101 Things To Do Western Oregon

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There are few places in the world that can match the natural beauty of the Oregon Coast. You can drive the coast from Brookings to Astoria and never cease to be amazed at the beauty around each corner. But if you would like to see that scenery from the next level, you can’t imagine the beauty when seeing it from an open cockpit biplane in the air. Cruise low along the beach, wave to the hikers and smell the surf. View the sea lions in the ocean and see them entering the famous Sea Lions Caves from over the ocean. Cruise past the historic Heceta Head Lighthouse as only the sailors of old have seen it. Smell the fragrant, fresh Oregon pines as you descend into a pristine valley and soar over one of Oregon’s serene lakes. View the historic Siuslaw River and see the relics of past fishing and logging industries and the historic Siuslaw River Bridge. Soar over the vast Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and wave to the dune buggies below. And do all of this in a meticulously restored 1944 Stearman open cockpit biplane. The classic Stearman was first designed in the 1930’s and was such a reliable and sturdy design that it was chosen to train their pilots for duties overseas in World War 2. Nearly 10,000 total aircraft were built – with thousands having been restored and still flying today. Your highly experienced pilots come from impressive US Air Force careers followed by airline and flight test experience – and they will entertain you with interesting historical facts and land you safely and softly in the grass at the airport – the way Wilbur and Orville would have wanted it! There are several ride profiles available that will fit any budget – or just tell them where you want to fly. Come Fly With Us!

Aerolegends is located at the Florence Municipal Airport.

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For more details, contact Winette and Terry Tomeny at 541-991-3579

www.aerolegends.com

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Waterlily Studio is the premier jewelry and beading resource on the Oregon coast and is located on Highway 101 in Florence. It is a custom jewelry design studio staffed by some of Florence’s top boutique and gallery jewelry artists working in a fun, family-friendly environment. For the beading novice, the staff can often help you create an “instant necklace’ from your beach-combing treasures, as well as assist the experienced beader and jewelry designer looking for unusual beads, focals and findings. Their custom design services can help you to design your own one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, repair or update an old necklace, or restore a beloved family heirloom.

Waterlily Studio has beads and jewelry from around the world, nationally recognized artisans and fine regional and local bead artists as well as a fantastic staff. Due to the inclusive philosophy of Waterlily Studio, all staff are buyers for the store. This insures that they have a particularly diverse selection of beads and findings, reflecting the very different styles of each designer and the one-of-a-kind jewelry each make to have available for purchase as well as inspiration. There is also a large selection of authentic Puerto Rican sea glass and many sea life themed charms and pendants. Regularly scheduled stringing and wirework classes are offered, as well as seed bead classes, showcasing an ever-growing line of Toho seed beads and 2-holed Czech beads. They will be adding Delica seed beads this year. Waterlily Studio has also added card-making supplies to fill a community need.

Waterlily carries several lines of gifts, items for the home, and specimen seashells, fossils and minerals.

Every artist at Waterlily Studio recognizes how deeply the creative spirit runs in each individual. The staff hopes to utilize beading and other so-called craft as an art form accessible to everyone as a means of expressing each person’s unique creative spirit. They believe that to be human is to possess the need to create. All of this becomes possible in a beautiful environment with plenty of table space and access to tools so you can work on your special projects right there in the studio.

Popular Natural History gift boxes combine driftwood, shells, sea glass, pods, mosses and other natural elements that celebrate this truly beautiful and unique region…where the forest meets the sea.

For more information about classes, parties and retreats, call (541) 997-7339 during business hours, or leave a message at (541) 999-6308. Visit us on Facebook or on their new website www.waterlilystudioflorence.com.

WHERE: 1901 Hwy 101 – Florence, Oregon

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CALL: (541) 997-7339

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Anyone interested in seeing an amazing one-of-a-kind natural phenomenon should take a trip to Sea Lion Caves, featuring the world’s largest sea cave. The cave was formed almost 25 million years ago and is now home to about 200 Steller sea lions. There is elevator access 208 feet down into the enormous cave. The cave is about 12 stories high and as wide as a football field. During the fall and winter months this amazing cave may be filled with fun-loving sea lions. The rock ledge below the lookout located just outside the cave is the sea lions’ home during the spring and summer, and is where they breed and bear their young. Great care is taken to maintain the cave as a natural habitat for the sea lions. Flash photography is not allowed in the cave. Sea Lion Caves is located 11 miles north of Florence.

WHERE:  91560 Hwy 101 North

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CALL:  (541) 547-3111

www.sealioncaves.com

The Darlingtonia State Natural Site provides visitors with a very rare opportunity to see the Cobra Lily, a carnivorous plant. Though the Cobra Lily appears beautiful to humans, it is a treacherous predator for insects. The Cobra Lily’s magnificent reddish purple top leaves and sweet smelling nectar attract the bugs, but once inside the plant, life ends. The plant traps the insects, which slide down and get digested and absorbed by the plant. The 18-acre Botanical Park has a very nice boardwalk trail leading to the plants. It is also home to other lush vegetation and wildlife, and has a picnic area. It is free to use and located just five miles north of Florence off Hwy 101. For more information about the Darlingtonia State Natural Site and the carnivorous Cobra Lily, call (800) 551-6949.

www.oregonstateparks.org/park_115.php

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Located in mid-town Florence on the east side of HWY 101, City Lights Cinemas is the Central Coast’s premiere destination for the best in film entertainment and great concessions. A friendly, welcoming gathering place, City Lights offers a wealth of big city entertainment from the best of Hollywood’s biggest hits to the finest art house fare— always something to please every member of the family!

Keep an eye on their schedule, which is frequently filled with special events like Performing Arts in HD from Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Globe on Screen, and more. Weekly Film Series include True Story Tuesdays, featuring award-winning documentaries. City Lights also presents live music and theatre on the Chaplin Stage.

Beer. Wine. Bison hand pies. In addition to the finest popcorn this side of the Mississippi—with real Umpqua-brand butter and a flavor station featuring do-it yourself toppings –City Lights offers Oregon craft beers, wine, and unique food options, like Vine to Table hand pies. City Lights is also home to Florence BoxLunch, a food cart serving an array of delicious from-scratch breakfast, lunch and dinner options. All BoxLunch meals can be enjoyed in the lobby or in the theatres – remember to get your drink from the concession stand inside.

Whether staying for a day or a week, add City Light Cinemas to your Florence area must-see list. No time for a movie? Stop by and peruse their photo gallery featuring Milton Greene’s iconic images of Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood greats, courtesy of The Archive, LLC. Great film, a cozy lobby and plenty of seating make City Lights a special destination and a perfect compliment to any coastal visit.

WHERE:  1930 Hwy 101 – Florence

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www.citylightscinemas.com

Welcome to historic Old Town Florence, where a relaxing stroll gives the feeling of stepping back into a more simple time. It’s a perfect place for a leisurely day, a respite from the busy pace we all know. There is a bit of something for everyone – an eclectic variety of shops of all sorts, art galleries, dining options offering both local as well as international cuisine, and the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum to complete your journey back in time.

Surrounded by Victorian buildings, Historic Old Town Florence is one of the most beautiful and charming of the Oregon Coast communities. It has been a logging community and fishing village and active Port for over 150 years and retains much of its old-time charm today. Stroll down the Boardwalk, enjoy watching the river flow by from Gazebo Park, or enjoy the view of our 1936 art deco Conde McCullough bridge from the newly completed Siuslaw Interpretive Center. You’ll enjoy a relaxing experience while feeling like your’re stepping back into a more simple time to an all-American, small town.

You’re likely to find something going on whenever you visit. There are celebrations going on year round such as  4th of July with fireworks reflecting over the river, May’s Rhody Days with Vendor Fair and parades, September’s Rods n’ Rhodies Car Show where we line the streets with high-end hot rods, Festival and Wine Walk, and of course Florence Holiday Festival at Christmas where we light the Christmas tree and welcome Santa’s arrival.

Enjoy an uncurbed adventure back in time – Come See What We See!  Call 541-997-3128 for more information.

www.florencechamber.com

Woahink Lake is a lovely place offering visitors a perfect place to relax, enjoy nature and have a lot of fun. The lake, just three miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and just south of Florence on Hwy 101, provides excellent opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming and other outdoor activities. The area is part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, so named because of the fantastic dunes that line the lake. Boats and a variety of watercraft are available for rent. The fishing is spectacular in Woahink Lake, and includes warm-water species such as yellow perch and largemouth bass, as well as cold-water species such as rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee. There is a large public swimming area. For the hiker, explore any of the trails in the bordering 522- acre Jesse M. Honeyman State Park. The shaded picnic areas adjacent to the lake are especially pleasant. For more information about any of the activities on Woahink Lake, call (541) 997-3338.

www.dunescity.com

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Visit Sandland Adventures for a day of fun at the Oregon Dunes. View an impressive natural wonder of endless shifting sand, unique tree islands, various wildlife and the spectacular Siuslaw River. Choose an exhilarating dune ride on their Sandrails or a more relaxing tour on one of their Giant Dune Buggies. Professional drivers will show you a great time while you travel across miles of dunes. The one hour dune tour also includes traveling down the Pacific Ocean beach. Large or small groups can be accommodated on either tour. After your dune ride, you can have fun bumping and splashing on the Bumper Boats, race on the Grand Prix style Go-Kart track, play the Miniature Golf Course or take a ride on the Cloverline Railroad. Sandland Aventures is located less than 1 mile south of Florence on the central Oregon Coast. Look for the sign on thewest side of Hwy 101. See ad on the inside front cover of this issue. For more information, call (541) 997-8087.

WHERE:  85366 Hwy 101 – 1 mile south of Florence on Hwy 101

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www.sandland.com