Tag: Ocean front suite

The Beach is Good for your Brain!

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You know that overall feeling of peace that you experience when you’re at the beach?

It’s for real.  Scientists are are now referring to it as “blue space.”  Fresh smells and the sound of the rolling ocean calm your brain.  And, the way your brain reacts to that environment leaves you happy, relaxed and energized.

Experiencing refreshing “blue space” at the beach is like hitting a reset button for your brain.  

Are you ready for a reset? 

Reduce stress. Water is nature’s cure to the stress of life. So whether you jump in for a swim or dip your toes in the water, you’re sure to experience a feeling of relaxation. 

Boosts creativity.  If you’re in a rut, blue space allows you to clear your head.   The calmness allows you to tune everything else out and reflect on what you need to resolve, allowing you to approach problems or projects with a fresh perspective.

Reduce feelings of depression. The calming environment of the beach provides some relief to feelings of depression. The hypnotic sound of the waves can clear your mind in a safe space away from the chaos of daily life.

“Is it time for you to “reset?”  Call the Tolovana Inn today!”

Holiday fare: Fresh, Oregon Dungeness Crab

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Dungeness-Crab-Salad

The peak harvest for fresh Oregon Dungeness crabs runs from December through April, and that means right now, is a great time to plan a special holiday meal around the flavorful crustacean.

Oregon Dungeness crab is versatile and easy to prepare at home, or when staying at the coast in a spacious, Tolovana Inn suite in Cannon Beach.

Dungeness crab can be purchased at specialty seafood markets and supermarkets throughout the region with retail prices typically lowest during the winter when the harvest is in full swing.

The simplest method of preparing  Dungeness crab is placing live crab in boiling salted water and cooking  for 18-20 minutes–after the water returns to a boil—and the shell turns bright orange.  Immerse the crabs in cold water to cool before cleaning.  Fresh cooked crab can be served chilled or heated in a steamer, broiler or oven for 4 to 5 minutes.

Crab can be simply served with melted  butter. Add a crisp Oregon Riesling and warm garlic bread, and a wonderful, local dinner is ready to enjoy.  For more elegant fare, crab meat can be served cocktail style as a tasty appetizer or featured as a hot entrée in crab cakes, pastas, seafood soups and  casseroles.

Besides enjoying the tender, sweet flavor of fresh Dungeness crab, you can feel good about the selection since Seafood Watch has given the crab a sustainable seafood rating of ‘Best Choice’  Selection.

For more information about Oregon’s state crustacean (as proclaimed by the Oregon legislature in 2009)  visit the Oregon Dungeness Crab commission web site.

Cheers for the Oregon coast and the winter Dungeness crab season!