You can find seashells along most sandy stretches of the Oregon Coast. I feel timing and technique are the more critical aspects to beachcombing for shells rather than a specific location. For best success, I would suggest choosing less busy beaches, beachcombing during the offseason and being there at the right time (as the tide recedes). I like to beachcomb for shells right at the edge of receding tide, weaving in and out with the waves, always keeping my eyes on the tide and being prepared to move quickly in the event of a sneaker or rogue wave that may come in faster and higher than the average waves.

For shells, I would begin searching an hour or two after high tide since most heavier shells aren’t deposited on the beach until closer to the low tide line (but you want to be the first to discover the freshly revealed prize). As you scour the beach, look for deposits made up of ground bits of seashells. Look close at these deposit because common finds include sand dollars and scallops that can be smaller than a dime. You can also look in areas of small rocky deposits where snail shells can be mixed in.

The variety of shells may vary with the surrounding environments. You are more likely to find snail shells and cone shaped limpets near rocky shores or off shore reefs, clam shells near bay openings and sand dollars and scallop shells along beaches that border shorelines with sandy offshore bottoms.

Happy exploring!

Bayshore Drive that connects Bayocean Road to Cape Meares is closed indefinitely due to major slides (map), but you can still reach Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint by driving through Netarts and Oceanside via OR 131. You’ll just have to retrace your route back rather than doing a loop as you had planned. It’s only a slight inconvenience, if any, and a visit to Cape Meares is definitely worth the effort.

Lincoln City has many pet friendly oceanfront options. A few that come to mind immediately include Surftides, The Coho and Chinook Winds Casino Resort. While all of these are larger resorts, November is a much quieter time on the Oregon Coast, so they may fit your preference for quiet and private. You may want to check on their pet policies, as some may have pet size limits. Dogs are allowed on the beaches and can be off leash if they are under the owner’s “voice control” to keep them from approaching people, leashed dogs or chasing wildlife. November is a good time for beachcombing. While vintage glass floats are still found occasionally, Lincoln City has a program called Finders Keepers that “seeds” the beach with hand blown glass floats by local artists from mid-October through Memorial Day.

November is one of those unpredictable months as far as weather, but in my opinion, offers an authentic Oregon Coast experience. Temperatures in November are typically mild, with high temperatures averaging in the mid-50s and lows in the mid-40s. November is the start of the wet season on the Oregon Coast with rainfall totals typically about 10 inches for the month, so you will want to be prepared for rain. A good waterproof jacket, walking shoes and preferably rain pants will assure that you can enjoy the coast no matter what the weather. I typically think of November as showery with some sun breaks, which can be spectacular if you appreciate these kind of dramatic skies. Like any time of year on the Oregon Coast, surprise sunny days or storms are also possible, but that’s part of the experience in this part of the world.

November is a relatively good time to spot whales. You might see Gray Whales that are migrating south to breeding and birthing waters off Mexico, but there are also “resident” whales that spend much of their year on the Central Oregon Coast. It’s possible you could see spouts from your oceanfront room, but nearby Depoe Bay has a Whale Watch Center overlooking waters frequented by whales nearly year-round that is dependably good for spotting the huge mammals.

If you don’t find a glass float on the beach, you can also blow your own with the help of the artists at the Lincoln City Glass Art Studio.

Thanks for your question! I’m usually asked when is the “best” weather on the Oregon Coast or when to plan a trip when it’s not cloudy or foggy and I have to try to explain that sunny skies are not necessarily the best and certainly are not the most typical or interesting of the climatic conditions the coast is famous for. Unfortunately, predicting fog is equally challenging and the coast experiences fog in all seasons including summer when hot inland temperatures can trap heavy marine air west of the Coast Range.

That said, I feel like the most climatically interesting times of year are generally early fall (October) and late spring (May). We have a variety of atmospheric conditions that can occur including fog, dramatic cloud formations, a hazy marine layer and varied weather systems that produce ever changing sunlit scenes with ominous skies. I think of great clouds and sunbreaks as among the top conditions for exciting photography along with fog and all of the varying denseness possibilities of the marine layer.

Average temperatures are almost identical between these two months with highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid 40s. October is slightly wetter on average and that increased chance of humidity would suggest there is an increased chance of fog on average. What I love about May in regards to landscape photography is fresh spring growth that represents all shades of green and blooming shrubs that can add color and texture to scenes.

Come prepared for whatever conditions Mother Nature presents and I hope you find the exciting light and atmospheric conditions that make your photos better and more interesting than any boring blue sky day could offer.

Happy exploring!