Visitors Of This Oregon Beach Can Find Glass Orbs Hidden In The Sand

Treasure doesn’t always have to be buried.

It’s a brisk April day in Lincoln City, Oregon, and as you stroll along the beach, you notice something shining in the brush. You saunter over through the driftwood and rocks to the east of the shoreline and discover a great, glass orb, swirling with color. What is this? you ask yourself. Did someone leave it here?

Someone did leave it there, as a matter of fact. And they left it for you.

Every year, the central Oregon coast town hides thousands of glass orbs along its seven-mile stretch of sand from Roads End to Siletz Bay, with the intention of visitors finding the not-so-buried treasure. The program is called Finders Keepers, and it’s been a Lincoln City tradition for more than 20 years.

In days long past, beachgoers would find objects from the east washed ashore, the most intriguing of which were blown glass floats in majestic hues of blue and green. Ranging in size from two inches to two feet, Japanese fishermen used the spheres to float their nets out at sea.

When they ended up on the sands of Oregon, they were the ultimate find to a beachcomber. Now, fishing vessels universally use buoyant plastic, styrofoam and aluminum as floats, rendering those iridescent orbs obsolete.

But not in Lincoln City. Every year since 1997, local residents delightfully dubbed “Float Fairies” disperse glass floats throughout the day between the months of October and May, with the closeout hunt happening every Memorial Day.

They celebrate holidays with special drops that can include blown glass sand dollars, crabs, sea stars, shells, or coins, along with the orbs. All the glasswork is blown by local artists, and every piece is its own special treasure.

Although it began as a one-time event, the now iconic Finders Keepers program has become the heart of Lincoln City, attracting support for its burgeoning art scene and bringing tourism to the Oregon coast.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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