3. See What’s in Bloom at Shore Acres State Park
Situated off the Cape Arago Highway, approximately 13 miles from Coos Bay, Shore Acres is a unique state park perched atop an ocean cliff. Before becoming a public park in the 1940s, this stunning property belonged to Louis Simpson, a prominent timber baron and a vital figure of the region’s development.
Alongside a mansion, which burnt down in 1921, Louis Simpson installed a fantastic array of gardens and landscaping. This botanical display remains today as a magnet for anyone that enjoys cultivated coastal beauty. Something is always in bloom within the property’s collection, including a Japanese Garden and All-American Rose Garden.
Shore Acres is also home to a favorite holiday tradition in the area. The gardens are ablaze with holiday lights and decorations between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. This seasonal light display adds a colorful attraction to the early evenings this time of year.
It’s not all gardens at Shore Acres; the property also offers fantastic views of the dramatic ocean. An enclosed observation center now sits where Simpson’s mansion once presided, offering a beautiful view protected from the elements. The waves against the sea cliff are mesmerizing in their size and dramatic impact.
4. Explore the Coves at Cape Arago State Park
At the southern end of the Cape Arago Highway, Cape Arago State Park offers a range of oceanic activities. The park is divided between a north and south section accessible from a paved parking area.
To the south, a moderately steep hiking trail navigates Drake Point and accesses the sandy South Cove. Here, activities like sandcastle building and tide pooling are popular. Every activity in the South Cove comes with distant views of Coquille Point and Cape Blanco.
Fishing and beachcombing are more prevalent in Cape Arago’s North Cove. This area also includes views of the offshore Shell Island, where hundreds of seals and sea lions are heard barking above the surf.
Cape Arago also provides picnic tables and flushing restrooms near the parking area between the North and South Coves. Migrating whales tend to pass by in view from this picnic area, which faces the ocean.
