Planning a trip?

Oregon's South Coast is your destination. Check out these wonderful Bay Area activities.

-- Please Select -- 1 Take a run around the bay 2 Hike some nearby falls 3 Visit a local oyster farm 4 Go birding in Bandon 5 Catch cats napping 6 Walk a beach 7 Build a sand castle 8 Visit Cape Blanco Lighthoue 9 Hook yourself a salmon 10 Go catch a fish 11 Take an art class 12 Visit a wildlife refuge 13 Take a ride on a jet boat 14 Discover local history and art 15 Walk around an old town 16 Listen to a sea lion's bark 17 Find treasures in Florence 18 Explore for antiques 19 See Coquille River Lighthouse 20 Toss a disc into a hole 21 Observe Prefontaine history 22 Hike along the Rogue 23 Walk your dog 24 Bike this trail 25 Ride a horse on beach trails 26 Head to the Coos County Fair 27 Find the Curry County Fair 28 Hike isle trail 29 Catch a watercolor workshop 30 Observe some butterflies 31 Taste some Oregon wine 32 Visit site of 1856 massacre 33 Roller skate in Coquille 34 Visit the dinosaurs 35 Golf The Links 36 Golf more local courses 37 Learn to windsurf 38 Experience indoor ecosystem 39 Learn dunes safety 40 Drive slowly through Langlois 41 Camp near the dunes 42 Take a look underwater 43 Camp like a Mongolian 44 Hike Myrtle Tree Trail 45 Do some bass fishing 46 Take in the sounds of theatre 47 See the views at the top 48 See a giant tree 49 Boo a dastardly villain 50 Pick a pool to swim 51 Look up-close at marine life 52 Get an eye and ear full 53 Play your cards right 54 Swim under the sun in Mingus Park Pool 55 Sample some seafood 56 Play some bridge 57 Watch out for the pincers 58 Experience roller derby 59 Hunt for rocks 60 Explore a coast trail 61 Investigate an Estuary 62 Drive to Charleston 63 Discover Whiskey Run gems 64 Read a good book 65 Paint with oils 66 Applaud Teen Idol contestants 67 Row and relax in a kayak 68 See Shell Island 69 Pick a peck of berries 70 Wheel chair access trails 71 Hook up your horse trailer 72 Sandboard on down the hill 73 Visit the unique Umpqua River Lighthouse 74 Hike to the Cape Arago Lighthouse 75 Go fly a kite at the beach 76 Live it up at Dune Fest 77 Find Blacklock Point 78 Windsurf some waves 79 Shop at farmers' market 80 Look over the rail museum 81 Visit the Mystery Ship 82 View Maritime History 83 Grab your camera 84 Get set for some bowling 85 Hang 10 in the surf 86 Watch some ships roll in 87 New Carissa 88 Take shelter and storm watch 89 Enjoy gardens at Shore Acres 90 Motorcycle to Smith River 91 Visit site of 1828 attack 92 View historic sites in Gardiner 93 Walk along the bay 94 Sunbathe at Loon Lake 95 Eat breakfast with the locals 96 Ride an ATV in the dunes 97 Catch a baseball game 98 Cheer for the cowboys 99 Trek Blue Ridge Trail 100 Check out the local skate parks 101 Explore Port Orford's history 102 Hike Humbug

34 Visit the dinosaurs

The Prehistoric Gardens, located on U.S. Highway 101 between Port Orford and Gold Beach, feature life-size replicas of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.

The popular spot is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. A gift and souvenir shop is located just outside the gardens.
Established in the mid-1950s, the park is a must-visit for families with children fascinated by dinosaurs. Each life-sized reproduction is identified and includes signs explaining about the reptiles' habitats, eating habits and other facts.

The 20 dinos are placed under a lush old-growth rainforest canopy, with huge ferns, other rare plants and moss-covered trees.

Signs explain how the Prehistoric Gardens founder and amateur paleontologist Ernie Nelson created the inhabitants. Each dinosaur was built from steel framework based on actual fossil measurements, covered in a metal mesh and sculptured with concrete.

Watch for the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex out front to know you are there.
For more information, those interested can call (541) 332-4463.  

Publication Advertisers

• Art Connection
• Bandon Beach House
• Bandon Well & Pump
• Bay Area Chamber
• Bay Area Realtors
• Bay Street Family Tyes
• Benettis Italian Restaurant
• Betty Kay Charters
• Big Wheel General Store
• Cedar Bend Golf Club
• Central Coast Realty
• Charl's Restaurant
• Charleston Marina & RV Park
• Charleston Merchants Association
• Charleytown Marketplace
• China Bay
• City of Bandon
• City of North Bend
• Colette's Crepes
• Coquille Valley Hospital
• David's Antiques
• Discovery Point
• Drip & Drizzle
• Dunes Family Health Care
• Expressions
• Florence R.V. & Automotive
• Globe Travel
• He Said Comics
• High Tide Café
• Ink-spirations!
• Jerry's Rogue Jets
• Jim's Gems
• Kentuck Golf
• Lakeshore Lodge
• Le Chateau Motel
• Little Theatre on the Bay
• Lord Bennett's Restaurant
• Los Dos Amigos
• Lower Umpqua Hospital
• Mail Boat Hydro-Jet Trips
• Mountain View Farms
• My Yarn Shop
• North Lake R.V. Resort & Marina
• Osprey Point R.V. Resort
• Pah Tong's Thai
• Pony Village Mall
• Portside Seafood Restaurant
• Prudential Seaboard Properties
• Reedsport Medical Clinic
• Reedsport Pharmacy & Gifts
• She Said Gifts
• Silver Lining Boutique
• Sincerely Yours!
• Snickersnee Shoppe
• Sol De Mexico
• Splash
• Sportsmen's Cannery
• Stop Sport Shop
• Sunset Oceanfront Lodging
• Sunset Sports
• Surfwood RV Campground
• T'ree Acres Shell
• Tai's Dynasty
• Tavolo Restaurant and Lounge
• Tee Shirt Express
• The Mill Casino & Hotel
• The Myrtlewood Gallery
• The Olde Stables Restaurant
• The Pottery Company
• The Prehistoric Gardens
• The Waterfront Tavern & Grill
• Three Rivers Casino & Hotel
• Tiffany's Drugstore
• U.S. Bead Warehouse
• Umpqua Discovery Center
• Under the Big Top
• Unger's Bay
• Usrey's Rock Bin
• West Coast Game Park
• Winchester Bay Chamber
• Winchester Bay Inn