Holidays and Lewis & Clark on Oregon's Coast

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 in a castle on Oregon\' 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 dcor and selection of memorable northwest
wines. (541-574-9393 for Village Market & Deli).

For more on the Oregon Coast, see
www.beachconnection.net