From near Astoria (north) to Depoe Bay, Oregon (south).
Length: Depending on the tides and the placement of river mouths and cliffs, beaches can be several miles long.
Level of difficulty: Level to moderately sloping, mainly sandy beaches. Keep in mind that long walks on sand will exercise some unfamiliar leg muscles. Rubber boots make exploring tide pools easier, but don't slip.
Article to continue below----------------------------------------------
Public Health Advisory Issued For Nye Beach (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
NEWPORT - A public health advisory was issued Thursday due to higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Nye Beach in Newport.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Setting: For a really long winter walk, it's hard to beat the easily-accessible northern Oregon coast along Highway 101. Of course, you'll have to put up with some horizontal precipitation at times, but consider it your chance to put that new Christmas rain parka through a test session (extra points — and comfort — if you've got rain pants).
Highlights: Ocean-view rooms can be fairly cheap (especially weekdays) this time of year — leave the drapes open for a 24/7 big-screen experience. However, it's always fun to rent a snug little heated/lit yurt right near the beach. The following coastal state parks rent them from Lincoln City northward: Devil's Lake (Lincoln City), Cape Lookout (near Tillamook), Nehalem Bay (south of Cannon Beach) and Fort Stevens (near Astoria). Weekends and holidays are popular, so reserve as soon as you know your plans.
Facilities: Restrooms at parks; some have showers.
Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect (sorry, no pets in yurts). Dress warmly for beach walks, and bring several changes of clothes. Pick up a local paper to note the tides, and always look out for unusually high rogue or "sneaker" waves. (Seriously — during a visit last week, a wave on a narrow beach suddenly chased me up to the base of the dunes, soaking me to the waist. Branches in the water bumped at my calves; I was lucky it wasn't the nearby log floating in the surf.)
Article to continue below----------------------------------------------
Lincoln County Cultural Coalition Announces 2007-08 Grant Recipients (Newport News-Times)
The Lincoln County Cultural Coalition announces its grant recipients for 2007-08. The following Lincoln County organizations were funded: * Coastal Arts Guild - $500 - to help restore the utilitarian arts...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directions: Consult an Oregon map to decide which road to take west from Interstate 5. To reach the farthest-south park in Depoe, Bay, the shortest route is Highway 18 through McMinnville (southwest of Portland). Allow 5.5 hours to include a couple of short rest stops. To reach the farthest-north park at Fort Stevens, leave I-5 at Kelso and take Highway 30 through Astoria; allow 3.5-4 hours.
