Contributed Photo ©2008 National Geographic National Geographic’s Adventure magazine mentions Coos Bay in its top 50 picks for towns and their surroundings that are prime for adventure.

The beaches are great for surfing. The downtown is looking better and better. And somebody noticed.

It’s these amenities and more that have earned Coos Bay the status of one of the 50 Next Great Adventure Towns in September’s National Geographic Adventure magazine.

It appeared in newsstands on Tuesday.

“With Pacific swells that rival San Diego’s, Coos Bay has carved a name for itself as the Northwest’s premier surfing hideout, and this year the gritty port upgraded with a downtown face-lift,” the magazine article read. “The best breaks are off Bastendorff Beach; beginners head to gentler surf at Lighthouse Beach.”

With 50 towns to mention — including Oregon’s Hood River and Klamath Falls — a blurb was all most received, according to National Geographic Society Communications Director Ethan Fried.

“It’s a big feature,” he said. “It’s hard to get a lot in on all 50 places.”

This is the magazine’s fourth-annual listing of great towns, he said. Last year, the magazine chose 50 towns — one from each state.

But what does this year’s theme, Next Great Adventure Towns,” really mean? According to Fried, it includes cities already considered tourists’ destinations, as well as towns that are on an upswing.

“They’re innovative towns, not just prime relocation now, but also smart choices for the future, really,” Fried said. “It’s not just places with great action now, but also places that have plans for the future.”

In the feature, the population of the hometowns and the median home prices are listed. For example, Coos Bay’s median home price is $180,000, according to the article.

“We give a good range,” Fried said. “There’s something for everyone. We’re trying to be well representative.”

One of the factors in choosing the towns was whether the cities were becoming progressively greener.

“Inside, you’ll find hometown picks that range from adventure 24/7 hubs loaded with outdoor options to urban players that offer a variety of jobs and cultural activities without sacrificing green space,” says an introduction by Sarah Tuff and Greg Melville, the writers of the article.

But its not just the ocean, the bay, the beaches or new downtown business facades that are being facilitated by grants from the Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency Facade Improvement Program. It’s not just any one thing that put Coos Bay on the list, Fried said.

“We’re really looking at the whole city, not just the proximity to the outdoors, but the attitude toward these resources as well,” Fried said. “It’s how the residents make use of them.”

Timm Slater, executive director of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, said Adventure magazine approached him a few months ago, expressing interest in the city of Coos Bay.

He said he was a little disappointed that other activities the area has to offer — fishing, all-terrain vehicle riding, biking, hiking, shopping in local stores — were not mentioned in the article. But he was glad for the exposure.

“Positive national exposure for the area is a great thing, no matter what it is,” Slater said. “People will come here and discover what the whole place is.”

Tuesday afternoon, Coos Bay Mayor Jeff McKeown said he was hearing about the listing for the first time.

“Wow! That’s great to hear!” he said.

He said he was not surprised that Coos Bay was among the top 50.

He said what he loves about the area are living close to the beaches, fishing spots, local restaurants and the beauty of the coast.

“And, also, for me, the people,” he said. “We have great people that live here — friendly, welcoming.”

He said sometimes people get caught up in the negatives, such as the economy, and forget the advantages. As far as the downtown area, he said there is more to do, but there has been a great start.

“It’s just a tremendous place to live,” he said.

For a complete list of the 50 Next Great Adventure Towns, visit http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com.