65. Reedsport museum explores coastal life, environment.
It’s
a place to hear, view and learn about nature first-hand. At the Umpqua
Discovery Center, interactive exhibits and programs take visitors through a
voyage
illustrating how land, water and people have shaped each other over
time
Located
in Reedsport, the center is accessible from the boardwalk along the
Umpqua
River waterfront.
Inside
the center, visitors will find the Community Room, which houses ship
models
and displays of the life cycles of the oyster, crab and clam. The
Community
Room also is a place to relax on wooden benches surrounding a
periscope
and take in a spectacular view of the river.
In
the center’s natural history wing, visitors can use exhibits to learn
about
the geology of the Lower Umpqua area.
An
8-by-8 foot topographic map of the area is featured in the Umpqua
Landscape
Exhibit. Visitors can select from 24 multimedia programs as they
learn
about estuaries, watersheds, biodiversity and the change in the
landscape
and organisms.
In
addition, a weather station provides a number of instruments to help
visitors
learn about the maritime climate. Atmospheric pressure,
precipitation,
temperature, wind, clouds and fog affect the South Coast
intensely.
A
series of new exhibits is also in the process of being built. Tidewaters
and
Time will tell the story of a tidally influenced town. The story applies
to
Reedsport and a number of other South Coast communities.
Two
other exhibits ‹ Paradise of the Past and Early Explorers ‹ already have
been
completed and are embellished with the sounds of a rushing river and
feelings
of nature as visitors are taken back through history.
The
center is located at 409 Riverfront Way and can be reached by calling
541-271-4816.
66.
Walking on the docks by the bays.
With
the double attraction of boats (sometimes big fishing boats) and sea
life,
a walk on the docks in Charleston or at Winchester Bay is a great way
to
keep your kids busy for an afternoon.
Visitors
can see everything from sea anemones to harbor seals, and watch the
people
crabbing and the commercial fishing boats come in with their catches.
An
amazing amount of sea life lives in and around the docks. Sea lions are a
common
sight, hoping for a meal from a fishing boat and all kinds of
critters
hang onto the docks. There are many books available to help
identify
them, both in bookstores and at the local libraries.
There
are usually people crabbing, if you want to get a close look at a crab
out
of its natural environment. Also, the commercial fishing boats are a lot
of
fun to look at and watch unload their catch. There are all kinds of other
boats
to see as well.
67.
Let someone else do the driving.
For
a scenic ride without the driving, visitors and locals alike can ride
the
Coos Public Transit. This new bus line offers connections to several
beautiful
locations along the South Coast from North Bend to Brookings.
The
South County Connector trip starts at the West Entrance of the Pony
Village
Mall, North Bend. From there, it goes to Bandon where it meets with
the
Curry County Connector bus to motor down the coast, stopping at small
towns
all the way to Brookings. The bus lines also serve the Coquille Valley
towns
of Coquille and Myrtle Point. While in Langlois, you can visit the
many
antique shops. In Port Orford, historic Battle Rock offers visitors a
chance
to learn about a battle between Indians and Europeans. Others may
choose
to visit one of the many local artisan stores.
The
Loop bus line offers several bus stop locations around the Coos
Bay-North
Bend area. These bus rides around town cost $1 for adults, 50
cents
for children ages 6-8 and children 5 and under
ride free.
All
buses are handicapped accessible and have seats for up to 12 people,
with
room for two wheelchairs. Buses run Monday through Friday only.
Children
under 5 must be accompanied by a parent.
For
schedules, those interested can stop by chamber of commerces, libraries
and
Safeway stores.
68.
Local theaters feature variety shows and classic plays.
Visitors
should stop in at area chambers of commerce and visitors centers
for
updates on current plays and other events.
Florence
Events Center, 715 Quince St., Florence www.eventcenter.org
On
Broadway Theater, 226 S. Broadway, Coos Bay
Little
Theater on the Bay, 2100 Sherman Ave., North Bend
Waterfront
Players, 1611 Virginia Ave., North Bend
Sawdust
Theatre, First and Adams streets, Coquille
Performing
Arts Theater, 97900 Shopping Center Ave., Brookings
Nesika
Beach Little Theater, Grange and Nesika Beach Loop, Nesika
69. The Rogue River’s not just for rafters.
For
the more hardcore hikers, the Rogue Trail is an excellent option. It is
a
little far for a day hike, but if you want to make a weekend of it, this
is
a great trail for it.
The
Rogue Trail is about 46 miles long and was created as a pack trail so
the
mail could be carried to the people living along the Rogue River. The
fastest
way to reach the trailhead is to go past Powers on the Powers
Highway.
At the top of the mountain take the left fork and go down. The r
oad
is
gravel and narrow.
If
camping out at night is not your thing, there are several lodges along
the
river. The Illahee Lodge is about a mile and a half from the trail head
and
there is also Paradise Lodge, as well as several others. You need
reservations
to stay at any of the lodges.
More
intrepid hikers can arrange with one of the lodges to be taken upriver
and
dropped off so they can hike down and then camp under the stars, or stay
the
night at any of the lodges along the trail. Prices at the lodges range
from
$85 to $110 a night.
For
more information, those interested can call the lodges directly or call
Rogue
River Reservations at 247-6504.
There
are several other trails in the area that are also good hiking. The
Illinios
Trail at Agness not only accommodates two-legged hikers, but horses
as
well. There is also another, shorter trail along the Rogue River, below
the
Rogue trail that is about 15 miles long, but is fairly rugged.
More of Interest:
70.
Coastal estuaries attract more than feathered visitors.
Fresh
water meets salt water at the South Slough National Estuarine Reserve
just
inland from the Charleston Harbor. Dozens of species of birds have been
recorded
in and around this tranquil aquatic wildlife sanctuary. Depending
on
the season, birdwatchers may catch sight of a variety of shorebirds
including
plovers and yellowlegs. Charleston also is a favorite migration
stop
for Brant geese, as well as more common ducks and occasional harlequin
ducks
and old squaw.
For
specific information about birdwatching tours offered by South Slough,
those
interested can call the reserve’s interpretive center at 888-5558.
In
Coos Bay and North Bend, people often take their spotting scopes to
pull-outs
north of the McCullough Bridge to watch shorebirds at low tide. In
North
Bend, The Mill Casino parking lot, which overlooks Coos Bay is also a
good
place to spot a variety of grebes, herons and loons.
Across
the bay in Eastside, Millicoma Marsh offers people who like to hike a
quiet,
meandering trail from which to scope out a variety of species on land
and
water. Ducks and geese are common, as are swallows, shorebirds, warblers
and
other songbirds. Those who are early morning hikers may be lucky enough
to
spot sora and Virginia rails in the marsh.
To
the south, the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge near Bullards Beach
State
Park is a popular birding spot for shorebirds and raptors.
71.
Scuba diving for exploration, dinner.
Some
of the South Coast’s richest treasures are under the sea: giant sea
anemones
that resemble overgrown chrysanthemums, brightly colored
rock-dwelling
China rockfish and jungles of kelp that rival the beauty of a
South
American rainforest. Beyond the beauty, catching fish and shellfish
for
dinner can be an adventure in itself.
Getting
there can be a problem.
Sunset
Sports in the Pony Village Mall and Seasports Dive Center, out of
Springfield,
are popular starting points. They have all the gear necessary
for
an underwater adventure and can help arrange for lessons and an undersea
trip.
Local
destinations such as Orford Reef and Cape Arago are popular, but the
boat
operator ‹ and divers ‹ must remember it’s dangerous around reefs.
“Wash
rocks” are hidden right below the surface and currents can run strong
between
the pinnacles and rock walls under water.
There
are several marine gardens and marine reserves along the coast, and
regulations
vary for taking home fish and shellfish. Oregon Department of
Fish
& Wildlife fishing regulations identify areas in which and how many
animals
can be taken.
72.
Sailing: Not all visitors arrive by plane, car or motorhome.
Passing
through the eye of the wind, the sails begin to luff, sounding like
a
hundred flags snapping in the breeze. Falling off on a new tack, the sails
fill
and the boat begins to heel, accelerating on its new course.
The
bay is a great place to sail. The trip from Charleston to the Coos Bay
City
Dock is a 12-nautical mile excursion each way. The time it takes to
make
the trip depends upon the tides and wind direction.
Trying
to make headway against an ebbing tide and wind can be impossible.
Sailors
need to check the tides and keep an open schedule before planning a
day
of sailing.
Offshore
sailing is thrilling and demanding. Crossing the bar out into the
Pacific
can be challenging. Currents, ocean swells and tidal surges affect
how
a boat handles. Once offshore, wind-waves can break over the bow,
sending
water back to the cockpit ‹ so dress accordingly.
Coos
Bay is home to two yacht clubs. The South Coast Offshore Yacht Club
(based
in Charleston) and the Coos Bay Yacht Club (based at Tenmile Lakes in
Lakeside).
More
information on sailing the bay can be obtained by contacting the U.S.
Coast
Guard. Charts and nautical supplies are available at Englund Marine
Supply
in Charleston.
73.
Off-highway routes worth a leisurely afternoon drive.
The
Smith River/Umpqua River Auto Tour is a relaxing way to spend the day
exploring
two coastal rivers systems in the Reedsport area.
The
tour is about 65 miles long, starting at the Smith River Highway between
Gardiner
and Reedsport off U.S. Highway 101.
The
Smith River Highway winds along the river, passing several small farms
and
ranches and active timber operations. There are several boat ramps along
the
road for fishermen to launch their boats.
About
13 miles up river is a former log dump where timber harvested in the
nearby
hills was trucked to the river and floated down to mills in Reedsport
and
Gardiner. At this spot the tidal influences of the Pacific Ocean stop.
It
has not been used since the mid 1980s.
Farther
up river is Smith River Falls and a little farther is the Vincent
Creek
Recreation Area.
From
here, the tour route turns south, meandering through the Coastal Range
to
Scottsburg, coming out to Highway 38 at the Wells Creek Guard Station.
The
route then moves down the Umpqua River to Reedsport where drivers pass
the
road to Loon Lake and the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area a couple of miles
east
of Reedsport.
74.
Coastal wildflowers are favorites with photographers.
South
Coast residents and tourists alike enjoy hikes out into the forests
and
along trails to search for wildflowers to photograph. To get the really
fine
photos, it may require a little more planning than just carrying a
camera.
--Choosing
the equipment: If you like wide angle shots of flowers, choose a
camera
that has a lens between 24 and 50 millimeters.
To
photograph wildflowers up close, macro lenses are perfect. This type of
camera
lens allows a photographer to shoot a picture within a few inches of
the
subject.
To
shoot from a distance, you may want to choose a longer-lensed camera. A
lens
with a 80-200 millimeter or higher rating is called a zoom lens and is
for
shooting objects from a great distance.
--Choosing
the film: The higher the ASA or ISO of a film, the less sunlight
is
required for the photo. If you are planning on taking pictures on a
bright
and sunny day, you could choose a film speed of 100 to 200. If there
are
gray clouds or you plan on shooting at sunset, you might choose to a 400
ASA
film.
Film
or slide film speeds range from 25 ASA to 3200 ASA and can be purchased
at
most department stores.
--
Choosing location: Many areas ranging from South Coast beaches to your own
backyard
can yield a wide variety of wildflowers. Shore Acres State Park
near
Charleston is a good spot to start, with manicured gardens that have
hundreds
of flowers and a nearby trail that can lead hikers to a variety of
native
flowers.
--
Choosing a subject: Due to its temperate climate, the South Coast is
ablaze
with myriad wildflowers throughout the summer. Look for fireweed,
bleeding
heart, foxglove, iris, various lilies, bush and beach lupine,
columbine
and the beautiful but invasive purple loosestrife.
More of Interest:
75.
Horse shows offer glimpse at rural life.
Local
youth find plenty to do in the summer on the South Coast, especially
those
interested in horses. Horse shows are great fun and open to the
public.
4-H’ers from all over the county compete for high point awards, ride
for
the best placings, gallop at top speed and keep smiles on their faces
all
day long.
There
is always a cook shack with real horse show flavor. The price is
always
a good deal and people usually do not have to belong to any special
group
to compete or to watch.
The
excitement is free to everyone. The season has already begun. Schedules
of
horse shows can be found at many places including tack shops, feed
stores,
and the Oregon State University Extension office in Coquille. Or,
visitors
can stop by one of the arenas in the area. In Hauser, there is the
George
Riley arena, or south of Coos Bay, the Family Four Stables on U.S.
Highway
101 South. The fairgrounds in Myrtle Point also are a good place to
catch
a glimpse of local riders and their equines during the Coos County
Fair in August.