GOOD TIDINGS OF SPRING.

Byline: Greg Bolt The Register-Guard

FLORENCE - It may not have seemed like it over the weekend, but nature is doing the coast a pretty big favor this year.

It's left most ski slopes bare, brought the whales back at just the right time and even arranged a calendar fluke that planted Easter right at the end of this week's spring break. All together, that could add up to a very happy holiday week for the tourism-dependent towns up and down Highway 101.

One sign that this is going to be a big week is vacation rentals. Kelly Riggs, co-owner of Elson Shields Property Management in Florence, said reservations are going through the roof.

"I would say we're seeing a 50 percent increase," she said. "It's huge. I've been looking at the numbers and I'm just marveling at what's going on. We have more bookings so far this year than we did by July last year."

A lot of that could be due to Oregon's unusual weather this year. A combination of little snow in the mountains and winter weather that's been better than most springs has lured people away from their traditional getaways and given the coast one of its best off-seasons in a long time.

"This winter has been a little unusual in that the weather has been so absolutely fantastic that rather than go skiing people have come to the coast," said David Capen, marketing director for the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. "So we've been enjoying spring break from the latter part of January through February and into March."

Saturday's storm may have got spring off to a blustery start, but with mild weather expected for most of the rest of the week, the coast should still see a good turnout. That's partly because it's not just the weather that makes the coast a hot spring break destination this year.

The whales also are on the move, and having the annual migration arrive just as schools are taking a week off and families are hitting the road provides another reason for vacationers to point their cars west.

In addition, Easter falls at the end of Oregon's spring break this year, which means that schools in Washington and California that typically time their break with Easter will be off about the same time as the locals.

But it's not just this year. Florence has been seeing a steady increase in spring business as the economy has improved and the word has got out about the community's vacation attractions.

"Every year it's just more and more and more," said Pete Alaniz, owner of the Traveler's Cove Gourmet Cafe in Florence's Old Town. "Everybody is so busy. It's better every year."

About the only dark cloud on the horizon is the price of oil. Gasoline prices are pushing $3 a gallon in parts of California and have topped $2.10 in Oregon.

But if that prompts a dip in travelers from farther away, it could be balanced out by a rise in people taking vacations closer to home.

"It could be good for us in that people don't go as far and we have an influx of new people from Eugene to Portland," said Hod Johnson, general manager of Sea Lion Caves north of Florence. "It may just require people not to go off to Disneyland or whatever."

One good thing for vacationers on wheels is that the Cape Creek Tunnel north of Sea Lion Caves will be open throughout spring break week. Highway crews have been working since last fall to make repairs on the tunnel lining, which has left the bridge closed at night and caused long traffic delays during the day.

Another factor playing into the coast's hands is publicity. Florence recently was ranked as the nation's top place to retire and got some favorable press in USA Today and on Paul Harvey's syndicated radio show.

"Florence has gotten a lot of notice in the national press lately, and I think that's having a huge effect," Riggs said.

It's having so much success that some businesses are starting to have trouble finding workers. With the new Three Rivers Casino just outside Florence hiring more than 150 people and other businesses ramping up to handle the busier-than-expected winter, the labor pool seems to be shrinking.

Brian Cole, president of BJ's Ice Cream, said he's having a hard time finding additional workers for the company's two ice cream shops.

"We've been trying to hire for the last few days," he said Friday. "The 'help wanted' section in The Siuslaw News is the biggest it's been all year, and the ability to find people who want to work here is getting pretty slim."

But even with a busy spring break, visitors shouldn't expect huge crowds. Spring break provides a nice boost, but the numbers aren't even close to the peak summer months or Florence's big Rhododendron Festival in May, when Harley-Davidson motorcycles line Bay Street and a midway sets up along the bayfront.

"It's not exactly like having the carnival across the street," said Betty McBee, co-owner of the Sure Beats Farmin' candy store. "But it does make a difference. Anytime you can get people to come over from Eugene, it makes a difference."

CAPTION(S):

Kyle Davis, 13, (right to left) Shawn Edwards, 12, Anna Johnson, 12, and Shyla Edwards run to the frigid Pacific Ocean in front of the Driftwood Shores in Florence. Proprietors all along the Oregon Coast expect spring break week to continue a strong on-shore flow of business. Thomas Boyd / The Register-Guard Pete Alaniz, owner of Traveler's Cove on Bay Street in Florence, says the spring break crowd gets better every year.