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November Featured Park: Shore Acres
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Dear Friend,
As one of Oregon’s most popular coast parks, Shore Acres boasts more than 250,000 visitors each year. Situated on the Southern Oregon Coast near Coos Bay, Shore Acres offers both rugged high cliffs, and sandy beach. It is also home to one of Oregon’s most well-known botanical gardens.
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The park was once the estate of a timber baron and ship builder, who constructed the original gardens. Many of the original plants were brought to the estate from around the world on the family’s ships. After financial losses from the Great Depression, the family sold the land to the State in 1942, but the grounds were used as a radar station by the US Army during World War II. By 1948 the buildings were in such poor condition that they were demolished. The gardens underwent a major rehabilitation in 1974 and have since become a draw for garden enthusiasts, with a Japanese-style garden, two rose gardens, and a formal garden. A trail to a Simpson Beach, a secluded sandy cove below the cliffs, starts from a path at the Northwest corner of the formal gardens.
Shore Acres is a popular location for storm watching from the cliffside observation center, hiking, whale watching, and events – especially the annual holiday lights. While the holiday lights will not be happening this year, you can take a virtual tour on the Friends of Shore Acres website.
See Shore Acres for free on Green Friday, when the State Parks waive their day-use fees to encourage people to get outdoors. Green Friday, traditionally the day after Thanksgiving, is November 26th this year.
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Looking for a great holiday gift for that special person you know who loves the outdoors and Oregon’s parks?
Consider a membership gift pack – each pack includes a special thank-you gift along with your gift membership donation to Oregon Parks Forever.
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Free Christmas Trees for Kids!
Kids who have an Every Kid Outdoors pass (free pass for 4th graders, available through the National program website at everykidoutdoors.gov), can apply for a free Christmas tree permit through their National Forests.
Permits allow for cutting a tree (specific species, and locations restricted) on National Forest land – in Oregon, this includes the Deschutes, Freemont-Winema, Malheur, Mt. Hood, Ochoco, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Siuslaw, Umpqua, Wallowa-Whitman, and Willamette National Forests.
The application for a tree cutting permit can be found here: Recreation.gov/tree-permits
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Get some TREW gear, and support Oregon’s Parks!
Oregon Parks Forever is thrilled to partner with Oregon-based TREW, maker of awesome winter sports gear, to benefit Oregon’s parks. Now through November 21st, get a special thank-you from TREW when you become a member of Oregon Parks Forever. TREW jackets and bibs also make great gifts for the winter sports enthusiast in your life!
- Support Oregon Parks Forever with a membership donation of $60 or more (or a sustaining donation of $5/month or more)
- Get 15% off TREW winter sport gear* from the TREW online store and be entered to win a free men’s TREWth or women’s Chariot Bib!
- 10% of your order total will be donated to Oregon Parks Forever.
- TREW will donate 10% of your order total back to Oregon Parks Forever
*Sale items not included in promotion.
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New Rules for Drones in State Parks?
KTVZ in Salem reported that OPRD has formed a committee to look at rules for take-off and landing of drones in State Parks and along the coast. A virtual committee meeting is planned for November 10th. Read the full article on ktvz.com>>
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Ways to Celebrate the Holidays, Outdoors
We would love to be able to say that our favorite holiday events are returning for 2021. Unfortunately, many events have been cancelled for the second year in a row. Even if our favorite festivals and light shows are not happening, there are still many ways to celebrate the season with an outdoors adventure.
Free National Parks Entrance on Veteran’s Day. This means, in Oregon, you can visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park near Astoria.
Finder’s Keeper’s Glass Floats. Near Lincoln City, comb the beaches for special Thanksgiving floats distributed between November 25-27.
Winter Storm Watching along the coast. King tides bring opportunities to see huge waves. Check out upcoming dates at oregonkingtides.net and please watch from a safe distance if you decide to head out.
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In Gratitude for your support,
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| Oregon Parks Forever is a statewide, member-supported nonprofit dedicated to raising funds to enhance and preserve special places and experiences in Oregon's parks.
www.orparksforever.org. |
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