The Southern Oregon Coast feels a little wilder than the rest of the state. The towns get smaller, the beaches get quieter, and some of the best places require a little extra effort to reach. That translates to far fewer visitors, and that’s just fine with us.
Our family found shipwrecks, sea caves, tide pools, lighthouses, agates, enormous Redwood driftwood, and beaches we practically had to ourselves. The “Banana Coast” also enjoys better weather than most of Oregon, especially around Brookings.
From Port Orford to Gold Beach and Brookings, these are 13 of the best things to do on the Southern Oregon Coast with kids. Some are easy roadside stops, while others lead straight into Oregon’s coastal wilderness. All of them gave our family something to remember.
The best places to visit on the Southern Oregon Coast with kids include Port Orford, Gold Beach, and Brookings. Families can explore lighthouses and secluded beaches near Port Orford, the Rogue River around Gold Beach, and tide pools, scenic corridors, and nearby Redwood National and State Parks from Brookings.
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Port Orford: Lighthouses, Coastal Hikes, and Dinosaurs
Port Orford begins Oregon’s wilderness coast, a sparsely populated stretch of Southern Oregon. Port Orford claims the oldest Euro-American townsite on the Oregon Coast, dating to 1851. This small fishing town is a great place for making memories.
#1. Port Orford Heads State Park
Be sure to check out Port Orford Heads State Park, home of the Port Orford Lifeboat Station. Our family enjoyed exploring this historic Coast Guard base and learning about the heroes who served there.
The views alone were reason to visit. The station is situated on Port Orford Heads, a rugged promontory that offers incredible vistas in every direction.
We took about an hour to explore the museum itself, and then another hour walking along the trails. There are limited bathroom facilities, limited hours and limited parking at this park – we recommend calling ahead to verify details before your visit.
Port Orford is just one of several nautical landmarks that punctuate Oregon’s rugged southern coastline. Keep an eye out for the Umpqua River, Cape Arago, Coquille River, Cape Blanco, and Pelican Bay lighthouses.
#2. Blacklock Point and Blacklock Cliffs
The Blacklock Cliffs are one of the Oregon Coast’s natural wonders. These golden bluffs contrast dramatically with the steel-gray shoreline, creating a truly unique beauty.
This hidden beach requires some hiking to reach. We had to walk around a mile to reach the cliffs, and much of that distance was over sand. So pack your patience.
That said, the journey was remarkable. We literally had the beach to ourselves. Our kids loved exploring the coves and bluffs. They were even more thrilled to find Japanese buoys washed up from a recent storm.
The Blacklock Cliffs are part of Floras Lake State Natural Area. This is a remote location with no services, so come prepared and exercise caution.
#3. Prehistoric Gardens
Prehistoric Gardens is just plain fun. Imagine that your childhood dinosaur dreams came to life, and you’ve pretty much pegged it. Colorful, life-size dinosaur statues stand among beautiful coastal rainforest.
The family-run business is a great surprise for young kids and a good stretch for the legs. We visited Prehistoric Gardens on the last day of our Holiday National Park road trip, and our kids lit up!
Prehistoric Gardens offers much more value than you would expect from the entrance. The walking path features a varied selection of prehistoric creatures from different epochs of natural history.
The path also gives extensive information on prehistoric plants. In fact, some of these plants can be seen growing right in front of you!
The pathway was accessible and the children enjoyed the easy-to-use map. An hour was plenty of time to see everything and explore the gift shop too.
#4. Sisters Rock State Park
This hike was one of our all-time favorites as a family! Sisters Rock State Park is a gorgeous, secluded seaside hike with epic views at every turn.
We walked down to the rocky beach where we found all sorts of flotsam and driftwood. Along the way, we climbed to the top of a peak and explored a small sea cave. Everyone can find something to interest them here.
Be aware that this state park has no services or facilities, just a parking pull off. Plan to pack out whatever you pack in, and use the bathroom before you arrive.
#5. Cape Blanco State Park and Lighthouse
Cape Blanco State Park is one of the coolest locations on the entire Oregon Coast. The Cape is a dramatic landscape of stunning natural beauty, and it’s home to Oregon’s oldest standing lighthouse.
This humble lighthouse was nearly impossible to build and remained a difficult post to keep for many, many years. We enjoyed seeing the lighthouse and visiting the historic cemetery nearby.
The lighthouse grounds are open seasonally, so be sure to check the hours ahead of time.
Gold Beach: River to Sea
Gold Beach is a historic seaside town located at the mouth of the wild, scenic Rogue River. The town’s location makes it a natural destination for quiet moments, outdoor adventures, and wild encounters.
#6. Mary D. Hume Shipwreck
One of the Gold Beach’s best attractions is literally right off the highway. The Mary D. Hume shipwreck is a fitting memorial to Oregon’s colorful maritime history.
The Mary D. Hume was built in Gold Beach in 1881 for service as a coastal freighter. She hauled goods from San Francisco to points along the Oregon Coast.
The “Mary D.” went on to have a remarkable 90-year career. She served as an Arctic whaling vessel, Nushagak River tugboat, ocean tugboat, and halibut fishing boat. Today she rests only a short distance from where she was originally built!
The sight of a shipwreck was cool. We were even more delighted to encounter the dozens of harbor seals resting only yards away! These kinds of moments make it so rewarding to travel the Oregon Coast as a family.
#7. Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
The federally protected lands of Southern Oregon offer true wilderness experiences. These wild areas are rich in natural beauty and abundant in wildlife, including elk, seals, osprey, eagles, otters, and bears.
We spent an entire day exploring this region. In the morning, we hunted for agates and other gemstones along the Rogue River. In the afternoon, we hiked through an ancient forest via the Frances Shrader Old Growth Trail.
The community of Agness, Oregon offers rich, wilderness seclusion. This mountain settlement is situated at the fork of the Rogue and Illinois rivers. Agness is one of the only communities in the United States that still receive mail by riverboat (see below).
#8. Rogue River Jet Boat Tours from Gold Beach
Explore the wild Rogue River from a jet boat at Jerry’s Rogue Jets. Specially designed jet boats offer a variety of ways to experience Southern Oregon’s mighty river.
These Rogue River boat tours are a modern offshoot of what was once a vital, daily need. Mail boats bore mail up the Rogue River to settlers who lived in the mountainous interior of Southern Oregon. Today, the shallow-keeled boats go deep into Southern Oregon and explore places you can’t get to in a car.
We haven’t had the opportunity to ride one of Jerry’s Rogue Jets. However, this attraction is so highly rated that we felt we’d better include it in our list.
Brookings: Oregon’s Warmest Coastline
Brookings is the Oregon Coast’s border city. At only six miles from the California border, Brookings enjoys warmer weather and unparalleled access to Redwood National Park. Brookings is situated near three of the best state scenic corridors on the Oregon Coast.
#9. Samuel L. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
Oregon’s best-loved scenic corridor lies only minutes away from Brookings. The Samuel L. Boardman Scenic Corridor is a jaw-dropping series of pristine coves, serene arches, and old-growth rainforest.
We took a hike, and we found ourselves more than rewarded for our efforts. The lush forestland and dramatic views are incredible and entirely free of human development.
#10. McVay Rock State Recreation Site
Here’s a little-known treasure! We visited McVay SRS on a hunch, and did we hit the jackpot! For one, the weather was amazing. We’d dressed for December weather but found ourselves quickly stripping off coats and hats and wading in the water.
McVay Rock State Recreation Site is packed with things to explore. The most obvious of these is an enormous, bleached Redwood stump.
The massive stump contains a natural hollow that’s so deep that I had difficulty getting back out of it. I could stand within the stump and not see out over its rim. We had never thought about Redwood driftwood, but here it was in all its glory.
An equally impressive Redwood log was laying just around the bend. The “drift-tree” was lodged next to a minuscule cave passage and a strange, mushroom-shaped rock. We’d stumbled upon a delightful, natural playground.
Our children loved scrambling over the rocks and exploring the tide pools at McVay Rock Beach. Our son perched himself on the tallest rocks and watched the harbor seals for half an hour.
McVay Rock Beach is one of many Oregon beaches that bear gemstones. We enjoyed picking jaspers out of the beach and creek gravel. We also discovered a Dungeness crab and caught a harbor seal spying on us from the nearby waves.
#11. Chetco Point Park
Chetco Point Park is a worthwhile stop for families exploring the Southern Oregon Coast. A gentle pathway leads to Chetco Point, a small headland that commands sweeping views of the surrounding coastline.
Coves on either side of Chetco Point offer as much interest as the views themselves. We found Chetco Point Park to be an ideal place to watch the sunset together as a family.
#12. Azalea Park, Nature’s Coastal Holiday
Brookings hosts one of the biggest holiday celebrations in the Pacific Northwest. Nature’s Coastal Holiday is an enormous holiday light display that takes over Brookings’ Azalea Park.
The Nature’s Coastal Holiday display is on a scale unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. We spent nearly an hour walking the paths and exploring this beautiful and bizarre lightscape.
#13. Redwood National and State Parks
We found Brookings to be an excellent home base for exploring Redwood National and State Parks. At less than half an hour away, we could enjoy the park without paying a premium rate.
We found that staying in Brookings let our travel budget stretch farther since Oregon has no sales tax. Adding a little bit of drive time allowed us to enjoy more while spending less.
Better yet, people don’t typically put the words “Oregon” and “Redwoods” together. This fact makes Brookings a convenient backdoor into one of the most popular national parks in the United States.
The unmissable South Oregon Coast
The Southern Oregon Coast rewards families who are willing to keep driving. Port Orford gave us history and wild beaches while Gold Beach led us inland along the Rogue River. Brookings surprised us with warm winter sunshine, incredible coastal scenery, and easy access to the Redwoods.
Best of all, many of our favorite moments weren’t complicated or expensive. They happened while scrambling over driftwood, watching seals from a rock, hunting for gemstones, or following a trail just to see where it went.
If your Oregon Coast road trip usually ends farther north, keep driving. The South Coast is worth the extra miles.
Frequently Asked Question about the Southern Oregon Coast
What is the best part of the Southern Oregon Coast for families?
The towns of Port Orford, Gold Beach and Brookings are all small cities with plenty of things to offer families. Beautiful beaches and hiking paths, historic state parks, wildlife and agate hunting are some of the best family options.
Is the Southern Oregon Coast worth visiting in winter?
Absolutely. Brookings is warmer than most destinations on the Oregon Coast in the winter, and also has a beautiful Christmas lights display at Azalea Park.
How many days do you need for the Southern Oregon Coast?
There’s plenty of things to see if you just have the weekend. We spent a week in Port Orford, and 3 days in Brookings, but there were still places that we would have liked to see and had to miss.
©️ Copyright Brian A. Warren 2026
