If you’re traveling to Seaside from Portland via Highway 26, the Camp 18 Museum is a great stop along the way. If you’re already in Seaside, it’s an easy half-hour drive back. Either way, this museum dedicated to the history of logging is a wonderful experience. Kids will love the massive pieces of logging equipment that surround the main lodge. Take an hour to stretch your legs and walk around these antique monsters, including a mule-pulled skid, steam crane, bandsaw, and railway caboose, to learn how important logging was to this area. You’ll also see playful wood carvings, including bears, eagles, loggers, and even a giraffe, sprinkled throughout the grounds.

Inside the lodge, you’ll find more exhibits, plus a restaurant that serves up heaping plates of comfort food. If you’re not ready for a full meal, at least grab one of their tasty homemade cinnamon buns while admiring the massive high-beamed log ceiling, which features an 85-foot, 25-ton ridge pole, the largest of its kind in the country.

Admission
Admission to the museum is free, although donations are appreciated.