One of my very favorite beaches, is in Lincoln City, Oregon. It is located around 2 hours West of Portland. Lincoln City is quaint, creative, and a wonderful spot to see Grey Whales. Let’s “take off” into the fun things that you can fill your days with in Lincoln City, Oregon!
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Where to Stay:
Lincoln City has many charming hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, Airbnbs, and beach rentals to choose from. Whether you want to stay beachside, lakeside, or in the misty hills; Lincoln City has the perfect vacation getaway for you!
Where to Eat:
Lincoln City has many charming local spots that are fun to try out. Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant has amazing food with affordable prices and large portions! The Attic Lounge at Salishan Coastal Lodge has great vegan and vegetarian options. Zest Garden Cafe offers breakfast and brunch. They have vegan crepes, scrambles, and a dairy-free and gluten-free friendly menu. Kyllos is infamous for it’s view of the D River. They serve rave worthy seafood. Side Door Cafe is located in the southernmost part of Lincoln City. They have some incredible food worth trying, and a great Pacific Northwest atmosphere. Pelican Brewing is a popular more expensive option. This coastal brewery has a pretty spectacular view as well. Best Thai is highly recommended for authentic Thai food that does not disappoint. There are a lot of great cafes, coffee shops, candy shops, Mexican restaurants, Thai spots, and more to try in Lincoln City. You wont have any trouble finding something to suite everyone’s tastes.
Go Whale Watching!
One of my favorite things to do in Lincoln City is to go whale watching. There are many opportunities to go on excursions or view whales from the coast. My family has gone with Dockside Charters and Whale Watching Tours a few times, out of Depoe Bay. They are extremely affordable, and we have seen Gray Whales every time we’ve gone out with them! Depending on the weather and temperature, I recommend wearing a rain jacket, and sunscreen! It can be easy to forget about the sun when you’re out on the water and enjoying the view. Only take with you what you can keep in your pockets or on your person. Make sure that everything is zipped and buttoned so that you don’t loose anything. You may see some seals on the way out of the bay. Depoe Bay also has a Whale Watching Center that offers a panoramic view of the ocean. Depoe Bay is a little less than a 20 minute drive South of Lincoln City. Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint is 15 minutes from Lincoln City, and provides visitors with another perfect spot to see whales all year round. 25 minutes from Lincoln City is the Devils Punchbowl State Park, a popular whale watching destination with fascinating geology. Humpback and Blue Whales have also been spotted off the Lincoln City coast, but not as often as Grey Whales. Enjoy!
Explore the Tide Pools
Walk down the beach at low tide and explore the magnificent world of the tide pools! These dazzling habitats can teach you a lot about marine life on the Oregon Coast. The rocks are covered in barnacles and can be sharp and slippery, so be careful walking on, and around them! ALWAYS watch out for sneaker waves and the rising tides. Never turn your back on the sea. Please do not pick up any of the sea creatures that you see. Moving them can be detrimental. Looking into the tide pools you will sea colorful sea stars, lots of anemone, and sea urchins.
Visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is definitely worth visiting. The aquarium is a 45 minute drive from Lincoln City. They have some unique exhibits that allow you to get close to the animals. You can learn about and observe sea otters, different types of Jellyfish, Sea Stars, Sharks, Rays, Tufted Puffins, Giant Pacific Octopus, Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, and more. The seals are always playful and love swimming by to say “hello” to visitors. The sharks are displayed in a large tunnel that you can walk through while they swim above and around you! There are hands-on tide pools, and an outdoor part of the aquarium with even more animals to learn about. 13 minutes from the Oregon Coast Aquarium is the gorgeous Yaquina Head Lighthouse – a MUST SEE.
Search for Lincoln City’s infamous Glass Floats
One of the main pulls bringing visitors to Lincoln City is searching for hand-blown glass floats hidden along the beach and coastal grass. If you find one; they are yours to take home! These glass floats are hand made by local artists, and there are over 3,000 of them placed along the seven miles of beach. They are hidden throughout the day, and not just once a day. They can be found any day of the year. This is a “finder’s keepers” treasure hunt. Be mindful; the glass floats are one float per household, per year.
When you find a float, you can call 541-996-1274 or visit the registration website to register your treasure and receive a Certificate of Authenticity and information about the artist who created that piece. You can register your glass float in person at the Lincoln City Visitor Information Center at 801 SW Hwy 101, 4th floor Monday through Friday 8am – 5pm.
Make a Bonfire on the Beach
If you haven’t made a bonfire on the beach, it may be something that is on your bucket list. There are many precautions to be taken while dealing with fire on the beach. Check out the Explore Lincoln City website for information on keeping your fire under control. Make sure it isn’t too close to sneaker waves or the beach grass. Be sure that your fire is 100% put out before leaving, and never leave a fire unsupervised. Take some graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate, blankets for the chilly at night, and enjoy the sunset!
Fly a Kite
Lincoln City is famous for kite flying. They hold the Summer Kit Festival every year. The festival features performances by professional kite flyers, food trucks, games, and other entertainment. This year it will be held June 22nd – 23rd. The Fall Kite Festival will be held September 7th-8th. You can often see people flying kites any day of the year here in Lincoln City. Bring your colorful beach Kite, or pick one up at the local shops and get flying!
Go Surfing
You might be surprised to learn that Lincoln City is known to surfers around the world. About a mile from the beach is the Nelscott Reef creating 50 feet waves in the winter! During other seasons, surfers can paddle out to surf on the break. Having the right wetsuit is important for the Pacific Ocean’s frigid temperatures. Here’s a great Waterproof Dry Pack to carry your wetsuit and everything else you’ll need. Here are some great surf shops to buy or rent gear in Lincoln City:
Go Beachcombing
I have found many extraordinary shells on this beach! It can be a bit of a hunt to find some good ones, but a fun activity nonetheless! You can find sea glass, agates and other precious gemstones, petrified wood, fossilized shells, and many other treasures in the sand. According to ORS 390.705 and 390.725 – a person can remove no more than one-gallon of agates, shells, stones, and fossils in small quantities from the beach, a day. And a person can remove up to three gallons per person, per year.
Lincoln City has so much to offer, and I hope that you’re able to experience this beautiful coastal home away from home! The attractive natural landscape of the Oregon Coast is on full display here. There are many more things to do in Lincoln City that are not listed, so get out and explore! I hope that you visit this magical place and make memories to last you a lifetime!
