OPEN FOR ADVENTURE

Reedsport / Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce 2741 Frontage Road, Reedsport, OR 97467 · 541-271-3495 www.reedsportcc.org

Get Lost in Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works

Inside the NEW Ripleys, Believe It Or Not World of Adventure you will find Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works. The Wax Works is an immersive exploration of the Photo courtesy of Ripleys past and a journey into fantasy-fun all in one walkable, self-paced experience.

You can fly with Iron Man or hang with Captain America and other superheroes as they battle evil forces. Have a lesson on flags from Sheldon or converse with Beyonce while she prepares for her next concert. Be careful because there are stranger things lurking about and you never know “who” or “what” you might find once you enter into the depths. In the meantime, sit at the resolute desk and draft up legislation or join Taylor on stage for a song or two.

In the end there is fun to be had by kids of all ages from 1 to 100. Remember, you don’t have to be fast to outrun Bigfoot…you only need to be faster than those who you are with you…be careful out there and stay curious!

Located in Mariner Square: 250 SW Bay Blvd. #4535, Newport.

www.ripleys.com/newport

Discover Whales & Sea Life

One of the greatest adventures visitors can have in Newport is a trip aboard the 65-foot Discovery, the spacious tour boat operated by Marine Discovery Tours. Endorsed by the Oregon Coast Aquarium as a “Floating Adventure,” this award-winning Newport Sea Lions. Photo by Ken Gagne family-owned business was started in 1992 by a West Coast fisherman, Captain Don Mathews, and his wife, Fran, a marine journalist and storyteller. They, and their fun team of naturalists, love sharing their “close to shore back yard” – Yaquina Bay and River, and the nearby Pacific, with its abundant Oregon sea life. Their team’s mission statement says it all: “Share hands-on activities and information that lead to connections with the aquatic world. Have fun. Repeat the process!” They annually welcome aboard visitors — from local families to international travelers, students on field trips, special events, and motor coach groups from across North America.

Expeditions look for gray whales, seals, sea lions, porpoise, and sea birds tucked amidst the spectacular Oregon coastline. Guests are entertained with coastal stories ranging from the early lighthouse keepers to modern day fishermen with satellite-driven navigation systems. Hands-on activities include pulling up crab pots filled with Dungeness crab, Oregon’s official “State Crustacean”, from sparkling inland waters. Volunteers help tow plankton nets to view the microscopic base of all ocean food chains… favorite local seafood courtesy of these mighty microscopic wonders! Guests love grabbing new shots for Facebook albums, and navigation lessons are a favorite feature with the captain. All ages welcome!

Safety & Fun are #1: the route is determined daily by the captain. If the ocean is calm and safe, the Discovery heads out of harbor. If the conditions are found rough at the ocean crossing, no worries - the captain will re-route the experience to calmly cruise through 4,000 acres of salt water bay and freshwater river systems. Both routes include a variety of sea life, sights and activities, with matching stories.

Berthed conveniently on Newport’s Bayfront, the Discovery is the largest passenger vessel on the coast. Loads of one-of-a-kind features include comfortable seating for all in a heated cabin, two levels of spacious outdoor decks, a video microscope connected to monitors displaying plankton catches, and radar and GPS activity with the latest in safety equipment. Refreshments include organic coffee, plus Rogue Ales and Oregon wines for purchase. Special group event cruises are available for brunches, dinner parties, family reunions, weddings, and the scattering of ashes at sea.

Make reservations for a unique must-do Newport experience that’s available from March through October with Marine Discovery Tours at (541) 265-6200. marinediscovery.com

1-800-COAST44 / DISCOVERNEWPORT.COM

Coos Bay & North Bend

photo by Steve Hammons

This unique section of the Oregon oceanfront is known as Oregon’s Adventure Coast for several reasons, and when you arrive in the area, you will easily see why. With indoor and outdoor, water-centric sports and nature providing the backdrop for your visit, there are certainly lots of things to do. The Coos Bay Area is comprised of more than one community. Coos Bay (the water, an estuary of several rivers) is dominated by Coos Bay (the city), and its neighbors, North Bend and Charleston.

For a closer look at the waterfront activity, as well as the opportunity to learn about Coos Bay’s ties to the maritime and timber industries—both past and present— take a stroll along the Coos Bay Boardwalk and visit the Interpretive Center located in downtown Coos Bay, at 50 Central Avenue, (541) 269-0215 or (800) 824-8486.

www.oregonsadventurecoast.com

Coos Bay is the largest city on the Oregon Coast and is the area’s commercial and cultural hub. There are many intriguing restaurants, gourmet coffeehouses, bookstores, antique shops, gift shops and comfortable lodging. Just about anything the traveler might require is available in this unique community. North Bend is situated on the north bend of the bay and the town is surrounded on three sides by the waters of Coos Bay. Downtown North Bend today offers a variety of restaurants and shops to explore.

The Conde B. McCullouch Memorial Bridge dominates much of the skyline in North Bend, and the surrounding areas that front Coos Bay. This cantilever bridge is in excess of one mile long, and at 150 feet high, allows large ships to pass below. At the time it was built in 1936, it was one of the most expensive, and certainly the longest bridge in Oregon. It is considered remarkable because its architect, Conde B. McCullouch, focused on architectural beauty in lieu of the typically unpleasant appearance of cantilever bridges. With its soaring spans and elegant arches, it is the official symbol of North Bend.

Immediately north of Coos Bay is the southern boundary of the extensive Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, administered by the Siuslaw National Forest. The dunes are the largest expanse of coastal dunes in North America—wind-sculpted dunes that tower up to 500 feet above sea level. The area’s recreational opportunities include hiking, photography, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, camping and off-highway vehicle use. Visitors can enjoy thick “tree islands” that are remnants of buried coastal forests, as well as open dunes, marsh-like deflation plains and beaches. For further information, contact the Siuslaw National Forest at (541) 750-7000.

Bandon-by-the-Sea

reconnect. restore. renew.