How about starting with a walk along the boardwalk on the Umpqua Riverfront?

Stop in at the Umpqua Discovery Center for a visit and learn about the history of this area.

You can also take some time to browse through the wonderful gift shop, full of unique gifts as well as educational books for the entire family.
 

For those who are more adventurous there is the Reedsport Skate Park, featuring a funnel-shaped full-pipe. Skateboarders from up and down the Coast have tried to complete a full revolution of the pipe. Are you the one who meet the challenge this year?

Coastal Arts & Business Alliance (CABA), working with many dedicated volunteers, has produced several art projects with a water theme:

"Confluence," the fountain on Highway 101, helps viewers visualize the convergence of the three waterways of our area: The Umpqua River, Smith River and Schofield Creek. Along with the rivers and birds, salmon are also seen struggling along the river beds to return to their spawning grounds.

"From the River to the Sea" is a tile mural spotlighting native flora and fauna, with a theme featuring spawning salmon returning to the river of their birth to spawn and begin the life cycle anew.

The "Water Wall" was the combined effort of CABA and The Myrtle Wood Gallery. Water streams down the "rock" wall into a small pool at it's base. Plants and carvings add interest to the theme.

Reedsport Community Learning Center worked with CABA, local artist Kathleen Olsson, and
the children of the area to create two murals to brighten the walls of Highland Elementary School.

Just 4 miles east of Reedsport on Highway 38 is the Dean Creek Elk viewing area that is home to approximately 100-150 majestic Roosevelt Elk.

The elk roam freely within the 1000 acre preserve, which is also home to waterfowl and even an occasional bald eagle!

Winchester Bay offers visitors a choice of many things to do. You will find a wonderful mixture of specialty shops, gourmet dining, charter fishing and sightseeing excursion boats, oyster farming, campgrounds, a beach for strolling on, sand dunes to explore, and a one hundred year old lighthouse!

Anything the adventurous visitor desires can be found along the Bay.

Salmon Harbor is home to a variety of beautiful boats, including many which serve as year round living quarters to some residents.

Another feature attraction is The Marina Resort, located right on the water in the Salmon Harbor area.

Take time out to stroll along the docks and if you happen to be there in the evening, be prepared to experience a spectacular sunset over the ocean!

The Umpqua River Lighthouse mentioned above is located on the hill overlooking Winchester Bay. It is one of only five operating lighthouses remaining on the Oregon Coast. Tours are offered during the summer months. This is truly a not-to-be-missed attraction!

Speaking of recreation, there is plenty of fishing available for the anglers in the family - lakes, rivers, and saltwater harbor a wide variety of great fishing! 

Reedsport/Winchester Bay offers some of the best fishing on the Oregon Coast!

There are charter boats in addition to many individual fishing guides available in the area.

Crabbing and clamming are especially popular - a sport where everyone in the family can get involved!

There are many campgrounds in the area for your relaxation and enjoyment. Some are private, others are Forest Service and State operated. On busy summer weekends, it's best to plan ahead and make reservations.

If you don't feel like "roughing it," you can take advantage of the wonderful local motels, vacation rentals, or bed and breakfast inns for your comfort!
 

Reedsport is the headquarters for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area - a forty-seven mile stretch of sand dunes running from Florence on the north, to North Bend on the south. Lovely, quiet hiking trails lead through the forest, out onto the dunes, and through the beach grass - straight to the beaches! If hiking isn't your sport, maybe you would like to try your hand at navigating a dune buggy through the many designated areas along the dunes. There are numerous private companies offering tours or individual buggy rental.

The youngsters in the family can enjoy beachcombing and sliding or rolling down the sand dunes - just be sure they dump the sand from their pockets and shoes before getting back into the car! We'd hate to run out of sand before our next visitor rolls in!