On Oregon's Coast: Lewis & Clark and the Holidays
by: Andre' Hagestedt
Sometimes, the best holiday celebrations aren't the most famous
or obvious ones.
This is especially true on Oregon's coast, where one big secret
is that this time of year doesn't just mean the area's notoriously
stormy and wild weather, but that it has many days that are unusually
dry and warm compared to the rest of the state. But the most delightful
secrets lie in the realm of holiday celebrations, which make for
some memorable discoveries along this famously pristine stretch
of shoreline.
On the northern Oregon coast, the holidays begin not with the
usual celebrations, but with a major wine event and loads of signature
Lewis & Clark commemorations.
On November 7, it will have been exactly two hundred years
since William Clark wrote "Ocian in view! O! the Joy!"
as he spotted what he thought was the Pacific Ocean (it was actually
a big bay just before the ocean). For the next five months, staring
in 1805, the Corps of Discovery spent their time in this part
of the Northwest. The Lewis & Clark Bicentennial marks this,
and things kick off at Fort Stevens (between Seaside and Astoria)
on November 11, with the "Opening Ceremony - Lewis &
Clark Veteran's Day Commemoration." Oregonian and former
Miss America, Katie Harmon (2002), will sing the national anthem,
and the event will feature banners from local tribes and other
remembrances of the Corps of Discovery.
November 14 brings the Dedication Of The Fort To Sea Trail
at Fort Ctatsop (near Fort Stevens), marking the trail from the
crew's winter quarters to their time on the beaches of Seaside.
Fort Clatsop - the replica of the Corps' winter camp - will
feature various "Wintering Over Events" between the
Fort and Cannon Beach. This replica tragically burned in early
October, but the visitor center there is still the center of many
of the winter events, including a living history program about
their Christmas at the camp on December 25. On January 7, the
celebration comes to Cannon Beach (some 25 miles south), marking
the day that Clark, Sacegawea and others traveled to the ocean
to see a beached whale.
The adorable resort town of Seaside - which boasts broad, immaculate
beaches, the "million dollar walk" of Broadway Ave.,
and a cove famous for surfing - will be one of the few cities
to host a major traveling exhibit on Lewis & Clark. From November
19 to November 22, you'll find the "Corps of Discovery II,
200 yrs. To The Future," with a mobile 250-seat auditorium
showing multimedia programs on Lewis & Clark's troupe of travelers.
Free. 503-861-4403. www.destinationthepacific.com.
Also on November 19, Seaside will abound with the bounty of
the vineyard with the holiday-themed Seaside Downtown Wine Walk.
The now-annual event features hundreds of folks wandering throughout
the downtown area and taste-testing Northwest wines. $5 for the
wristband. 503-717-1914 or www.seasidedowntown.com.
By late November, Seaside really gets lit up with the "Yuletide
at Seaside," where the entire town is decked out in all sorts
of light configurations. Highlights include the Holiday Gift Fair
on November 25 - 27 at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center,
the famous Holiday Caroling & Lighted Float Parade on November
26, the Holiday Lights Tour aboard a bus on December 10 and 11,
and the Seaside Children's Christmas Party at the Seaside Convention
Center on December 11. Call 800-394-3303 for more information
on all these, or go to www.seasideor.com.
If you want to stay on a castle on Oregon's coast and enjoy
some special holiday events, you need only look about 15 miles
south of Seaside to St. Bernard's Bed & Breakfast. This stunning
beauty is built to look somewhere between a medieval structure
and a Swiss ski lodge, filled with antique furniture and a spicy
sense of romance and adventure - in an exceptionally upscale way.
Every morning means gourmet breakfasts made by the able hand
of owner Barbara Dau. Thanksgiving means Dau's talents will create
a special traditional dinner with her artistic flair. It's open
to in-house guests only, and cost is $65, including fine wines
as well. The highlight here, aside from the food and wondrous
surroundings, is the engaging, convivial atmosphere created by
gathering to dine with others you haven't met before. This, and
St. Bernard's special New Year's Eve traditions, are becoming
an increasingly popular addiction for Oregon and Washington residents.
On New Year's Eve, Dau puts together a six-course gourmet bash,
which features dishes from around the world and matching wines
for each. It's a culinary and wine-tasting trip across the globe.
It all ends with champagne by a beach bonfire that is breathtaking
every year. www.st-bernards.com. 800-436-2848.
In Newport - the town with two lighthouses - the ancient Bayfront
gets gussied up in an incredible array of lights. Nearby, the
historic Nye Beach district (known as the "Honeymoon Capitol
of the World" for various reasons) has an antique charm that's
somewhere between old Europe and turn-of-the-century America with
its tiny cobblestone streets.
For those who want to celebrate with more than a little finery,
the stunning bistro-style eatery Village Market & Deli goes
into overdrive with its legendary cuisine, offering special holiday
dishes to its partial ocean view, sometimes to the shimmering
sounds of guest musicians. This pleasure, and the owners' sister
business, Blu Cork Wine Bar, are one of Newport's hush-hush holiday
knockouts. Blu Cork will feature a stunning sourdough bread pudding
and chocolate cake for the season that contains a multitude of
taste layers, as well as specialty holiday meats, spreads, terrines,
pates and champagne - all surrounded by its famous wine-themed
décor and selection of memorable northwest wines. (541-574-9393
for Village Market & Deli).
About The Author: Andre' Hagestedt is editor of www.beachconnection.net,
a tourism publication that covers the upper half of Oregon's coast
- some 180 miles. For more on the Oregon Coast, including extensive
virtual tours, see www.beachconnection.net
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