Cottages in Brookings

Wander among tide pools at Harris Beach State Park, where starfish and sea anemones create nature's most accessible aquarium. The Wild Rivers Coast Scenic Byway offers pull-offs where whale spotting becomes addictively casual. Azalea Park explodes with thousands of rhododendrons and azaleas that seem almost smugly perfect in this mild climate. The Port of Brookings Harbor buzzes with fishing boats unloading catches that will appear on local menus hours later. Samuel H. Boardman State Park stretches along 12 miles of coastline with secret beaches and natural bridges that photographers can't resist. The Redwood Nature Trail provides a taste of ancient forest without crossing into California, though those magnificent trees are tantalizingly close to the south.