For some, escapism happens in the cool of an air conditioned home. For others it's a quick trip to a local pool.

There is another option for summer fun that doesn't have to break the bank on gas costs.

Whether you want to see fireworks over the beach, learn more about wooden boats or see Elvis, over and over and over again, the Central Oregon Coast may prove to be a good summer getaway.

Just in time for summer's hot wrath, Salem Monthly picked through a variety of day and weekend events being held at the coast in July and August. So pack up those Speedos, put the kids in the minivan and journey to where the sun burns brightly but not as hot.

Nye Beach Clambake
July 5
In 2005, Italian and American scientists published a study confirming what many have known for centuries -- if you want a little spice in your love life, try eating clams.

On July 5, people can test the aphrodisiac properties of the clam during the Nye Beach Clambake, a popular beachside event.

"There are lots of food choices ... including baked and fried clams and other foods in the Nye Beach Turnaround," said Eileen Obteshka a spokeswoman for the event. "It's an excuse for a neighborhood party and one of the best fundraisers we have throughout the year."

For those not particularly interested in tasting love-inducing bivalves, there are many activities throughout the day for kids of all ages.

There is a children's parade beginning at 10 a.m. and horse-drawn carriage rides beginning at 11 a.m. Live music will be performed throughout the day.

For those interested in historic Newport, there will be guided walking tours.

Visitors shouldn't be ready to depart when the sun goes down, Obteshka said. Beginning at 9:30 p.m., fire dancers will perform in Don Davis Memorial Park.

"It's a great opportunity to have a fun day," she said. "You can listen to the music and the ocean. It's just going to be a fun weekend."

Fourth of July on the beach
July 3 and 4

The romance of a sunset on the Oregon Coast can rarely be matched.

A gentle breeze cools you off after a day of hiking, biking or sightseeing as you snuggle up close to a loved one.

However, there is a once-per-year opportunity that may be able to beat that.

Cities up and down the Central Oregon Coast are holding Fourth of July fireworks displays and celebrations during the nation's Independence Day.

A family weekend to remember begins at Boiler Bay State Park on July 3. The park is 10 miles south of Lincoln City.

There will be a fireworks display and an opportunity to see the park without a state park pass.

On July 4, there are many festivals and parades including a full day of activities five miles south of Lincoln City in Gleneden Beach.

The event begins with a pancake breakfast at the Gleneden Beach Community Center, and a craft fair with more than 40 vendors opens at 10 a.m. During the fair, there will be clowns, musicians and other entertainers for kids to enjoy.

Visitors can also have a chance to experience small-town nostalgia with a hometown parade beginning at 1 p.m.

On the evening of July 4, take the family or lover to Siletz Bay in Lincoln City for an evening of fireworks over the ocean. The fireworks show will begin after dusk.

Siletz Bay Kayak/Canoe Tour

One way to beat the heat this summer is to take to the water.

Kayakers and canoeists can experience the flora and fauna of the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge either on their own or on a guided tour being held by volunteers with the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service.

Paddlers must bring their own kayaks or canoes for a one-and-a-half-hour tour of the refuge.

Visitors will learn the natural history of Siletz Bay and see plants such as the unique starched skeleton tree. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets are common to the estuary as well as many hawks, osprey and occasional bald eagles and many other land and water dwellers.

"It's really quite secluded," said Anne Kilby, an environmental education and interpretive specialist with the FWS. "Even though it's close to Highway 101 it feels like it's far away."

As well as being important wintering grounds for many birds, the 1,200-acre refuge is also nursery ground for Chinook and Coho salmon, Kilby said.
There will be opportunities to get out of the kayaks so dress in clothes that can take the mud and possible inclement weather.

Tours for the summer are currently booked; however, Kilby said to call in case additional tours have been added or to be put on a wait list for cancellations.

Paddlers are also welcome to go on their own, but she cautioned that trips should be taken during high tide or visitors could get stuck in the low-tide mud.

To get there, drive south from Lincoln City and take the first left on to Old Highway 101 after crossing the Siletz River. Meet at the end of the road.

To register or to get a map of the estuary for an independent trip, call Kilby at the U.S. at (541) 867-4550 or (541) 270-5606 or by e-mail at anne_kilby@fws.gov.

Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Show
August 23 and 24

For those interested in a little history, food and watersports, a drive to Toledo may be in order during the hottest month of the year.

On August 23 and 24, the Port of Toledo will hold its fourth annual Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Show. However, people should take note, this event isn't just an opportunity to see pretty wooden watercraft; it's also a participatory weekend.

"We have the Yaquina Runoff, which is a people-powered boat race," said Brenda Brown, office manager for the Port of Toledo. "This is where people can bring any kind of non-motorized boat and race it right into the center of the Depot Slough."

The races are either nine miles or three depending on fitness level and watercraft.

At the same time, the Yaquina Challenge Run will pit runners against the Yaquina Runoff boaters for a cross-country road race.

In a tribute to the area's timber heritage there will be a log rolling competition where participants are challenged to stay on top of a rolling log in the water.

"The entire theme this year really is the history of logging," Brown said. "It's the history of log rafts and the men who built and moved them."

Additionally the World Championship Puddle Duck Race will pit some of the best home-built puddle duck boats against each other for homemade trophies. Anyone is welcome to participate. For more information visit www.pdracer.com.

For fun that is less physical, two master boat builders will help families build the `Nuf, a canoe-sterned featherweight dory that seats two people. The cost is $300 and includes all the supplies needed.

There will also be new and vintage wooden boats on display and music throughout the day. Kelly Thibodeaux and the Etouffee Band will headline the acts on Saturday. For more information, visit www.portoftoledo.org.

Ultimate Elvis Competition
July 18, 19 and 20 at Chinook Winds Casino
So what do you call a bunch of Elvis Presley impersonators all gathered to pay homage to The King?

"The term is Elvi," said Kurt Brown, the producer for the Ultimate Elvis Competition being held at Chinook Winds Casino July 18, 19 and 20. "That's the term for multiple Elvis'."

The coastal casino is hosting this competition. Twenty-one are being held around the world. The top 21 Elvis impersonators worldwide will be invited to the semifinals in Memphis, Tenn.

Fifteen of the region's best performers will take the stage in all of Elvis' glory from leather to jump suits, singing and dancing their way to the top.

"What people can expect to see is 15 guys who are pretty darn good at looking and sounding like Elvis," Brown said. "They're mostly professional performers who have done this for awhile. Some make a full-time living at it."

During the three-day competition, judges will rank each performer on qualities representing the likeness and performance of Elvis.

The winner will perform in Memphis during Elvis
Week, August 9 to 17, for a shot to boast they are the best Elvis impersonator in the world, be officially recognized by Elvis Presley Enterprises and win assorted other prizes.

"There are literally tens of thousands of people around the world who perform in the likeness of Elvis," Brown said. These are the best of the best.

So for the opportunity to escape the summer heat and meet Elvis after Elvis, Brown said Chinook Winds Casino is the place to go.

"It should be a lot of fun," he said. "The competitions are really fast-paced. I haven't put one on yet where people have been bored."

For more information, visit www.elvis.com/ultimatecontest.