Coast Explorer Blog

The Oregon Coast Aquarium celebrates sharks August 1 through 14 with a variety of events highlighting the fascinating world of sharks.

ALL OF THE SHARKS exhibited at the Oregon Coast Aquarium are species native to Oregon’s coastal waters. Visitors to many of the Shark Week activities at the aquarium will meet the sharks from Oregon’s coast during this two week celebration of sharks.

Sharks have been depicted as man-eaters and killers for centuries. The reality is that of the more than 350 species, only a handful pose any threat to humans. Sharks and their ancestors have presided over the seas for nearly 400 million years, but in the wild today, shark populations are suffering from human activity. More than half of the shark species taken in high-seas fisheries are classified as Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Through habitat destruction and overfishing, humans have become more dangerous to sharks than they are to us.

“One of the biggest impacts on shark populations is the practice of shark-finning – catching a shark, slicing off its fins and then discarding the body at sea,” according to the Pew Charitable Trust, a Conservation organization that recently introduced legislation to outlaw this practice. Up to 73 million sharks are killed for their fins, valued for the Asian delicacy “shark fin soup.”

The Aquarium’s Shark Celebration spotlights sharks as important members of their ocean habitats, unlike the man-eating monsters portrayed in the movies. Sharks live in oceans around the globe—from warm shallows to the cold, deep sea and even fresh water lakes.

SHARK WEEK ACTIVITIES:
August 1-14 — Shark Information Station with bio-facts, 10am–4pm

August 5 & 12 — Theater Presentation, “ Myths & Misconceptions,” 2pm

August 6 & 13 — Shark Dissection, 2pm

August 7 and August 14 — Face Painting, 11am–2:30pm

August 7 & 14 — Dive Presentations about sharks, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational attraction dedicated to the highest quality aquatic and marine science programs for recreation and education so the public better understands, cherishes, and conserves the world’s natural marine and coastal resources.

Things we love about coastal living from the readers and staff of Coast Explorer

Wind Spinners at Natural Nook Flower Shop
Metal and glass shaped to catch the wind. For the porch, garden or even hanging inside, these pieces will add interest and pizzazz to any area. Natural Nook Flower Shop, 734 Broadway in Seaside, (503) 738-5332.

Willburton Plaques at Fairweather House & Garden
Textural interest draws you in for a closer look. Be sure to examine the back of these sculpted pieces, the artist’s carved bread board work surface creates interesting impressions on each piece. Priced at $125. Fairweather House & Garden, 612 Broadway in Seaside, (503) 738-8899.

Vortis Pendant Light at Newport’s Carpet One & Lighting Too
Hubbardton Forge Vortis iron pendant light fixture is hand-forged the old-fashioned way in Vermont. The frosted glass creates a soft warm glow. Available in fluorescent and incandescent versions, you can find this favorite at Carpet One & Lighting Too, 350 East Olive in Newport, (541) 265-3530.

Antique Fish Servers at Sesame & Lilies
Sometimes a fish server is more than just a fish server. And, this one is simply art. Serve your piscetarian friends in style with this antique circa 19th Century fish serving set with detailed engraving and carved ivory handles. Prices at $165. Sesame & Lilies, 183 North Hemlock in Cannon Beach, (503) 436-2027.

Water Lily Cabinet at Lawrence Gallery in Gleneden Beach
We love the hand-carved cabinet by Luka Moore. This uniquely beautiful piece features a variety of woods, including mahogany, cocobe, quilted purple heart and orange sage woods. Priced at $11,500 at Lawrence Gallery in the Shops at Salishan, 7755 Highway 101 North in Gleneden Beach, (541) 764-2318.

Reliance Volt Snooper at Rosenberg Builders Supply
This tool is compact enough to carry in your pocket but sturdy enough to assist you with your electrical projects. Alarm and light notifies that live electrical current is present. No more surprise shocking experiences. Priced at $8.99 from Rosenberg Builders Supply, 2 North Main in Tillamook, (503) 842-4434.

Got something you love that deserves to be a Pelican Pick? Send it to us at: editor@coastexplorermagazine.com and you may see it here in a future issue.

I’M CONSTANTLY AMAZED by the remarkable natural wonders that can be discovered every day on the Northwest Coast. If you look closely, strange, colorful and fascinating creatures can be seen in the tidepools. Any visit to the beach can become an exciting opportunity for birdwatchers with the sighting of a Bald Eagle, pelicans plunging into the surf or dozens of varieties of shorebirds and seabirds that live or migrate along the coast. The sight of whale spouts offshore or sea lions basking in the sun is always a thrill. As we watch the on-going destruction of the waters off the Gulf Coast and the tragic devastation to marine life, can you imagine a similar disaster happening here? Along the Pacific Northwest Coast, our livelihoods and economies are uniquely intertwined with the natural environment. This has always been an eco-tourist destination with spectacular beaches, dramatic State Parks and hundreds of miles of offshore rocks that are all part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. Our fishing, crabbing and oyster industries are world renowned. The health of our coastal waters is critical to support an amazing diversity of life, from the microscopic plankton in every handful of water that are the beginning of the food chain, to the 35-ton Gray Whales that migrate along the coast twice each year. For the people who live here and even those that just visit here, it’s our responsibility to assure our oceans remain healthy to protect these amazing wonders and our way of life for the future. For information on Oregon’s effort to establish marine reserves, visit: www.oregonocean.info. -by Gary Hayes

IN CASE YOU HADN’T NOTICED, the way people access information is in the process of a dramatic evolution. The internet, mobile devices, blogs and social media are seeing explosive growth and that has forced traditional media to redefine and reinvent themselves. At Coast Explorer Magazine, we’ve embraced those changes and today you will find all of our content and travel planning resources online, as well as in print.

Between issues you can receive up to the minute updates and reminders about what’s happening and what’s news all along the coast by following us on Twitter, Facebook or our blog. This summer, we will introduce our monthly interactive newsletter where you can read about more current news and special offers for coastal travelers. Whether you are researching your trip on the computer before you leave or are using a mobile device after you’ve arrived, you can use CoastExplorerMagazine.com as a resource for finding the perfect accommodations, restaurants, shopping and not-to-be-missed attractions. From our homepage, you will find links to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. With communications now in the middle of a new age of mobile information access, we have designed our website to be mobile device friendly too.

Even with the rapid changes in technology, the travel magazine and print visitor guide is still the media most travelers turn to when deciding where to eat, where to shop and what to do on their coastal travels. Thanks to the advertisers who make Coast Explorer available free to visitors, our print magazine will be available as long as our readers want it. We don’t see any sign of that changing in the near future. For many, nothing beats the experience of flipping the pages of a traditional magazine. Our magazine readers, online visitors and social media followers are Coast Explorers, seeking information to enrich their experience of the spectacular Northwest coast. Are you a Coast Explorer? We appreciate your comments about how much you love Coast Explorer Magazine and that makes it our pleasure to continue to share the best of the coast with you whether you pick up a magazine, follow us on Twitter or Facebook, or visit us at CoastExplorerMagazine.com.
- by Gary Hayes

Things we love about coastal dining from the readers and staff of Coast Explorer


Grilled Rustic Pizza from Blackfish Café in Lincoln City
Blackfish Café dishes up a gourmet pizza served with capicola, Coast Range mushroom relish, white cheddar, asiago cheese and spiced walnuts. They call it a Grilled Rustic Pizza, we call it simply delicious! Blackfish Café, 2733 NW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, (541) 996-1007.

Key Lime Tart from Waves of Grain Bakery
We simply adore the Key Lime Tart at Waves of Grain Bakery! Made with a ginger molasses cookie crust, the key lime tart offers a new twist on an old favorite. Waves of Grain Bakery, 3116 S. Hemlock in Cannon Beach (503) 436-9600.

Pan-fried Oysters at Shelburne Inn Restaurant
We love the pan-fried Willapa Bay oysters on the Shelburne Pub menu. These tasty treats are pan-fried and drizzled with a yummy garlic aioli. The Shelburne Inn Restaurant & Pub, 4415 Pacific Way in Seaview, (360) 642-2442.

Clam and Salmon Chowder at JP’s in Cannon Beach
Tender clams and chunks of salmon are the stars in this thick and creamy chowder. Available at lunch and dinner for $6.95 and served with homemade bread and topped with chopped hazelnuts. JP’s at Cannon Beach, 240 N. Hemlock, (503) 436-0908.

Cabrales Cheese from Champagne Patio Restaurant
The Cabrales cheese at Champagne Patio is a delicious artisan blue cheese made by hand and matured in mountain caves in the Spanish region of Asturias. This cheese is described as pungent, creamy and intensely flavored-oh, and YUMMY! Champagne Patio Restaurant, 1630 North Coast Highway in Newport, (541) 265-3044.

The Brunch Bagel at Bagels by the Sea in Seaside
The Brunch Bagel comes with smoky, thick-sliced bacon, Tillamook cheddar cheese, sliced avocado and tomatoes. Pair any regular or gourmet bagel with these ingredients for a personalized flavor. Our reader personalizes it with alfalfa sprouts. Bagels by the Sea, 210 S. Holladay in Seaside, (503) 717-9145.

Got something you love that deserves to be a Pelican Pick? Send it to us at: editor@coastexplorermagazine.com and you may see it here in a future issue.