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....

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.

We came to visit the museum in the lighthouse and we were surprised to find this delightful little…read moregift shop and Cafe. The cookies are huge and delicious and the vegetable turnover was such a treat. Reasonably priced and great for a quick lunch or a coffee when you are visiting the museum.

This gift shop is adorable! It's mostly touristy stuff, but they do have some food and drinks as…read morewell as some specific souvenirs that you can buy. The people working here are friendly and enjoy their jobs. They seem a little bored but they help you immediately when you need something. Make sure to stop in here after the museum and lighthouse tour! You'll probably find a fun souvenir to take home!

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.

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.

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.

This is one of the reasons we are on the Coast. Chase…read morelighthouses -active or not. This one is a not but you can go in. At the head of the river entrance. The light was 28 seconds white , 2 seconds no light. And a coal fired fog horn. Whata Life.

Nice park. Loved the partially restored river lighthouse. Enjoyed the gift shop. Staff at friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. I'm a little puzzled by a lack of lighthouse shirts and sweatshirts. I surely would have purchased two as my wife who could not enter with her wheelchair still made me go back and double check I didn't miss it the first time. It's a well set up attraction. While the opportunity to raise funds by selling items, I gladly donated the price of a shirt to hopefully move park service towards further developement of this gem.