We’ve spent the last three nights and days on the Oregon coast, ringing in the New Year with two other couples with whom we share a love of good food, good wine and each others’ company. Those unfamiliar with the state might find it hard to believe that the north coast of this notoriously sodden state could provide an enjoyable venue for a midwinter vacation. However, native Northwesterners understand that rare and exquisite brilliant, sunny days crop up to interrupt weeks of otherwise gray, wet weather, and our arrival in Seaside, Oregon, coincided with such a blessed interlude. Mind you, when we booked this vacation a few months ago, there was no way of knowing what the meteorological gods might provide us, so we came prepared to work jigsaw puzzles, visit galleries and basically hunker down by the fire if need be (in addition to watching a slew of college football games and eating and drinking ourselves into a stupor, which we figured on doing no matter the weather.) The past few days brought very cool temps (highs in the low- to mid-40s and lows in the 20s) and breezy conditions along with a bright sun in brilliant blue skies. Each late afternoon blessed us with stunning sunsets, the orange afterglow along the horizon lingering long after the sun disappeared, silhouetting curtains of sea spray blowing off the crests of the rollers breaking offshore. Yesterday I took a walk down the length of the Promenade, the town’s seaside pedestrians-only walkway, dedicated in 1924 and hosting generations of visitors and townfolk alike. Early in the 20th century Seaside became a popular summertime retreat for Portlanders, 60 miles to the east, with wives and children spending a month or more in summer cabins and welcoming husbands and fathers arriving by train for the weekends. A stroll down the Prom takes one past charming cottages of weathered cedar shingles, gingerbread and glassed-in porches facing the ocean. Close to the center of town, where the Turnaround features a statue of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, designating the western end of the Corps of Discovery Trail of 1805–06, one passes modern-day, multistory condo buildings and hotels. For the most part, though, visitor accommodations throughout this small city are part-time rentals of traditional and newer homes, providing a relaxed and welcoming ambiance perfect for a beachy interlude. I took a brief detour off the Prom to visit the Salt Works, a re-creation of the salt cairn where members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition evaporated salt water for the precious commodity in large “kittles” during January and February of 1806 before the party returned to civilization. On my trip back to our house at the north end of town, I dropped down onto the beach, passing kite flyers, dog walkers, families and couples, all enjoying the brisk air and sunshine while bundled up as for a day on the ski slopes instead of a day at the beach. Our brief stay proved the perfect way to ring in 2016, and we’ve already decided that a return visit is in order, although we just may need to add another day or two next year. Cheers to you and a happy and productive New Year! — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor