include a 26-foot climbing wall for up to five climbers at a time, several rides for kids, plus an all-ages rollercoaster. When you need a break from the action, grab an ice cream cone or a cold beverage and relax at the picnic tables.

Take a photo adventure that leaves friends and family wondering which way is up. Seaside Inverted Experience features eight vintage themes with items and props secured upside down on its walls and ceilings. Look as if you’re being swept away by the wind on the Seaside Promenade, balance precariously upside-down on a beach cruiser, or do a handstand at the “Inverted Saloon.” Their photographers can take photos with your device and help you edit them for the most topsy-turvy outcome. Visitors keep all digital copies and pay for any printed souvenir to take home.

High Life Adventures in Warrenton offers an aerial perspective on the North Coast’s natural wonders. The main attraction is a guided, eight zip-line tour allowing you to soar over ponds, seasoned timber, a seven-acre lake, and more. All that is required is an adventurous spirit, and these zip lines are great for multiple generations. High Life also features open-air axe-throwing stalls for rent, where you can test your marksmanship.

Believe it or not, there have been more than 400 major film productions shot in Oregon. Experience the rich cinema history here, by visiting the Oregon Film Museum in Astoria. Clatsop County played host to films including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Short Circuit, and, of course, The Goonies. The museum is housed in the old Clatsop County Jail, which was an actual working set for three movies. In addition to learning about Oregon’s film history, you can make a short movie utilizing their sets and green screens.

The Columbia River is an integral part of the Pacific Northwest landscape. It served as a central thoroughfare, trade route, fishing destination, and shipping channel for hundreds of years. This remains true today, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum preserves the Pacific Northwest’s maritime historical past and documents its present. Travel back in time to explore the Columbia River from dugout canoes, through the age of sailing, up to present-day interactive exhibits with full-size vessels, a 3D theater, and artifacts with educational displays.