This botanical garden has become a traditional stop while traveling along highway 101. It's a…read moreperfect place to get out and stretch your legs or use the facilities. The walk to the Cobra Lilies, aka Pitcher Plants isn't long at all, maybe a quarter mile round trip. It's a beautiful walk through trees to a boardwalk through the Darlingtonia garden. We've never been when they're in bloom, but they are definitely something interesting to see any time of year. I would highly recommend!

If you are headed to Honeyman or Heceta, this reserve is just one minute off the side of Highway…read more101 between those two parks. Darlingtonia is the only Oregon State Park dedicated to protecting one single species: the Darlingtonia. The only plant in this species is the Cobra Lily, which is the only pitcher plant native to Oregon. (In other words, this state park exists to protect the cobra lilies that grow here.) The reserve is small, but definitely worth checking out. A short accessible boardwalk crosses a bog filled with several hundred, if not a few thousand, cobra lilies. The 'pitcher' part of the plant, which is the part that resembles a cobra, is visible year round. In spring, it puts up yellow and purple flowers. Many of these flowers dry in place, and are still somewhat visible in winter. Even without the flowers in bloom, the pitchers themselves are neat and pretty to look at. There is no fee to visit Darlingtonia. The small parking area only has room for about ten cars or so, but it takes less than fifteen minutes to walk through.

Beautiful park and reasonable prices. Quiet location, exceptionally maintained. What s gem!read more

What a great little village to stroll around. So many charming shops and lots to see…read more Even a character lowrider.

This park is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it space on Bay Street located between Kitchen Klutter and…read moreMilk & Cookies. I was walking and almost didn't see it, because it's tiny and there are some bushes that shield the gazebo and benches from view. It's a great place to take a moment to rest whilst wandering Bay Street, and in some instances it can allow for a nice bit of solitude. When I was there in December, there was almost no one else around, but it wasn't raining nor was it too cold that I skipped taking a few minutes at this secluded park for myself. If you walk past the gazebo, there's a deck overlooking the Siuslaw river, where at times you might see some of the various animals (birds, otters, etc.) that call the river home. Though I tried, I did not see any otters playing in the water (I'm not sure what their season is). This park is located on what was once the ferry landing, prior to the construction of the Siuslaw River Bridge. I think it's cool that they preserved this area as a park. There is a cool water fountain just outside the park that has three levels for drinking, which is clever and makes it easy for the little ones to have a sip! There's a plaque right by the fountain pointing out that the Oregon Dune Mushers' Mail Run went through here. (As an aside, this is a quirky race that once took place, in part to commemorate a time when the beaches were used as highways--in fact, the beach area between low- and high-tide marks is part of the Oregon highway system.) You can rent the place for various gatherings; special use permits are free, but a permit is required, and the deadline for submission varies based upon the number of attendees so plan accordingly.

This trail is a hidden gem! We went two separate times, in the morning and in the afternoon, and…read moreboth times we were able to get parking. The beach wasn't busy either time! The morning time was foggy but so beautiful. It was super sunny in the afternoon. Parking can be tricky and a bit scary parking on the side of the road, but just keep an eye on the road and you'll be fine. The trail is shaded and is steady for the most part. There are a few steep areas as you get near the beach, but just prepare yourself for the view once you get there. The sand is soft, the water is cold, and you'll feel like you have thee beach to yourself. Remember to clean up after yourself!

I thought it was rather anti-climactic. ‍ Had hoped it would be arched w/foliage... but it was…read moremostly just a trail. ‍ i don't think i'll go back anytime soon.

We bought two adult sand sleds from Venomous Sandboards for a trip to the Pismo Beach Dunes a…read morecouple of years ago. Lon provided excellent advice about the sand at our destination, how to apply wax to the sled and what to expect. He is extremely knowledgeable and eager to share his expertise. Our sleds and wax arrived on time, and following his directions, we had an absolute blast! Now, a couple of years later, we are heading to the dunes near Morro Bay. We couldn't find the wax we originally purchased, so we needed to quickly reorder before our trip. Once again, Lon came through. He personally followed up to ensure timely delivery and gave me a refresher on the wax instructions and what to expect. Venomous Sandboards is an outstanding company and it is evident that the owner and employees care about their customers' experiences. If you're planning a trip to the dunes, I highly recommend Venomous Sandboards and Sand Master Park Sandboarding & Store in Florence, Oregon!

Important Note: This is a cash-only business -- and unfortunately, that's not listed on their…read morewebsite. When we first visited to rent a sandboard or sled, the woman at the counter was surprisingly unfriendly, which made the experience a bit uncomfortable. We went through all the rental questions and paperwork, only to find out at the end that they only accept cash , no Venmo, Zelle options...and there's no ATM on site. It was very inconvenient, especially since this important detail wasn't mentioned online. Thankfully, my son was still able to get a board in the end, but the process could have been much smoother with clearer communication and a more welcoming attitude.

Beautiful small park but nothing about the 'splodin' whale. Not even a plaque or nuthin'. Give the…read morepeople what they are here for -- a true homage to the event. Pretty views to the sand dunes and bridge

This park is named after the November 1970 incident of an exploding whale (although not the site of…read morethe original event). This is a calm park with a sandy beach and a small trail. Dogs are allowed.

Such a stunner this one! Oregon has a great coastline but this one comes with a side of light…read morehouse. Devils elbow state park isn't just a fun name it's a beautiful location to have picnic and enjoy the sandy shoreline.

On our way to Newport, we decided to take the scenic route to Oregon coast via 101. We were…read moreenjoying the nice coastal view but didn't have the chance to stop because it was getting late for us to reach our destination. Until we saw a lighthouse from a distance and decided to check it out. We took a turn and saw lots of cars parked near the bridge where we were at. From the parking lot, we were greeted by an amazing view of the beach and a lovely structure perched on top of a hill. We found out that this structure used to be the lighthouse keeper's house which is now into converted into a bed and breakfast. Unfortunately, the lighthouse is nowhere to be seen. We were told that we needed to hike up a half mile to reach it. As I have mentioned earlier, it was starting to get dark so we ditched the idea. I hope someday, I'll be able to go back to stay in this B&B and hike up to the lighthouse.

This park has it all with freshwater lakes to swim in and giant dunes to hike and play in. It's a…read morepopular park but very large too so you can "get away." Also, getting a day pass allows you to visit other nearby state parks w/o additional fees.

Just camped here for three days last week. After having a TTrails original camping membership we…read morehad forgotten what reliable hot showers with working amenities were. Every morning I went to take a shower, there were two lovely Forest Service dressed ladies cleaning the restrooms and showers. They were smiling and pleasant. Yes. Some campers will mess up the restrooms which cannot be helped, but this campground was on it. Our restroom had 8 individual private showers, one was wheelchair accommodating. This park was paved and had well marked trails leading to Dunes, or across a sky bridge to the lake. The Dunes also had a small lake which you could rent Kayaks, paddle boats, and fishing poles. The park had many places for family reunions, or weddings. They also had a boat launch for both lakes, and a dump station. Oh yes! They also had garbage, recycling, and propane can recycling too. There were well marked signs of campsites, and warnings. This place was great!

An amazing park for members. Their hospitality and facilities are both rustic and modern. They have…read moreaccess to the sand, full hookups, clean restrooms, and a great indoor rec room to hang out it. I love this Park!

We Love Odd Fellows. We consider it our home away from home. The staff is always friendly and…read morehelpful and the location couldn't be more perfect for the dunes enthusiast.

On our recent visit to the Oregon coast we had the opportunity to cross several of the historic…read moreConde McCullough designed bridges. This one crossing the Suislaw River was particularly photogenic.