oregon coast travel events

Calendar of Events

Oregon coast, north coast.

CANNON BEACH

Sep 13-15 Cannon Beach Cottage Tour

Nov-Dec Haystack Holidays

ROCKAWAY BEACH

Apr 12-Sep 22 Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad Excursions

TILLAMOOK  

May 4 Tillamook Forest Center: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

May 11 Tillamook Forest Center: Steelhead Release Walk

May 18-19 Tillamook Forest Center: Steam Donkey

PACIFIC CITY

CENTRAL COAST

LINCOLN CITY

June 15 Otter Rock and Roll: Kids Surf Event

Dec 1-30 Oregon Coast Aquarium Sea of Lights

June Plant Sale and Flower Show

Dec Seal Rock Garden Club Holiday Greens Sale

May 4 Beach, Bike & Blues Festival

Jun 15-16 Beachcomber Days

Dec Christmas in Waldport & Candlelite Bridge Walk

May 16-19 Rhododendron Festival

SOUTH COAST

REEDSPORT / WINCHESTER BAY

NORTH BEND / COOS BAY

May 25-26 Annual BBQ, Blues & Brews on the Bay

July 12-13 Annual Margarita-Mill Festival

July 12-14 North Bend July Jubilee

July 13-17 Oregon Coast Music Festival

Aug 2-4 Mill Casino Food Truck Off 

Aug 24-25 Blackberry Arts Festival

Sep 14-15 Mill-Luck Salmon Celebration

Sep 21-22 The Bay Area Fun Festival

Sep 4-5 IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild

Oct 5 Octoberfish

Nov 23-Dec 31 Holiday Lights at Shore Acres

May 1-Oct Hughes House Tours

PORT ORFORD

Nov 24-Dec 27 Nature’s Coastal Holiday-Festival of Lights

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CRESCENT CITY

LONG BEACH PENINSULA: WASHINGTON

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Don't Miss These Winter (and Spring) Annual Oregon Coast Events

By Margaret Seiler November 21, 2023

Image: sarahmartinhood/shutterstock.com

There's never a bad time to be at the Oregon Coast . From watching a massive storm roll in and break against a rocky cape to celebrating Pacific Northwest cuisine at one of the many seafood festivals, these annual events keep us coming back to the salty western seaboard no matter the weather.  

King tides at Shore Acres State Park, near Coos Bay 

Image: Hugh Hull/Shutterstock.com

• A stunning estate garden by day blossoms at night, too, for the  Shore Acres Holiday Lights at this state park between Coos Bay and Cape Arago. Nov 23–Dec 31 (Timed-entry tickets went on sale in June here .)    
• Take a one-hour round-trip ride from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach on the  Candy Cane Express , an Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad excursion. Nov 24–Dec 17
• Participate in the Oregon King Tides Project by taking pictures of areas impacted by extreme tide events at certain spots along the Oregon Coast. Dec 13–15
• Volunteer to count whales and answer questions during Winter Whale Watching Week , or just show up to look and learn. Dec 27–31  
• Catch the first glass float drop of the year in Lincoln City, with 100 floats distributed. Dec 30, 2023–Jan 1, 2024
• Participate in the  Oregon King Tides Project by taking pictures of areas impacted by extreme tide events at certain spots along the Oregon Coast. Jan 11–13, 2024
• Catch a range of music styles (the 2023 fest included bluegrass, folk, and dystopian Afrofuturism) at the Winter Music Festival in Florence. Jan 26 & 27, 2024
• Participate in the  Oregon King Tides Project by taking pictures of areas impacted by extreme tide events at certain spots along the Oregon Coast. Feb 8–10, 2024
• Astoria’s Fort George Brewery promises “dark art, darker entertainment, and the darkest collection of beers” at the stout-centric Festival of Dark Arts . Tickets typically go on sale on Black Friday, at dawn. Feb 17, 2024
• This 21-and-over Newport Seafood and Wine Festival (in addition to the headlining goodies, there are also baked goods, beer, and more) returned in full force for 2023 after a brief hiatus during the pandemic and decentralized format in 2022. Feb 21–24, 2024
• Voices from the commercial fishing industry bring poetry, storytelling, and music to Astoria for the annual FisherPoets Gathering . Feb 23–25, 2024

A gray whale spouting off the Oregon Coast

Image: simonfootphotography.com/shutterstock.com

• Eat fresh crabs and race them, too, at Garibaldi Crab Races , with kid and adult divisions. 
• Catch migratory whales on their way back north during Spring Whale Watching Week , with volunteers staffing certain viewpoints. 
• Labyrinths and land art meet at the beach in Bandon for the annual Circles in the Sand .  
• Help keep the coast looking snazzy by joining in the SOLVE Oregon Spring Beach Cleanup .
• Sample local bounty and live music at the Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival . 
• Bring those wide tires to the sand for the Cannon Beach Fat Bike Festival for a pedal past Haystack Rock. 

The Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival

Image: Courtesy Bob Pool/Shutterstock

• No vasectomy on the prize list in recent years (yes, that happened ), but there's often a $1,000 grand prize for Nehalem Bay Crab Derby  at Kelly's Brighton Marina . 
• A certified qualifier for the Boston Marathon, the annual Newport Marathon starts at the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. 
• Celebrate the Astoria-set 1985 adventure film on the official Goonies Day , though famous filming locations like Ecola State Park can be visited anytime.
• The annual  Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest includes a bonfire the night before and a fun run the day after.  
• Expect huge sculptures, a 90-minute quick carve every day, and a live auction every evening over Father’s Day weekend at Reedsport’s  Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Carving Championship . 
• The  Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival invites visitors to discover their “inner Viking” at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds every June. 
• Part of a long-running Lincoln City treasure hunt, 50 new colorful orbs are waiting to be found after the Father's Day glass float drop . 

A tufted puffin

Image: Steve Estvanik/Shutterstock.com

• Join wildlife experts each morning for the  Great Cannon Beach Puffin Watch  to learn more about the birds who visit Haystack Rock in breeding season . 
• Independence Day usually brings fireworks to Astoria, Rockaway Beach, Newport, Waldport, Coos Bay, Bandon, and Gold Beach, while quaint parades prevail in communities including Cannon Beach and Oceanside. 
• Pacific City’s flat-bottomed fishing boats inspire a parade and festival for  Dory Days , in the shadow of Cape Kiwanda and the other Haystack Rock.
• Mingus Park, the Oregon Institute for Marine Biology, Shore Acres, and other venues around Coos Bay and Charleston host orchestral music for the Oregon Coast Music Festival .
• Live music, a car show, and firefighter vs. Coast Guard contests fill Garibaldi Days in this fishing town just north of Tillamook. 
• Watch where you step when the annual Chalk Art Contest hits the Seaside Prom. 
• The Pig-n-Ford race (people drive Model Ts while holding pigs) is not to be missed at the Tillamook County Fair .  
• ATVs, sand buggies, and big ol' trucks rip through the sand all weekend at Dune Fest  near Winchester Bay. 
• Expect teams from around the world at the 41st annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament . 
• They say dead men tell no tales, but you might after experiencing the Pirates of the Pacific Festival in Brookings, with live music, sword fighting and cannon demonstrations, belly dancers, vendors, and food. Garrr! 
• The Charleston Seafood, Beer & Wine  Festival celebrates the local harvest in this fishing town, along with a Clam Jam live music stage and kids’ activities .  
• Teams of runners take turns in the Hood to Coast relay race from Mount Hood to Seaside by way of Portland. 
• Jazz, chamber music, and more blanket Lincoln City for the Siletz Bay Music Festival . 
• The Bandon Cranberry Festival includes a cranberry eating contest, a Cranberry Court coronation, and a crab derby. 
• The Cruz the Coos classic car show and Prefontaine Memorial Run highlight the Bay Area Fun Festival in Coos Bay.  
• Help pick up after the summer crowds at the Solve Oregon Beach & Riverside Cleanup . 
• String up your kites for the Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival , on the beach at the D River State Recreation Site.  

The Astoria-Megler Bridge

Image: DMaddocks/shutterstock.com

• The Great Columbia Crossing 10k run/walk over the Astoria-Megler Bridge is not for acrophobes! Watch for registration to open in the summer for this certain sell-out. Oct 13, 2024
• A special  glass float drop  for Halloween in Lincoln City means there are 50 glow-in-the-dark floats to find. Oct 31–Nov 2, 2024

Shore Acres Holiday Lights

Image: Margaret Seiler

• Get moody at the Stormy Weather Arts Festival in Cannon Beach, with artist demonstrations, gallery receptions and live music. 
• Concerts, whistle workshops, dance performances, and more pack the schedule of the Yachats Celtic Music Festival . 
• A stunning estate garden by day blossoms at night, too, for the  Shore Acres Holiday Lights at this state park between Coos Bay and Cape Arago. Nov 29–Dec 31, 2004 (Timed-entry tickets go on sale in June here .)    
• Participate in the  Oregon King Tides Project by taking pictures of areas impacted by extreme tide events at certain spots along the Oregon Coast. 

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7 Last-Minute Spring Break Destinations for Sun-Deprived Portlanders

03/07/2024 By Dalila Brent , Shannon Daehnke , Gabriel Granillo , Katherine Chew Hamilton , Michelle Harris , and Julia Silverman

What to Do in Oregon in March

02/29/2024 By Portland Monthly Staff

Oregon Coast Travel Guide

Oregoncoast101.com, 2024 oregon coast special events.

CENTRAL OREGON COAST

LINCOLN CITY

Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival   June 24-25

Newport Seafood & Wine Festival   Feb 22-25

Newport Celtic Festival & Highland Games    June 2024

Crab Feed and Chowder Cook-off   April 15th

City of Depoe Bay 50th Celebration   May 20th

Fleet of Flowers   May 29

Salmon Bake   Sept 16

Tree Lighting   Dec 1st

Beachcomber Days  June 16-18

Yachats Celtic Music Fest     Nov 2

Rhododendron Festival    May 2024

NORTHERN OREGON COAST

Astoria Warrenton Seafood & Wine Festival       April 28-30

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival   June 16-18 

Hood to Coast Relay Race  Aug. 25-26

CANNON BEACH       

Fat Bike Festival   May 12-14  

Sandcastle Contest    June 10

ROCKAWAY BEACH

Rockaway Beach Kite Fest    May 2024

Pirate Festival     June 2024

    TILLAMOOK    

Home & Garden Show   Mar. 2024

   Tillamook County Rodeo   June 2024

SOUTHERN OREGON COAST

 COOS BAY-NORTH BEND  

South Coast Clambake Music Fest      March 10-12

South Coast Wood Carvers Show      Apr 2024

Bay Area Fun Festival & Prefontaine Run     Sept 16-17

   Cranberry Festival     Sept 2024

Azalea Festival   May 2024

Southern Oregon Coast Kite Festival  July 2024

Pirates of the Pacific Festival  Aug 11-13

REEDSPORT-WINCHESTER BAY   

Memorial Day Parade   May 2024

Dune Fest   Aug. 8-13

GOLD BEACH   

America's Wild Rivers Coast Wine & Music Festival   May 2024

South Coast Celtic Festival    May 2024

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Your Guide to Southern Oregon Stargazing

This area of cosmic wonder includes portions of Malheur, Lake and Harney counties to the east of larger Southern Oregon cities like Medford, Klamath Falls and Ashland. They are so sparsely populated that the region is also known as the Oregon Outback. And while much of the nighttime world grows brighter every year, as much as 11 million acres of Outback are on track to become an official Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2023. That would be the largest area of its kind, and good news not just for curious humans checking out the Milky Way but also for wildlife that needs the dark to thrive.

Explore the Rogue River: Central Point to Eagle Point to Prospect

Add These to Your Bucket List! Whether you enjoy scenic hikes, whitewater rafting , or just enjoying a picnic lunch […]

Ultimate Guide to Gravel Rides in Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon cyclists are gravitating to gravel, and no wonder. Gravel riding — which is simply cycling on unpaved roads — offers scenic views, blissful solitude and a sense of adventure as you veer off the well-worn asphalt. Gravel riding doesn’t require the technical prowess of mountain biking, and many cyclists feel safer on less-trafficked roads that often comprise gravel routes in these rural counties. The region’s many group rides tend to be fun and inclusive, too. Read on for rides and races throughout Southern Oregon.

Road Trip Adventures on Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon

Seasoned travelers headed through Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon know to take it slow and enjoy some time in many unique communities along the way. Here you’ll encounter walkable small towns, award-winning restaurants, parks, museums and more — all surrounded by lush forests and scenic mountains. Try a few of these itineraries designed to showcase top spots for every kind of road-tripper.

Spotlight on the Historic Steamboat Inn

Along a deeply forested stretch of the North Umpqua River, there’s a revered fishing lodge where time stands still. That’s part of the magic of the Steamboat Inn, a woodsy retreat just under 40 miles from Roseburg, perched on a bluff above one of the most famous stretches of fly-fishing water in the world.

Making Shakespeare Accessible to More Theatergoers

In an effort to show “all the world’s a stage,” the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is ready to meet the challenges of the last few years. After a year of hard-core fundraising and a new artistic director, Tim Bond, the rotating repertory company has new funding, new audience goals and a wide variety of offerings on its three stages.

Spas and Wellness Spaces

Get pampered, soak and relax in Southern Oregon If you are looking for places to reconnect and mellow out with […]

Give the Gift of Southern Oregon

Plan your trip to Southen Oregon Welcome to Southern Oregon, where the spirit of the holidays shines brighter than ever! […]

Day Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail runs north and south 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada; every year hardy thru-hikers attempt to complete the trail in a single season, logging 25 to 30 miles a day.

Cozy Winter Wineries in Southern Oregon

’Tis the season for cuddling up next to a fireplace with a richly flavored, warming glass of red wine. From the scenic wineries of the Umpqua Valley to the snug, softly lit urban tasting rooms of Jacksonville, here’s where you’ll find some of the coziest wine-tasting experiences in Southern Oregon.

Bucket List Adventures in Southern Oregon

If you like epic outdoor adventures, delicious locally sourced dining, and small-batch wine then you are coming to the right […]

Giving Back in Southern Oregon

The dark skies of the Oregon Outback; picturesque wineries in the Applegate Valley; epic mountain biking through old-growth forests on Brown Mountain — there are myriad reasons to come to Southern Oregon. Did you know there are also plenty of ways to give back to the special places you love to visit and help ensure a strong future for these destinations?

Top Culture and Heritage Museums in Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon’s rich history spans millennia, influenced by everyone from Indigenous people to prospectors, farmers and ranchers, and more who have made their mark on the region. Visitors can delve into the past at museums and historic sites that tell their stories. Here are a few of our favorites.

Family Friendly Fall Festivals and Events

UPDATED September 2023 Fall in southern Oregon is absolutely stunning!  Every tree bursts out in beautiful oranges, reds, and yellows […]

Local Burgers Spots

From the classic to the unique and unusual get your cravings met at these local burger spots found only in Southern Oregon.

Calm-Water Paddling in Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon may be world-famous for its frothy whitewater, but flatwater paddlers also have plenty of options. Placid lakes come ringed by shady forests and gentle creeks with little current flow under rolling mountains, making this an ideal place to float in a kayak or atop a paddleboard. Late summer and fall are ideal times to go, but all you need is a calm day any time of year. There’s no way you’ll stay for just a day, so book ahead for a relaxing getaway. Read on for eight places to dip your blade.

Unique Farm and Ranch Stays in Southern Oregon

Want to truly embrace the culinary bounty of Southern Oregon? Spend the night on a farm,  ranch or winery. There’s no better way to get a true sense of where your food and wine comes from, or to experience the region’s warm hospitality and breathtaking landscape. Here are some extraordinary stays where you can experience the sights and sounds of rural life. For even more options, check out Farm Stay USA or Harvest Hosts — an RV camping membership that pairs visitors with farms, ranches, wineries and breweries that have cool spots to camp — and plan to stop for local provisions along one of Southern Oregon’s food trails. 

Sutherlin and Historic Oakland

Take some time to explore Sutherlin and historic Oakland where you will be delighted to find a friendly community in growth. Enjoy a meal, shop locally owned businesses, get outdoors and you will be charmed by the warm welcome you receive.

Adventures Along the Upper Rogue River – Gateway to Crater Lake Series

While Crater Lake National Park may be your main destination for vacation, the journey’s half the fun. For travelers coming from Medford or Grants Pass, the winding route along the upper Rogue River offers adventures along the way, with the communities of Prospect, Trail and Shady Cove serving as gateways to fishing, boating and hiking to waterfalls, wilderness and mountain vistas in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Unique Places to Stay in Southern Oregon

From glamping on a farm to staying in a covered wagon, a treehouse and even a cave, there’s always a cool place to spend the night in Southern Oregon. Fun lodgings can help elevate any vacation, whether it’s to light a creative spark, connect with nature or thrill the kids. You’ll find a range of alternative lodging experiences for every budget and taste, all offering extraordinary stays. Here are a few of our favorites.

10 ways to experience Oregon on a budget

Apr 23, 2024 • 5 min read

Experience Oregon on a budget with these money-saving tips © AscentXmedia / Getty Images

Oregon is like dozens of vacation destinations rolled into one.

In addition to the natural beauty of its many landscapes, the Beaver State is home to vineyards, dazzling cities and exciting cultural events like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival . The only catch? With so many options, you can easily spend a fortune on your itinerary.

Luckily, this doesn’t have to be the case. With a little planning, you can visit Oregon on a budget. These travel hacks will help you see bucket list Oregon locations – like the Pacific Ocean, Crater Lake National Park  and cities like Portland – without breaking the bank. 

Daily costs in Oregon

• Dorm lodging in a hostel: $28
• Basic hotel room for two: $100
• Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb:) $110
• Camping fees: $17 for a tent site 
• Public transportation: $5.60 for a day pass in Portland 
• Coffee $3–6 a cup
• Sandwich: $10
• Dinner for two: $50 
• Wine tasting: $15

Skip the rental car 

Save yourself the money and hassle of renting a car on your next trip to Portland. Many of the city’s top attractions are walkable from downtown, plus you’ll find bike shares and scooter rentals on virtually every corner. If you need to venture further, a day pass for Portland’s TriMet transportation system (including light rail, commuter rail and bus service throughout the metro area) is just $5.60. 

Oregon’s inter-city bus line, Point , offers affordable transportation for longer distances. The scenic Northwest route from Portland to Astoria is a popular way to get to the coast since tickets are only $18 each way. Once you arrive, downtown Astoria is walkable. During warmer months, you can take a ride on the historic riverfront trolley for just $2 a day.  

Local tip: If you’re arriving by air, catch the light rail at the south end of the PDX terminal building. 

See the very best of Oregon with our guide to the top places to visit

Visit the beach during the shoulder season 

The Oregon coast is most popular from Memorial Day through the end of September. This means lodging comes at a premium. You’ll save money if you plan your visit outside of that time frame. The weather can be quite lovely in spring and fall and the beaches are far less crowded. Even stormy winter days are beautiful on the coast when waves crash on the surf.

Purchase your lift tickets in advance 

If you’re planning a ski trip to a destination like Timberline or Mt Bachelor , you’ll save money by purchasing your lift ticket online. If your plans are flexible, search for a few different dates to find the best deal. Most of the time you’ll get a better price the farther you book in advance. Since ski season in Oregon usually lasts through April or May, there are plenty of dates to choose from. 

Explore Southern Oregon 

In addition to attractions like Crater Lake National Park , Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve  and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Southern Oregon is home to fantastic vineyards and wineries. Besides being an amazing vacation destination, lodging, restaurants, and activities like wine tasting usually cost less than they do in hot spots like Portland or Willamette Valley. Base yourself in Grants Pass, Ashland or Klamath Falls to save money without sacrificing memorable experiences.

Book hotel rooms or rental houses during the week 

Most hotels and rental homes are cheaper on weekdays than they are on weekends. If you aren’t tied to a specific date, try playing with booking platforms to see how much your stay will cost on different days of the week. You can put the money you save towards meals or transportation. 

Take advantage of free or discounted museum days 

Many of Oregon’s best museums offer free or discounted admission to the public regularly. Examples include free admission to the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton on the first Friday of every month, free admission to the Portland Art Museum on the first Thursday of every month, or $5 admission to the Omni Museum of Science and Industry on the first Sunday of every month. Free admission and discount programs are usually listed on museum websites. 

Stay in a hostel

Forge friendships with fellow travelers and save big bucks on lodging with accommodations at properties like Portland Hostel , where dorm-style beds cost as little as $36 a night. If you’re traveling to the Oregon coast, a shared room at the Seaside Lodge and International Hostel can be yours for about $50 a night. In Southern Oregon, shared rooms at Ashland Commons Hostel are as little as $28 a night.

Time your visit to Oregon just right with this seasonal guide

Oregon’s state parks are not only beautiful, they are excellent places to stay . Although prices at individual parks vary, you can generally expect to pay about $17 a night for a tent site, between $30–40 for a non-resident RV site, and about $50 a night for a yurt or rustic cabin. For exact rates, search for your dates and desired location online.

Snag a wine-tasting passport 

Tasting fees at Oregon’s wineries typically run from $15–25 a person, although they can easily cost more, depending on the winery. If you’re visiting several wineries, it can put a serious dent in your budget. The Heart of Willamette Passport offers free or discounted tastings at wineries in the Corvallis area for a one-time fee of $45. If you’re traveling with a plus one, a second passport can be purchased at a $5 discount. 

Seek out happy hours

Happy hour is hardly a new concept but the discounts are especially rewarding in a food-centric city like Portland. Find $5 cocktails and two tacos for $5 at Pig Patas Tacos or $10 chicken sandwiches with half-off bottles of wine at Radio Room . There are plenty of great happy hours in other parts of the state, too, including $6 for poutine and wings plus discounted drinks at Taproot Lounge and Cafe in Salem. 

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Rare bird sighting in Oregon: Amateur photographer captures stunning images

A rare bird sighting on the Oregon Coast has bird watchers aflutter.

The sighting was made by Vancouver resident and amateur photographer Michael Sanchez during a visit to Hug Point Falls.

The wayside is five miles south of Cannon Beach and includes forested picnic areas, a restroom and trails that lead to a seasonal waterfall and the beach.

Sanchez, a band director at Skyridge Middle School east of Vancouver, is also a musician and voiceover artist who took up photography a few months ago. He went to the Oregon Coast in April to photograph landscapes and work on his photo skills.

“I was just out near Cannon Beach looking for waterfalls to photograph,” Sanchez said.

“When I was done photographing the falls, I turned around and saw this cute little bird on the beach,” he said.

He used the opportunity to play with the settings on his Sony mirrorless camera with a Tamron 18-300mm f3.5-6.3 lens and managed to capture several images before the bird flew away.

When he returned home and looked at his pictures on a computer he was surprised to see that it was much more colorful than he thought.

Curious to learn more, he posted his images on social media in hopes of identifying the bird. He soon learned to his surprise that the “little black bird” was a blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) and it was a very long way from home.

The blue rock thrush is common throughout southern Europe, northwest Africa, Central Asia, northern China and Malaysia. But it had only been seen in North America one other time, a sighting in British Columbia in 1997 that was ultimately dismissed by the record committee in Canada.

As word spread about the unusual sighting, Sanchez was soon flooded with messages from birders wanting to know more about the encounter.

“I never knew this little bird was going to give me my 15 minutes of fame,” Sanchez said with a laugh.

One of the people who reached out was Nolan Clements, a PhD student in the Wildlife Science Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Clements is a member of the Oregon Birding Association and sits on the Oregon Bird Records Committee. The committee verifies all rare sightings before posting them to an official list.

Adding a rare bird to their own “list” is a major goal for avid birders. The morning after learning of the sighting, Clements was on his way to Hug Point in hopes of seeing the bird with his own eyes.

Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be found.

“Had it been found again, there would have been thousands who would have come for that bird,” Clements said. “People have been known to take red-eyes from the East Coast to Portland for stuff like that. For some people, it turns into a lifestyle.”

But why has this particular bird turned up in the Pacific Northwest?

“That is a tough question,” Clements said. “Seeing a pattern of songbirds from northeastern Asia, from Russia, Siberia, wondering to the Pacific Northwest is not an unprecedented thing,” he said. 

Experts speculate that birds may hopscotch from island to island across the Bering Strait, fly across the Pacific Ocean or catch rides on cargo ships. Although unlikely, the bird could have escaped from a cage locally. Clements discounted that theory because the bird, while common where it is found, is not typically kept as a pet. 

Interestingly, Clements learned of another sighting of a blue rock thrush made in the Farallon Islands off the coast of California a few days after the Hug Point report. Whether it is the same bird or a second one may never be known.

Regardless, the whole episode has been a fun experience for Sanchez. 

“We have a beautiful world,” he said. “This was just one little encounter with that beauty that I feel very fortunate to have had.”

Since the sighting, the park has seen an increase in visitors.

“The parking lot was noticeably busier than usual, and people were asking questions about how to get to the waterfall, which was where the bird was seen,” said Bo Ensign, the Oregon Parks Ranger Supervisor. 

Ensign cautioned visitors to the park to be careful. The waterfall is on the north side of a headland that is only accessible at or around low tide. Park officials advise visitors to check tide tables to avoid being trapped by rising water.

Contact photographer Chris Pietsch at [email protected] , or follow him on Twitter @ChrisPietsch and Instagram @chrispietsch .

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Rare bird sighting in Oregon: Amateur photographer captures stunning images

• A fearful flyer’s guide to train travel on the Coast Starlight
• Updated: Apr. 26, 2024, 3:05 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m.

The lounge car of the Coast Starlight train offers scenic views between Washington, Oregon and California.

The view from the Coast Starlight just north of the California/Oregon boarder.

The Coast Starlight train doesn't have wifi and often no cell reception. Bring a book to pass the time while enjoying the views.

Portland Union Station in 2020.

A roomette on the Coast Starlight train can sleep two. The two seats fold down and receive a mattress to turn into a bed. There's a second bunk above.

The lounge car of the Coast Starlight train offers scenic views between Washington, Oregon and California. South of Santa Barbara, the train pases oceanfront views.

Dining service on Amtrak is included with a room in a sleeper car. Guests can eat at a table in the dining car or, shown here, eat in their room.

The family room in an Amtrak train (in this case, the Texas Eagle) sleeps four, with two overhead bunks and two floor-level beds that fold out.

• Samantha Swindler | The Oregonian/OregonLive

If you already had a fear of flying, this isn’t your year to travel.

First there was the pilot charged with attempting to crash a plane that was diverted to Portland International Airport. Then, of course, a door plug fell off a plane somewhere over Washington County. Since then, a number of news articles have convinced me that my flying phobia isn’t so off the mark after all.

So, last month, I spent six days roundtrip traveling via Amtrak from Portland, down to Los Angeles via the scenic Coast Starlight , and east to Houston, Texas, aboard the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited .

For all but one of the nights on the trains, I traveled first class in a sleeper car, where travelers get a private room with meals included.

My train trip cost a total of about $3,000. A roundtrip flight would have been somewhere in the range of $500.

Was it worth it? To someone with a crippling anxiety around flying, absolutely. Here’s what you can expect on a cross-country Amtrak journey, along with a few tips I learned along the way.

The biggest difference between air and rail travel is the first: the boarding experience.

As a “arrive at the airport two hours before your flight” person, I had no need to stress at the train station. Arriving 15 minutes before departure is plenty of time.

You just walk up to the train when it’s time to board and have your ticket scanned. No security check, no shoes being removed, no one looking at my luggage. I never even showed an ID. (Lest you get any ideas, a police dog did make the rounds in the Los Angeles Union Station lounge.)

The Coast Starlight route has 30 stops along 1,377 miles from Seattle to Los Angeles, cutting across the Cascade Range in Oregon, through Klamath Falls and Sacramento, and eventually traveling along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California. From Portland to L.A., travel time is about 30 hours.

The Coast Starlight’s claim to fame is its lounge car, which is open to all train passengers on a first come, no holds basis. With massive, curved windows that reach into the ceiling, it’s the best way to see the landscape.

(And a bonus for those who feel claustrophobic on planes: every large window doubles as an emergency exit.)

The train passes golf courses and prisons, orchards and oil rigs, cities and tiny towns. It’s a great way to see the country in all its diversity.

There’s a shared awe and camaraderie in the lounge car, where everyone whips out their phones in unison and others beckoning you over for the best views. Those views happen on both sides of the train. If you see a steep incline outside your window, turn around. Odds are there’s a breathtaking cliff and vista on the other side.

In Oregon, you’ll pass Willamette Falls in Oregon City and the 5th Street Public Market in downtown Eugene. In the tiny town of Westfir, you can see the Office Covered Bridge , built in 1944 across the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River, before climbing through the mountains.

There’s one section where you’ll want to plan ahead to snag a west-facing seat in the lounge car: The tracks between Santa Barbara and Ventura run right along the ocean.

Another thing about Amtrak: You can’t book a seat or a room on a specific side of the train. Because the cars are able to be pulled from either direction, the booking agent won’t be able to tell you whether you’ll be looking east or west on the day of your travel. If you don’t like your window view, check out the lounge car.

Meals in the dining car are included when you book in the sleeper car, but you can purchase them from coach. It’s $20 for breakfast, $25 for lunch and $45 for dinner.

Each dining car booth seats four, and if there aren’t four in your party, there will be at dinner. This was my favorite part of the trip — dining with different strangers for every meal. But if that’s not for you, sleeper car travelers can also get their meals delivered to their rooms. I also heard an attendant offer to deliver meals to people in their coach seats.

Compared with airline food, train food is haute cuisine. It comes on a real plate for starters. I had fresh salads, vegetarian pasta dishes, a burger, and a fabulous blueberry cheesecake.

The trains also had cafe cars, where anyone can purchase snacks, hot meals and drinks, including alcohol. Cash and cards accepted.

First class vs. coach

If you have the resources, an upgrade to a sleeper car for multi-day trips is worth every penny. I had a roomette for much of the trip, which was just enough for a single rider but might be a tight squeeze for two, particularly if either traveler has mobility issues. The two facing seats recline to form a narrow cot; a second cot folds down from an upper bunk. Your car attendant will provide turn-down service and set up your mattress, blankets and pillows.

I spent two days in the family room of the Texas Eagle, which is designed to sleep four but is downright luxurious for one. The room spanned the entire train width and had two windows. Neither space had its own toilet or shower, but the shared facilities in the sleeper car are just fine.

I never had the opportunity to stay in a bedroom , but that comes with two beds, one window, a sink, and a tiny shower/toilet combo bathroom.

I wouldn’t recommend an overnight coach trip. While you can get up, walk around, sit at a cafe table or get some air in the lounge car, you’re ultimately going to spend an entire night trying to sleep next to a stranger.

If you plan to travel via sleeper car, book your tickets far in advance. I had difficulty finding a room for the duration of the Coast Starlight.

The Amtrak website will only allow you to book either coach or first class for the duration of your time on a train, but you might find that a room is available for a shorter segment. I was unable to book a roomette from Los Angeles to Portland, but later learned there had been a room available from Sacramento to Portland. If you can’t find what you’re looking for online, speak to an Amtrak agent by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Train culture

Plane travel is a means to an end. I find it hard to believe that anyone enjoys flying. They do it because they want to be someplace else, and that someplace is not the cabin of a Boeing 747.

Most first-class train travelers, however, are here for the journey. I met lots of retirees who had the time (and financial resources) to slow-travel the country. Some had been on the rails for weeks at a time, stopping at various cities. One fellow passenger, Linda Groover of California, told me the train was the most romantic way to travel.

“I worked for American Airlines for many years,” she said, “and I was exposed to just about every kind of flight you can imagine, including a flight around the world. But when you take a train, you see the land, you see the countryside, you meet the local people, and it’s just far more adventurous. It’s also relaxing.”

Most everyone is happy to chat ­– under the right circumstances. I had wonderful, engaging conversations with all my dining companions. But those conversations were only obligated to last a half-hour. I was reluctant to even make eye contact with the woman who was my seatmate in coach for 24 hours. No one wants to open that Pandora’s box.

What to bring

Amtrak’s website advertises “free wifi on trains!” but you need to look at the fine print to find out which trains, and those trains do not include the Coast Starlight, Texas Eagle or Sunset Limited.

Not only will you not have wifi, you often won’t have cell service.

Once you accept this, it’s actually quite freeing.

Bring a few books.

Other things to bring:

- An extension cord with multiple outlets. This is helpful in both the rooms (which come with a single outlet) and in coach, where an outlet might be on the other side of your seatmate.

- Small bills to tip the staff, especially in the sleeper car. The car attendant will turn down your bed each evening and schedule reservations for you in the dining car. There are also servers for each meal.

- Flip-flops for the shower, just like those college-dorm days. You’ll only have access to a shower in the sleeper cars, but even coach has a toilet/changing room where you’ll have space to change clothes.

- In coach, bring your own blanket and pillow. These are only provided in the sleeper cars. Wear comfortable shoes or bring slippers to put over your socks in coach. Don’t be the guy who goes shoeless. Ugh.

- Amtrak allows passengers two 50-pound carry-on bags, up to 28-by-22-by-14-inches each, plus a personal item like a briefcase or backpack, for no extra fee. If you’re taking a multi-night train ride, pack the things you’ll need in your personal bag, and either check your big luggage or stow it in the luggage racks. I learned the hard way that a large suitcase won’t fit in a roomette. An Amtrak employee recommended I check my luggage through to Portland while I was in coach so I didn’t have to worry about anyone grabbing my bag from the luggage rack during a random stop.

There’s so much to see along an Amtrak journey. You can stretch your legs either between cars or during several short stops along the way.

“ Slow travel” costs more and takes longer, but if you can’t handle the stress of flying, it’s a great alternative.

-- Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon . Reach her at [email protected] .

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Stories by Samantha Swindler

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• Is Cosmo the talking crow still out there?: Part 12
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GETTING TO BANDON

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Come play with Bandon Playhouse! Cast and crew are invited to audition for the summer play production, "Crimes of the Heart," written by Beth Henley and directed by Sandra Heinzmann. Auditions will be held at the Sprague Community Theater, 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 5. Roles are available for performers age 18 and older, and first-time theater participants are welcome. Those auditioning for performance roles are invited to prepare a brief reading or monologue from any source, approximately one minute, and read from the play. Sections from the play will be provided. Rehearsals for "Crimes of the Heart" are scheduled for May and June 2024 with six performances at the Sprague Community Theater the last two weekends in June. Warm-hearted and imaginative, the dramatic comedy "Crimes of the Heart" won a 1981 Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Critics Circle Award, along with a Tony Award nomination, and established playwright Beth Henley as a major voice in American theater. "I love this play because it's beautifully written. It focuses on women with deep, intimate relationships, and it's very human. The characters are quirky, but they're believable," said director Sandra Heinzmann. Bandon Playhouse has provided the best in community theater, from classic musicals to premiere works by new playwrights, since 1976. Bandon Playhouse volunteers are proud to keep the performing arts alive and accessible on the Southern Oregon Coast. For more information, including audition materials, visit BandonPlayhouse.org , or call 541-290-8046.

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