Coos Bay, North Bend, & Charleston OR

Itinerary 1
Shore Acres State Park, OR—winter & summer
West Coast Game Park Safari, Bandon OR
Charleston Marine Life Center
2 nights at The Mill Casino, Hotel & RV Park
 
Itinerary 2
Mingus Park & Japanese Garden, Coos Bay
Coos Bay Boardwalk
Coos History Museum
The Pancake Mill, North Bend
Captains Choice, North Bend
 
Itinerary 3
North Bend Boardwalk
Liberty Theater, North Bend
Egyptian Theater, Coos Bay
Blue Heron, Coos Bay (German cuisine)
 
County Parks—camping, day-use, beach
Past Post:  Florence to Port Orford…S. Oregon Coast
Interesting short videos
 
Shore Acres State Park, OR—winter & summer
   A tantalizing taste of the Christmas Lights at Shore Acres State Park beaconed me to come see them Thanksgiving weekend, but the show could not go on—it had to be canceled twice for COVID in 2020.  But the Friends of Shore Acres put up a video of the show.  See link below. 
   Beside the lights, I looked forward to a view of whales or winter waves from the “fully-enclosed observation building [that offers] spectacular views of rugged seascapes, towering storm waves, and
glimpses of migrating whales from December through June.” (Brochure at the State Park site below).  Another time, I guess. 
  We had visited Shore Acres in June of 2020.  May is probably the best time to see the plethora of rhododendrons in bloom, and June probably best for the rose garden, but they have something blooming all the time, I understand, and the Japanese garden is never to be missed.  Our June visit is on day 3 of the following post:  

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/florence-to-port-orford-dune-buggies-and-bandon-by-the-sea-s-oregon-coast
• https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=68
• https://shoreacres.net/ Friends of Shore Acres, check out the Video Archives; they are also on FB
• https://vimeo.com/473636830?fbclid=IwAR3C14TobUObBqaQc8BwS5WLSRiR0zQPVEz-QarL67YXSlNS4FzsIYsc95E Christmas Lights by a professional; internet has lots done by visitors

 
West Coast Game Park Safari, Bandon OR
   Just as the Game Park was able to open from COVID-19 closure, a storm caused havoc so they had to close again for clean-up when we were there.  We’ll have to try again.  In the meantime, here’s their website, with photos/photo gallery:  https://www.westcoastgameparksafari.com/

Charleston Marine Life Center, OR
   Ordinarily open Wed-Sat 11am-5pm, free for kids/students, $5 for adults, $4 seniors/AAA, the center is temporarily closed, and has been for a long time.  This is another place I am anxious to go explore in future.  http://www.charlestonmarinelifecenter.com/
 
The Mill Casino, Hotel & RV Park—North Bend OR
   The hotel has very nice accommodations with several restaurants and a gift shop.  Great lodge-like décor, depicting Native American art and themes.  Group spaces available, and events/entertainment.  Along with the RV park I think I saw a yurt or two, but I don’t see any on their site at least at present. 
   After checking out their rooms online, and talking to reception a time or two, I dared to get a non-ADA room so that I could have 2 queen beds (one for my travel helper), and a view.  Travel plans had to be postponed twice, so by the time we went the end of Dec 2020, I forgot to bring a shower chair.  It was a walk-in, not a roll-in shower.  In short, I ended up just taking a “spit bath” each day.  I was able to back into the shower/toilet area with my chair to get to the toilet.  Transferring was difficult but doable.  The separate bathroom sink area was nice and spacious.
   Our room had a view of both bay and bayside industry, a safe as well as the usual amenities, but no coffee maker or microwave—whether for COVID reasons, or because they want you to buy coffee and eat in their restaurants.  But the frig was reasonable, and we kept extra food & drinks in it.  Restaurants were limited by COVID, but the food was good.  My helper really enjoyed his burger, and I had prime rib from the Timbers Café (take to your room during COVID).  The Plank House Restaurant has beautiful bay views, and it was open the day we checked out, so after checkout we had brunch.  My helper enjoyed another burger & fries, and I had a vegetable omelet with toast and fresh fruit, cranberry juice on the side.  We both had a cup of thick, rich clam chowder.
https://www.themillcasino.com/
 
Mingus Park, Pool, & Japanese Garden, Coos Bay
   Though it took a little exploring to find Mingus Park, I was glad we made the journey!  We were first directed the long way there by an unnamed internet guidance service to the outdoor pool of the upper part of Mingus Park, whose parking is on a steep hill.  Even Dec 29 people were swimming laps!   Access is through a building, which has changing/showering and locker facilities (limited during COVID).  https://mingusparkpool.wixsite.com/mysite
   From the upper parking lot I could glimpse the pedestrian part of the park, but there was no way to drive there directly.  We went back out to N Tenth St, turned south, and found the flat parking and part of the park.  Parking is east of N Tenth, and there’s also a ball field, tennis court, and skate park on that side.  Carefully cross the street (crosswalk, but fairly busy road) to find the delights of walking around  Mingus Park.  A flat paved trail circles the central pond  (Mingus Park Lake), with its little island wind mill, night-lit fountains, and duck population.   Picnic tables, benches, gazebo, 2 playgrounds, restrooms (the locks on the door were not sufficiently strong to hold people back during COVID crises, and we found them ill-used). 
   The paved trail arches over a pretty bridge and west from there is the Japanese Garden, pretty even in winter.  Rooting action made me glad for a helper to increase my confidence rolling on the paved path there.  Picturesque boardwalks and bridges, beside the artistically place rocks and plants bring solace to the soul.  Mingus & other parks at http://coosbay.org/departments/parks
A better way to get to Mingus Park is to drive west from Hwy 101 on West Commercial Ave to N. Tenth St.

Coos Bay Boardwalk
   Finding that COVID closures had ruined my #1 Itinerary, I thought it was the perfect chance to check out other venues in Coos Bay that I never seemed to have time for.  To the Boardwalk we went!  Because Hwy 101 is split into north flowing and south flowing traffic in the midst of Coos Bay, and we were going south, we found that turning east on Elrod Ave gave us a traffic light as well as a longer stretch of street-parking possibilities along north-flowing Hwy 101.  No problem parking when we were there, but in the high season it could be.  Coos Bay-North Bend Visitors center is between Anderson & Commercial Ave on north-flowing Hwy 101, just across from the boardwalk.  Might be a good place to start, but we were there after hours.
  To be sure there’s more to eat and buy (such as fresh seafood) during the summer, but being a history buff, I still enjoyed the walk along the waterfront, the interpretive signs, and a mini-museum of boats.    Crossing the RR tracks is a bit of a breath-holder in a wheelchair, but there is a ramp to the right of the main stairs, we were glad to find.  There are sheltered picnic tables, benches for banter, a long walk to saunter . . . if you go far enough north, you’ll see not only another sheltered boat, but a slice of a huge historic tree.  Of an evening you might be treated to a sensuous sunset, and the city lights.

• http://coosbay.org/ slides of sites & events
• http://coosbay.org/visiting more slides, events, info

 
Coos History Museum & Maritime Collection
   I didn’t relish getting out in the rain, even long enough to get inside the museum, on the day we left (and we were anxious to get home before too late in winter dark hours), so I wasn’t quite as disappointed that the Museum was closed for COVID as I might have been.  Even though part of the collection is outdoors, it would be too unpleasant to pursue in a wheelchair.  So that’s one more thing to anticipate.    It looks like you can now make appointments to visit the museum.  Their website has some great historic photos to whet your appetite, a 2 min drone video of the exterior and surroundings, and events listed (how I wish I could have gone to the First Tuesday Talk “Oregon’s Black History:  450 years in 45 minutes” Feb 2nd 2021—oops, it looks like it was a webinar, so I could have attended!--videos of 10 previous 1st Tues Talks can be accessed from the site Menu, as well as future ones you can sign up for).  Every 2nd Sat is free 11am-5pm with hands on activities 11am-1pm relating to the First Tuesday Talks.  (recipe for solar s’mores etc on the site:  click on the site menu, then 2nd Saturdays)

• https://cooshistory.org/
• https://www.facebook.com/cooshistorymuseum/posts/3820586884668242
• shipwreck https://www.beachconnection.net/news/coosbay_mystery_shipwreck081720.php 

 
The Pancake Mill & Captain’s Choice, North Bend OR
   I wanted to try the Pancake Mill for breakfast, and I am ever so glad we did!  It’s a small, unassuming place very close to The Mill Casino, and a bit confusing where to turn in from the south (sooner than you expect), but well worth the notice.  It was very hard to choose from the extensive breakfast menu, and we got enough to last the day of sight-seeing.  My helper got a nice stack of pancakes, and an order of bacon & scrambled eggs, very good, bacon not too crisp nor too wimpy.  I ordered Swedish pancakes similar to crepes, with lingonberry filling, all rich and delicious; and a western omelet that came with 2 sides—I chose hash browns & fresh fruit.  All was very filling.  They are open for breakfast and lunch (including burgers, sandwiches, soups,  salads), until 3pm—breakfast offered all open hours.  They also have a good selection of whole pies, cakes, and cheesecakes.  It’s mostly a take-away, but they do have a few tables inside.  https://www.pancakemill.com/
   We were still kind of full, from our brunch at the Pancake Mill, but we picked up dinner at Captain’s Choice to take back to our room.  We took out, that is they so kindly brought out to us (on a cold rainy night), fish n’ chips that came with toast and coleslaw, and steak with garlic mashed potatoes & gravy, roll, baked winter squash.  The dinner was fine, but the steak and squash could have used a little more seasoning.  We also made a good choice with the clam chowder.  I had hoped for Spicy Sweet Ginger Garlic Shrimp, Crab Alfredo, or the No-Batter Platter as shown in someone’s photo on the internet, but they were no longer on the menu.  Through the windows the interior looked pleasant, easy informal. http://www.captainschoicefishhouse.com/  (menu when we went during COVID cares had no pasta and in other ways was abbreviated from that online; site copyright is 2016).
 
North Bend Boardwalk
   Something more to explore in future . . .

• https://www.oregonsadventurecoast.com/tripideas/one-day-travel-itinerary-a-perfect-adventure-in-north-bend-oregon/
• https://www.oregonsadventurecoast.com/tripideas/historic-walking-tour-of-north-bend/

 
Liberty Theater, North Bend
Temporarily closed

• http://thelibertytheatre.org/
• http://thelibertytheatre.org/our-season/  online offerings posted during COVID-19
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClh-8JGBaLtFctc5BtY7COA   YouTube channel

 
Egyptian Theater, Coos Bay
Temporarily closed
“Examples of Community Events:
League of Women Voters Public Forum
Senator Wyden’s Town Hall Meeting
234th National Guard Army Band Performance
Baycrest Village Sponsored Movies
Inland Point Sponsored Movies”
https://egyptiantheatreoregon.com/
 
Blue Heron, Coos Bay (German cuisine)
Their “Oktoberfest” dinner inspires me to go back to Coos Bay in October!
https://www.blueheronbistro.net/
 
County Parks—camping, day-use, beach
http://www.co.coos.or.us/Portals/0/Parks/parkslist.pdf
 
Past Post:  Florence to Port Orford…S. Oregon Coast, scroll down to Days 2-3
Includes Dune Bugging north of North Bend, Shake N Burger Coos Bay, Red Lion Hotel Coos Bay, McCullough Memorial Bridge, Coos Bay’s Simpson Park, Empire Ramp & Pier, a bit about Charleston, Sunset Bay State Park, Shore Acres State Park, Cape Arago State Park
https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/florence-to-port-orford-dune-buggies-and-bandon-by-the-sea-s-oregon-coast
 
Nicely-done 6 min video Coos Bay, North Bend, Oregon
Including Shore Acres State Park, Charleston, Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area 24 mi east up Coos River, Sunset Bay State Park, Cape Arago Lighthouse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1FSuJqea-8&ab_channel=DanielSmede
 
Sneaker wave south of Coos Bay: Caught on camera, posted Jan 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPypT9dOvSY&ab_channel=TheOregonian