For a super memorable ride on the famous Florence dunes, grab a sand­board and head to Sand Master Park (5351 U.S. 101, Florence; 541-997-6006). If need be, lessons, equipment rental and sales are offered. Knowledgeable staff are patient and will help get you on your feet no matter your skill level, as well as give you suggestions on the best spots to go. The only requirements for the thrill of gliding down a hill or hitting the jump ramps are your feet and the desire for fun. Additional activities are offered March through December: sand sculpting, dune buggy tours and games; RV parking and surfboard and wet suit rental are available, too. Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (June 10 to Sept. 10). Current hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Wednesday.

No coastal town is complete without an ice cream shop. In Florence, that’s BJ’s Ice Cream Parlor (1441 Bay St., Florence; 541-902-7828). If you’re wandering around the waterfront, the Bay Street location in Old Town is a delightful stop for a dish or a cone. Scoops are 14.2 percent butterfat, come in 36 hard-to-resist flavors (plus yogurt and sugar-free ice cream) and are used in refreshing floats and malts. The second location (2930 U.S. 101, 541-997-7286), on the north end of town, is ideal for a quick pick-me-up when you’re on the road. Forty-eight (yes, 48) fla­vors are offered at this shop. Bay Street hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the location along U.S. 101 is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Both ice cream parlors are open daily.

For lunch, dinner or a nightcap, head to La Pomodori Ristorante (1415 Seventh Street, Florence; 541-902-2525). Start with the fabulous bruschetta as you peruse the expansive menu. Pasta dishes in­clude prawns, seafood, pork, chicken, sausage, Italian vegetables and rich cream or tomato sauces. Ribeye steaks are well-seasoned; other meats and seafood are grilled or prepared as picattas, scaloppinis, marsalas or with special sauces and ingredients. Appetizing sandwiches (baked pastrami and meatball), soups, hearty salads and specials are served at lunch. Desserts are just as tasty as the main courses and are all housemade; they pair particularly nicely with the after-dinner drinks. Reservations are accept­ed and recommended as the restaurant is quite small. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday while dinner is offered 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday.

Another top choice for dinner is The Waterfront Depot Restaurant (1252 Bay St., Florence; 541-902-9100). Seafood dishes in particular shine here, especially the oyster Madrid and crab-encrusted halibut. Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The all-new fourth edition of “Gerry Frank’s Oregon” guidebook is available through oregonguidebook.com; 503-585-8411; gerry@teleport.com; amazon.com; Macy’s; and P.O. Box 2225, Salem, OR 97308.