Hilltop House Rental - Southern Oregon Coastal Vacation

Pistol River Wave Bash

Pistol River Wave Bash

I wanted to share this awesome event with you. If you are going to be in Gold Beach or in the near vicinity you must attend this event.

It takes place on June, 16 - 19, 2011 Pistol River Wave Bash Gold Beach, OR .

Introducing Trade Wind Event's break out 2011 American Windsurfing Tour. The infamous Pistol River Wave Bash becomes the second stop on the tour.

Here's what the Oregon windsurfing organization has to say about it:

"The 2011 Pistol River Wave Bash - People naturally tend to expect the next one to be even bigger and better and more widely attended than the last one. Better wind, bigger waves, more pros, more prizes, and live internet coverage? Well, expect away. Count on it even. Building on the momentum of last year’s event, look for even more support from the local town and the global industry. And of course, with that comes an even bigger pool of talent bringing it with the state of the windsurfing art."

For more informaton: http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/tour/pistol-river/

Local sponsors include:

Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Organization
Full Sail Brewing Company
Greenlayer Sports
Jerry's Rogue Jet
Pacific Reef

 

Geocaching In Gold Beach - Another Rewarding GB Experience

Geocaching in Gold Beach is a current promotion offered by the Gold Beach Visitor's Center that continues through the end of April (www.geocaching.com & www.goldbeach.org). All you need for this ‘Hi-Tech Treasure Hunt’ is a GPS & a sense of adventure! Special geocaches with ‘Gold Beach GeoCoins’ have been added to the 300+ geocaches already located in the Gold Beach zip code. Return a ‘GeoCoin’ to the Gold Beach Visitor Center & enter to win monthly drawings. The ‘Grand Prize’ is a GPS valued at $450.00!!! Click on the geocaching site link above to find out more about current caches.

Unfamiliar with Geo Caching? Watch this video

101 things...in Gold Beach - Gold Beach Books

101 things to be thankful for in Gold Beach I give you # 7

Gold Beach Books

It is the largest book store on the Oregon Coast, you'll find 50,000 volumes of new and forgotten lore in Gold Beach Oregon. Sip, Read, & Browse in the Biscuit Coffeehouse and Art Gallery. I visited it today after doing a little shopping at McKay's Market. I couldn't resist stopping in and I was glad that I did.My first impression brought back memories of the movie starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks - You Got Mail - it reminded of the book shop that Meg's character owned only it much much larger. What reminded of the shop in the movie was the nostalgic charm and the feeling that it was a friendly place to view many literary and artistic treasures. I love Amazon's convenience and Barnes and Nobles' , but this book store is truly special and one of a kind. the people are super friendly too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found some great novels about the old west by author Zane Grey, some wonderful paintings from local artists a very reasonable prices, a treasure of rare used books, a Gourmet coffee and Biscuit bar where folks gathered to discuss politics and literature.

 It was really great! Here are some photos I took while there and a movie from You Tube that will fill you in on the rest. I could easily spend a day there and come back time and time again. I am sure each time tht I would experience another amazing find.

 

 

 

 

101 Things to be Thankful For in Gold Beach # 5

101 Things to be Thankful For in Gold Beach # 5 - Agate Hunting

Gold Beach Blue Agate

For those big city dwellers (like me - former Jersey Girl - turned So. California transplant - turned part-time Gold Beach Resident) who are unfamiliar with wildlife in Southern Oregon, hunting agates does not require a bow and arrow or a rifle. (a little cabin fever humor here - I have been indoors for almost 24 hours waiting for John to return from his fishing expedition).

Anyway back to the agates... they are a member of the quartz family of minerals. They are centuries old and can be polished to a high gloss. They are perfect for making handmade jewelry especially  wire-wrapped rings (one of my favorite activities) because they are very hard stones. Here are some tips to consider before you begin your Agate hunt:

1. A site where you can learn more about how to identify them. Go to 4facets.com

2. Start at the beach just north of he north Rogue River jetty

3. The best time to hunt is following high tides and or a storm

4. Most agates will be found in the gravel among larger stones, furthest from the surf line.

 

 

101 Things to be Thankful For in Gold Beach - still counting

# 4 View From Hilltop House

I woke up this morning about half past 6:00 and took this picture from my studio window:

Pictured here: Patterson Memorial Bridge from the studio window of Hilltop house in Gold Beach

 

Photo Credit: Lindsey Baker

 

A little history about the bridge: it was designed by Conde B. Mcullough and re-dedicated to Governor Isaac Lee Paterson, after a $20 Million dollar rehabilitation in June of 2006. The original construction of the bridge was completed in 1932 and ironically the bridge is 1,932 feet long. The structure replaced ferries that were used to transport both people and vehicles across the river. The river pictured here is the historic Rogue River and not visible in this picture, but visible from Hilltop House from the many points of the spectacular 1,000 feet of decking is the mouth of the pacific ocean.

Lighting which frames the bridges arches on the west side was installed in 2005. I will take another picture to post tonight - Thanksgiving Day 2010 - showing the spectacular beauty at night. I also took a photothat show the house from the bridge -- it's really something for John and I to be thankful for...So please come back soon.

Gold Beach - 101 things to be thankful for - continued

Things to be thankful for in Gold Beach - continued:

# 3 Rollin in Dough Bistro

Well it's Thanksgiving morning and I woke up to a cup of delicious gourmet coffee and homemade chocolate croissant that I purchased yesterday at the Rollin in Dough Bistro in Gold Beach. Check out this lovely little slice of heaven pictured below, where we had a delicious bowl of tomato bisque and a crispy croissant, coupled with a glass of Rodney Strong Merlot.

We had just stopped in to see if they were catering Thanksgiving dinner since we decided to stay in at last minute. They weren't, but directed us to the Bridge Restaurant another great watering hole and fine dining eatery; (more on that in a later post) but the food was so tempting that we just had to sat down for an impromptu lunch and chat with the other patrons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was definitely worth the detour and when in Gold Beach I recommend that you stop in for breakfast or lunch. But don't just take my word for it -- check out the reviews by clicking here Rollin in Dough Bistro Reviews

Note: This post is an unsolicited and non-compensated review created by the Hilltop House Vacations Blogger - Lindsey Baker for the sole purpose of sharing my experiences in Gold Beach and the surrounding area of the Southern Oregon Coast. 

101 Things to Thankful for in Gold Beach Oregon

I'm ecstatic to say that I am here in Gold Beach and boy am I enjoying myself! I'm bursting with excitement and wanted to spread the joy and love, so I decided to post 101 things to be thankful for in Gold Beach over the next week while I am here.

# 1 Cedar Bend Golf Club - a great place to practice your putt putt - a nine hole public gold course where your best shots come in two ways - with the iron and with the camera.

# 2 Salmon Run Gold Course - World Class Golf - World Class Natural Beauty - thirty minutes from Gold Beach in Chetco River Valley.

Here's what they look like and the scoop on each:

Cedar Bend Golf Course

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This 9-hole mentally engaging course features 3,000 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 36. The entire course is a par-72 measuring from 5,231 yards to 6,288 yards long. In general, the course has plenty of challenge for the best golfers, but also plenty of forgiveness for people new to the game. Water comes into play on almost every hole. The beautiful Cedar Fork Creek which golfers must cross on several of the holes, meanders through the course. It's clear waters and smooth stone base make it look inviting on hot summer days. For the entire scoop click on this link: Cedar Bend Gold Course

Salmon Run Golf Course

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thirty minutes south of Gold Beach in the Chetco River Valley, Salmon Run is a 18-hole course that offers golfers innumerable challenges. Just out of th wind and fog that someitime visits the South coast, Salmon Run, with its narrow fairways, put a high demand on accuracy. But the greens are large and well-maintained and there are birdy possibilities on several short par 4's and par 3's. For more information check out the offical site Salmon Run Golf Course

Discovering Gold in Oregon

With the price of gold going through the roof these days, there is a lot of interest in the precious metal. I came across this video about gold mining and how it started in Oregon. Gold Beach was so named by the prospectors that came there to mine for gold. There is still a lot of gold mining going on in Oregon- mostly as a past time for families. Here is the story of how gold was discovered in Oregon.

The Kind of Fishing I like

Each year the eternal cycle of life continues as the Indian Creek Fish Hatchery collects, nurtures and then releases tens of thousands of young Salmon into the Rogue River. It is truly a labor of love.

Each year thousands of Salmon return to the streams in which they were born in order to spawn. Many of these fish are captured at the Indian Creek Fish Hatchery fish ladders or netted in the Rogue River. They are used as brood stock to help replenish and sustain the salmon populations. This drama takes place each year near Gold Beach Oregon. This clip is dedicated to the selfless efforts of both the volunteers and the staff of the Oregon Department Of Fish & Wildlife. Thanks from Green Water Films. (Public Domain Music By US Air Force Band)

What to do-What to Do? Winter Activites on the Southern Oregon Coast

Winter on the Oregon Coast brings storm watching, the annual gray whale migration and Gold Beach is a great place to see them. The week between Christmas and New Years Day is Whale Watching week all along the Oregon Coast.

Gray whales are passing the coast in peak numbers at that time on their yearly southbound migration from Alaskan waters to the warm lagoons of Baja California in Mexico. At 28 sites, from the Washington border to the California border, trained volunteers help visitors spot the whales and can share information about the habits of these mammoth sea creatures. Stick around for a while and you’re likely to see whales pop out of the water head first, exposing nearly the length of their sleek bodies. Or you may catch a dive with the V-shaped tale fins in full view. Look for “Whale Watching Spoken Here” signs along the coastal highway, US Highway 101, to point you to one of the staffed sites.

Watch this video for some helpful information about how to Whale Watch.