The Oregon coast is pretty rad. I have a ton of favorite spots, and Lincoln City is one of them. Some buddies and I rented a house this fall and I was able to do a bit of adventuring while the other kids "recovered" from the festivities. If you go as a group, renting a house is a great option. It divides down to be a really cheap stay and you have privacy. Most of them have hot tubs. Usually you are required to provide a pretty hefty deposit and about $100 in cleaning fees which make it prohibitive if you are going singly or with a couple of folks.
The beach itself is really typical of what you find on the NW coast. Freezing water, windy, brown sand, etc. The crags, caves, algae-covered rocks, tide pools, and beachcombing are really where its at. The coast is a great spot for rock hounding, yet another geeky hobby that I have recently stumbled upon, and you can find a ton of materials, floats, sea glass, and a limited selection of shells as you enjoy walking beside the ocean.
Lincoln City is really singular in that you can explore the beach, a bay where the river meets the ocean, and a marsh land that is super creepy. There are several really close and fantastic hikes. Beware though...getting to different areas takes about 10 times longer than you would expect due to the speed limits and the curving roads.
Drift Creek Falls is about 10 miles from Lincoln City...and it takes about 45 minutes to get there. It is a short trail that transverses a suspension bridge and overlooks a waterfall. Now, typical of the trips I take, it took about 30 minutes for me to injure myself...which occurred when the pup and I decided to take a short-cut and book it down the cliff directly to the falls. Road rash from hip to ankle, but I was super thankful that my yoga pants didn't disintegrate...really didn't need the situation to be any more awkward than I had already made it, you know?
Devil's Punch Bowl is south of Lincoln City and a perfect picnic spot after a morning of watching the surfers and treasure hunting for gems. The overlook from the parking lot allows you to look down into the roiling cauldron at high tide. If you time it incorrectly, just stop of at the café and get some of their clam chowdie, or check the tide tables before you go.
Getting into the punch bowl can be a bit confusing. Walk down the path from the overlook parking area and take a left at the first street. You will walk past another parking lot. There are usually a lot of surfers in various stages of undress. *purr*
Once you have regained your composure, make your way down the path to the beach and voila! There is a bonus little waterfall to the right, and you won't be able to miss the bowl on your left. Enjoy!
Once you have regained your composure, make your way down the path to the beach and voila! There is a bonus little waterfall to the right, and you won't be able to miss the bowl on your left. Enjoy!