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McCullough Memorial Bridge

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This beautiful landmark originally called the Coos Bay Bridge was renamed after the talented engineer who designed and constructed it, Conde B. McCullough after his death in 1947.  The impressive creation spans 5,305 feet and was built to complete the Oregon Coast Highway.  With its unique design using a mix of Art Deco, Gothic and Modern design elements, the McCullough Memorial Bridge is one of the most recognizable icons of the Oregon Coast.  The bridge was part of a federally funded program called the Coast Bridges Project in 1934-1936 which would complete a goal of building five bridges across coastal waterways.

 

At the time of its creation, the bridge was the longest in the state highway system.  It was also one of the most complicated and dangerous projects.  Construction required over 250 men who were employed to work on the bridge at any one time, moving over 24,000 cubic yards of soil, over 48,000 cubic yards of concrete, nearly 12 million pounds of steel, and 5 million board feet of lumber.  As a result of these necessities came a demand from local timber companies and created an influx of jobs and the need for natural resources which benefited the economy and communities suffering through the depression.

 

If you want to experience a bit of local history and beauty, visit the McCullough Memorial Bridge.  The views are spectacular and visitors have shared the value of the peace and tranquility the surrounding landscape provides.  Great for a few hours of personal reflection or time spent enjoying family and friends.

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Shore Acres State Park

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Sitting on top of sandstone cliffs which are located high above the ocean; Shore Acres Park provides stunning natural landscapes with a touch of modern erected structures.  The former home and grand estate of pioneer timber baron, Louis Simpson, Shore Acres highlights beautiful lush planted gardens filled with plants and flowers from all over the world.  There is always something in bloom almost every day of the year.

Among the impressive display, you can explore a formal garden, a Japanese-style garden with a lily pond, and two stunning rose gardens.  Thanks to several special “friends” of the gardens and community volunteer in cooperation with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Shore Acres is beaming with vibrant and colorful lights and decorations for the holiday season of Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.  

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After being mesmerized by the amazing gardens, stroll down a lovely trail which leads to a secluded beach cove.  Listen to the roar of the ocean waves as they crash against the seashore and often bring migrating grey whales.  Escape any stormy weather inside the standing observation building located on the Simpson Estate.  Historical information is also provided for your curiosity.

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The Coos Art Museum

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Founded by local artists in the 1960, The Coos Art Museum is the third oldest museum in Oregon and serves as a cultural hub of Oregon’s scenic South Coast.  The museum is located in a historical art deco building that was once the US Post Office in Downtown Coos Bay.  Special features include seven galleries with up to twenty-four annually changing exhibits and a Steve Prefontaine Memorial Room. Permanent art exhibits highlight contemporary fine art printmaking and artworks in all media by Pacific Northwest Artists.  

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The Coos has a strong reputation for producing high quality exhibits as well as educational programs.  Along with other impressive collections, this museum houses the large Maggie Karl Gallery, the Perkins Room Gallery and the Alcove Gallery along with a Rental/Sales Gallery on the main floor. You can also find the Mable Hansen Gallery and the spacious Uno Richter Atrium Gallery; complete with exposed brick walls and arched ceiling.  In addition there is the state-of-the art Permanent Collection storage and work area helps to keep Coos Art Museum’s over 540 works of art in pristine condition.

Exciting art classes and educational opportunities are also offered in this location.

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Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

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Show-Off Hill

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Live dangerously with the excitement of riding motorcycles, driving dune buggies, ATC’s or all-terrain or off-highway vehicles!  Swoop down from the top of 250-feet dunes while sand shoots out on all sides causing your heart to skip a beat!  Participate in wild times enjoying the beautiful and vast sand dunes of Show-Off Hill.  If this is too much commotion for you, the dunes are large enough to provide plenty of quieter and calmer spots for those who would prefer bird watching and/or hiking.  All areas are designated for their respective activity.  There’s room for fun to be had for all in the Oregon Dunes.  Don’t worry all activities are provided with safety in mind.  

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Sandboarding at Honeyman

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The wind is sand blasting anyone foolish enough to contemplate going for a hike in the Oregon Dunes. But there are ways to get out of the wind.  Sand Master Park is the world’s first sandboard park and is located 5 miles south at the top of Honeyman Memorial State Park. Once you are at the top of the dune, you can drop down just a few feet on the other side; the wind dies down considerably and has three runs to pick from.  One even has a great jump built in.  Caution, this sport is not for the faint of heart.  Dune riding requires a lot of walking because it’s the only way to the top.  Sand Master Jam, the biggest sandboaring event in the Oregon Dunes, takes place the third weekend of July each year.  You can cheer for your favorite sandboarder including locals, Gabriel Cruz, who is a two-time world sandboarding champion and his younger brother, Jackson.

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Kentucky Falls

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With three spectacular plunges, the Kentucky Falls area is worth a detour when heading to or from the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.  The Oregon Coast Range is not often considered a pristine natural gem, due to all the logging that has transpired over the years, but Kentucky Falls is an exception to that rule.  The trio of falls is accessible via a 4.4-mile out-and-back trail from the upper trailhead for the North Fork Smith River. This river drains a pocket of the Coast Range into the Umpqua River near the U.S. 101 Bridge at Reedsport.  The 100-foot Upper Kentucky Falls is a quick half mile hike from the parking area. Two others falls are side by side 1.7 miles farther downhill. Lower Kentucky Falls drops 100 feet, while North Fork Falls drops 120 feet. They can be viewed from the same vantage point, though you may want to walk a bit closer to see the North Fork Falls better.  Kentucky Creek provides two of the falls, before it joins the North Fork in a big basalt bowl that also cradles the North Fork Falls.  The trail continues seven miles down the North Fork Smith River, passing through an unlogged canyon bottom where trees grow quite large.  A beautiful day for avid nature lovers and hikers alike.

                                                         

Bandon Dunes Golf Course

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All green fees at the four big courses at Bandon Dunes range from $75 in November thru January, to $250 in September (Replay rates are $40 $125). If you have time for a third round in one day, it's always free.

           The original golf course, Bandon Dunes, opened in 1999 and was designed by David McLay Kidd. It's the only course on property in which the ninth and the 18th greens are near the pro shop, so it's the best option if you're only looking to play nine holes. Even in the afternoon winds it can still be fun. The layout is the perfect mix of challenge and forgiveness and there are plenty of ocean views and memorable holes.

             Beneath the iconic tree behind the 16th green and 17th tee -- where you enjoy a 180-degree view of the Oregon coastline -- is a favorite spot in golf.

Pacific Dunes opened in 2001 and was designed by Tom Doak. Bandon Dunes doesn't become the best pure golf destination in America without a course as fair and as challenging as Pacific Dunes. The fourth and 13th holes are in the conversation about the best par 4s in the country. The back-to-back par 3s to start the back nine are not nearly as quirky or strange as you might think by simply looking at the scorecard. Depending on the wind, you might have to start your 130-yard tee shot on the 11th hole several feet left of the treacherous hazard line.

             All you need to know about Pacific Dunes is that most experts ranking public golf courses in the United States put it right behind Pebble Beach.

Bandon Trails opened in 2005 and was built by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. For a design team with such an impressive portfolio, both Coore and Crenshaw aren't afraid to say Trails is one of their best. The polarizing 14th hole has been softened several times. It has been said that if you play for a birdie by trying to overpower the little green with driver and a putter you'll usually leave with a double bogey. The 16th and 18th have also been softened, which make those finishing holes, usually played into the wind, more fun and fair.

             The Old Macdonald Course opened in 2010 and was built by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina. A tribute to Charles Blair Macdonald, the father of golf in the United States, Doak and Urbina were asked to use some of the design strategies made famous by Macdonald's template holes, which are 25 to 30 of what Macdonald considered the best of golf holes in Great Britain (and France). From double greens, "Hell Bunker," and a "Biarritz" (which is a large and deep swale intersecting the green), Old Mac is a mix of quirky, fun and extremely forgiving off the tee. Most people play an entire round with one ball and caddies will often suggest the putter from anywhere within 50 yards of the flagstick. 

          Bandon Preserve is a 13-hole, par-3 course that opened in 2012 and fills the void of golfers not willing and/or able to play 36 holes of championship golf every day. You can use one of the free carry bags at the Preserve "pro shop," and you won't need much more than a 6-iron as you roam around the undulating dunes in less than 90 minutes. If the course is open, eightsomes are not out of the question. There's a drink shack centrally located to several holes throughout the round. If fun, laughs, birdies and bets are what you're looking for, you'll find Preserve a few steps from the Trails Course. Green fees are $50-100.

Shorty's, located near Bandon's massive practice facility, is another par-3 course, but this one's free. Named for the former caretaker of the land that has been used to build the resort, you and your group can pick teeing areas and greens in which you can duplicate the same kind of fun being had at Preserve.

         Punchbowl is the new, free putting course off the back deck of the Pacific Dunes clubhouse. It's a concentrated form of buddies, banter and betting that takes place on a golf course, but you'll never use more than one ball and a flatstick. Enthusiastic drink service and cup holders at the tee markers are a nice touch.

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7 Devils Brewing Company

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On any day at the local brewery, people cycle through in a steady stream, and most seem to be on a first-name basis with the owners. In addition to eight taps running from session to porter, the brewery offers a fresh, tasty menu sourced from local farmers, fishermen and bakers. At night, the restaurant fills with laughter and the clink of pint glasses above the strains of live music from the guitarist playing next to gleaming stainless steel tanks. The crowd spills onto the sun-warmed patio next to the ocean-friendly garden. At the end of the evening, a few people linger around the outdoor fire, nursing last call.  The crowd spills onto the sun-warmed patio next to the ocean-friendly garden. At the end of the evening, a few people linger around the outdoor fire, nursing last call. The Coos Bay’s local artistic talent is also showcased here; hence, the brewery’s design itself.  . One full side of the building is a hand-painted rendering of 19th century cartographer Jedediah Smith’s map of the area, including the treacherous series of ravines that he named the 7 Devils. The stained glass panel of the Shore Acres spruce divides the room, and an intricate chandelier of salvaged copper and blown glass cascades from the ceiling. The bar, chairs and tables, created out of South American hardwood salvaged from shipping pallets, add warmth and color. 7 Devils Brewing Company offers the residents and visitors a community hub.  If you are looking for a friendly place to rest your bones and surround yourself with Coos Bay hospitality, you have arrived.