I think the 'salty fog' you heard about might be salt that is thrown up into the air on high surf days. If you are within a few blocks or so of the beach, and it is really windy with high surf, you will find that your windows (and plants!) may get crusted with fine salt spray carried inland by the wind. You can smell it in the air, too.
Here on the west coast of Florida, (but I am originally from Vancouver, BC) this happens when we get high surf and onshore winds from a passing tropical storm or a winter cold front. Even high rise apartments a half mile or so from the beach can see this salty mist if the wind is right and it isn't raining. (which of course takes most of the salt right back out of the air)
Anyway, as it relates to plants, we have lists of plants that are 'salt tolerant' here. Some plants really do not tolerate salt at all. Others do fine. You can probably look this up on your County Extension's website, but the best, and most fun way to find what to grow is to walk around your neighborhood, and make friends with the neighbor who has the nicest garden!
Also when you visit nurseries in the spring to buy plants, be sure to ask about salt tolerance before you buy.
