Shore Acres State Park

Perched on craggy sandstone cliffs high above the ocean, Shore Acres State Park celebrates two sorts of beauty: ruggedly organic and artfully constructed. Visitors find a Japanese-style garden with lily pond and two carefully curated rose gardens that include All-American Rose Selections. Something is in bloom almost every day of the year: the first spring bulbs pop up in late February; rhododendrons and azaleas soon follow; roses bloom through the summer; and dahlias appear August through mid-October. A rougher beauty beckons from beyond the garden, where a trail leads to a secluded ocean cove at Simpson Beach. Another skirts the cliff’s edge, offering spectacular views of rugged seascapes, furious storm waves, and migrating whales from December through June.