Discover Lincoln: Pacific Coast, Nature and Culture

Lincoln represents the diverse landscape of Lincoln County on Oregon’s central coast. Forests and rivers shape the region, while it also borders the Pacific Ocean. Several miles of beach and coastline offer different possibilities for planning your trip: you can focus on observing nature, visit historic sites or combine days by the water with active pursuits.

Experience the Coast and Landscape Mindfully

One distinctive landscape feature is the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. It is located in Lincoln County and forms a basalt headland on Oregon’s central coast. South Beach State Park also showcases the coastal landscape in a particularly clear form, with access to several miles of sandy ocean beach. The paved Jetty Trail is suitable for jogging and cycling and complements a visit to the beach with an opportunity to stay active.

At Beverly Beach State Park, the day-use area is just a few steps from several miles of ocean beach. The forest-protected campground on Spencer Creek is also part of the park. If the coast and natural attractions are the main considerations when choosing a holiday rental or holiday home, you can incorporate these different landscapes into your regional planning without limiting yourself to just one type of excursion.

The geology and wildlife also give Lincoln its own distinctive character. Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area is known for whale watching and features striking coastal geology. Tide pools can be found on the north side of the Punchbowl. Whale Cove contains a 13.97-acre property surrounding Oregon’s oldest marine reserve. The cove serves as a year-round resting and pupping area for more than 100 harbor seals.

Observe, Discover and Get on the Water

The Whale Watching Center has a large observation platform and provides visitors with binoculars. This allows you to complement a day on the coast with a focused wildlife-viewing experience. At the Oregon Coast Aquarium, you can also encounter 15,000 animals from 300 different species. The Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center offers an interactive touch tank with sea cucumbers, sea urchins and starfish. A simulator also lets visitors experience steering a large research vessel through Yaquina Bay.

Various clearly distinct options are available for water activities. The free shoreline boat launch at Alder Island in the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge is intended for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and other non-motorized boats. The refuge includes brackish marshes, tidal channels, mudflats, as well as coniferous and deciduous forest. From Neskowin Beach State Recreation Site, canoeing and kayaking are possible on the relatively undeveloped estuary of Nestucca Bay. Knight Park has the only public boat launch on the Salmon River.

Culture and History on the Coast

Lincoln County can also be explored through its museums and historic sites. The North Lincoln County Historical Museum provides an educational resource on the history of North Lincoln County and features, among other things, an exhibit on Japanese glass fishing floats. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is Oregon’s only surviving lighthouse with an attached living area; it is open seasonally from March through November. From the large observation platform at Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site, you can see Yaquina Bay and the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

In Toledo, the Toledo History Center preserves local history through photographs, oral histories, historic documents, newspapers, exhibits and community collections. A self-guided Toledo Quest follows the city’s sidewalks and paved walking paths and takes about 45 minutes. The museum of the Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society displays “One Spot,” a Baldwin steam locomotive from 1922, as a prominent permanent exhibit.

The Yaquina River Museum of Art focuses its exhibitions on artworks shaped by or addressing the landscape, people and industry of the Yaquina River region. The permanent art collection is changed twice a year for public viewing. In addition, the museum hosts monthly “1st Weekend Art” exhibitions in which artists from Toledo can participate.

Which Surroundings Suit Your Trip?

When choosing accommodation, you can first decide which type of travel experience matters most to you: coastal landscapes and wildlife observation, water activities, museums or a combination of several interests. About ten percent of the Oregon Coast Trail runs along the shoulders of U.S. 101, county roads and city streets. This information is just as relevant when planning a trip with different excursion destinations as the seasonal opening hours of individual facilities.

For further orientation, you can also explore Lincoln City, Newport, Depoe Bay, Lincoln Beach, Yachats, Waldport, Seal Rock, Forfar, Otter Rock and Neotsu. This allows you to tailor your search for a holiday rental or holiday home to your preferred mix of coast, nature, culture and activities.

For the higher-level travel overview: Oregon.