We drove through this rather large coastal city while on our way to visit family in Charleston, OR…read morefor the weekend. It's known as Oregon's 'Bay Area', and it definitely has that feel with hills and all. Coos Bay is a major port for maritime commerce, namely lumber. Population is over 15,000. It's home to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and hometown of iconic runner Steve Prefontaine. It offers natural beauty for outdoor adventures at Shore Acres State Park and Sunset Bay State Park. There's plenty of hiking and storm watching opportunities. Golden and Silver Falls are popular hiking destinations. If you're a gambler, the Mill Casino is also a popular destination offering lodging at their hotel and RV park. Visit the Marshfield District for shops, restaurants, galleries, historic buildings, museums and theaters. And don't forget the fresh seafood abound. One of our favorite things while driving along highway 101. If you're in the area, I recommend stopping to take in what this coastal city has to offer!

The history of Coos Bay dates back to the days of Lewis and Clark. One of the most famous…read moreresidents, Coos Bay was the birth place of Steve Prefointaine. People come from around the world to participate in the memorial race that was set up in his memory. But, what is Coos Bay known for today, first, world class golf (not my thing), but they are known for it. Second, the sand dunes. The Umpqua Dunes in northern Coos County are the widest and highest in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This section of dunes is closed to off-highway vehicles, so hikers love them. Whether you are looking for hiking, beach exploring, mountain biking, sea lion watching .... it's all within a short distance of Coos Bay. Kind of the hub for the Oregon Coast if you are in the middle region of the state.

The lighthouse museum gift shop is a great little place to stop and grab some lighthouse shirts,…read morejackets, toys, or snacks if you aren't able to do the museum/lighthouse tour. They were serving hot and cold foods as well as drinks (coffee) when I was there July 2025. Make sure to check them out if you are able to stop in!

I don't think this place gets much traffic in December because there were several decent sales and…read morea very chatty clerk. This was a fun little place to explore with a range of souvenirs, books, local goods, and kids toys. Mermaids and yetis we're among the topics covered - so I had several happy kids. There was a selection of local jam, marinades, wine.... And even chocolate.

It's about a half mile hike from the parking lot at the beach and it's not too difficult. If you're…read morelucky the lighthouse will actually be open and there were Volunteer docents who were very helpful. Especially the educator inside the lighthouse who was telling us stories about the original interior versus the later developed. There was a smaller building that felt to be like a chapel but wasn't, it contained a small library and everything from gasoline/fuel to the original light bulbs that were the lamp. There's also a gift shop on the way up. And you could see the homeless where at least a couple of the lighthouse keepers lived perhaps with family. There was a soft mist rolling in as we left... the view is beautiful. One of the most beautiful things about reaching the lighthouse is the drive there. Take advantage of the vistas that you can pull over to take photos of the ocean, the wall, the lighthouse from afar. It's an incredibly beautiful part of the world.

Stop here. Go here. Heck, stay a while…read more Heceta Head is one the most prominent sites on the amazing Oregon coast. The combination of Pinnacle & Parrot Rocks, the inlet with a walkable beach, and the iconic lighthouse & viewing spot makes it simply sensational. It is another fantastic Oregon state park, so be sure to pay your parking & visit fees to help keep this state as gorgeous as possible. The 'climb' (it's really like a long ramp) from the parking lot up to the lighthouse is a little over 1/4 of a mile, and it is paved with a very walkable, even wheelchair accessible, gravel. Even the Oregon rain doesn't make this a muddy, sloppy mess and the walk pales in comparison to the views. About halfway up the slope, there is a gift shop with plenty of keepsakes, souvenirs, and even a few snacks & drinks. The shop is open pretty much every day with limited hours, but it's a wonderful opportunity to commemorate your visit. When you get to the top near the lighthouse, the view of the rocks down below will almost always have wildlife. Cormorants and other seabirds will nest on the rocks and if you're lucky, you might see some California sea lions hanging out on the southwest part of Parrot Rock. Park rangers will frequent the lighthouse area in nicer weather, and sometimes will have scopes set up for a birds-eye view of, well, birds. My lovely wife couldn't get enough of the view of the nesting seabirds and their littles during hatch season. What a magic memory! Be mindful of the tides, and if your visit happens to coincide with King Tide season, then take the opportunity to view from above. The sea gets ANGRY, the winds get crazy, and it is a humbling reminder of how powerful Mother Nature can be. Heceta Head is still a functioning lighthouse, and when the ocean is super choppy, then you can certainly see how valuable a light can be to warn ships along the coast. The mariner's friend is always a beacon in a storm, communicating safe haven or dangerous rocks, dependent on tides and winds. The turn to the state park comes up quickly off the 101, so keep your eyes sharp. There's plenty of parking, there is an accessible restroom, and if you don't make the climb up to the lighthouse, then the beach is a wonderful alternative. If you have the time, then just don't miss it. It is one of the most beautiful spots on the beautiful western edges of a beautiful state.

In A Nutshell: -It's…read morenot too often you can actually walk down to a dam & watch real fish inside the water like an aquarium. -You can do that at Winchester Dam and Fish Ladder, which is a National Historic Landmark in our great country the USA. -You can easily find parking in the small lot, then walk down the concrete/mental stairs towards the dam. -There are plenty of places to take some really nice photos of the entire dam & Umpqua River. -As you walk down the steps towards the fish count area, you will be able to see real fish struggling against the strong currents through glass. -You can see all sorts of fish if you wait a little. Overall, this is a nice place to take your family.

This was the first place I ever went to when I first got to Oregon in 2018. It was a wonderful…read moreclimb down but going back up at my age and my disability was hard but I love it. I love going over the bridge and seeing the waterfall. I think everybody would enjoy that's just my opinion.

This is a nice memorial. It's a small token of appreciation from the city of Roseburg to those who…read moredied serving the public. The design is simple, yet effective at conveying a solemn ambiance. A flag pole flanked by a wall listing names of deceased local (city/county) service members and an I-beam from ground zero makes up the open-air memorial. Public access is 24/7.

What a beautiful bridge! We were on our way to meet family in Charleston, OR. Such a treat to come…read moreacross this old bridge. Gorgeous views from both sides while driving over it. It's a cantilever bridge built in the 1930's. It spans a mile over Coos Bay. At the end of the bridge driving South on highway 101, you come up to the cool neon North Bend sign welcoming you. It's named after it's designer who has designed numerous other bridges in Oregon along highway 101. If you're in the area, I highly recommend driving over it and experiencing the beautiful structure and views!

If you've ever driven many miles along US Route 101 you're one of the lucky ones, the California,…read moreOregon and Washington coast lines holds some of the most beautiful scenery you'll ever see, I've been fortunate to have driven the entire coast line over several years and some extended sections multiple times. One of the things I've most admired were the bridges that cross the many rivers, canyons and valleys along the way. All of these bridges are unique in design and presented different challenges for the engineers that were assigned to complete this sometimes daunting task but it was always a labor of love. You also may notice that some of the bridges are eerie similar in design even though they cross a variety of different terrains this is especially true along the sections of highway along the Oregon coast - this particular bridge was engineered by its namesake Conde Balcom McCullough who worked for the Oregon DOT from 1919 - 1935 and returned to service again in 1937 until 1946. McCullough personally designed a number of bridges in Oregon over his lengthy career and aided in the design of over 600 bridges across the continent and abroad. The cantilever design was chosen due to the high volume of traffic passing under it, the 793-foot main span has 145 feet of vertical clearance and is part of a 1,708-foot long steel cantilever span. Overall length, including the concrete approach spans is 5,305 feet. The approach spans are concrete arches more typical of McCullough's designs with main towers rising 280 feet above the water surface, with curved sway bracing in a Gothic arch style. The ends of the bridge are marked by pedestrian plazas meant to provide a viewing point for the bridge and to provide access to the shoreline. The stairs descend in sweeping curves to the park below. This bridge opened in 1936 and at some point will be tagged for replacement so spending a few minutes admiring this historic structure while it's still in service is something to behold....

When you visit it, the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House comes alive with history. Here, you'll get…read moresome good insights into some strong women's lives. Tip: The stairs are steep so be aware; they're not recommended for small children or people with mobility issues. When you ascend to the attic, you'll find an impressive replica of the house, and also a nice collection of war memorabilia (Swords, flags, photos, medical instruments, etc.). We very much enjoyed learning more about the history of Eugene; the docents were both friendly and knowledgeable. The furnishings and architecture are from a different time and the tour was informative.

Read a review from 3 years ago and it said it was only $6 to get in and guess what? It's still only…read more$6 to get in! The docent was a very kind and friendly lady who knew the most about Aida but knew something about all of them. I appreciate her honesty when we asked a wished didn't know she would tell us she was not sure but would offer a maybe because... or probably because.... She pointed out what pieces of furniture were original to the home and explained how the rest were donated. So much history! She said the last lady who owned the home was raised in the Campbell House Inn which is actually where we stayed! I didn't take a bunch of photos as I was enjoying the moment and listening to the docent tell us the history of the home. Also many other people have posted great photos here already so no point in being redundant. The docent said it is decorated for Christmas during the holidays and recommended to visit it if I'm the area during that time. The theme was weddings do when we visited as the docent explained that someone had donated a tremendous amount of wedding gowns to the museum.

A wind blown spot of history on the Oregon Coast. You have…read moreto walk about a half a mile to only see the outside of the lighthouse. As it turns out this is the furthest point of extension into the Pacific Ocean with exception of one other point in Washington. Not much to see but still interesting if your into history.

My husband and I were on an Oregon Coast roadtrip and an article mentioned that a drive to the Cape…read moreBlanco Lighthouse was worth the detour and it is! Located on the most western tip of Oregon, it is the oldest continually operating lighthouse on the Oregon coast. Once you make your way to the parking area it is quite windy but the views are spectacular. Walk to the gift shop near the lighthouse and, for only $2, you can learn all about its history by informative volunteers and tour the main floor of the lighthouse. Unfortunately, visitors cannot climb up the lighthouse at this time because age-related fragility.

Didn't get a chance to check it out due to timing but the clerk gave us a intro viewing of what we…read morewould have seen and it was actually pretty cool The tour is said to be able 1-1.5 hours so plan accordingly Check out the pics for some of the history behind it Definitely want to go back and check it out

Very interesting place to take the family and friends! Fun and entertaining! A lot of history and…read moremystery at the Oregon Vortex.