82.
Dunes aren’t the only places that beckons to motorcyclists
For
the ultimate off-road riding experience, check out the Winchester Trail system.
It is located south of Coos Bay at milepost 251 on U.S. Highway 101. Parking is
available at the staging area along the highway.
Thirty
miles of single-track trails and roads are open for action. The system is
considered challenging --- potholes, hills, exposed tree roots, drop-offs and
plenty of steep corners make this a paradise for motorcycle enthusiasts. Trails
are numbered and maps of the trail system are available courtesy of the South
Coast Trail Riders Association. These maps are free and available at motorcycle
shops throughout the Bay Area.
Those
interested in the South Coast Trail Riders are encouraged to attend their
monthly meetings held the first Wednesday of each month at the Fisherman’s
Grotto in North Bend at 6:30 p.m. This group organizes trail rides, sponsors
riding events and trail maintenance gatherings.
Use
caution when riding this system --- mountain bikers are avid riders of these
trails, too. Most of the time they can detect motorcyclists coming and make room
on the trails.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
83.
Tours can entertain business minded
Any
business tour of the South Coast would have to begin at the Newmark Center.
The
public-private partnership has been recognized as a model organization that
houses 20 agencies --- state, county and local non-profits --- all intent on
providing residents with employment services.
Newmark
Center employees look at barriers that residents have toward employment to
determine the how and where of getting them to work.
Partnership
Coordinator Mike Emmett said anyone looking for work can talk to at least five
different agencies under one roof.
The
Newmark Center is located at 2110 Newmark and is owned by Southwestern Oregon
Community College. Partner agencies pay rent to the college to maintain their
offices.
But
a business tour wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Oregon
International Port of Coos Bay. As the largest deep water port with open ocean
access between San Francisco and Seattle, the port has played a traditional and
current role in the South Coast economy.
The
port also operates and manages the Business Enterprise Center in North Bend. The
center, also known as the business incubator, houses several start-up business
at low-cost rent for a period up to three years.
Most
recently, it also brought in one of the newest and largest employers in the
county, 800 Support --- a call-in technical support center.
Retail
centers, forestry operations, etc., also offer tours. For more information about
opportunities, those interested can contact the Bay Area Chamber of
Commerce,
269-0215.
84.
Catch the action and sounds of seals and sea lions
In
any harbor on the South Coast, you can see big-eyed harbor seals and whiskered
sea lions as they search near the docks for tasty tidbits. If people are
crabbing off the docks using fish carcasses for bait, the seals and sea lions
may rise up out of the water very near the docks. They come in close to try and
take the fish. It is exciting (and sometimes startling) if one of these large
animals explodes out of the water right along side of you as they surface for a
quick breath of air.
But
a sure place to watch these animals in a more natural habitat is the Shell
Island viewpoint located between Shore Acres State Park and Cape Arago State
Park.
The
high coast cliff there has room to park and is fenced. It affords a view of a
rocky island and an extensive area of reefs where the mammals find food, shelter
and a place to protect their young.
The
island is near enough that the raucous grunts and calls of the adults can be
easily heard, but to really study the animals and watch all the activities as
they gracefully swim near the island or clumsily climb onto the sand or rocks,
binoculars are helpful. When the tide is out, the island beach is exposed and
sometimes is nearly covered with the brown and gray sea mammals as they rest in
the sun. At high tide, only the rocks are exposed and the seals climb onto them
to take a break from hunting and frolicking in their watery world.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
85.
Tide Pools can be windows to tiny, thriving worlds
On
a trip to the coast’s rocky shore, it’s impossible for most visitors to stay
away from the tidepools. Tidepooling can be fun and educational with some
cautions in mind.
There
are all kind of plants and animals to be seen at low tide in the pools of
saltwater left behind in rocky areas.
Sunset
Beach is one of the many favorite spots in the area to explore. The Coast to
Crest Interpreters League leads many tidepool tours throughout the year,
especially for schoolchildren.
Tidepools
are best viewed at low tide. Those who visit the tidepools are asked to walk
carefully on the tops of the rocks. It’s best to avoid stepping in pools or on
covered rocks. Besides being slippery, it can harm the tidepool inhabitants.
It’s OK to lift an occasional rock to see what lives underneath, but be sure
to replace the rock precisely as you found it. Tidepoolers also should not
ignore the ocean or the tide and be aware of sneaker waves. These large waves
are responsible for drownings on the coast every year.
For
more information about tidepooling and other programs offered at Sunset Bay
State Park, those interested can call 888-4902.
86. See where the cranberries grow
Cranberries...they make a great garnish on a holiday
table, add zing to muffins and are the staple in cranberry sauce served at
Thanksgiving dinners. They're unique in how they're grown and how they're
harvested. The bright red berries are grown in bogs and typically harvested
sometime in October, though the exact starting date varies according to the
sugar content of the berries. Some growers have bogs that visitors can see while
driving U.S. Highway 101 south of Bandon, where there are more acres of bogs
than anywhere else in the state. Oregon ranks fourth in the country for
cranberry production, behind Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Jersey, but most
of the farms are in Coos and Curry counties. Some farms, like Faber Farms, just
northeast of Bandon, offer tours. The harvest lasts for about a month, so
visitors are urged to call ahead. The tour begins with a flooded bog and workers
beating the cranberies off the vine. A truck vacuums up the floating berries and
delivers them to a receiving shed, where other growers also bring their harvest
before shipping them to a processing company. Faber Farms also has a gift shop,
Cranberry Scoop, that carries all sorts of cranberry products: Cranberry jarred
products, candles, Christmas Ornaments, and more. The phone number at Faber
Farms is 347-1166. Tours run in September during Bandon's Cranberry Festival,
and start up again in October
More of Interest:
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
87.
No need for kids to stay just at the beach
There
are a variety of activities for children on the South Coast in the summer.
There
are swimming pools in Coos Bay, Coquille and North Bend and summer programs for
youngsters in most of the libraries on the South Coast. Parents need to call and
find out what the hours of operation for each of the pool and when the libraries
hold programs.
The
Coos County 4-H Extension Office will hold a residential summer camp this year
from July 10-14, 2000 for students who have completed grades 3 through 6. This
year’s theme is “Mystical,
Magical Camp” and students will
participate in a variety of things including, swimming, hiking and different
field activities.
To
register, those interested must go to the extension office at 290 N. Central in
Coquille, or call 396-3121, ext.
240 for more information.
At
Southwestern Oregon Community College, several camps will be held this summer,
including basketball, running, 4-H and computers. For more information, those
interested can call (800) 962-2838, ext. 7238.
The Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon also has a variety of programs from sports to Saturday Academy programs where students can learn a new skill, craft or go on field trips. For more information on the organization’s offerings, those interested can call 541-267-3635.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
Waterskiing is an outdoor sport that can be fun and good exercise at the same time. In the South Coast, there are two major places to go: Tenmile Lakes and Loon Lake.
Tenmile Lakes consists of two lakes and is in Lakeside, 20 miles north of Coos
Bay-North Bend on U.S. Highway 101. The two lakes, promptly named north and
south, offer 187 miles of shoreline for waterskiing enthusiasts. Tenmile Lakes
has many advantages: It has very little wind because of the surrounding hilltops
that can make waterskiing a lot more enjoyable; minimal rough waters; the lake
is not very deep reaching depths of 20 feet at the most; because of the shallow
depths, the water heats up faster in the summer months and isn't as cold.
Lakeside is also home of the Water Festival on July 28-30, with a
waterskiing show a part of the activities. Waterskiers can rent many types of
equipment from the Lakeside Marina, including wave runners and skiboats. To
contact the marina, call 759-3312.
Another waterskiing hot spot is Loon Lake northeast of Reedsport off of Highway 38. The lake, which is five miles east from the U.S. Highway 101 exit in Reedsport, is equipped with a resort and full-service campground. Loon Lake is a large lake surrounded by beautiful scenery and a pleasant drive from Highway 38. For those interested in staying overnight at the lake, Loon Lake Lodge is one option and can be reached at 599-2244. On rare occasions, the Bay in North Bend and Coos Bay has waterskiers depending on the weather.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
Musical
events hit a high note in the Bay Area each summer.
Jazz?
It’s just another reason to visit the South Coast June 2000, when Bill
Borcher’s Bash by the Bay will reunite many of the more than 250 musicians who
have played with the Oregon Jazz, the longest regular-playing Dixieland group
playing in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth-oldest in the whole world.
Other
groups in the three-day festival will include local favorites, the Coos Bay
Clambake, Northwest Swing, the Steve Krajcir Trumpet Trio and Young Bucs. Other
groups plan to travel to the bash including the Pussyfoot Stompers from
Roseburg; the 10th Avenue Jazz Band from San Jose, Calif.; and two Oregon Jazz
Band alumni bands with members from across the western states.
Other
events will include an art show, swing dance lessons, a clam chowder lunch,
special rates for charter fishing trips, a nine-hole golf scramble, guided tours
of the dunes and wetlands. For tickets or other information, those interested
can call 888-4386, fax 888-2285 or e-mail to paborcher@aol.com.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast
90.
Visit to coast not complete without hike in old growth forest
Accessibility
is the issue for those who want to hike an old-growth forest in Coos County.
While ancient giants can be found in South Coast forests and federal lands,
finding trails and roads to get to them may be a challenge.
Two
of the most beautiful and accessible spots are on land owned by the Bureau of
Land Management.
The
closest to town, the Big Tree Recreational Area, is on Cherry Creek. A day-use
area with picnic tables and a bathroom can provide for an afternoon of relaxing.
According
to Alan Hoffmeister, public affairs officer for the BLM, visitors can find
400-year-old Douglas fir alongside ancient hemlock and red cedar.
While
the Douglas fir for which the area was named was cut down after it died several
years ago, the hike through the forest of towering giants still is
awe-inspiring.
To
reach Big Tree, take the Coquille-Fairview road to Fairview. From Fairview,
follow the Coos Bay Wagon Road east about six miles to Cherry Creek County Park.
Turn left there and follow the gravel road about five miles to the day use area.
A small loop trail will guide visitors around the old growth.
In
extreme eastern Coos County, visitors can find the Doerner Fir, the national
champion for coastal Douglas fir. At 330 feet tall and estimated at 400 to 600
years old, the Doerner Fir towers above other trees.
Finding
the Doerner Fir is tricky. Hoffmeister suggests stopping at the Bay Area Chamber
of Commerce or BLM office for maps to the area. Arriving at the Doerner Fir will
take driving on gravel roads.
91.
Elderhostel events offer glimpse into coast
For
those who plan to spend the summer on the South Coast, Southwestern Oregon
Community College is the place to learn a new language or pick up a new craft. A
variety of courses will be offered at the college, including beginning writing
and several different art classes.
The
summer 2000 schedules were mailed out to area residents the first week of May
and schedules are available on campus. Open registration begins on May 22,2000.
For more information about registering, those interested can call 888-7420.
For
people over age 55 who do not live on the South Coast, there are other
opportunities to explore this part of the state. The Elderhostel program through
Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay offers several programs this
summer.
Elderhostel
is a nationwide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the educational needs of
people over 55. Started in New England in 1975, the program now has 10,000
programs year-round and serves 250,000 people.
Locally,
Sally Hampton coordinates the Elderhostel programs. The first one of the summer
will begin May 21,2000 and runs through May 27, and is called “The Beautiful
Oregon Coast --- Where Flora, Fauna and Industry Work Together.” In the
program, visitors will experience the area’s ocean beaches, dunes, study plant
and animal life, see sea lions and Shore Acres State Park, and discover how the
area’s natural resources supply local commercial industries and are managed in
a conscious manner.
Hampton
said Elderhostel programs offered locally are not normally open to area
residents. However, this time she said there are a few openings for locals.
Hampton said residents are not required to pay the fee to the national office,
nor would they need motel accommodations.
The
cost of the week-long program for locals is $152, and that price excludes the
cost of breakfast and dinners.
Other
Elderhostel programs that will bring people to visit the South Coast area summer
and fall 2000 include:
July
17-23,2000
The
22nd-annual Oregon Music
Festival, Week 1 --- Meet conductors, learn about festival history and
study music.
Life
at the Water’s Edge on Oregon’s South Coast --- Explore beaches, sand dunes, an estuarine reserve
and learn about native plants.
July
24-30,2000
The
22nd-annual Oregon Music Festival, Week 2 --- Meet conductors, learn about festival history and
study music.
Diverse
Landscapes --- Diverse Life on Oregon’s South Coast --- Discover coastal landforms,
how the climate influences diverse plan life and see slide presentations and go
on field trips around the area.
Aug.
13-19,2000
Prehistory:
Geology and Anthropology of Oregon’s South Coast --- This course focuses on local
examples of rock formations, a classic estuary, the Oregon Dunes, earthquake
activity and more.
Return to 101 Things to Do on Oregon's South Coast