Author: Ronnie Greenberg

Photos by: Joe Hilbers

Ronnie Greenberg

5310 Dubois Ave

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

(818) 347-7437

mrg5310@aol.com

Oregon’s Art-Filled Central Coast

By:  Ronnie Greenberg

Photos: Joe Hilbers

The cities of Oregon’s Central Coast are strung like a necklace of pearls along fifty miles of Highway 101.  They are blessed with rugged seascapes, isolated coves, untouched tidepools, long sandy beaches, picturesque lighthouses, and magnificent arched bridges. The passion, magic and vitality of each locale’s culture, dazzling art, seafaring quests and gastronomic riches, is wide open for discovery.

Lincoln City

  Visitors flock to this charming resort town where fishermen fish and artists create. There’s seven miles of beautiful sandy beaches ideal for
building sandcastles and hunting for driftwood, agates and shells. The visual arts community here, though local in its roots, is internationally renowned. Wonderful Galleries, each with its own soul and spirit, keep you enthralled. Roll up your sleeves and head over to the Jennifer Sears Glass Art Studio, where guided by an expert glassblower, you’ll have the awesome experience of making a beautiful glass float. Located on the corner of SW48 on Highway 101, phone (541) 996-2569 or  www.jennifersearsart.com

Learn how to prepare the best of Pacific Northwest cuisine presented by local award winning chefs at  Center for the Culinary Arts that focuses on the abundant foods and culinary heritage of the Pacific Northwest. Located at 801 SW Highway, 4th floor. Check their schedules at www.oregonculinaryinstitute.com

To change the pace check in to the beautiful Chinook Winds Resort Casino on the beach. This modern beachfront hotel located at 1777 NW 40^th Place, has 227 ocean view rooms including 61 fireplace suites with balconies, an indoor swimming pool, spa and sauna. Just a few steps from the surf, the Resort’s five restaurants offer Pacific fresh seafood, prime cuts of meat, big salads and delectable desserts.  Beat the odds and win a bundle with the Las Vegas style gaming offered at Chinook Winds Casino  with over 1,000 video slots of every denomination and tables offering Blackjack, Roulette, PaiGow Poker, and more. For more information phone (888) 244-6665 www.chinookwindscasino.com

Depoe Bay

Carved and shaped by powerful forces, Depoe’s Bay rugged rocky coastline and snug harbor teems with marine life. The site of the world’s smallest navigable harbor- just six square acres, allows charter fishing boats and whale-watching boats to be on the open sea in just minutes. You’re just seconds from the big one with Dockside Charters whose fishing trips target Ling Cod, Rockfish, trophy Chinook and Coho salmon, halibut, Albacore tuna and Dungeness crab during the season. www.docksidedepoebay.com

If gallery hopping is more your style you’ll enjoy a visit to The Silver Heron Gallery that exhibits an eclectic mix of more than 75 one-of-a-kind internationally recognized arts.  www.silverherongallery.com  The Alder House III, Oregon’ oldest glassblowing studio is where you can watch the 2,000 year old craft of turning molten glass into wonderful goblets, vases, bowls and other forms  www.alderhouse.com The Mossy Creek Pottery Studio and Gallery that borders the lush Siletz Bay wildlife refuge, showcases a collection of over 40 of the Northwest’s finest potters www.mossycreekpottery.com

Have a delightful  overnight at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort, a premier hotel with 205 beautiful guestrooms set on 175 forested acres. Guests can enjoy the 18-hole Peter Jacobsen re-designed golf course, luxurious full service Spa, access to a private beach and miles of hiking trails. A variety of dining experiences are yours for the tasting from classic Pacific Northwest cuisine to one of the largest wine cellars on the West Coast. Located at 7760 Highway 101 in Gleneden Beach. For reservations phone (800) 452-2300 or www.salishan.com

Newport

The largest Oregon coast port is renowned for sport fishing, a year round population of great gray whales, and one of the largest commercial fishing fleets. Along the historic bayfront antique shops and art galleries are working canneries and tackle shops. Attractions here include: Mark O. Hatfield Marine ScienceCenter, a working laboratory dedicated to marine life all over the world. The Center’s exhibits include a “touch” tank of tidal animals and a live octopus. Located at 2030 Marine Science Drive www.oregonstate.edu  Marine Discovery Tours offers the Oregon Sea Life Cruise onboard the Discovery. Fun activities range from pulling crab pots, navigating in the wheelhouse, or looking for a school of salmon. www.MarineDiscovery.com  The Oregon Coast Aquarium, a place of wonder lets you watch sea otters, harbor seals and California sea lions that play along the aquarium’s rocky shores. Watch the comical tufted puffins and graceful pigeon guillemots frolic in one of the largest outdoor seabird aviaries in North America.  Located at 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, www.aquarium.org The restored Yaquina Bay Lighthouse one of the few built with light keeper’s living quarters in the same building as the tower, was active from 1871-1874.It was re-lighted in 1957, and is now open as a museum. Yaquina Head Lighthouse built in 1872 with a 93 foot tower, is here too www.yaquinalight.org  Check out the Oregon Oyster Farms to see how oysters are grown and harvested, as well as sampling some of the delicacies. Located 6 miles up the Yaquina Bay Road from Newport,  www.oregonoyster.com

Otter Rock

Pollack Beach is a long wide beach area and a favorite for fossil hunting and watersports. Enjoy wine tasting at the Oregon Coast’s only working winery, the Flying Dutchman Winery, and see for yourself what the salt air can do for fine wines. Each of their wines is made in small lots and handcrafted to bring out the best the grapes have to offer.  www.dutchmanwinery.com

Waldport

Set on Alsea Bay, Waldport is the gateway to a fishing paradise with wonderful beaches, boating facilities and private parks. Visit the Alsea Bay Interpretive Center to learn about the transportation history of the Oregon coast, via interactive, hands on exhibits; www.oregonstateparks.org   and the Waldport Heritage Museum on the corner of Grant and Broadway in old town, for insight into Waldport’s history www.waldportchamber.com

Yachats

Known as the “Gem of the Oregon Coast,” has uncrowded beaches and rocky promontories that offer dramatic surf action when seas whip up. To the south of town 800 foot high Cape Perpetua is the highest point on the Oregon coast. The viewpoints and surrounding trails are open year round. The area is also home to a diversity of art from collectibles to whimsical.

Toledo

Bring your camera or your easel to the picturesque mill town of Toledo, nestled among the forested hillsides surrounding the Yaquina River. Main Street is Americana, accented by creations  from the local artists that you can watch painting on Yaquina Bay Road, and see the largest outdoor mural in the Northwest. The Art District is home to Gallery Michael Gibbons, an intimate studio and gallery that showcases the artist’s paintings in oil of Pacific Northwest and Southwest landscapes www.michaelgibbons.net  Other area studios are  Ivan Kelly Fine Arts www.ivankellly.com;  Larry Sommer Glassblower, and the incredible metal sculptures at the Briseno Gallery.  The Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society on Northwest 1^st Street is the site of “One Spot,” the 1922 Baldwin Steam Engine which logged in the county until 1950, a RPO mail car, and a 1907 caboose. www.yaquinapacificrr.org Visit the Toledo History Center on Main Street that explains the area in photographs and artifacts www.toledohistorymuseum.org

Seal Rock

An early coastal town that has shops and attractions including Sea Gulch with life-sized chainsaw carvings. The Triad Gallery at N.W. Pacific Coast Highway, is noted for its architecture, and features monthly shows in a variety of media from Pacific Northwest national and international artists. www.ohwy.com

Reedsport and Winchester Bay four miles inland has its coastal activity centered at Winchester Bay and Salmon Harbor, one of the Oregon coast’s largest sports charter fishing fleets.

For more information contact: Central Oregon Coast Association (800) 767-2064 or www.visittheoregoncoast.com