Years ago, one of the most enjoyable things to do while visiting the ocean was to search for blown glass floats that had been washed ashore. These glass floats were usually from Japanese fishing boats, and were used to help fishing nets float on the sea. Nowadays, the floats are made out of plastic, and it would be nearly impossible to find a glass float washed ashore at the beach. Lincoln City, Oregon, has brought back this delightful pastime.

For the last ten years, the city has been hiding nearly 2,000 floats along its seven and a half miles of public beach. The event begins in October and ends over Memorial Day weekend in May.

Lincoln City’s Millennium Float Project began in 1999 to bring in tourists. The first year was so successful that the event has been sponsored by the city every year since its creation. It is now generally known as “Finders Keepers”.

If sightseers find a float on the Lincoln City coastline, they need to call the Lincoln City Visitors Center at 541-996-1274. They will give out instructions on how to register the float so a Certificate of Authenticity and information regarding the artist who crafted it can be granted.

Lincoln City, Oregon is 230 miles southwest of Tacoma.