Tidepools and Sea Lions- Sunset Bay SP, Oregon

We stayed at Sunset Bay State Park for a week. It's located on the coast, just south of Coos Bay, Oregon. From our site, it was a short walk on a wooded path to the beach. Sometimes we would find these big banana slugs in the woods on our way.

We also found Twin Berries. Of course we had to try them and wow, they are the worst berry on the planet! Asher was spitting over and over to try to rid himself of the lingering taste. The kids coined the phrase, "Twins, good. Twin berries, BAD!"

Sunset Bay State Park Beach

We played on the beach a lot thru the week. Asher and I explored the tide pools here on our last day.

One morning we joined a ranger led tide pool discovery hike at Cape Arago State Park. It was a foggy, misty morning, but we saw some amazing things. This was my favorite place ever to go tide pooling!

The kids found a snake, apparently dropped by a bird. It was dead, but still wiggled when they touched it. Creepy!

We found two Gumboot Chitons, which have a leathery feel on the outside and are shaped and sized somewhat like a football.

We saw sea stars, a ribbon worm (bright, almost neon red, water worm), the chiton, 

tons of sea anemones, barnacles, limpets, crabs, sculpins (tiny camouflaged fish) and snails.

The Simpson Reef overlook area is right between the two parks. The first time we stopped here, was simply to admire the view, but we heard very loud barking, and when we looked closer, we saw the islands were alive with seals and sea lions. It's a gathering of four species, the California Sea Lions, Stellar Sea Lions, Elephant Seals and Harbor Seals, which is rare. This is the farthest north the California Sea Lions come and the farthest south the Stellar Sea Lions come.

We walked around Shores Acres State Park's manicured gardens. It's an impressive sight. 

On our way back home, we stopped for a letterbox and a picnic lunch here.

The Cape Arago lighthouse, built in 1934, can be seen below.