Hood to Coast… “The Mother of All Relays” is the largest relay in the world!  The starting line begins on the majestic Mount Hood and includes 197 miles of awesome scenery leading to the beautiful Pacific Ocean. If you take part in this fun event, you can fund-raise for the charity of your choice… experience an adventure of a lifetime… and enjoy a huge finish party awaiting you on the beach in Seaside Oregon!

Office Max Hood to Coast Relay – August 27 & 28

• 29th Annual Year
• 197 Miles
• 12,000 Runners
• 3,500 Volunteers

The finishing celebration will include a food garden, a beer & wine garden (open 11am-10:30pm), music by ‘Break As We Fall’ (1pm-4pm) and headliner ‘Hit Machine’ from 6:45pm-11pm! Vendor freebies, team pictures, and more!

• “Best Of’” Winners Announcement -  5:50pm 8/28
• PTC Walk/High School Challenge Awards – 6pm 8/28
• HTC Awards – 9:30am 8/29

For details and more information visit:  HoodtoCoast.com

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

A Celebration of Food and Wine… an elegant affair for 21 and older

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is preparing for its annual fundraiser Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 6 – 9 pm. The 3rd annual Jellyfish Jubilee; A Celebration of Food and Wine will fill the Aquarium with the aromas, tastes and sounds of exceptional Northwest cuisine, wines, music and a silent auction benefiting the Aquarium’s exhibits and education programs. The all-inclusive event will also provide an opportunity to see the Aquarium’s new Swampland exhibit, which opened Memorial Day weekend, 2010.

If you need lodging and prefer to stay in a private vacation rental during this event, now is the time to reserve.   

Participating restaurants include some of the region’s finest culinary establishments, including Bay 839, The Bay House, Chinook Winds, Georgie’s Beachside Grill, La Maison, Local Ocean Seafoods, Nana’s Irish Pub, Quimby’s, Rogue Brewers on the Bay, Savory Café and Pizzeria, Starfish Grill and Tsunami Coffee & Chocolate Company. Wineries include Adelsheim Vineyard, Duck Pond Cellars, Edenvale Winery, Oak Knoll Winery and Sokol Blosser Winery. Chefs and vintners have been anticipating the opportunity to share their passion for extraordinary food and wine during this unique event surrounded by the shimmering waters of the Aquarium.

The evening will also feature live jazz, animal encounters, interpretive dive presentations and a silent auction which include Romantic Getaways, Golf Packages, a Cruise and so much more….

Please visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium website for detailed information on this event.

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Seaside Oregon is the place to be this weekend during the 29th Annual Beach Volley Ball Tournament! Plan now for next year and reserve your favorite vacation rental early as this is the happenin place for all… with a diversity of divisions ranging from Men’s and Women’s Open, Co-Ed, Advanced, Advanced A Divisions, Quads and Six’s, as well as a Parent/Child division…  the Seaside Beach Volleyball event has something for everyone, players and spectators alike!

Seaside has hosted this event for the past 28 years…  it’s the largest amateur participation beach volleyball tournament in the country!  In 2009 the event enjoyed over 740 teams and 90 courts during the three days of competition. This year there will be 90 courts and possibly even more teams! Prize money is set at $15,000 for the tournament.

Event dates: August 13-15, daily from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm

Source:  Seaside Chamber of Commerce

503.738.6391
volleyball@seasidechamber.com

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau

Long Beach, WA is well known for its Annual Washington State International Kite Festival held every year during the third week of August. This summer marks the 30th year of the week-long celebration and competition &  it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.  If you haven’t already reserved your lodging for the Long Beach area, there may still be some time…

August 16- 20, 2010~  Beginning on Monday and ending on Sunday, you can take part in this event or kick back and enjoy the beautiful beach, ocean and color filled sky full of  floating kites and high action choreographed dancing kites.  The week  includes competitions by professional and amateur kite flyers, lighted kite fly nights, fireworks and a variety of vendors.

The Washington State International Kite Festival features famous kite fliers from around the world and it’s voted “Best Kite Festival in the World” by Kite Trade Association International.  It draws tens of thousands of happy spectators to the Long Beach Peninsula every year.

In case you can’t make it to this years event, here are future Kite Festival dates so you can plan ahead
August 15-21, 2011
August 20-26, 2012
August 19-25, 2013
August 18-24, 2014
August 17-23, 2015

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Photo View from "Endless Sea" Vacation Rental

If you’ve never been to Yachats and you prefer a quiet, and less crowded beach getaway…  consider planning your next family vacation near this quaint little village. The Yachats area offers plenty of things to do… discover parks, uncrowded beaches, tide pools and trails for all ages.  They have an ongoing  list of events, along with the Sunday Farmer’s Market, family friendly restaurants with live music and great food too.

Parks, Tide Pooling & Hiking~ There is a community park along with three ocean side state parks in Yachats, additional parks are  just south and north of town. For an easy hike, don’t miss the 804 oceanfront trail that offers beautiful views of the rocky coastline.

Cape Perpetua Visitors Center offers guided walks to old-growth forest and tide pools, natural and cultural history exhibits, an interactive children’s corner, and a theater with nature films.  The Visitors Center offers wheelchair accessible areas too… including the Cape Overlook half mile loop trail to the West Shelter, and the viewpoint overlooking Devil’s Churn.

Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center – Located in nearby Waldport at the base of the bridge, a great spot for learning about Oregon bridges. There is a model wooden toy bridge here to occupy small children while adults and older kids enjoy the historic photographs and other exhibits. A park interpreter leads an Alsea Bay Bridge Walk on Fridays-Tuesdays at 2 p.m. (during peak visitor season).

Kayaking on the Alsea Slough Waldport Kayak Shack offers summertime kayak rentals & guided group tours on the Alsea, 8 miles north of Yachats.

This information is provided by the Yachats Chamber of Commerce, please visit their website for more info on the Yachats area.

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Saturday July 3rd

• 5-8 pm First Saturday Art Walk~ look for “Art Walk” signs & get a map at your first stop or download map from event calendar at www.seasidechamber.com

Sunday July 4th

• 11:30am Parade Begins~ Organized by Seaside Museum & Historical SocietyFeaturing:  The Troopers, The Blue Knights and The Oregon Crusaders Drum Bugle Corps.  Look for the Uncle Sam Hat and Fireworks donation collectors  *Be aware of no parking zones and times along Parade Route and in other areas
• Noon to 4pm Old Fashion Social~ Seaside Museum & Butterfield Cottage 570 Necanicum Dr. 503-738-7065 Free admission to Museum, Live Music, Continuous Cakewalk, Children’s Games, Food Booths, Raffle Drawings, Silent Auction, Bingo
• 2pm Free Concert at Turnaround~ Oregon Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corp
• *10 pm Fireworks display on the beach~ Tune your radio to Music Matters 94.9 FM for the musical score that accompanies the Fireworks.  Designed and presented by Kriegshauser Family Pyrotechnicians

Monday July 5th

• 8-11am “Treasure the Beach” Clean-up~ Check-in Locations: Turnaround, Ave U

For more info visit the Seaside Chamber of Commerce (View a short clip of the fireworks!)

~ Thanks & have a great 4th of July AT THE BEACH

June 19-20, 2010

AHOY All You Mateys… Come join the fun at the first Rockaway Beach Pirate Festival & Treasure Hunt!  Reserve your beach getaway now so you don’t miss it…  They’ll be hav’n carnival rides and games from Davis Entertainment at the wayside all weekend…  On Saturday they’ll be entertaining ye with pirate vaudeville acts, music & pirate games…. the Rockaway Chamber will be hosting a kid’s free scavenger hunt with bikes for prizes at 10am… and an adult treasure hunt at 1pm which includes a flat screen TV for a prize…  Arrr now that’s some treasure!

• Carnival Rides & Games
• Kids Scavenger Hunt 10:00 am – free
• Treasure Hunt 1:00 pm – $5
• Sundown Submarine Races 4:00 pm – $1
• Saturday June 19 -  Boom Bilge Rats will be performing two music/pirate vaudeville shows, PDX Yar Pirates of the Cursed Sea, with help from the Portland Pirate Festival Folks
• T-shirts with this Pirate Logo will be for sale in 6 colors (to raise funds for the Art Craft & Farmers Market in August)

Location: Rockaway Beach Wayside – South 1st and Hwy 101

Vendors contact: Jack Brownlee 503-355-8108

~ Thanks & have fun AT YE PIRATE FEST & TREASURE HUNT!

Ocean Shores & Westport
Grays Harbor County Expo ~  At the Ocean Shores Convention Center – Thursday May 27 – Monday May 31.  Something for everyone! (Free and easy parking)  This 3rd Annual Expo is sponsored by Windermere Real Estate and Levee Lumber 

• ~Oceans of Fine Arts
• ~Arts & Crafts Show
• ~Cruisin the Shores
• ~RV Show
• ~Chainsaw Carving
• ~Hot Rod & Classic Car Show
• ~Home Show

Pacific Beach & Moclips 

Quilt Show~ May 29-30
Pacific Beach Quilters presents their 4th annual Pacific Beach Quilt Show at the Pacific Beach Elementary School. Features collections of antique and contemporary quilts.

Annual Memorial Day Weekend Garage Sale~ May 29-31 
Museum of the North Beach will hold its 8th annual sale to help raise operating funds. Located in the Pacific Beach Resort & Conference Center (Navy Base). Info: 360-276-4441

Long Beach Peninsula

World’s Longest Garage Sale~ 28 Miles of Garage Sales! May 28-31 Grab a copy of the Chinook Observer, or just follow the signs. There are so many sales, you can practically walk from one to the next, up and down the Peninsula. For more than twenty years, thousands of folks have come to the Peninsula over Memorial Weekend for its 28-Mile, fun-filled yard sale.

SummerFest~  May 28-31 Free Family Friendly entertainment and activities for the public

• ~Music in the gazebo
• ~Face painting
• ~Horse and wagon rides
• ~Balloon artistry
• ~Art in the Park- make & take crafts
• ~Mother Goose and Friends
• ~End of summer Dunk Tank
• ~Appearances by: Smokey the Bear, Sparky the Fire Dog, Rescue Dogs, Maddox Dancers and more!

If you need lodging and prefer to stay in a  Washington Coast vacation rental … you may still have  time to reserve!

 ~ Thanks & have a fun Memorial Weekend AT THE BEACH

Photo by~ eyeliam

Rockaway, Garibaldi, Wheeler & Nehalem Bay

Annual Memorial Weekend Blues Festival ~ Nehalem Bay Winery  just outside of Wheeler (one mile from the Highway 101 junction)

Steam Train Season Begins ~Memorial Day Weekend train runs between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach - Port of Tillamook  503-842-7972 or 800-685-1719

Garibaldi’s Blessing of the Fleet~ Time TBA -  Docks of Garibaldi  503-322-3796 or 503-322-8408

Garibaldi Fish Fry ~ Sunday, May 30 @ Noon – Old Mill Marina  503-322-3796 or 503-322-8408

Tillamook

Quilts & Fiber Arts Festival ~ May 29 & 30- Tillamook County Fairgrounds Auditorium

Cannon Beach

Mary Flower Folk Concert ~ May 29 – Cannon Beach History Center & Museum

Lincoln City

The Fab Four ~ May 29  Chinook Winds

Depoe Bay

64th Fleet of Flowers ~ May 31  Depoe Bay Harbor

Newport

Newport Saturday Farmer’s Market ~ Highway 101 and Angle Street 541-961-8236

Oregon Coast Aquarium Events ~ www.aquarium.org
Sea Lion Encounter ~ Make reservations in advance by calling 541-867-3474 Ext. 2313
Swamplands ~ The aquarium’s newest exhibit opens May 29, 2010 9am – 6pm. It’s an exploration of swamps found around the world. It features creatures like a 12-foot anaconda, a 6-foot alligator, piranhas, red tail boas, a larger alligator snapping turtle, frogs, iguanas and tropical fish. 541-867-FISH

Bandon

Marine Swap Meet ~ May 29 – Bandon Boardwalk

Brookings

71st Azalea Festival~ May 28-30 – Street Fair, Parade, Arts & Crafts, Car Show, Food and more

If you need lodging information and prefer to stay in an Oregon Coast vacation rental, you may still have time to reserve!

~ Have a fun & safe Memorial Day weekend AT THE BEACH!

~ Netarts Bay Oregon~

If you want to experience something different while vacationing on the North Oregon Coast… here is an outdoor adventure you will never forget…  Kayak Tillamook is an Oregon Coast Eco Tour & Guide Service, offering kayaking trips on flat waterways from Nehalem to Neskowin.  For beginners and experts alike… you’ll enjoy a guided tour of beautiful sights along the coast.  Glide along the clean waters of Tillamook Counties… estuaries, bays, river or calming sloughs and lakes…  ahhh.

For now, you can go on a video tour!  Grant’s Getaways ~ A Perfect Paddle on Netarts Bay

When you register, you will receive instruction prior to the tour which includes 3 hours total on the water.  You will receive the personal attention of a Guide to perfect your technique, to answer questions and to ensure your safety and comfort.  Equipment includes a kayak, a paddle, a flotation jacket, spray skirt, a beverage and snack food and they even offer rain poncho’s and sun screen for those who have forgotten to pack them!

Got questions on how to plan your next adventure on the Oregon Coast? Visit Kayak Tillamook!

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!