Lincoln City actually was once five small villages – Delake, Oceanlake, Nelscott, Taft and Cutler City. In 1965 the communities were incorporated and a contest was held to determine the town’s new name. The winning name of Lincoln City was submitted by area school children.

While visiting this unique town, it is fun to imagine the place in the early 1900s when the main mode of transportation was horse and wagon traveling down the beach during low tide. This romantic image is vividly captured in historical photographs that are on display at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum along with the legend of Devil’s Lake and local Native American artifacts.

This beautiful city is set against the magnificent Cascade Head to the north, is next to Devils Lake, a 680-acre freshwater lake at the base of the Coast Range foothills, and has Siletz Bay, to the south. Did we mention that it also lies next to 7 1/2 miles of sandy beaches on the Pacific Ocean?

This beautiful span of beach offers a plethora of fun activities – kite flying, clamming, treasure hunting, horseback riding and hiking – to name a few. Beachcombers searching for the blue glass floats might be equally thrilled to discover one of the spectacular hand-blown glass floats planted by the local “Float Fairies” from October to May. The glass floats are signed and numbered by the local and national artists who made them. Take your float to the Lincoln City Visitor’s Center and they’ll record your good fortune and tell you about the artist who made your float, which is yours to keep!

Make your own glass creation at The Jennifer L. Sears Glass Art Studio in the renovated historic Taft District of Lincoln City. The studio offers free glassblowing demonstrations Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as classes in the glass arts. Artists in residence will share their art through a single piece experience or more extensive classes.

A must-see for flower lovers is the Connie Hansen Garden, established by a botanist at her home in Lincoln City. The extensive collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, Japanese and Siberian iris and geraniums were artfully woven into her one-acre property. After her death in 1993 a group of dedicated volunteers continued to maintain this lovely garden and also conduct horticulture classes. Recent donations of land have expanded the size and interest of the garden. The garden blooms year-round and is the site for special events such as flower arranging and horticulture classes, open houses, parties and plant sales.

The younger crowd will be excited to find that Lincoln City hales a great skateboard park that was named one of the “gnarliest” parks in the United States. The 8,000-square-foot facility is located in Kirtsis Park and has more than 100 lines and a unique 9-foot bowl for all levels. The Cradle is a new addition under a roof, allowing boarders to play in all weather and is located a short distance from the first.

The Chinook Winds Resort, located right on the beach, offers lodging, dining, golfing and gaming for those who are willing to take a chance.

The Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a fabulous place to see waterfowl and wildlife. The refuge is located south of Lincoln City, just off Highway 101, where the Siletz River empties in the bay. Here you might see egrets, herons, seagulls and harbor seals basking on the Salishan Spit. About 150 of the seals make the bay their permanent home. Seasonally, you can also see migratory waterfowl, such as widgeons, gadwalls, coots, mallards, shovelers, canvasbacks, grebes and cormorants. There is also great birding at Schooner and Drift creeks and in the estuaries of the Salmon River.

Fishermen have their choice of freshwater streams, salt water, river, bay or lake. Premier freshwater fishing spots in North Lincoln County are Devils Lake, the Salmon and Siletz rivers, Schooner Creek and Drift Creek. Dedicated salmon and steelhead anglers regularly land big ones on the local rivers. Salmon of 50 pounds or more have been landed on the Siletz River.

The D River in Lincoln City has been known by various names in the past including “the outlet.” A contest gave it a new name so that the shortest river in the world now has the shortest name.

There is always something going on in Lincoln City – music, theater, workshops and special events, including Lincoln City’s original Kite Festival in October with demonstrations by expert fliers, kid’s kite making, raffles, a kid’s parade, and lots of other fun in the sand.

For more information: www.lcchamber.org or www.oregoncoast.org