Sunset Bay State Park near Charleston, Oregon is a beautiful Oregon Coast setting surrounded by rocky cliffs on two sides, a large beach area in the center and picnic grounds and facilities. Seagulls hang out scavenging lunch leftovers. Seals and Sea Lions occasionally wander in. This is a great place to go tide pooling also, and we have done so discovering Turban Snails, purple Sea Stars, Sea Anemones, Muscle Clams and more. The Bay is a fun place to visit, swim, picnic and hike around.

One outstanding adventure happens in the Bay every January 1, New Year’s Day. That is the Polar Bear Plunge. Enthusiasts flock to the beach in all kinds of garb to take the plunge in celebration of the New Year.

This year will be the 29^th Annual Polar Bear Plunge in the Bay starting at precisely 9:00 am on New Year’s Day. The one rule dictates that you must completely immerse yourself. “Spend one to 5 minutes here in the water and you’re sure to start your New Year off right,” the promotional information tells us!

Is it cold? You bet! The average summer temperature of the Pacific Northwest Ocean is 55 degrees. Surfers wear wetsuits to insulate themselves from the cold, summer waters when they are riding the waves here. It has to be pretty darn hot in July for many to venture into these waters to swim.

This event can be a bit crazy, but mostly it’s fun for those who venture out here to dip in the ocean or just to watch. A great way to celebrate the coming New Year! You can watch some of the fun from 2012 in the following video.

We are just about an hour from Sunset Bay so do stop in to see us on your way to the Polar Bear Plunge, or stay with us for a night or two at www.umpquahaven.com

Happy New Year From Sunset Bay, Oregon!

We thought you would enjoy some of our favorite photos gathered together here. Some have been posted previously but some haven’t. All were taken by family and friends. Enjoy!

 This is a real Wyoming Winter year in the high country near Jackson. Over a foot of snow and minus 12 degrees when this was taken by a family member.

A warmer day a few years ago in Winchester Bay, Oregon. Sunset in the Bay. Photo credit goes to me.Another Wyoming Winter photo by a family member. The roads are constantly plowed by hard-working staff. They often work 24 hours a day, including Christmas and New Years, to keep the roads in this high mountain country safe and to enable locals (and some crazy tourists) to get around.

You’ve seen this one before. That’s me on the beach at Bandon, Oregon. Taken by a family member who was standing on the Dunes. This was my first ever hike along the Pacific Ocean Shore. It was December.

We love the photos this family member takes and think the Wyoming  Winter ones this year are awesome!

This was taken on Cape Perpetua at the Devil’s Churn on Highway 101 on the Oregon Coast by a young family member. He braved the elements of crashing waves to get this photo. We have posted this one before but it’s definitely worth a repeat!

Here is one more Wyoming Winter high country taken by a family member. I love the lone tree.

This was taken by our friend, Brock Thorne of Vernal, Utah. He hiked to get this one out in the Utah wilderness. Another repost-worthy photo!

This is one of mine taken at Lake Marie up out of Winchester Bay, Oregon near the Umpqua River Lighthouse. If you hold it upside down it looks the same. In fact, I’m not sure if it is upside down here or not.

This is taken (by me) on a farm in East Nebraska one summer morning.  Sunrise Blaze!

Poppies (Mexican poppies) with snow on the Santa Rita Mountains in Southern Arizona.  I won awards with this photo and maybe a couple of bucks!

Dawn on the Huron River in Huron, Ohio. Photo credit is mine. The colors are real!

This photo is very old taken in the late 70s by me. Laramie Peak is the highest Wyoming Peak in the Laramie Range in the northern part of the Medicine Bow National Forest. 10,276 ft high. You can see signs of winter in the small, snowy patches.

Oregon has 50 historic covered bridges which are among the greatest number in any state in the US. This one is particularly picturesque. Photo credit goes to me. I love the holiday wreath and especially the reflection in the water.

I love windmills but particularly the old, wooden ones. They are getting harder and harder to find, but this one is somewhere along the Wyoming high country back roads. It is still a working windmill! Yes, it’s my photo.

One of my favorite places of all time is the Redwood forests on the Northern California Coast. I love to hike among the tall trees where it is ever peaceful and quiet, especially on the high trails. From the ground looking up, the trees are awesome. But hiking near the tops of them is even more awesome. This photo is of a landmark Redwood named simply, Tall Tree. It was measured in 1957 at 359.3 ft high. A redwood tree can grow 3 to 10 feet per year so it could be between 180 ft and 600 ft taller now. This photo is zoomed from the ground looking up.

We hope you have enjoyed our “Pictures of the Day” collection for 2017. If you are visiting the Oregon Coast during this holiday season, do stop in and say hello to us at www.umpquahaven.com or even stay a night or two. It’s Whale Watching week right now so bring your binoculars along. See you on the coast!

PHOTOS ARE ALL COPYWRITED BY THE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHERS AND USED HERE WITH PERMISSION.

Recently, with the assistance of the Goldwater Institute, I blogged about the Grinchy City of Phoenix interfering with the family in Arcadia holding their traditional holiday celebration that draws in people from all over. Lights, moving holiday figures, wonderful window displays, yard sale items and hot cocoa were all objected to by the city due to a few neighborhood complaints (most neighbors don’t object). Because of the problems associated with dealing with the city, the family did not put up any of their display this year. They did spread much of their light displays among many of their neighbors (the non Scroogey ones). (https://umpquariverhaven.com/2017/11/29/lights-1/)

Switch to Scottsdale, AZ for a complete about face from Grinchy Phoenix. This year’s winner of the annual TV show “Great Light Fights” is Chris Birkett and family of Scottsdale. The Birketts won a whopping $50,000.00 prize for their annual light and walk-through display accompanied by holiday music. Scottsdale, possibly in spite of a very few neighbor’s complaints, doesn’t object.

We visited last night. Cars were parked everywhere on the Birkett’s street and on all the streets around. Masses of people were walking to or from their house or standing in front of it. One side of the street was closed off but you could drive on the other side past the sparkling holiday lights. We opted to drive past due to knowing it would take much time to try and find a parking place (anywhere) and walk in, around through and out again with the crowds. It was cold and we were mostly cruising light displays again.

However, we could still see all the lights as they changed, hear the music and view other lighted displays as we passed by. Here are a few photos we took for you to enjoy. And last year’s video of the Birkett’s holiday light show  at the bottom. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It’s time for our annual visit to this wonderful garden on the Oregon Coast. It is a holiday fan’s paradise for lights, native plants, cider, cookies, Christmas music and more. Following is a re-post of our 2015 blog about this magical place.  If you are anywhere near the coast this holiday season, don’t miss this one! 

Shore Acres Botanical Gardens just outside of Charleston, Oregon on the coast is lit up for 30 days over the holidays. Starting at Thanksgiving time, this beautiful coastal place is filled with lights, light displays and decorated Christmas trees. The Friends of Shore Acres do most of the lighting work and man the cottage and grounds during December every year. Various groups such as the local Corvette Club decorate the trees.

We will start at the entrance to the gardens as we are greeted by the lighted tall ship.

 Just past the tall ship we find this display from under the sea.

Moving along the garden lights open up for a full view that is spectacular to take in.

This post is about the lights. Following are some of our favorite light displays.

As you walk in past the Under The Sea display these sea lions are diving into the water and will make a splash of light.

In the opposite direction are 2 whales. One leaps and the other one, a grey whale, spouts.

Continuing around the walk is a somewhat new lighthouse display.

 The plants here are filled with colorful lights creating their own display.

Continuing on you will come to the Puffins.

And next is the pond. I am just giving you an idea of the displays. You really need to visit here during December to take in the full beauty of all the various displays and decorated trees. The frog actually leaps from one side of the pond to the other creating a splash when it enters the water.

As your walk around the pond you will come to the place that makes the ‘Ribbit’ sounds. It’s a bit of a surprise when you hear it!

 The pond supplies endless, lighted views. The cranes and salmon are no exception.

Shore Acres sits up on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean a short distance past Charleston, Oregon. The core of this property originally was the home of pioneer timber baron Louis Simpson who built a large mansion with formal gardens overlooking the ocean. The State of Oregon purchased the property in 1942 and added land as it became available. The gardens were let go until 1970 when they were restored even grander than before with flowers and plants from all over the world. One of our favorite parts of the gardens is hidden a bit. There is an area with rows of all kinds of roses!

The mansion no longer exists but there is an observation area where it once was where you can read all the history. However, the caretaker’s cottage survives and is now the Garden House. It, too, is filled with all things Christmassy and is on the tour.

Inside you can sign the guest book and then head on upstairs to visit the front bedroom, Santa’s bath and the back bedroom. You can sign up for the raffle to spend New Year’s Eve in the front bedroom with catered breakfast.

 There is a Christmas tree in the bedroom also.

And the view out the window is spectacular!

And don’t forget Santa’s bath.

As you pass from the front of the house to the back you are greeted by many volunteers giving out cookies, hot apple cider, punch and coffee which you can enjoy there or take out to the pavilion.

You can sit and sip and enjoy the evening’s entertainment. There are a variety of groups that play/perform/sing on any given night and there’s often a sing-a-long. One year this bell choir performed beautifully.

If you are on the Oregon Coast during the month of December do not miss the opportunity to visit Shore Acres Holiday Light Display! There is a $5.00 charge for parking worth every penny. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop on the way out. Shore Acres State Park, 80939 Cape Arago Highway, Coos Bay, OR.  And stop in to say “hello” to us at http://www.umpquariverhaven.com on your way to the coast! 

If you are traveling on Arizona’s I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff, you will pass this unique tree. It is growing on the median between the north and south double lanes on I-17. It is up “on top” as you have climbed up out of Phoenix into the Arizona high desert country. Every year, apparently, Santa’s Elves decorate this tree while no one can see as it is unknown who/how it becomes adorned with holiday decorations. Keep watch if you are traveling this route, but, you really can’t miss it!

I’ve been to Pearl Harbor. It is one of the quietest experiences you will ever have. Waiting to enter the theater to watch the movie, people visit but not in loud voices or with any laughter. Once seated in front of the large movie screen, no one speaks. If you have never seen this movie or even if you have, it will have a profound effect on you and everyone sitting there. The main film footage was taken December 7, 1941, from the deck of the USS Solace, anchored nearby, by Army Doctor Eric Haakenson. You will see this footage. If you are an American, it will make you cry. It has that effect on everyone. When it is over, you can hear a pin drop and you can hear that pin for the next hour.

Leaving the theater, boarding the transport to the Memorial, that pin is sounding as, still, no one speaks. Climbing onto the Memorial and the entire time you are there, no one speaks. Reading the names of those lost on this ship and knowing she and her crew are resting just below you is an indescribable experience. Awesome, sad, reverent. There really were no words as tears slid down.

And you will know why we stand for the National Anthem and salute our flag and thank our military for being there for us, for protecting and defending our Constitution and Freedoms. Be sure and thank one this holiday season.

The Oregon Coast has some fun light events at holiday time. This one was this past weekend. We posted this last year but thought it worth a re-run. The Lighted Boat Parade at Newport, OR.

Newport, Oregon is one of our favorite places to visit and has been blogged about here before. There is much to see and do in Newport, including vast areas of beach to explore. At Christmas time, Newport’s Yaquina Bay becomes a spectacular light display during the first weekend in December. The bay, with the largest fishing fleet on the Oregon Coast, turns into a Holiday light event unlike any other.

Dozens of boats decorated with lights, fireworks, various themes and even live music will travel around the bay between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 3. This remarkable armada will navigate around the bay from the Coast Guard Station to the Embarcadero Resort and back throughout this time frame.

There are several ways to enjoy this fun and beautiful holiday light display. You can watch from a variety of outside piers and places and several restaurants around the bay. You can enter your own decorated boat and float along with the others. Or, you can buy a ticket and ride on one of the decorated boats. Riding includes hot cocoa and cookies. All proceeds are donated to the annual Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Trees event.

A variety of boats will be participating in this 23^rd Annual Lighted Boat Parade including charter boats, fishing boats, Coast Guard search & rescue vessels, sailboats and sea kayaks. In addition, with their research vessels returning for the winter, the NOAA Pacific Fleet will participate with brilliance!

Unique designs and lighting techniques will contribute to the competition for a variety of prizes donated by the local community neighbors and businesses. The Oregon Coast Bank is providing the grand prize of a hunting rifle.

If you are on or near the Oregon Coast, don’t miss this one-night holiday event. Come visit us at Umpqua River Haven (www.umpquahaven.com) and travel the short 60 miles to Newport for this unique and dazzling light display.

Last Christmas Holiday Season, we went cruising around Phoenix, AZ, to bring you samples of all the holiday light displays, big and little. It was fun for us and we hope enjoyment for you to see them. We thought that this year, we would revisit last year’s postings but sometimes in a different way. This first one is titled “Grinch” and we will let The Goldwater Institute give you the low down (and we do mean low) on what’s Grinchy in Phoenix, Arizona for Christmas this year. Last year’s pictures of Sepanek’s light displays follow the Goldwater Institute article (printed here with permission).

Grinch

How the Bureaucrats Stole Christmas
November 25, 2017 (from the Goldwater Institute, Phoenix, AZ)

Every year, Lee Sepanek’s Christmas display brings joy to Phoenicians, who visit to enjoy the glistening decorations and sip the hot chocolate he serves them.

But not this year. Thanks to Phoenix bureaucrats, Lee has been forced to cancel the show.

The trouble started this summer when the city warned him he was in violation of its Mobile Food Vending Ordinance, even though he isn’t operating any kind of “mobile” facility. He doesn’t even charge for the cocoa — he just asks for donations. But the city says its rules are broad enough to prohibit even giving away cocoa — made from hot water and powdered mix — from your driveway.

Officials told Lee he “would need to find a licensed commissary kitchen as a ‘base’ to store, clean and prep any open food,” and that he would have to get a “special event/seasonal permit,” requiring fees and “inspections onsite.” They also complained that Lee was selling Christmas ornaments, arguing that violates Phoenix’s rules against having a “home occupation.”  (folks:  Think about a children’s lemonade stand on the sidewalk in front of your house and weekend yard sales)

After local news exposed Lee’s story, the city indicated it might budge, but it’s too late. Even if city officials changed their minds, Lee couldn’t get the lights up in time for Christmas. The Goldwater Institute has stepped in to represent Lee and help get his legendary lights turned back on.

We’re also working on an even larger problem. Across Arizona, local governments are trying to shut down home-based businesses, violating private property rights and harming economic opportunity. The Goldwater Institute is joining with the Free Enterprise Club to urge state lawmakers to broaden protections for home-based businesses.

In Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Ebenezer Scrooge questions the Ghost of Christmas Present about laws that forced Londoners to close their stores on holidays — which, Scrooge says, essentially deprived them of income. Why, Scrooge asks, should the Ghost “cramp these people’s opportunities of innocent enjoyment?”

Shocked, the Ghost says he did no such thing — that was done by people who act “in our name” but who don’t really get the Christmas spirit. It’s sad to think Phoenix officials have a poorer understanding of the holidays than Scrooge.

Below are just a few of the photos we took last year of Sepanek’s vast light displays. There was so much more to see and enjoy. For additional photos, visit last year’s blog post: Lee Sepanek’s Light Display Arcadia, AZ