Lincoln City: Beach, Glass and Water Experiences

Lincoln City combines a distinctive coastal landscape with unusual glass experiences, water sports and culture. More than seven walkable miles of beach stretch from Roads End to Siletz Bay. If you are planning a trip with children, you can choose between active days on the water, special discoveries and cultural experiences. When looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide on your personal focus: beach and waves, calm water activities, glass or events.

Beach, Waves and Special Coastal Moments

Roads End State Recreation Site showcases the coast in a varied form. Tide pools, islands, a headland and a hidden cove are all part of the landscape there. Lincoln City's expansive beach is also flat and continuously connected. This makes it suitable for fat-tire bike rides—an alternative way to experience the coast beyond walking.

At Nelscott Reef, the waves range from waist-high waves to swells more than 40 feet high. This contrast also makes the location interesting for visitors who want to experience different sides of the sea. At Siletz Bay, by contrast, the focus is on quieter observation and collecting: beachcombing for shells is one of the activities available there, along with opportunities for crabbing and shellfish harvesting as well as watching sunsets.

A special tradition is Finders Keepers. Throughout the year, more than 3,000 glass floats made by artisans are placed along Lincoln City's seven-mile coastline so that they can be found and kept. Location is important when searching: The glass floats are placed above the high-tide line and below the beach bluff. This turns a visit to the beach into a discovery with a specific goal.

Water Experiences and Kites in the Sky

Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area offers a 685-acre lake unaffected by coastal winds. Paddling, fishing and boating there provide a different water experience from that of the open coast. Kayaking on Devils Lake is also one of the water sports activities in Lincoln City. If you want to alternate between the ocean and the lake while planning your trip, you will find two clearly different types of experiences here.

Two of the world’s largest kite festivals take place each year in June and September at D River State Recreation Site. These dates give a trip a special occasion and complement the natural experiences with a colorful event in the sky.

Glass and Culture in the Historic School Building

The Lincoln City Glass Center makes glass more than just an object on display. Visitors can blow glass hands-on under instruction and create their own glass artworks. This is a concrete activity for a day of travel when you would like to create something yourself.

The Lincoln City Cultural Center is housed in the historic DeLake School building. Its facilities include an event hall, an art gallery, a visitor information center, as well as studios for dance, pottery, textiles, yoga and other offerings. The various spaces make the center a cultural destination that goes beyond a single exhibition.

Siletz Bay also preserves a trace of history. A pier there recalls the time when the bay was a working harbor and ships transported timber to distant countries. If you would like to combine landscape and history, you can include this place as another point of interest in your trip.

Choosing Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests

The right vacation rental or vacation home in Lincoln City should suit the travel plans you actually want to pursue. For a beach-focused trip, the more than seven miles of coastline, fat-tire bike rides, Finders Keepers and Nelscott Reef are the main attractions. If water activities are your focus, Siletz Bay and Devils Lake are additional options. Culture enthusiasts can consider the Cultural Center and the Lincoln City Glass Center, while the kite festivals in June and September provide fixed dates to plan around.

If you would like to compare other destinations, also take a look at Otter Rock, Yachats, Waldport, Depoe Bay, Forfar, Newport, Lincoln Beach and Seal Rock.

For the broader travel overview: Lincoln.