Coast Explorer Blog

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad presents The Candy Cane Express for two weekends in December. The passenger cars will be decorated with lights and trees to put you in the holiday spirit. Santa will also be on board to visit with passengers of all ages. Show your ticket to receive some holiday treats. Cocoa and cider will also be available. Dress warmly for this one-hour scenic excursion that will travel between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach along Tillamook Bay and the Pacific Ocean. December 11-12 and 18-19 the Candy Cane Express departs from Garibaldi at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Tickets are $15 for children and $20 for adults. For Reservations call Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (503) 842-7972

In Cannon Beach, Tolovana Inn is luxurious and yet managers are cognizant of the environment at the same time. Guests love their saline pool that eliminates noxious chlorine odors and residues left on the skin and hair. Tolovana Inn found that guests like to participate in “green” efforts by not having linens changed daily if it’s unnecessary. The inn also uses water and energy saving measures but they don’t stint when it comes to the comfort of their guests. Many of the rooms have been redone with fresh new furnishings and décor. Tolovana Inn is also pet-friendly, with special suites available for pets and their owners, with easy beach access for a romp. Many oceanfront rooms have views of Haystack Rock to the north. Tolovana Inn, 3400 S Hemlock (800) 333-8890.

Burger Nites are back at The Depot Restaurant in Seaview where you can build your perfect burger each Wednesday night. A long-standing tradition, Burger Nites are featured at The Depot Wednesday, October 20 through Wednesday, May 25. Start your creation with organic beef, buffalo or Portobello mushroom. Then, you have a selection of approximately 15 toppings to design your own gourmet creation. Choose from several cheeses, or choose them all. Add a fried egg, bacon, pineapple, avocado and jalapeno peppers or any number of combinations to make your masterpiece. Build your burger small or tall with organic beef for $8.50, buffalo or Portobello mushroom for $9. You have a choice of fries, either regular or sweet potato. Always on the menu are clam chowder and house salad. The Depot Restaurant, Seaview (360) 642-7880

The Lincoln County Historical Society presents more than 100 years of shipwreck history in a Newport exhibit titled Rough Waters: Shipwrecks on the Oregon Coast. This special exhibit is on display at the Burrows House Museum in Newport now through March 2011, featuring photos and objects from shipwrecks on the waters and near the shores of Oregon’s coastal communities. The oldest exhibit photo dates to 1887 and pictures the shipwreck of the Yaquina City ship on Yaquina Bay. The newest is of the New Carissa, an oil tanker that ran aground near Coos Bay in 1999. The Burrows House Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 11am-4pm. The Lincoln County Historical Society, Newport (541) 265-7509