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Birds and the Blues Make for Huge Festival on Oregon Coast |
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Covering 180 miles of Oregon coast travel: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats & Florence.
02/18/08
Secrets of the Season |
Birds and the Blues Make for Huge Festival on Oregon Coast
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| Pacific City and the famous Haystack Rock |
(Pacific City, Oregon) – It’s perhaps one of the largest and most ambitious undertakings of its kind in all of Oregon, certainly the coast. But the problem is, it’s such a unique construction it’s hard to know what kind of undertaking it is.
It’s one gigantic mixture of music and outdoor recreation – in some very unexpected ways.
Music from two leading Portland area blues bands, nearly a dozen birding seminars, an array of guided field and boating trips and a presentation with live birds of prey will be among the highlights of the 2008 Birding and Blues Festival, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 22-24, in Pacific City, Oregon.
Lincoln City Vacation Homes Something for everyone: smaller homes with a view to a large house that sleeps 15. All are either oceanfront or just a few steps away – all with a low bank access and fantastic views. Most are in the Nelscott area; one is close to the casino. You’ll find a variety of goodies: fireplaces, multiple bedrooms, dishwashers, Jacuzzis, washer/dryers, hot tubs, cable TV, VCR, barbecues; there’s a loft in one, and another sprawling home has two apartments. Pets allowed in some homes – ask first. Each comes with complete kitchens. Most have seventh night free. Prices range from winter $85 to summer $230 per night. www.getaway2thecoast.com. 541-994-8778. |
Now in its fifth year, the Birding and Blues Festival attracts hundreds to Pacific City for a combination of indoor and outdoor naturalist activities, plus evening blues concerts. Many, say event organizers, take advantage of the festival’s “early bird” discount rates.
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| Atop Cape Kiwanda: some excellent vantage points for birding or any other oceanic sight are in full force here |
“It’s so much fun, and we get such a wide diversity of participants,” remarked festival committee chairwoman Jeanette Miller.
“There really is something for everyone, from veteran birding enthusiasts to school children and folks who just enjoy adding some interesting recreation to their trip to the coast. And in the evenings, our blues concerts are always tremendously successful,” she said.
This year, the featured speaker on Saturday at 11 a.m. will be Tony Vecchio, director of the Oregon Zoo, who will describe the zoo’s conservation efforts, particularly its work to help save the California Condor and the Oregon Silverspot butterfly.
On Friday, the program will kick off at 2 p.m. with the presentation of a film chronicling the history of Pacific City’s dory fleet, presented by local doryman and former Oregon legislator and county commissioner Paul Hanneman.
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| The other side of Cape Kiwanda |
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Saturday at 1:30, handlers from the Oregon Zoo will present a number of wild birds of prey and discuss their habits and characteristics.
Other presentations include a talk and video by a local birder who has spent years watching the beautiful Wood Duck in its nests around Devils Lake in Lincoln City. In another program, experts will explain how to attract, identify and photograph wild birds. And a Northwest researcher will discuss recent studies of the amazing Albatross, one of the world’s largest birds that spend 95 percent of its life at sea, flying most of that time.
On Saturday, there will be a children’s art program led by local arts educators. For those looking for some outdoor birding experiences, there are field trips for every level of interest, from a guided scenic bus trip to hikes and boating excursions on local bays and estuaries to observe shore birds in their natural habitats.
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| Tierra Del Mar, near Pacific City |
The blues portion of the festival will feature Ty Curtis Rock’n’ Blues Band on Friday night from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door and proceeds benefit programs at Nestucca High School.
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On Saturday, the headliner will be the popular artist Lloyd Jones, a Portland favorite who has produced four solid-selling blues albums and appears often at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival. He will appear from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Both concerts will be at the Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., in Pacific City, which also is the headquarters for the festival events. Advance reservations to the festival are highly recommended, according to organizers.
Because
space is limited for the special field trips, slots fill quickly. An adult
three-day festival pass is $45, if paid for before Feb. 15, or $55 at
the door. Student three-day passes are $15, or $20 at the door. A Saturday
single-day pass is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. For students, it
is $15 or $20.
Friday’s “Birding the Three Capes” bus tour is $40, with advance registration required. “Birding Tillamook Bay by Boat,” with two trips on Friday, is $50 in advance. On Saturday, there are a series of Nestucca River Boat tours, at $25 each. All the special field trips are in addition to regular festival passes.
For a complete schedule and registration information, go to www.birdingandblues.com or call (503) 965-6247.
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A1 Beach Rentals, Lincoln City. Perfect for large family vacations all the way down to a getaway lodging for two - with over 25 vacation rental homes to choose from. A breathtaking collection of craftsman or traditional beachfront homes, or oceanview houses – from one to seven bedrooms. In various areas of Lincoln City and overlooking the beach, with some in Depoe Bay. All kinds of amenities are available, like hot tubs, decks, BBQ, rock fireplaces, beamed ceilings and more. Some are new, some are historic charmers. Lincoln City, Oregon. 1-(503)-232-5984. www.a1beachrentals.com. |
Tradewinds Motel, Rockaway Beach. All rooms are immaculate and have TV’s, VCR’s and in-room phones w/ data ports. Oceanfronts have queen bed, a double hide-a-bed, kitchen, cozy firelog fireplace and private deck. Both types sleep up to four people. Others are appointed for a two-person romantic getaway, yet still perfect for those on a budget. Elaborate oceanfront Jacuzzi suite has two bedrooms, kitchen, double hide-a-bed, fireplace and private deck, sleeping as many as six. For family reunions or large gatherings such as weddings, some rooms can connect to create two-room and three-room suites. Some rooms pet friendly. 523 N. Pacific St., Rockaway Beach. (503) 355-2112 - 1-800-824-0938. www.tradewinds-motel.com |
 Inn
at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south
end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by
the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach
strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering
gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms.
Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly.
Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine
and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At
Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com. |
The Ocean Lodge. There will not be another property built like this in Cannon Beach in our lifetimes. Rare, premiere ocean front location; handsome, dramatic architecture and tasteful, fun (nostalgic) beach interiors. Overlooks Haystack Rock. 100 percent smoke free. Imaginative special occasion packages. Massive wood burning lobby fireplace. Library w/ fireplace, stocked with impressive book collection. Pet and family friendly. Lavish continental buffet breakfast. In-room fireplaces, mini-kitchens. Jacuzzi tubs in select rooms. DVD players, complimentary movies. Morning paper. Warm cookies. 888-777-4047. 503-436-2241. 2864 Pacific Street. Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.theoceanlodge.com |
D Sands Condominium Motel, Lincoln City. Free, fresh baked cookie upon check-in is just the start. All rooms beachfront and up against Lincoln City's most famous stretch of beach: the D River. Each room comes as a suite or mini-suite, and has a kitchen and balcony or patio. Some w/ gas fireplaces, while all have a DVD Players; movies to rent come with free popcorn. Heated indoor pool, a spa, and this fabulous beach is lit at night. Rooms sleep from two, four to six - including a deluxe fireplace suite. Gift certificates orspecial occasion packages. www.dsandsmotel.com. 171 S.W. Highway 101. 800-527-3925. |
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Weiss' Paradise Suites & Vacation Rentals - Seaside
Unique Luxury Accommodations in Seaside. 1BR Suites,
1BR & 2BR Duplex Units and 3BR Houses, units for 2-8 people.
Rent entire property for 20-26. Close to beach, river and Broadway
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Arch
Cape Property Services.
Dozens of homes in that dreamy,
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sea. |
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