LINCOLN CITY, Ore. - When sweltering, three-digit temperatures hit the Tri-Cities, you might consider escaping to the sandy beaches and salty ocean air of Lincoln City, Ore.

It'll take you a tank of gas or more to get there - about 300 miles - but it can take you a world away.

Cobalt waves crash against the rugged Oregon Coast, where tide pools hide anemones and barnacles, and clams and mussels cling to jagged rock formations that the Pacific Ocean unwraps for visitors at low tide.

Twice a year, in late December and late March, gray whales migrate past the ocean side resort town. About 200 of the whales enjoy the area so much, they have made it home, allowing whalewatching to become a year-round activity.

"We're having a wonderful time," said Mary Beth Walker of Hamilton, Mont., who visited Lincoln City with her husband, James, and their kids, Daniel and Will, 4-year-old twins, and Maggie, 6. "They just love the beach."

The kids learned to fly kites, made sand castles and spent hours on the beach, looking shells and other seaside treasures.

The family also drove south about a half-hour to Newport, to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium, a favorite for the kids.

"There were sharks and lots of jelly fish," said Maggie Walker.

It doesn't matter what time of year you visit, there are plenty of festivals and activities to keep you busy.

In May and June, it's the annual Festival of Gardens, where visitors can attend gardening workshops or go on garden tours to benefit the Connie Hansen Garden in Lincoln City.

June also is a great month for music and lovers. There is live music over three weekends during the Cascade Head Music Festival and the area's art galleries celebrate their finest exhibits with a Glass Weekend Gallery Hop featuring artists receptions and art demonstrations.

The final weekend in June offers the second of three annual kite festivals. The festivals offer kite-making workshops, contests and demonstrations, and some great beach food too. The Fall International Kite Festival, which attracts international professional kite flyers, is in October. And each March, there is an indoor, windless kite flying festival.

For those who enjoy sculpting the sand, August offers up the annual Sand Castle Building Competition on Siletz Bay, where you can build the sand castle of your dreams and watch the tide take it away later.

And in October, there's the annual Finders Keepers, a celebration of glass art, featuring exhibits of glass that's been fused, blown, slumped and stained.

For the more adventurous and active, there's plenty of hiking and biking activities. Or you might want to try a board game -¤like surfing, body boarding, or wind or kite surfing.

Lincoln City has 10 miles of steady waves from Roads End at the north to Salishan and one of the most popular spots is the Roads End State Park.

There are surf shops around town that can gear you up and offer instruction, and the Lincoln City Department of Parks and Recreation also offers surf classes.

And if you have a teen that prefers to land surf, Lincoln City has an 8,000-square-foot skate park in Kirtsis Park.

If part of your group prefers to view the ocean from one of the area's scenic golf courses, the rest can sneak away to shop area antique stores or at the Tanger outlet mall.

Finding a place to stay isn't difficult: There are plenty of ocean-view hotels and motels, from the basic to the upscale, as well as RV parks and campgrounds. Visitors who plan to stay a few days and want to save some money, might want to consider renting a vacation home especially if they have a family.

Hundreds of homes, from one bedroom cottages to large homes that will sleep more than 20 people, are available - some as low as $100 a night - and offer families a more comfortable place to relax and the ability to cook their own meals, including fresh seafood bought a local markets. Off-season specials, from October through May, are often available, as well as weekly rates.

For more information about Lincoln City, activities, or lodging, go to the Lincoln City Visitor Center's website at www.oregoncoast.org.