Coast Explorer Blog

To the delight of serious shoppers, Seaside’s distinct shopping districts offer a wide variety of shopping experiences whether you’re adding to your wardrobe, finding the perfect piece for your home or searching for a great bargain.


THREE DISTINCT SHOPPING AREAS IN SEASIDE offer their own personalities and a variety of unique stores. Downtown is filled with fun and plenty of stores that range from trendy fashion to imports, toys to candy. Cross the Necanicum River into the east side of downtown Seaside known as the historic Gilbert District and you’ll find specialty boutiques and several shops that offer home decorating solutions, antiques and art. Save time for the short trip to the Seaside Factory Outlet Center with their famous name brand selections and discount prices.

DOWNTOWN SEASIDE
Take a stroll down Broadway to find the wide variety of shops in the heart of town. At the Seaside Carousel Mall, 16 shops offer a medley of goods from toys to leather goods and apparel to imports. Across the street is Kay Lynn’s for fashion forward women’s apparel and trendy accessories. There are plenty of candy stores, souvenir shops and casual apparel nearby. Don’t miss Shearwater Gallery for the great selection of original art and artisan jewelry.

THE HISTORIC GILBERT DISTRICT
The block radiating from the corner of Broadway and Holladay east of the Necanicum River offers an excellent concentration of home decorating stores including Fairweather House & Garden, Isabell Ross, Natural Nook and Palapa Beach plus art at Sunrose Gallery and the Gilbert District Gallery. There are antique stores too, including the large Seaside Antique Mall. Apparel stores range from SeaSoles Shoe Boutique to Pacific Outdoor with sportswear, outerwear and footwear for the active outdoorsy set.



SEASIDE’S FACTORY OUTLET
The Seaside Factory Outlet Center features 27 name brand stores offering factory direct prices for savings on fashions, gifts, cookware, tools, shoes, paper products and more.
At the outlet center shoppers can save 20-70 percent off regular retail prices on merchandise from such manufacturers as Nike, Black & Decker, Pendleton, Harry and David, Paper Factory, Zumiez, Eddie Bauer and Liz Claiborne.

PELICAN PICKS HOME & GARDEN: Fall/Winter 2010-11
Things we love from the readers and staff of Coast Explorer Magazine

Roman Numeral Clock at Star Furniture in Seaside
This large-scale piece fits into décor from traditional to funky. We love this piece because it is art with a wow factor and gives timeless functionality. It can be the centerpiece of a room or complement your design without overpowering it. The clock is 50 inches, priced at $139. Star Furniture, Seaside (503) 738-8999.


Fairweather House & Garden 
Offers Stylish Illumination
The smoked ice lamp from Smithe is a beautiful solution to your lighting problems and is now available at Fairweather House and Garden in Seaside. This lamp is not only elegant and earthy, it is also a national ARTS award winning fashion forward piece that was nominated by industry experts for outstanding design. The lamp is priced at $495. Fairweather House and Garden, Seaside (503) 738-8899.

Dichroic Glass Art Decor at 
Purple Starfish in Depoe Bay
We love the visual impact and kaleidoscope of color in these fused dichroic glass pieces at Purple Starfish. These sculpted human forms are created by artist Karen Ehart and range in size from 16 to 36 inches. Prices range from $900 to $2500 depending on size. Purple Starfish, 
Depoe Bay (541) 765-2336.

Woven Essentials Upholstery Fabric 
at Mead Interiors
These gorgeous upholstery fabrics from Mead Interiors in Astoria recently caught our eye. We love the luxurious textures, vivid colors and intricate and elegant design patterns. Some of these fabrics were recently used to reupholster booths at Camp 18 Restaurant on Highway 26. Mead Interiors, Astoria (503) 325-0701



Got something you love that deserves to be a Pelican Pick? Send it to us at: editor@coastexplorermagazine.com and you may see it here in a future issue.

We invited wine expert Stephen Wilson, proprietor of The Bay House in Lincoln City to share his top six wine picks with Coast Explorer readers. The Bay House is a recipient of Wine Spectator magazine’s Award of Excellence with a wine list featuring over 2100 selections. Prices listed are from The Bay House wine list, call (541) 996-3222 for information on availability.

Light and crisp white
2007 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris – $12
A perennial favorite from Oregon’s first winery. Jason Lett brings out a bright, classic nose with a dry, mineral complexity. A true benchmark for this variety.

Rich, full-bodied white
2007 Ken Wright Cellars, 

Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay – $23
With fruit from a cooler Washington vineyard site, Ken Wright produces a rich wine with excellent acidity and notes of apricot, lemon, and vanilla. Big, but well-balanced, this is a reminder of why Chardonnay became so popular in the first place.

Lighter red, big value
2008 Owen Roe, O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir – $15
Always a great value for Oregon Pinot Noir, the 2008 is better than usual. Deeply colored with juicy, intense fruit and well-balanced acidity. Showing well now, but will be even better in a year.

Lighter red
2006 deLancellotti Family Vineyards
Pinot Noir – $48
Close family ties to Bergstrom Wines make this once vineyard-designated Pinot one of excellent quality and value. Cherry and violet-scented with marionberry and black fruit on the palate. This small, hand-numbered bottle production is always highly rated and deservedly so.

Rich, full-bodied red
2007 Pamplin Family Winery JRG
Red Wine – $28
This Bordeaux-style wine is a blend of Columbia Valley Merlot and Malbec. Despite its youth, the ripe, lush fruit shines through a well-balanced tannic structure. This first release is outstanding both in quality and value. With only 164 cases produced, don’t expect this price to last once word gets out.

Big, big, big red
2008 Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard, 
Chapel Block Syrah – $40
Rarely does a Northwest wine end up as the highest scoring wine in an issue of Wine Spectator magazine, but this one did in August. They say, “Plum, blackberry, and currant fruit, hints of espresso and violet.” I say, “Yum!”

The Bay House is located at 5911 Southwest Highway 101,
Lincoln City (541) 996-3222.

Real estate experts from Washington and Oregon Coast communities 
offer their take on current trends in water-view properties.

Beachfront properties seem to come to mind when thinking about homes that overlook the water; however, many communities offer homes that overlook bays, rivers and lakes that are just as breathtaking. Our real estate experts show us various view properties available along the coast and share their take on current trends of water-view properties.

In the past, an ocean view has commanded top dollar. Marianne Pittard, broker at RE/MAX River & Sea in Gearhart says, “Prices have adjusted significantly in the past two years and now opportunities are in abundance as evidenced by the number of listings under a million dollars.” In turn, those properties in the upper million-dollar range have also come down significantly.

High atop a hill sits a crown jewel in Astoria, the Henry Hoefler house (pictured above). From its vantage point, this home delivers 180-degree views of the Columbia River and Washington coastline. This historic jewel, offered at $1,115,000 is situated on over an acre and is a rare blend of Mission and Craftsman architecture that has been thoughtfully restored and mechanically updated.

At the other end of the pricing spectrum, Pittard shows us a Lindal Cedar Custom Home on the canal at Cullaby Lake. This well-appointed three-bedroom home is offered at $294,900 and features a Northwest lodge style with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams as well as maple wood floors.

Currently listed by Windermere Manzanita is the 2000 HGTV Dream Home featuring breathtaking views of the Nehalem Bay and estuary. Magical setting and décor come together in this home to make it a fantasy retreat for a list price of $599,000.


On Nehalem Point sits a two-bedroom riverfront home with large natural timber construction suited for the unspoiled beauty of the point. This home, offered at $399,000 boasts views of the Nehalem Bay and the river. Broker and owner of Windermere Manzanita, Walt Covert, tells us, “The prices for view properties are the best we have seen in ten years.” He also says that choice, good pricing and low interest rates won’t last forever.

Located on Willapa Bay in Washington is a home that offers over eight acres and 275 feet of bay frontage. The 5000-square-foot, five-bedroom, lodge style home has comfort, style and serenity and is priced at $1,485,000. Pacific Realty’s owner/broker, Leslie Brophy says, “Although many folks seem to be looking for bargains, this year we have sold some singular properties on both the ocean and the bay.”

The housing market is in a constant state of flux in the current economy but coastal homes are still being bought and sold on a regular basis. More importantly, homes with amazing water views have become more accessible to buyers in all price ranges. Our real estate experts concur that now is a great time to acquire that property with a view overlooking the ocean, river, bay or lake.

PELICAN PICKS SHOPPING: Fall/Winter 2010-11
Things we love about coastal shopping from the readers & staff of Coast Explorer Magazine

DAV Rubber Boots for Kids at Cotton Club in Seaside
These great black and white kids’ rubber boots made a hit with us because they are perfect for Oregon’s climate. They’re so versatile they can be worn when stomping in puddles, running with the dog on the beach or for daily wear to school. Priced at $39.95. Cotton Club, 415 Broadway in Seaside, (503) 738-6225

Jade Bracelets at The Sweater Shoppe in Gleneden Beach
We love the variety of jade beads in these affordable handcrafted macramé bracelets. The beads come in butterfly, tortoise, dragons, hearts and round beads. Priced at $29. The Sweater Shoppe, Shops at Salishan, Gleneden Beach, 
(541) 764-3777

Art Couture Dress at Ambiance in Astoria
This unique artwork immediately caught our eye. The dress is constructed by artist Debra Cheuvront-Kelly of old laminated sheet music. We love the creativity and imagination involved in this artistic display. Priced at $189. Ambiance, 229 14th Street in Astoria, (503) 325-9139

Leather Luggage Tags and Passport Covers at The Paper Clip in Seaside
Most luggage looks alike, but we love the way these colorful leather monogram tags make yours stand out. The matching passport cover holds your credit cards, passport and even has a place for your pen. Now you’re ready to travel! Luggage tags are $12.95, and passport/travel organizer is $20. The Paper Clip, 203 S Holladay Drive in Seaside, (503) 738-6613

Vintage Western Outfit at Seaside’s Garbo’s Vintage Wear
What fun it is to pick something off this rack, something from another rack and another and come up with a put-together look – retro yet stylish. Matched with a pair of cowboy boots and tooled leather purse, this completes the outfit. Look for styles from the ’20s to the ’90s at Garbo’s Vintage Global Wear, 411 Broadway in Seaside, (503) 368-4272

Got something you love that deserves to be a Pelican Pick? Send it to us at: editor@coastexplorermagazine.com and you may see it here in a future issue.