Beachcombing is a favorite pastime for visitors along the Oregon Coast. The Pacific Ocean brings in many treasures if the individual has an eye for it. If you are not familiar with this term, it means exactly what it is -- people comb the beaches looking for a variety of trinkets and beauties and sometimes you will find that special piece for your yard.

I have found some very interesting pieces of driftwood and they now occupy a special place in my yard and there is even some in my home that I used as focal points.

Many people are use to combing the beaches on other oceans, but it will be a bit different along the Oregon Coast. You won’t stumble upon the standard glass floats, but that doesn't mean that you will not encounter them. If you go to Lincoln City during the winter they put out hundreds of glass floats that have been hand blown that have been hidden on the beach. They are so much fun to discover.

You can collect agates and interesting driftwood plus occasionally you can spot sand dollars but usually the gulls will get to them first. I have found whole sand dollars and a lot of sea shells on the beaches.

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You will discover beachcombing a fun activity because you never know what you're going to find. Generally, every 24 hours and 50 minutes you will get a new beach because the tide rises and falls two times. You can get a tide table to tell you when to expect this tide change at any sporting goods store on the coast. You will want to carry plastic bags in case you find something and a stick in case you want to poke around.

The greatest treasure that the Oregon Coast offers is the varieties of agates that show up. The best place to look for them is in gravel beds, in creeks that cross the beach and at the edges of cliffs along the way. Agates come in many colors and you won't find two alike. The best time for agates is in winter because of the way that storms come through the area.

Sometimes fossils show up because of storm action. You may discover fossils washed up on the beaches of mollusk shells, whalebones, fish teeth and other wonderful delights. If you have a really good eye you come upon a bit of petrified wood. All of this comes as the sea cliffs erode, usually during winter storms.

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First, do not turn your back on the ocean. You will never know when a sneaky wave might come and catch you by surprise. Also, stay away from the driftwood logs because they become buoyant as the tide comes in and someone can get hurt. Use your tide tables to watch the tides more securely. However, remember you are in nature and it is always unpredictable. Beachcombing is a fun activity and with a little detective work you may discover some wonderful gifts.

If you are new to this activity you will want to know about safety and what to expect as you go. Many people forget that the beach has a tendency to be cold no matter when you are moving about it. The best way to handle this is to dress in layers because you never know when you are going to encounter cold or fog. Other aspects of your wardrobe should include a hat that won't blow off, waterproof boots, rubber gloves (to handle weird stuff) and don't forget to wear sunscreen.

Here is another place I found that has some great beaches.
Tenerife beaches Spain
Do some beachcombing on black romantic or larger white Tenerife beaches and discover what the Atlantic ocean might bring with it after a storm but, get to know them first on your next vacation.