Manzanita News

It's now officially summer on the Oregon coast. And what a big bang it's starting off with.

Last week's wild run of low tide events and this week's stunning weather seem to have made a surge in visitors, but it may only have made tourism numbers even with last year at this time.

Major low tides are hitting the Oregon coast these days, and more are coming this week - and even throughout the summer.

The Oregon coastal town of Manzanita is as alluring as the name suggests.In Spanish the name means "little apple". Access to this Pacific Ocean paradise is easily done from Portland airport, by car or bus.

Today's piece is inspired by a turkey sandwich I had last week at Bread & Ocean Bakery located in the beachside village of Manzanita, Ore.

Once you accept the wind - work with the wind, embrace the wind - Manzanita, Ore.

The Northwest Nature Shop, a family-owned-and-operated business located at 154 Oak St., is not only an informative, wonderful and fun shop inside, but a home to numerous medicinal, great-smelling, eye-catching, butterfly- and hummingbird-seeking plants outside.

Fabrizio Asaro and Bob, his 2-year-old Pekingese-pug mix, hang out in Pacific City with Peter Christiansen and an unidentified friend.

The goal : Get out of Dodge by me-self for three days and do it by car. Astoria-Megler Bridge, which links Oregon to Washington state.

It verges on the paranormal. It's a truth that's a bit out there. And it's a stranger side of Oregon tourism than most have encountered.

It has been, hands down, my favorite place to stay on the north coast . Manzanita's San Dune Inn is one fun-filled little bit of lodging on the Oregon coast.

ARCH CAPE, Ore. - The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will operate the popular Oswald West State Park as a day-use only and discontinue overnight camping.

Lunchtime on a Thursday at the coast: The sun is shining, the sky is clearing, ocean waves are lapping the sand.

When you stand on the beach on a nice day and gaze out into the ocean, you can see maybe ten miles.

It was wet and stormy, but that didn't stop 4,300 Oregonians from going to the beach to pick up garbage.

While less high-profile aspects of the coast will get some attention - like the low tide events, strange tide pool creatures appearing and brown waves - the general public will be focused on Oregon's Whale Watch Week and the big spring beach clean up.

PORTLAND - The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department says it prefers to maintain a ban on camping at Oswald West State Park north of Manzanita, but wants to hear from the public before making a final decision.

I spent a great evening Saturday with the Manzanita Writers' Series , talking about graphic novels.

TravelParanormal.com allows you to submit your own creepy tale or debunk one - or see up-to-the-minute news headlines about travel and the paranormal.

Snow dusted the beach near Manzanita on the North Oregon coast today. The groundhog was right.