The gift of sunny skies and warm air was especially appreciated Wednesday on the Oregon coast.
(SALEM, Ore.) - There may have been plenty of competition, but the most beautiful place in Oregon Wednesday had to be Lincoln City; a seaside community on the state's central coast.
I know Lincoln City very well as my family and I lived there for several years in the 1980's and early 1990's. In fact, this is where I found my first job in television news slightly less than twenty years ago, at a former cable station called TV10.
During the 80's Lincoln City still looked much like it had in prior decades, today it is very different. Upgraded buildings that include restaurants and motels and tourist facilities are matched by stunning oceanfront homes with sweeping views.
Lincoln City has also found its way onto the worldwide map as one of the world's premiere surfing communities. Each year the top surfers in the world come to this place to compete in a breathtaking and downright awesome surfing contest called the Nelscott Tow-In Classic.
During the winter, 40 foot waves on the reef which breaks half a mile offshore, are not uncommon.
But the thing about this coastal town that makes it so viable is the fact that the entire place is surrounded by water. At the north end of town, the Salmon River winds and snakes its way toward the Pacific Ocean, spilling out at a majestic spot north of Lincoln City called Cascade Head.
To the south Lincoln City is bordered by the Siletz River, a river once mighty in the NW logging trade. Today thgose deep waters are quiet and serene and boaters take advantage of these conditions on a daily basis. The river spills into Siletz Bay which is one of the state's most popular beaches for crabbing. It is also where Mo's Seafood is located, by and far the most famous Oregon has to offer.
The eastern side of Lincoln City is bordered by Devils Lake, a popular boating and skiing lake surrounded by a number of gorgeous parks that offer great recreation for kids. There is even a European style playground at the Regatta Grounds Park that was built through the kindness and labor of local businesses and contractors.
The five former towns that comprise the modern Lincoln City are Oceanlake, Delake, Nelscott, Taft and Cutler City. Each is like a unique neighborhood today and while modernized and upgraded, they have not lost their spirit as individual communities.
Lincoln City is located one hour west of Salem. You can spend some time, comb the beach, maybe even catch a wave. The biggest thing to remember though is that this is the Pacific NW coast and the surf can be surprisingly dangerous and large. Watch your kids, don't play on or near logs at the surfline as they roll over onto people very easily, and never turn your back on the ocean.
And finally, since we all didn't have the chance to spend the day at the beach, here is a view of Lincoln City, Oregon on February 20th 2008 set to the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations".
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Lincoln City: Gem of the Oregon Coast (VIDEO)Salem-News.com