Brookings

This particular segment of coastline enjoys the warmest coastal weather in the entire Pacific Northwest. Flowers thrive here, especially Easter lilies and other varieties known to prefer winter months. You might take a stroll through Azalea Park (watch for signs off 101 just west of the Chetco River Bridge) to enjoy a display of some the area’s most prized blooms. In April and May the azaleas are at their most glorious, but you can count on a beautiful display no matter what the time of year. We took a short, easy walk through nearby Loeb State Park (farther inland via the same road that took us to Azalea Park; open daily year round; 541-469-2021). With a printed handout we collected at the Redwood Grove Nature Trail trailhead, we learned how to tell the difference between a coastal redwood and a Douglas fir, the difference between four varieties of ferns, and what to call that gold-bellied creature that kept skittering across our path: a newt! It is a tranquil thing indeed to walk through a forest like this. Boardman State Park is only 4 miles north of downtown Brookings. (Open year round from dawn to dusk; 800-551-6949.) This is an absolutely gorgeous stretch of coastline, providing multiple opportunities to pull over and draw inspiration from the beauty of your surroundings. Two stops in particular are simply required now that you’re here: the trail to the Thomas Creek Bridge and the brief walk to Natural Bridge Cove. Both are located very near the north end of the park. Watch for signs.