How to Boat Where the Fish Go in Florence Oregon: Docks, Wharves, Water Sport Stuctures, Oh My!

How to Boat Where the Fish Go in Florence Oreogon: I attended a seminar put on by the Oregon Department of State Lands this week and learned a lot about wetlands, submerged and submersible land and structures on them. Turns out, folks must register boat docks, floats, boat houses, floating cabins, water sport structures, revetments, attenuators and retaining walls that are on state-owned submerged and submersible land. Whew! That was sure a mouthful. The state has a way with words, doesn't it? Here's the easy skinny: A water sport structure includes water ski buoys, jumps and ramps; kayak race gates and so forth. The cost of registration ranges from $125 to $350 depending on the structure and its size. The registration must be renewed every 5 years. You have to submit the names and addresses of your neighbors, those owning riparian land within 200 feet of your structure, along with their comments for and against with your application. The department may deny your registration if your neighbor has a legitimate bone to pick with you, for example, that your dock interferes with their fishing or recreation. The state won't deny you if the neighbor doesn't like the color you picked, however. If your dock gets washed away, you can replace it with the same size and use structure. You can't make it bigger or change the location or way it was used. Gaming the system is "no win." You can even submit a registration for a structure that is shared with your neighbor, including a floating recreational cabin. If you need more info, take a look at http://www.oregonstatelands.us/. Florence Oregon has some 18 lakes plus the Siuslaw River, and the mighty Pacific beyond, all full of fish and fun to boat and float and have a home on. I have a pamphlet which describes all the lakes and the types of fish they have along with a photo of each lake. I can send you a copy by snail mail or better yet, take a look at the pamphlet on my website, http://www.oregonflorencerealestate.com/ Wondering about the photo? It's the beautiful Florence harbor, marina and boardwalk.

Vacation Rental Options in Florence Oregon

Florence Oregon has been a popular vacation spot since Boris Karloff stayed at The Lighthouse Inn in the '30's http://www.lighthouseinn-florence.com/ and Clark Gable flew in to hunt and fish from the Lodge on Woahink Lake. Now Robin Williams finds his way to Florence on occasion. Well, if it's good enough for movie stars, it's good enough for the rest of us. Vacation rentals in Florence are as varied as the locales and microclimates in the greater Florence area. For instance, you can stay in a darling cabin at the Park Motel http://www.parkmotelflorence.com/ property south of the Siuslaw River Bridge. Bob and Margaret who own the Park Motel live on site. They'll treat you like family, so be prepared to want to come back every year as my friends from Gresham do. Or how about a family reunion on one of the areas' 18 lakes? This fabulous home has it all, privacy, a dock, swimming, warmth: http://www.florence-oregon-rentals.com/property-detail.php?property=31 and can sleep up to 12 people. You'll feel as though you're in heaven! Here's another idea: check out the vacation rentals by owner website for a whole page of fabulous vacation rentals including several on our lakes. http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/oregon/central-coast/florence Got an RV and want to rent a spot for a while? The Port of Siuslaw Harbor http://www.portofsiuslaw.com/pages/campground.php is a popular spot and the spaces right on the river are fabulous. Plus you can walk to Old Town for a morning coffee, stop at the river next to The Waterfront Depot for the view of the bridge or for rendering a watercolor en pleine aire or head to The Bridgewater for a brew http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-22031635R-the_bridgewater_restaurant-i. Don't have an RV but would like to stay in one spitting distance from the beach? Take a look at Mike and Debbies Coastal Hideaway http://www.florencerentals.com/vacrent.htm Always fantasized about sleeping on a luxury yacht? How about Enke: http://www.florencerentals.com/enke.htm What a romantic vacation this would be! So you're only limited by your imagination when it comes to renting a place in Florence. Want inside tips on vacation rentals? Call me and I'll give you the straight skinny, be it mountain, lake, ocean, RV, cabin or tent. I know the area well and can provide you with answers to all the little questions you might have: 541-991-7480. I don't claim to be unbiased because I love all the possibilities that Florence Oregon has to offer.

Good Eats and Treats for the Vegetarian and Organic Eater

Looking for organic food? Want to crunch a great carrot right off the farm? Florence has a couple of choices for you. The Florence Food Co-Op, located on Rhododendron Drive a 1/2 block off highway 101 on the west side, is a year or so old. It has a lively and interesting group of committed volunteers, many of whom bring goodies directly from farms in the valley to the Co-op so that the veggies are as fresh as any bunny would want. If you're looking for good eats at a restaurant, try Nature's Corner Cafe and Market, also on highway 101 on the west side, 1/2 a block from the much loved and much photographed and painted Siuslaw River Bridge. There you'll find an eclectic mix of Art Deco furniture to plop down on and a menu extraordinaire. I don't think any other restaurant in town has such a fabulous selection of mouth-watering delectables. One of my staples is a black bean taco with yummy salsa and a smattering of fresh mixed greens on the side, all for the tiny price of $3.95. And the water's free. It's the perfectly sized lunch on the fly. Plus there's always entertainment looking out the window at passersby, or you can sit on their outside deck under blue skies and beachy breezes. Before you leave, you might want to pick up a bottle of organic wine and be sure to check out their petite grocery with everything you need to tempt the organic pallette. Of late, Safeway, Fred Meyer and Grocery Outlet carry their own selections of organic vegetables, frozen foods and miscellaneous sundries as well. All you veggie heads out there, Florence has what you need. It takes a veggie head to know a veggie head! So if you need any tips about vegging out in Florence, I'm your gal. www.oregonflorencerealestate.com

25 FREE Things to Do in the Florence Area

1. Go kayaking or canoeing on Cleawox Lake at Honeyman State Park. The lake has a long narrow finger that's great to explore. Look and listen for lots of interesting birds.
2. Hike the Siltcoos Lake trail through old growth Douglas Fir, hemlock and Western Red Cedar. The loop is a couple of miles round trip and the rewards are many, not the least of which, depending on the season, are brown newts and banana slugs crossing your path.
3. Take a walk on Heceta Beach from the North Jetty to Driftwood Shores. Be on the lookout for seals playing in the near shore waves.
4. Stroll Saturday & Sunday Market along the boardwalk in Old Town and chat with artisans about their work.
5. Check out the fabulous beads at The Brown Dog in the Highway 101 Antique District.
6. Go swimming at Woahink Lake. You'll love the little sandy beach and refreshing clear water.
7. Ask to see Boris Karloff's room at The Lighthouse Inn on Highway 101, a 1930's treasure.
8. See Cobra Lilies at Darlingtonia State Natural Site. No, they don't bite.
9. Listen to the ukeles play at the Old Town gazebo. You'll think you're in Hawaii.
10. Dance to Curtis Delgagdo at Traveler's Cove.
11. Look for Sea Stars and anemones at Stawberry Hill.
12. Watch the salmon make their run up the Upper North Fork River in the fall.
13. Agate hunt just about anywhere.
14. Tube down the Siuslaw above the Mapleton Bridge, and on down the river.
15. Check out the art work at Backstreet Gallery, an artist's cooperative.
16. Bike the Munsel Creek Bicycle Trail.
17. Attend the Pioneer Museum's Storytellers event.
18. See Lemon yellow Gorse in bloom in February on the rocks at Southview.
19. Eat sun-warmed blackberries you pick yourself in August. Yum!
20. Skate at the skateboard park in Miller Park.
21. Watch the Rhododendron Parade, 102 years old, in May.
22. Paint a picture of the Conde McCullough bridge over the Siuslaw from the beach on Bay Street.
23. Hunt for wild iris in the late spring.
24. View Sweet Creek falls any time of year. Enjoy the swimming holes in the summer.
25. Read The Siuslaw News online.

Peaches, Pooches and Pocketbooks on the Old Town Florence Boardwalk

I love strolling the Old Town Boardwalk during Saturday Market. What a lovely assortment of food and fun stuff to pick from. I think just about every dog in town visits the boardwalk. I saw hot dog doggies, fluffy doggies, short doggies and tall doggies, barky doggies and standoffish doggies. My dog, Maeve, is a whiner doggie, not to be confused with a weiner doggie, a cross between a Chow and a Golden Retriever, about 35 pounds, a redheaded shedder extraordinaire. If I were smart, I'd collect all that red hair and knit a sweater for the cool months I spend in front of the fire. Or maybe I could figure out a way to incorporate her hair into my watercoloring. Anyone with suggestions, please shout them out. Anyway, when Maeve sees another dog, she whines and sings out her hello, hoping someone will come over and pet her. She thinks she's the prettiest pooch on the boardwalk and lots of folks must think the same or love her singing because they come over and give her a pet. She gives them a toothy smile and that results in more pets, then she sings a little more and the pet goes on. Last time we were on the boardwalk, the fresh veggie vendors were there in force. I bought my husband and I a peach each from an organic farm, the kind of peach that you just have to eat right then and there, the kind I call a two paper towel peach, so much juice dripping down your chin, you attract bees and butterflys to the sweet nectar. Could August possibly get any better than this? Not in my book. The Saturday Market goes on until the weather gets fall-like, maybe a little rainy. I hope we've got another 6 weeks and that those peaches keep coming. But you never know, so if you've a yen for juicy peaches, pooches, pocketbooks and more, set your sites for Florence Old Town right away.

From the Florence Oregon Real Estate Expert: Don't you Wish you were Here?

I'm sitting in my office in lovely Old Town Florence, Oregon. The office doors are wide open and a piney little breeze is wafting in. The fountain is burbling. Sweet smells from The Shed Bakery are in the air and I'm hoping that Siuslaw Coffee Roasters will roast this morning. There's a bundle of folks sitting at the sidewalk tables in front of The Beachcomber on Bay Street enjoying a sunbath and The Beachcomber's wonderful huevos rancheros. I bet they'll be back to sample the wares from the brew pub, equally yummy. Highway 101 is busy with RV'ers and ATV'ers. The Lighthouse Inn, our historic mom and pop motel which was a favorite haunt of Boris Karloff, is filling up for the 4th of July celebrations. I'll be watching for the barge to arrive from which the fireworks are set off; it anchors across the Siuslaw River at the old Glenada ferry landing. Folks bring chairs, kids, dogs and coolers and set up along the Old Town boardwalk for an old-fashioned fun-filled evening. Life is good in Paradise on the Pacific. If you want to live here, let me know. I'll even tell you where my favorite skinny dipping spot is!

Hope@HopeMacManus.net
www.oregoncoastrealestate.com