It is easy to understand why people want to visit and settle in Coos Bay, the largest city on the Oregon coast. Enjoy its prime location on a stunning bay sandwiched between lush forests and the Pacific Ocean. Its legacy of shipbuilding and timber has made Coos Bay a significant commercial hub.
Although most people travel to Coos Bay to savour the beautiful surroundings, the town itself is also a great place to spend the day. After exploring the downtown shops and restaurants, stroll through Mingus Park. This complex includes a swimming pool, amphitheatre, playground, picnic areas, tennis courts, 18-hole disc golf course and sports fields.
Coos Bay also has several great museums. Coos Art Museum is located in a former U.S. post office and has nearly 500 permanent collections, along with rotating exhibits and lectures throughout the year. Learn about the railroad industry that helped shape the city at the Oregon Coast Historic Rail Museum. See relics from the logging heyday, such as a 1922 steam locomotive that transported lumber from the area’s forests.
Drive a few miles southwest to reach some of the most beautiful parks on Oregon’s coast. Cape Arago State Park is located on a dramatic headland jutting into the Pacific Ocean. Hike along the park’s trails or try fishing on the beach. Just offshore, hundreds of sea lions and seals make their home on Shell Island.
Visit the dramatic cliff-top oasis of Shore Acres State Park. See the coast’s natural beauty and sprawling manicured formal gardens. From your high vantage point, watch seals and whales swim below or observe a storm rolling in over the water.
Coos Bay is located along Highway 101, the famous route running north and south along the entire length of America’s west coast. Fly into Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend, a 10-minute drive outside of town.
