If you've lived in the Pacific Northwest and ever wondered about the origin of those Jake the…read moreAlligator Man stickers, this is the review for you! Marsh's Free Museum is the legendary home of Jake himself (you can find him in the back). The shop is an absolute treasure trove of curiosities. It features a mix of your classic beach-town souvenirs alongside more "not-so-typical" fare, like unique books, sweatshirts, and even knives. If you have some spare quarters, the old-school mechanical games are a must-play! The service here has always been great, super attentive and friendly. As for value, some things are a little expensive, but they also have affordable stuff if you look hard enough. They are not any more expensive than any other shop in Long Beach. I always make it a point to stop here every single time I'm in Long Beach. Whether you're just starting your trek down the strip or looking for the perfect place to end your journey, this spot is a PNW essential.

What can I say other than this is a huge tourist trap, but in the best way possible? You know it's…read moregood when one of the exhibits has its own Wikipedia page (Jake the Alligator Man). There are lot of curios, from taxidermy animals to old orchestreons. A lot of the amusing displays are in the back and in corners. I would say if you have small kids to be careful bringing them in as it seems like there are a lot of delicate items, from the piles of beautiful seashells in the front, to the porcelain items in the back. It is such a fun and unique place to visit, and the best part is that it's free! Although you will definitely walk away having purchased something.

Visited on a Wednesday around 3pm; parking was easy and it was $18 a person. We aren't boat or…read moreseaside people by any means, but we still found ourselves learning new things and fascinated by this well done museum. The ticket comes with a tour of an actual boat, which we did first, it's a steep ladder to go down into the boat so I would recommend only to people in better health. You can walk on top of the boat as well if you can't go down inside. The actual museum itself is so well curated and has SO many rooms and exhibits to look at. They have 3D movie options which we didn't do, but the museum itself is beautifully done and worth it if you have time in Astoria.

It's enjoyable time for anyone who enjoys maritime or shipwreck history and activities. The staff…read moreis kind and helpful and the bathrooms were nice and clean. A cute little gift shop which is as usual pretty pricey with some more affordable options and nick nacks. Cool history, cool exhibits.

So much is packed into this museum. Local history about the sea, Long Beach racing history,…read morehistoric model trains and toys and a lovely room dedicated to crafts. Rugs hooked with felted wool, both historic and crafted while I watched were visually stunning. The method has been around for hundreds of years and this is the first time I have seen this type of work. Some beautiful quilts too

We visited the museum on 'free' Thursday and was given a delightful briefing from a very energetic…read moregreeter. She directed us to the amazing story about the man who rowed his 'Sector' boat from Japan to the Illwaco coast. Very impressive story of a mans will to accomplish a true feat of courage. Lots of trains and a walkthru of the areas logging history. Outside we discover a restored railcar that is in pristine condition. The greeter again was delightful as we recount our path. It's worthy of a stop but once is enough and you can continue driving up to the nearby lighthouse at Cape Disapointment.

This gallery in Cannon Beach has some really beautiful things. There's a variety of mediums here,…read moreand you'll find lots of glass and paintings in particular. I saw some glass jelly fish hanging decorations that were really nice but I was afraid it would be too delicate to make it back in my luggage. They also had some encaustic works, which is a medium I really like. These were by an artist named Jennifer Wilson, and were mixed media because they included seashells and sea glass that were embedded in the wax. They were really evocative of the coast to me, and again if I thought I could get it back I probably would have bought one. The artwork here cries in price, from more affordable ($55 for the glass blown octopus, and there may have been less expensive stuff here) to paintings or sculpture that are in the thousands. Even if you're not buying it's worth a stroll through.

This iconic artist gallery has been a part of the Cannon Beach experience for more than two…read moredecades. Founded by two women with a keen sense of wanting to support and build community for creative in the area. I learned this history from Lotte who was managing customer service the day I wandered in. I was just going to view some of the incredible paintings -- photos are understandably not permitted out of respect for the artists -- I was seeing from the outside. I was warmly welcomed and invited to browse without any pressure. They were beautifully potted plants throughout the gallery and I was told one of the owners has a green thumb. Eye-catching wall Pieces ranged from very large to tiny, but I wound up being drawn to the hand made jewelry collection. What caught my eye was a beautiful amethyst still at tight cluster, in a lavender hue with purple flames inside the tips. I had never seen anything like it. The piece was extremely well held in a silver structure and the chain was both beautiful and sturdy. My issue was that it was a 17 inch chain and I was looking for a 21 inch chain. Lotte was excellent at troubleshooting and simply called the artist who picked up. They spoke and then I was invited to have a brief conversation with the Artist, Anne Anderson, and we arranged for a time when I would be able to swap out the chains. It was a really wonderful experience of Customer Service that went above and beyond. Clearly the gallery had an excellent relationship with the artist which is always telling. The piece was understandably priced at $210 for the labor intensive setting, as well as the excellent quality of crystal used. This was my first purchase from the gallery in recent memory, but it stands out in my small collection as one of the most beautiful pieces.

If you are seeking affordable wall art of local beach scenes, this is the gallery for you…read more Literally packed with hundreds and hundreds of prints and photographs in every imaginable size, some framed, others not, there is something for everyone's taste and space. Lots of gorgeous photography from Ron Keebler on the walls. Of course there are lots of prints and photographs of iconic Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park that are Just incredibly beautiful, captured in various weather conditions from bright blue sunny days, mist and rain, and sunsets in orange & yellow or pinks & purples. Breathtaking. While the colorful images are spectacular, I found the black and white photographs to be quite moving and am considering a large print for my master bathroom. If you aren't in the market for wall art, no worries, there are other items as well. There are lots souvenirs like coasters, greeting cards, plaques, shells and even some jewelry from local artists. Everything, including the wall art, is very affordable. Nothing pretentious about this shop or the items contained within. Definitely worth a stop if you are visiting from out of state, from other parts of Oregon or even a local. Just know the store is often crowded making it a challenge to navigate because it's full of inventory. When possible, I visit during the week.

My husband is born and raised in Cannon Beach so we love supporting our local community.We live in…read moreAstoria now for work but it's just a short drive down to visit the in-laws! Ginna is always so kind and helpful, we bought this beautiful Cresent beach/cannon beach print my husband has been wanting for over our bed for ages and it is the best thing to look at. Such high quality! The framing is gorgeous and they wire it for you in the shop as well as wrap it up so it won't get damage in transit! Thanks for always being so kind and helpful whenever we stop in!

Nice gallery with an assortment of items from ceramics to jewelry and paintings and most everything…read morein between. Not too large that you feel overwhelmed.

This unpretentious eclectic gallery is filled with local crafts, jewelry, ceramics, cards,…read morepaintings and prints that span the price range so there is something for everyone's budget. What is also unique as far as Cannon Beach galleries go, this shop is not filled with shells, starfish, sunset and beach scenes. How refreshing! Just because we are at the beach, doesn't mean we have homes decorated in an ocean theme. In the jewelry area, you will find lots of unique pairs of earrings and necklaces, many with a vintage touch. Lots of freshwater pearl designs, lots of silver. The last visit I fell in love with the ceramic vessels, so simple, beautiful, and functional with a little pop of color. During Covid they are limiting customers and require masks, which I appreciate. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable about the artists, and happy to provide assistance. At the same time, they allow you to wander and enjoy on your own, which is always my preference. I like to take my time, see if something catches my eye and makes a personal connection, without feeling pressure. I stop in this lovely little gallery every time I'm in Cannon Beach to see what treasure I can find. Since they rotate local artists, it's easy to find something new for myself or a gift for a friend.

This one-room "exhibit" with a bunch of shark posters hung about is actually a front for a…read moretimeshare sell. Several salespeople wander around outside and inside the exhibit, snagging people and trying to get them to attend the hours-long timeshare presentation for "free." For your additional enjoyment, they have a video loop on constant play talking about how sharks are bloodthirsty for humans and all the horrible ways they are just waiting to eat you alive. Alarmist and ridiculous, total fear-mongering B.S. If you're really interested in the species, you'll do better watching Shark Week on the Discovery Channel.

I was approached on the prom to do a tour of the resort, I hadn't planned on it but in the end we…read moredecided if the service inside the resort is as good as we experienced in their shark exhibit, it might be worth it to see what they were offering. We did not purchase but we were so impressed we shared the offer with some family members who did. We've been to other resorts since and haven't had a bad experience yet but it all started here. Glad they talked me into it. We recently came back to Seaside & Im glad to see things haven't changed. Both our kids were given sharks teeth & cotton candy. They also suggested an even better seafood restaurant than the one we normally have dinner at that has become our new favorite. I was impressed because we weren't staying at the resort & they still remembered us from the last time we were there.

We parked on the street in front of this shop to walk around and walk the beach so we stopped in to…read morelook and watch the glass making. Some beautiful pieces inside, seashore themed, are for sale in all various sizes, shapes and colors. This is an active kiln and you can participate in shops, watch the work, and do special orders as well. Staff were kind and it's small inside so easy to stop in and see quickly.

Visited during a recent trip to Cannon Beach. A wonderful…read morestudio and gallery of blown glass. Friendly owners and opportunity to watch artists blowing glass on site. I fell in love with a beautiful piece by Suzanne Kindland. It now graces a book shelf in my living room~