Written by Terrance D.
Terrance writes for Lincoln City Vacation Rentals, sharing travel tips, local recommendations, and guides to help plan a memorable stay on the Oregon Coast.
Planning your first trip to the Oregon Coast? If so, there may not be a better destination than Lincoln City! With miles of beach, scenic outdoor spaces, whale watching, and iconic floating glass, Lincoln City is a great place to experience the best of what the coast has to offer.
With so much to do and explore in the area, planning your stay can be difficult on a first visit. If this sounds like you, follow along with this blog as we take you through some of the best sites and attractions on Oregon’s coast.
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In this blog:
- Why Lincoln City is a Great Destination for First-Time Visitors
- Explore Lincoln City Beaches
- Top Outdoor Activities in Lincoln City
- Must-Visit Attractions & Local Favorites
- Where to Eat and Shop
- Best Time to Visit Lincoln City
- Plan Your First Trip to Lincoln City!
- FAQs
Why Lincoln City is Great for First-Time Visitors
Among the most appealing aspects of Lincoln City for first-timers is just the sheer variety of things to do and explore. The peaceful, laid-back environment packs pretty much every type of vacation in one, offering beaches, forest hikes, mountain climbing, and more!
Along with these attractions, the area also features dining options ranging from coffee shops and cafes to fresh, locally caught seafood. The best thing about Lincoln City is its small-town feel, which gives you plenty to do without feeling rushed, letting you explore at your own pace.
Explore Lincoln City’s Beaches
One of the most stunning features of Lincoln City is its massive 7.5-mile coastline stretching from Roads End on the north side of town, down to Siletz Bay. All beaches in Oregon are public, so feel free to enjoy the tide and the sands! Because the beach is so long, you’ll have your choice of access points, from both the north and south sides of the beach. Like with any trip to the beach, be sure to keep an eye on the tides and dress in layers so you’re ready for changing weather.
Hunt for “Finders Keepers” Glass Floats
This very special local tradition started here in Lincoln City over 25 years ago! The practice is inspired by traditional Japanese fishing floats, and continues to this day, with over 3,000 glass floats being placed along Lincoln City’s beach every year.
You can find them above high tide and below the beach embankment. Floats are only placed on the beach during the daylight, but will be set out at different points throughout the day. If you do find a float, cherish it, because you will be limited to one float per household, so everyone gets a chance to take part in the tradition.
Top Outdoor Activities in Lincoln City
Lincoln City’s inviting and beautiful landscape and natural features give you plenty of chances to explore its wonders in just about any way you’d like. The area’s diverse features create a perfect environment for experiencing a variety of activities throughout your trip. Here are just a few options to help you avoid overwhelm on your first visit.
Kayaking Through Devil’s Lake
Possibly the best kayaking spot in the whole town, Devil’s Lake offers 685 acres of calm waters while sheltering you from strong, coastal winds. There are six different parking and access points at Devil’s Lake, but the Regatta Grounds entry point is recommended for its boat ramp, protected swimming area, and fishing docks, giving you the most variety in how to enjoy your day at the lake.
Hike “The Knoll”
This three-mile loop, lovingly referred to by locals as “The Knoll,” is a meadowed hill in the northern part of Lincoln City, located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The site features a three-mile loop that takes you to the top of the hill, where you can see other local features like the Pacific Coastline and Roads End.
Explore Cutler City Wetlands
Explore 26 acres of open space in the southernmost part of Lincoln City at this local favorite. Cutler City Wetlands features over a mile of walking trails, developed and maintained year-round, making this an easy, relatively flat walk that lets you focus on the beauty around you.
Visit Drift Creek Falls
Drift Creek Falls is a completely different kind of day than the beach or the cliffs, but totally worth taking time out for. The trail runs through old-growth forest and leads to a suspension bridge hanging above a waterfall deep in the trees. The bridge alone makes it memorable, and the whole lets you move at an easy pace that works well for families. It's one of the most consistently mentioned trip highlights from visitors who make the drive out to the Siuslaw National Forest.
Must-Visit Attractions & Local Favorites
Outside of beaches and outdoor activities, Lincoln City has plenty of local attractions that are essential on a first visit. Check out some of these places when you're ready to cool off indoors!
North Lincoln County Historical Museum
See the history that made Lincoln City what it is today at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum. In the downstairs area, you’ll see a display of fossils from the area, early artifacts, including those from indigenous Americans, and other presentations, all leading up to the town’s development in the 1920s. The story continues upstairs, celebrating early tourism and the expansion of the Oregon Coast’s highways, culminating in 1965, when Lincoln City was incorporated. All of the galleries have changing display areas, meaning you’re likely to see something new, even if it isn’t your first time.
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
Standing as one of Lincoln City’s premier entertainment spots, along with the gaming you’d come to expect from a casino, Chinook Winds features two restaurants, including a 24-hour food counter, a convention center, an arcade, and a golf course! Before visiting, just remember you must be at least 21 years old to gamble at a casino in Oregon.
The Lincoln City Kite Festival
Lincoln City's annual Summer Kite Festival is one of the best events on the Central Oregon Coast. Past entrants have included Giant octopus and whale-shaped show kites, while the event itself will feature precision Rokkaku flying, a free kite-making workshop for kids, carnival games, and food vendors running throughout a weekend in late June.
2026 heads up: The festival moves to Chinook Winds Casino Resort on June 27–28 this year, as its traditional home at D River State Recreation Site is temporarily closed for construction. Free shuttles run from the Lincoln City Community Center and Lincoln City Outlets both days, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Dogs are welcome on leash.
Lincoln City Glass Center
Are you looking to take part in Lincoln City’s glass tradition? The Lincoln City Glass Center gives you that chance! Along with the locally celebrated fishing floats, the glass center offers a chance for you to get right up to the kiln to create your own glass masterpiece. Skilled instructors will guide you throughout the whole experience, and once you’re done, you can see other skilled artisans working their craft, creating new designs every day. Sessions are time sensitive, so be sure to plan well in advance.
Where to Shop and Eat
No trip is complete without some good eats and shopping. Lincoln City features a variety of fun shops and a diverse dining scene, with plenty of options ranging from high-end dining and fresh-caught seafood to more casual bites.
Lincoln City Outlets
Shop to your heart’s content at this outlet mall featuring over 40 designer and name-brand stores ranging from Coach, The North Face, and Pendleton, to Nike, as well as local shops and small businesses. The outlet also includes a few quick dining options. Before visiting, we’d recommend checking what sales and discounts are active, as the mall advertises military, teacher, student, and senior discounts.
Kyllo’s Seafood and Grill
Sitting right on the beach for over 30 years, this local favorite serves up seafood, wood-fired pizzas, and elevated New American cuisine with an emphasis on meals made from scratch using the freshest ingredients. Along with great food choices like char-grilled wild king salmon, Kyllo’s also serves handcrafted cocktails, a full-service bar, and French wines by the bottle.
Tie Dye Pie Pizzaria
Located just off Highway 101, this cozy pizza spot is consistently hailed as the best pizza in town in both Google reviews and on TripAdvisor. The cozy interior gives you a nice small-town feeling with delicious pizzas served by the pie or by the slice on weekdays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Staff also make homemade desserts, such as cream puffs and chocolate eclairs; however, they run out fast, so head over there quickly. If you decide to eat in, you can play a round of pool before leaving your mark on the restaurant's walls. Just remember, they do not deliver.
Best Time to Visit Lincoln City
Lincoln City is truly a year-round getaway destination, but what you get depends entirely on when you go.
• Summer (June–August): The warmest, driest window and the best time for beach days and hiking. July and August bring peak crowds, so book accommodations well in advance.
• Fall (September–November): One of the most underrated times to visit. Crowds thin out, prices ease up, and storm season kicks off — world-class storm watching starts in October and delivers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery of the year.
• Winter (December–February): Quiet and moody, with storm watching at its peak. Some businesses run reduced hours, but oceanfront stays in winter feel like a completely different experience.
• Spring (March–May): Gray whale migration, coastal wildflowers, and the gradual return of sunshine without the summer price tags.
Plan Your First Trip to Lincoln City!
Featured Property: Zephyr Shore
Now that you have a better idea of the most exciting things to do around town, all there’s left to do is find a place to stay! Book directly with us at Lincoln City Vacation Rentals to get the most out of your trip to the Oregon Coast.
Our on-site staff works to ensure that your vacation is everything you’re looking for! Whether you're seeking lakeview homes, an oceanfront property, or even a spot with a hot tub, Lincoln City Vacation Rentals is here to make it happen!
FAQs
Is Lincoln City good for families with young kids?
Yes. The wide, flat beaches are easy to manage with little ones, and activities like tide pooling at Roads End, the Drift Creek Falls suspension bridge, glass float hunting, and the Kite Festival all work well across ages. Siletz Bay and Devils Lake are calm water alternatives when the ocean is running too rough.
What do you do in Lincoln City when it rains?
Quite a bit, actually. Storm watching from the beach or an oceanfront window is one of Lincoln City's most popular activities — coastal storms here are worth seeing, not hiding from. Chinook Winds Casino Resort, the Lincoln City Glass Center, local galleries, and the Outlets are all solid indoor options when the weather closes in.
Do you need a car to get around Lincoln City?
A car makes the trip significantly easier, especially for God's Thumb, Drift Creek Falls, and Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area. Most beach access points are walkable from accommodations in town, but having a vehicle gives you a lot more flexibility to move around at your own pace.