Keystone Vacation Rentals • Blog

7 Interesting 2017 Oregon Coast Events

Oregon Coast events are diverse and fun. Of course, there are whales, spectacular scenery, and panoramic views of the Pacific, but you’ll also find the unusual. You’ll discover Oregonians love art, culture, food, and healthy activities too. Here are a few worth checking out.

Sitka Centre Artists

Jan 7 & Jan 25

The Sitka Center hosts up to 20 residents annually of all levels, across the U.S., and from other countries too. Residents stay on campus for 3 1/2 months to push through creative boundaries and chase artistic pursuits. Sitka offers artists an opportunity to work undisturbed without the distractions of daily life.

On January 7th and January 25th, you can attend presentations from artists ending and beginning the program, view their work, and listen to what drives them to create. Nestled in the forest near the Cascade Head and Salmon River estuary, a visit to the centre refreshes and inspires. Admission is free.

Artistry In Wood Show & Sale

Jan 14-Jan 15

This 25-year old event features free woodcarving demos and lectures for adults and kids. It features woodcarving, intarsia (inlaid wood), wood turning, and more and admission is free. It’s hosted in the Chinook Winds Casino Resort.

Yachats Agate Festival and Gem-Mineral-Fossil Show

Jan 14-Jan 15

Oregon Coast events are for the entire family. Do you have a rock you can’t identify? Bring it to the Yachats Agate Festival and ask the Roc Doc. Learn about fossils in the area, and bring the kids – they can dig for agates in a sandbox and take them home. Don’t stay in crowded hotel room while you’re here. Stay in one of our Oregon beach rentals, use it has your home base, and then explore the area.

Winterfest

Feb 04

Oregon events are about music too. Support local musicians with this annual fundraiser in the Salishan Spa & Golf Resort. This year’s event features high energy 3 Leg Torso from Portland, a favorite world chamber music ensemble. Influenced by tango, Eastern European folk and other world music traditions, their cosmopolitan musical style embraces wit and humor within thoughtful, uncommon and beautiful musical arrangements. Funds go towards the Siletz Bay Musical Festival.

Florence Crab Crack

Feb 04

Oregon events are about food, food, food! It is crab season on the Oregon Coast, so why not enjoy fresh seafood and support local food pantries? Enjoy Oregon Coast crab along with pasta, coleslaw, garlic bread, sodas, coffee and dessert.

Antique Week

Feb 11-Feb 20

You may not think about Oregon as a typical place to find antique treasures – but it is! Lincoln City and the surrounding areas offer untapped reservoirs of old finds and plenty of shops to explore. Antique week offers an opportunity to peruse the shops using a map so you don’t miss out on anything.

Cannon Beach Yoga Festival

Feb 24-Feb 27

Oregon coast events are healthy. Visit Cannon Beach, home to the iconic Haystack Rock, and partake in a weekend of yoga, meditation, music, health & wellness treatments, and festivities with world-class instructors. Choose one event, or buy a pass for the entire weekend.

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Oregon Coast events are interesting, fun, and diverse. Stay in one of our Oregon beach rentals while you’re in the area instead of a stuffy hotel. They offer the comforts of home and affordability.

Celebrate the New Year on the Oregon Coast

Beachfront Rentals for Winter Whale Watch Week

Oregon Coast

Dec 27-Dec 31

Beachfront rentals are the ideal choice to view the annual whale migration on the Oregon Coast. From mid-December through mid-January over 20,000 gray whales pass by the area. With 24 sites and trained volunteers at each you can see and learn about these fabulous creatures. You can check the specifics at www.whalespoken.org.

New Year’s Eve with the Lincoln Pops

Lincoln City

Dec 31

It’s almost time to usher in the New Year, so why not do it in style. New Year’s Eve join the 25-piece Lincoln Pops Orchestra for an evening featuring the best of Big Band dance music. The evening includes all a champagne toast, appetizers and party favors.

“Sea of Lights” at the Oregon Coast Aquarium

Newport

Dec 30 – 31

The Oregon Coast Museum puts on a spectacular display of lights for the holiday season that you don’t want to miss. With over half a million lights, fascinating exhibits, and an opportunity to dive the aquarium it’s a stop you don’t want to miss. Bring the entire family and end the year on a fun and interesting note.

New Year’s Glass Drop

Lincoln City

Dec 31, 2016 – Jan 02, 2017

This exciting yearly event wraps up on January 2nd and it’s a great way to get everyone on the beach to explore. Bring the family and search for one of the 100 spectacular hand blown glass floats hidden along the public beach in Lincoln City.

Volunteers stash these beautiful objects throughout the day and if you find one, it’s yours to keep. Every float is unique, but the hunt is half the fun. Stay in a Lincoln City vacation rental, walk steps to the beach, and get in on the fun.

Saturday Morning Cinema

Lincoln City

Dec 31

Lincoln City’s art deco Bijou Theatre features the Kennel Murder Case (1933) at 11 AM. Admission is only $2 for this William Powell murder mystery, and the theatre is the ideal location. Take a few hours and escape into a time gone by.

New Year’s Peace Walk

Yachats

Jan 01

Start the New Year with a 6-mile walk in Yachats (pronounced YAH-hots). The name comes from the Chinook Indian word, Yahuts, meaning “dark waters at the foot of the mountain.”

This picturesque town nestled between the mountains and Pacific Ocean is the perfect place to take a stroll. After the walk, the group will offer blessings for the New Year and can take a shuttle back for refreshments. Head back to one of our beachfront rentals and relax.

Beachcombing Clinic

Lincoln City

January 2, 2017

Love the beach and want to know more about it? Visit Lincoln City and stay in a beachfront rental so you’re right there. Then join this guided clinic to learn about the treasures that lie on the Oregon Coast shores. This two-hour clinic will help you identify agate, jasper, amber and other local rocks and minerals as well as fossils or petrified wood you may find on the beach.

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The Oregon Coast has plenty to offer for the New Year. Celebrate in comfort in one of our Oregon beach rentals. They’re the ideal spot to view the gray whale migration, check out events, and enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific. Why stay in a stuffy hotel when you can enjoy all the conveniences of home and an affordable price?

Oregon Coast Vacation Homes Ideal For Holidays

Oregon Coast vacation homes open up a new way to spend your holiday, with many advantages over hotels. Many offer beachfront rentals so you can take in the breathtaking landscapes of the Oregon Coast and access Highway 101 easily to explore with ease.

Most Scenic Byways in America

If you really want to see Oregon, explore their scenic byways. You can drive or cycle these meandering Pacific Coast roads. You’ll see tide pools, waterfalls, lighthouses, shipwrecks and unusual natural phenomena such as the Devil’s Punch Bowl and the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in America.

With 363 miles of coastline, there’s plenty to explore so renting Oregon Coast vacation homes makes perfect sense. When you choose a well-equipped condo as home base you can set out on day trips, discover unique eateries, eclectic shops, and countless activities along the way.

Fabulous Food & Drink

When you’re holidaying in Oregon, expect a warm welcome and an appreciation of fresh food and tasty drinks. The local Dungeness crab, salmon, Albacore tuna and oysters rate among the world’s best and in many locations you can catch them yourself. Otherwise, the local seafood markets brim with the catch of the day, ready for you to enjoy.

There are also 172 microbreweries in Oregon including many on the coast. If you love coffee, you’ll be pleased to know a huge coffee culture exists here too.

Untouched Beaches

If you crave a quiet beach without throngs of tourists, Oregon definitely delivers. The Oregon Coast has dozens of pristine beaches, and they are all open to the public. Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach is so amazing National Geographic rated it one of the 100 most beautiful places in the world!

Beachfront rentals provide an unobstructed view of the Pacific, where you can often spot grey whales during their migration. Many times you can view miles and miles of sand without seeing another soul.

Plenty of Eco Activities

The Oregon Coast offers six wildlife refuges also harbor sea lions, seals, octopi, and countless other marine species. You can explore rocky tide pools packed with crab, anemone and starfish. If you want explore the ecology in-depth, many museums dot the coast with amazing exhibits. Private tours also exist so you can see creatures in their natural habitat and understand the conservation measures used to protect them.

Oregonians celebrate the sand, sea and wind and offer activities such as crabbing, kiting, and exploring miles of sand dunes too.

No Sales Tax

With the economy the way it is, every penny counts. Luckily for Oregon vacationers, you don’t pay sales tax which saves you plenty, especially on a family vacation. When you pay for goods or services, you pay precisely what it costs and not a penny more.

Oregon Coast Vacation Homes

Nothing beats a holiday in a place you can call home. You can bring friends and family, buy local wine, seafood, and produce and relax in a large space, instead of a cramped hotel room.

Beachfront rentals offer easy access to the ocean and fully-equipped condos. No need to pack suitcases every time you want to explore. Just rent in the Lincoln City or Depoe Bay areas and venture out as you please.

If you’re traveling with young children, you already know how challenging it can be. With a space you can call your own the kids can snack, nap, play games and watch television. You also have access to building amenities such as a games room, pool or gym. You can’t beat beachfront rentals for convenience, fun, and economy.

Oregon Coast Halloween Happenings

An Oregon Coast Halloween hops so be sure to get in on some of the fun if you’re in the area. There’s plenty of jack-o-lanterns, scary monsters, ghostly apparitions, and fun from one end of the coast to the other.

Nightmare Factory

Salem – October 28 – 31

This Oregon Coast Halloween haunted house has scared visitors for 27 years and they go all out. They use strobe lights, fog machines and staff in costumes for plenty of frights. If you want an even scarier adventure, try Pitch Black and navigate with just a glow stick. General admission is $15.

Scare-CROW Haunted Maze

Florence – October 28 – 31

This Oregon Coast Halloween attraction is not for the faint of heart or small children. The cash entry fee of $5 supports local youth theater. You’ll wind through the maze to find ghouls, monsters, and fiendish surprises. Prepare to be startled and have fun!

Annual Downtown Safe Trick or Treat

Coos Bay – October 29

Kids can treat or treat safely on the streets of downtown Coos Bay from 3pm on. Participating merchants display a giant pumpkin poster in their window, or pick up a list from the Coos Bay Fire Department.

Boo’s, Blues & Brews

Seaside – October 29

Get an early start in Seaside on the 29th with Boo’s, Blues & Brews, sponsored by the Seaside Downtown Development Association. Your spectacular costume and two cans of food are all you need to partake in the evening’s fun. Enjoy comedy and juggling while listening to live blues music, and stick around for the costume contest. Don’t miss the BBQ pulled pork dinner either!

Halloween Happenin’s

Seaside – October 28 – 31

This weekend of fun includes family activities throughout downtown Seaside. Kids can make crafts, get their face painted or choose an airbrush tattoo, or decorate a pumpkin. Listen to spooky tales or check out the aquatic touch tank. Bring along your pet and enter them in the costume contest and parade on the 30th. Don’t forget trick or treating on the 31st along with a children’s costume contest with prizes.

Black & Boo Ball

Lincoln City – October 29th

Oregon Coast Halloween includes a free costume party for adults at the Chinook Winds Convention Center in Lincoln City. It features prizes for costumes, a DJ from 9 PM – 1:30 AM, and a no-host bar.

Murder!

Lincoln City – October 29

Lincoln city’s vintage movie theater presents an Alfred Hitchcock classic, Murder, on Saturday the 29th. This early Hitchcock thriller delves into a juror’s personal investigation into a murder after her friend’s conviction. This Halloween event is only $2.

Trick or Treat Off the Street

Lincoln City – October 31

If you have small children bring them to the Lincoln City Outlets between 5 and 7pm to treat or treat in a safe, central location. Participating merchants will be sure to delight the wee ones and you’ll save your feet.

Witches of Depoe Bay

Depoe Bay – October 31

Depoe Bay buzzes with life on Halloween night, particularly at the community center. There are games, food and fun and kids can trick or treat around town too.

Oregon Coast Ghost Towns Worth Visiting

The Oregon Coast has many ghost towns and Oregon has the most in the country. Pioneers poured into the area during the late 19th century for logging, fishing and mining, but not all towns survived.

As the area grew, settlers soon discovered that not all towns met their needs. Here are three Oregon Coast ghost towns that offer a taste of a lifestyle gone by and worthy of a visit.

Old Kernville

There are actually two Kernvilles – the old and the new. Nestled just outside Newport, old Kernville still has many buildings that echo times gone by when fishing and lumber defined the town.

The Kern brothers built a cannery on the Siletz River and settlers built a sawmill on the opposite side of the river. During World War I, the war effort demanded milled spruce for airplanes.

Unfortunately, the road on the cannery side of the river turned into a quagmire during the wet winter season. By 1926, the area had a new bridge and residents and machinery moved to the other side of the river, leaving the old settlement behind for good.

Mabel

Mabel is near Eugene, Oregon and it has many buildings you can see. Pioneers settled in the area in 1890, because of the large stands of Douglas fir. They built a sawmill on Shotgun Creek and within 7 years the town was the third largest in Oregon so they also needed a post office. “Mabel” was the daughter of the postmaster. The town also had enough children to merit a school.

Mabel thrived during World War I because of the demand for lumber. However, by 1957 the post office closed and the residents used the school as a grange for farmers to sell their goods. You can visit the structure which retains the heavy wood panelling and wood stoves. It’s easily accessible and free to visit.

Chitwood

Technically, Chitwood isn’t a true ghost town – it does have a few residents. Driving from Corvallis to Newport, you’ll see one of the finest examples of a covered bridge in the area and a true “feel” of what it was like to like in the area in the late 1800’s.

It’s heavily wooded and close to the Pacific Ocean. When the town began, it grew quickly. They built a school, and the Corvallis and Eastern and later the Southern Pacific railroads stopped there. It was a vital hub for the area, moving goods and passengers along the Oregon Coast.

However, things changed when a new road shortened the distance to the coast. The train stopped, automobiles took over and people began to drive the new road to the coast instead. Once the train stopped, Chitwood faded.

The Chitwood Covered Bridge still stands, and it’s on the National Registry of Historic Places. However, the grocery store burnt down, they tore down the train station, and the general store feel into disrepair. The bridge sits on private land, but the public can access it freely.

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Countless ghost towns exist in Oregon and these are just three on the coast. If you love history and adventure, use one of our scenic coastal vacation homes as a starting point to scour the entire area.

Why stay in a stuffy hotel when you can enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific, all the conveniences of home, and an affordable price?

The Legacy of Oregon Coast Covered Bridges

Oregon Coast covered bridges are examples of a remarkable pioneer engineering feat. Cover bridges existed in Europe, but we built longer, more elegant and well-engineered structures.

In the late 18th and early 19th century, people travelled many miles to see them, write about them, and sketch them. These iconic structures still draw visitors from around the globe, because they’re truly unique and demonstrate the ingenuity and fortitude of early American settlers.

Once, about 10,000 covered bridges existed in America and around 600 in Oregon. Today, only 800 remain nationwide, and 51 still stand in Oregon. You can visit 5 of these covered bridges when you visit the scenic Oregon Coast.

The earliest Oregon covered bridges are from the 1850s, but most sprung up between 1905 and 1925. Builders used the abundant Douglas fir of the area because its long spans suited bridge construction. Covering the bridges protected them from rot from the wet Oregon climate.

In other parts of the country, the covered bridge fell aside when builders started to use iron in the 1860s and ’70s. By the 1920s and 1930s, most bridges were concrete and steel. These three covered wooden bridges bucked the trends and are available to view on the Oregon coast today.

Chitwood Bridge

You can find the Chitwood Bridge 17 miles east of Newport on Highway 20. You’d never know that Chitwood was once a bustling town with stores, homes, a post office, a dance hall and a railway station. Steam locomotives used to stop here on their trip from Yaquina to Corvallis to take on passengers, freight, water and fuel. Today it is a ghost town.

The 96 foot covered bridge was built in 1926 and restored under the federal National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program and Lincoln County in 2014. The bridge now has a new roof and siding and a new coat of bright red paint. The restoration also included extensive structural repairs.

Drift Creek

The Drift Creek Bridge has a colorful history. It was built in 1914, just south of Lincoln City. Even though officials designated it a historical memorial to the Lincoln County pioneers, it fell into disrepair. It was eventually condemned and dismantled in 1997. The County gave the timbers to a local family who own land only eight miles to the north of the original site.

Today the resurrected covered bridge frame stands in a beautiful, park-like setting on private land. The property owners granted an ongoing public easement for heritage purposes. The bridge belongs to the county, but the property owners maintain the bridge. You can access it through Bear Creek Road off Hwy. 18.

Yachats Bridge

The Yachats Bridge spans the North Fork River. It was built in 1938 and rehabilitated in 1989. It also has an interesting history. First, the community removed the roof to allow a mobile home into the area in the 1980s. Later, a fuel truck crashed through a bridge approach. The 1989 rehabilitation included replacing the weakened approaches as well as trusses, siding and the roof.

Currently, plans are in the works to rehabilitate the bridge again through the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program. Once completed, the $665,000 plus project will include replacing key components, siding, rail, and paint. The bridge is 7 miles east of Yachats River Road and then 1.5 miles north on N Yachats River Road.

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If you’re interested in covered bridge, two more exist at Five Rivers and Sandy Creek. There’s no need to stay in stuffy hotels while you explore these architectural marvels. Our well-appointed Lincoln City and Depoe Bay condos offer ocean views, affordability, and convenience as you explore the Oregon Coast and its heritage treasures.

Oregon Coast Offers Food, Fun, & Sun

The Oregon Coast offers an abundance of delights during the summer months. Since August offers the warmest weather, it’s one of the best times to visit seaside resorts, take in events, and sample regional food and drink. Of course, there’s plenty of family fun, particularly around Lincoln City and Newport at this time of the year.

The winding miles of shoreline with sandy beaches make Oregon the ideal place to host sandcastle competitions. On August 13th, visit the historic Taft District in Lincoln City for the Taft Beach Sandcastle Contest.

If you’ve never been in a sandcastle contest, this is your chance to join in. You can show off your skill and creativity and try to capture an award, or just have some fun with family and friends. Anyone can participate, as long as register the day of the event.

Building a sandcastle is a simple process. You use sand, water, natural beach materials, hand tools, and forms. However, if you’re a person with a more competitive nature, you’ll need to come up with an inspiring design. Don’t worry – this competition is strictly for non-professionals, so everyone’s has an equal chance to win. It’s all about joining in on some play on one of the Oregon Coast’s most beautiful beaches.

August is also an excellent time to sample Oregon Coast food and drink. You can enjoy the Great Albacore Tuna BBQ Challenge on August 13th in Newport and sample the amazing culinary creations of regional chefs. It’s the biggest Oregon Coast cook-off of the year and the event draws people from far and wide who fiercely compete for the $3,000 purse.

All entries feature fresh, seasonal tuna caught off the Newport docks. Both professional and amateurs prepare dozens of dishes on site. Watch them prepare their signature dishes and try a local craft beer or regional wine. You’ll have plenty of microbrews to choose from too as one of the sponsors is Rogue Ales & Spirits, famous in the area.

For those who want something a little more energetic, try the New Lincoln County Fair in Newport which runs August 19th through August 21st. Admission is free.

Shoot at a target and win a prize, or slam down a mallet to show off your strength. Everyone wants to hear that bell ding, but not everyone can do it. Nonetheless, it’s fun to try.

Of course, you’ll find the usual kiosks brimming with local food. Try a slice of homemade pie, a caramel apple, corn on the cob, or cotton candy. After your snack, take in professional bull riding, barrel races and bucking bronco rides. Kids can go on a free monster truck ride on Saturday too. There’s a bouncy castle for the wee ones and live music too.

If you’re thinking of visiting the Oregon Coast this August, stay with us. We offer well-appointed condos that make an ideal home base while you take in the fun. They’re perfect for families and singles and have all the comforts of home. Why stay in a stuffy hotel, when you can stretch out and enjoy views of the Pacific and sandy beaches at a very affordable price?

5 Iconic Oregon Coast Sights Worth Visiting

The Oregon Coast offers some of the most iconic natural and man-made sights you’ll see anywhere in America. If you want a taste, check out these five places in the central region.

Haystack Rock

If Haystack Rock looks familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen it in a movie. Filmmakers used this iconic monolith in three major movies; Twilight, The Goonies and Point Break, as well as many lesser-known films.

Over 750,000 people visit Cannon Beach each year to enjoy this sprawling beach and massive rock. The area is now a protected marine garden, and the perfect place to explore Oregon Coast tide pools.

Cannon Beach earned many accolades over the years, because of its stunning beauty. It’s listed as one of America’s best beaches, and in a 2013 issue of National Geographic included it as one of the world’s 100 most beautiful places.

Thor’s Well

Named for the hammer-wielding Norse god who controlled thunder, lighting and storms, Thor’s Well is an iconic Oregon Coast sight worthy of photos. It’s one of those seemingly impossible places you must see to believe.

This massive sinkhole near Yachats, Oregon looks like Thor’s hammer struck a large hole in the jagged rocks. Sea water pours into it, yet it never seems to fill. During the winter and at high tide you’re in for a spectacular show, but don’t get too close. Its 20 feet deep and a bubbling cauldron you’re unlikely to survive should you fall in. Grab you camera and sit back safely on the cliffs as the sun sets.

Octopus Tree

Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint offers unsurpassed West Coast views, a lighthouse, and a very unusual tree. This huge Sitka spruce is around 300 years old, but no one precisely why it grew the way it did or whether some planted it. One thing is sure; it isn’t like most other trees.

Instead of a central trunk, this tree has many. Its’ odd shape earned it other nicknames including the Monstrosity Tree, because its’ gnarly branches definitely looks like something out of a horror movie. There’s plenty of speculation about its unusual shape. Some say Native Americans deliberately created the cage-like structure for ritual purposes. Others say it’s just an example of one of Mother Nature’s zaniest moments. Decide for yourself.

99W Drive-In

The Oregon Coast certainly has unrivaled natural beauty, but it also has a few man-made attractions too. The 99W Drive-in Newberg is one of them. It is one of four drive-in movie theaters in Oregon. Only about 300 exist in the entire United States and it was voted number one in the country in a USA today poll.

A visit to the 99W Drive-in draws you back to simpler times. You didn’t just go to the drive-in to watch a show. You drove outside of town and met up with friends. There was a buzz in the air on a warm summer night and something special about watching from the privacy of your vehicle. Pillows, blankets, pajamas and popcorn were all okay. If you want to relive this iconic past-time, arrive early. The place is very popular.

Prehistoric Gardens

No one can say that Oregon’s boring. The Prehistoric Gardens in Port Orford are home to a life-size dinosaur park. This unusual venture began with E.V. Ernie Nelson, a talented sculptor and dinosaur aficionado.

Nelson researched the dinosaurs thoroughly and then built the park over three years. The gardens opened in 1955 and Nelson made 23 accurate replicas of dinosaurs over the next 30 years. The Brachiosaur is 86 feet long and 46 feet tall and took 4 years to complete.

Today you can visit the park and enjoy a self-guided tour through natural rain forest. The trail is fully accessible and you can bring your dog too. It’s the ideal place to entertain children or just for a short reprieve in an idyllic setting.

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These are only a few of the amazing sites the Oregon Coasts offers. Avoid hotels and choose to stay in one of our well-appointed vacation condos in the Depoe Bay and Lincoln City. They’re affordable and perfectly situated so you can explore the Oregon Coast easily.

Have a Blast in Lincoln City This Summer

Lincoln City vacation rentals offer the ideal launching point to explore the fun activities along the Oregon coast during the summer. The sandy beaches teem with life, and people come from far and wide to partake in family events on these windy, sunny shores. The most famous event in June is undoubtedly the Summer Kite Festival.

The Windsock 2016 Kite Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26th on the D River wayside in Lincoln City. This event screams fun, with featured fliers showing off their kiting skills throughout the day.

The “Running of the BOLs” is sure to delight. Contestants try to run down the beach while tethered to a large donut-shaped kite that trails behind them. This beach is breezy, which makes this event challenging and filled with laughter.

Children can attend a free kite making workshop and then parade down the beach to show off their creation later in the day. You’ll also see some of the some of the most colorful “big” kites in the world. The event is fully accessible so everyone can get in on the fun.

You won’t find a better place to celebrate the 4th of July than Lincoln City either. Start with a pancake breakfast on Gleneden Beach and then wander around the craft fair. There’s a parade at 1 pm and then time to explore Lincoln City. Discover your new favorite restaurant and pick up a few souvenirs along the way. Of course, you’ll marvel over spectacular fireworks above Siletz Bay at dusk too.

For families with children over 12 years of age, there’s also crabbing and clamming clinics throughout the summer. You’ll need to buy a shellfish license from a local establishment, and some basic equipment the day of the clinic. Participants first attend an orientation session conducted by a local expert. They learn about regulations, harvesting, and cooking and cleaning methods. Then it’s off the beach at Siletz Bay for the freshest clams or crabs you’ve ever eaten, and you’ll catch them yourself. You’ll soon discover why visitors rave about the local Dungeness crab and the many bay clams found on the Oregon Coast. They’re absolutely delicious!

If all that isn’t enough, families can swim in the sea, paddle around on the shores of Devil’s Lake or Siletz Bay Park or visit a local arcade. When you’re traveling with your family, staying in a hotel is never ideal. Why not explore our vacation homes with all the amenities? You’ll enjoy HD television, a fully-equipped kitchen, privacy, and affordability.

Lincoln City Vacation Rentals

Our comfy, spacious Lincoln City vacation rentals make family vacations a breeze. These condos often offer a pool, hot tub, fitness center, and a games room, so no one gets bored. You’ll also have Wi-Fi access if you need to keep in touch back home. You’re also perfectly positioned to explore the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway and all the Oregon Coast has to offer, without sacrificing comfort or affordability.

If you’re looking for summer family fun, Lincoln City has it all. Grab the family and enjoy a stress-free vacation. Create memories you’ll smile about years down the road.

Oregon Coast Shipwrecks: The Graveyard of the Pacific

Oregon’s spectacular coastline is very enticing. Its miles of sandy beaches, quaint seaside villages, and stunning ocean views mask the dangers that these waters hold for ships. With over 3,000 shipwrecks along the Oregon coast, the name “Graveyard of the Pacific Coast” is certainly appropriate for these waters.

For hundreds of years, every imaginable ship traveled up and down the Pacific. They came from around the globe and included schooners, square-riggers, and steamers. Unfortunately, not all arrived at their destination. Some were never found, some lie on the ocean floor, and a few others still sit on Oregon beaches for you to see.

Start your visit with a trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. The “Secrets of Shipwrecks” entertains and uncovers the fascinating world of shipwrecks, particularly on the Oregon Coast. This eye-opening exhibit shows you why the Oregon coastline is so difficult to navigate and explain the loss of so many ships over the years. Even with today’s technology, sailors much stay alert to possible threats in powerful waters. The exhibit includes artifacts from a few of the most notable wrecks including the Spanish beeswax galleon and the Emily G. Reed.

Emily G. Reed

The Emily G. Reed pops up occasionally on the shifting sands at Rockaway Beach. The Emily G. Reed was a “down Easter” sailing schooner laden with 2,100 tons of coal. She crashed into the mouth of the Nehalem River in 1908. She’d lost her way in heavy fog and rain at night and hit the beach when trying to correct her bearings. It was the middle of the night in a very sparsely populated area, and the ship fell into pieces. Some passengers clambered onboard the lifeboat and believed the others on the ship were lost in the boiling waters.

Miraculously, all but seven survived the harrowing storm onboard the ship. When dawn arrived, they saw the ship sat in shallow water and they waded safely to the shore. Only one passenger on the lifeboat perished after he drank sea water. The others suffered from exposure and dehydration from their arduous 200 miles, 78-hour journey northwards.

Whether you’re lucky enough to see some of the remains of the ship is up to Mother Nature. No one can predict the sand levels and the ship continues to shy away from attention. The sands revealed about 100 feet of its hull in 2010, and before that, it was last seen in the 70s.

George L Olsen

Another powerful storm drove the 223-foot-long wood-hulled schooner George L. Olson onto Coos Bay’s North Jetty in 1944. It stuck the jetty with such force it broke apart and the lumber it carried swept away in the raging waves. It sat on the spit for years and locals used it for picnics, but by the 1960s sand covered it and it was forgotten.

In 2008, winter storm waves revealed it again and now over 10,000 visitors have traveled the sand road to see its remains on Horsfall Beach in North Bend. You must access the beach on foot at low tide and it takes 75 minutes to get to the wreck.

J. Marhoffer

You can also see the remnants of the steam schooner J. Marhoffer at Boiler Bay. In 1910, the ship caught fire and everyone abandoned ship. However, the ship continued on towards the shore, made a sweeping circle, and then exploded. It spilt in two and the forward section ended up on shore and decayed. Eventually, the only thing left was the ship’s boiler – hence the name Boiler Bay. You can still see it at low tide. There’s also information about the ship at the Lincoln County Historical Society in Newport.

You can explore these and many more Oregon treasures and stay in comfort in oceanfront vacation rentals in the Lincoln City and Depoe Bay areas. They offer all the amenities and a superior experience to hotels.

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