Finders Keepers Glass Float Hunt

Since 1999, Lincoln City has turned its shoreline into the longest-running treasure hunt on the Oregon Coast. Local artists hand-blow thousands of glass floats, and volunteer "Float Fairies" tuck the colorful orbs above the high-tide line along seven miles of public beach from mid-October through Memorial Day.

The rules are wonderfully simple: if you find a float resting in the sand, the driftwood, or the dune grass, it's yours to keep. Each one is unique — swirled with color and marked with the year — so no two finds are ever alike. Register your float online and you'll even learn a little about the artist who made it.

Half the fun is the hunt itself. Early mornings after a high tide or a bit of wind are prime time, when shifting sand reveals fresh hiding spots and the beach is still quiet. Bring the kids — they're often the sharpest spotters — and take your time; the floats reward a slow, wandering walk.

Staying in a Step Away Lodging home puts you right on the doorstep of the sand, so you can be out at first light before the crowds. And even if you don't find a float, a sunrise beach walk with coffee in hand is never a bad way to start the day.