Cape Arago Lighthouse

Occasionally, I may post on something I know very little about. I may post information I get from the internet, but I'll make it clear when I do. Other times I may just post very little about it and not do any other research. I have two goals. The first is to see and do everything. That won't happen, but it's fun to try right? The second is to have the most complete information possible collected on what I have visited.

This post is going toward my first goal. I mentioned the Cape Arago Lighthouse in a post or two before this, so it wouldn't normally warrant its own post. Lighthouses are one of the "would love to find and see them all" things in the world for me. Waterfalls, covered bridges, counties, national parks, state parks, all lists I have to complete.

The reason the Cape Arago Lighthouse doesn't get much of a post is that you can't go there. This is the only private lighthouse on the Oregon Coast (per the "Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast" brochure I picked up from the lovely information kiosk at Sunset Bay Campground). You can, however, get some pretty good views from the road between Sunset Bay and Shore Acres, and of course from the trail between the two that is right on the ocean. I would guess, but can't be sure, that if you were adventurous enough you could get out to the spit and island that show on the pictures below. One theory I have on this is to find a way to the top of the mini-cape (what's the technical term here?) to the north side of Sunset Bay and then work your way down. My other theory would be to climb out to the north side of the bay (described in the day use area post) and keep going. I was pretty confident in my abilities to do this option, but not confident enough to be able to get back. One of my life goals is to never need a Coast Guard helicopter to come rescue me. Anyway, I of course recommend that you do neither of these. That would be dangerous. Looking at a map, it looks like you may be able to walk from Bastendorf Beach County Park (located just north of Sunset Bay and clearly signed) south down the beach around an outcropping to more beach and a good view of the lighthouse, but again I have no idea.

Here are the specifics:

Fee: No fee (because you can't go there!)

Pets: At the viewpoint, yes

Facilities: None at viewpoint, available in nearby Shore Acres or Sunset Bay State Parks
Attractions: Lighthouse

Camping: Available nearby in Shore Acres State Park

Season: Year round

Coordinates: 43.34129,-124.37538 (Unverified), 43.32929,-124.38088 for the viewpoint (Unverified)

Governmental Agency Land: US Coast Guard (closed to public), Viewpoint - Oregon State Parks & Recreation

Nearest town: Charleston, Oregon (2.6 miles)

Nearest 10,000+ city: Coos Bay, Oregon (7.8 miles)

County: Coos County, Oregon

My rating (out of 6): 2 (It's hard to rate, but it has to have a low rating due to the inaccessibility)

More Information: There are a number of websites with information about this lighthouse. Do a search on Google for "Cape Arago Lighthouse" and you should find plenty.

My Current Location: Home - Portland, Oregon

O'Dysius Hotel

Let's go way back. The year is 2008. The month - November. It's Thanksgiving, to be exact. Tim, the dog and I decide to get away and have a holiday with just the three of us. Okay, the dog didn't have much say in the matter and we had just adopted him two weeks before.

I thought we should take advantage of the long weekend and splurge a bit. Stay at a nice hotel on the coast. Good idea. Wrong idea for "splurging". This hotel, the O'Dysius, is somewhere to stay only if you . . . no, there's no reason to stay here.

Again, I'm feeling a bit lazy tonight, so I'll just re-post what I posted on Google Maps. Mind you, this is the only time I've been treated badly enough to be moved to post a review on Google Maps (and report it to AAA as well).

"My boyfriend and I decided to spend Thanksgiving weekend at the beach. I've always thought the O'Dysius looked quite nice. It is newer and located right on the D River. I couldn't remember whether or not it was right on the beach or if it was slightly off. Don't be deceived by the pictures on their website. We had a fourth floor room in the five story hotel. The view did look over the ocean, but there was a parking lot and another hotel in the way. This was, however, forgivable.
The first night we were there, we went to put some food we had purchased in the fridge. There was leftover food in the fridge that was not removed when the room was cleaned last. The smell of garlic lingered throughout the remaining four days of our visit. This was, however, forgivable.
The hotel was in adequate shape. Overall still new, but clearly not maintained with high standards. The walls were dingy, the couch was worn out and the paint on the deck railing was chipped and pieces were falling on the deck. This was, however, forgivable.
The hotel is clearly geared toward people that are over 65. There is nothing to forgive for this, but being 30 it didn't appeal to me.
The price was higher than everyone else in town and they charged $25 a night for bringing a dog (again more than anyone else). This was, however, forgivable.
The real PROBLEM was that I went to take the dog out at 6am and couldn't get back into the building. I didn't bring my cell phone with me, so I had to go to the D River public phone and call my boyfriend to come let me in. The card reader on the door wasn't working. I would have forgiven this if the response to my concern wasn't "Well, just remember to bring your cell phone." Rather than apologizing and offering to pay for the $15 collect phone calls that I had to make (three to wake him up), they just told me that they have had the same problem and that I should make sure I bring my cell phone. It is completely unacceptable to not invest money in your hotel to fix basic necessities such as these. It is even more unacceptable to not apologize and make your guests create a workaround. I would take a lower quality hotel with friendly customer service (such as the Red Lion in Coos Bay that we stayed at after staying here for half the price) any day. I will definitely never return to the O'Dysius."

Here are the specifics:

Fee: Averaged $131.92 for our stay per night, including tax. Varies greatly depending on room.
Pets: Pets are welcome, the only good thing about this place. Of course, they charge $25/night.

Pool: Yes, small, practically on the highway
Elevators: Yes
Internet: Free wireless
Parking: Free, some covered, some uncovered
Best Season: Summer for outdoor activities, winter for storm watching

Address: 120 NW Inlet Ave - Lincoln City, OR‎ 97367
Nearest town: Lincoln City, Oregon (located in town)

Nearest 10,000+ city: Newport, Oregon (Actually just under 10,000 per census, but probably higher and has the amenities of a 10,000+ city)

County: Lincoln, Oregon

My rating (out of 6): 0 for service, 3 for amenities, 1 for view, 1 for quality - average 1

More Information: O'Dysius Hotel

My Current Location: Work, Portland, Oregon

Cape Arago State Park

It's time for a short post.

Pretty. Visit. Not to be missed.

We spent maybe 20 minutes here, what do you want from me?

We walked out to the point on the north side of the park, where there is a trail down to the beach (a steep trail, supposedly to tide pools). We walked to the south side of the park where there is a built up viewpoint of more beautiful Oregon Coast. The Oregon Coast trail (described in the Sunset Bay and Shore Acres posts) runs through this park.

I don't quite get the reason behind making this a separate park. These three state parks may be the most concentrated Oregon State Parks in the entire state. Three parks, 3 miles of road.

Oh, we saw a vulture, too. This was probably the highlight.

Again, it's worth the visit, but unless I missed something, there isn't much more than a couple viewpoints.

Here are the specifics:

Fee: No fee

Pets: Welcome on leash

Facilities: Flush toilets, picnic tables
Attractions: Trails, ocean views and access, wildlife viewing

Camping: No, but available nearby in Shore Acres State Park

Season: Year round

Coordinates: 43.306782, -124.397894 (Unverified)

Governmental Agency Land: Oregon State Parks & Recreation

Nearest town: Charleston, Oregon (5.8 miles)

Nearest 10,000+ city: Coos Bay, Oregon (10.9 miles)

County: Coos County, Oregon

My rating (out of 6): 3.5

More Information: Oregon State Parks - Cape Arago

My Current Location: Home - Portland, Oregon