Bandon, Oregon

Beach · Shop · Locavore

It all started with a check engine light. We were on our way to Alfred Loeb State Park east of Brookings for the night with big plans to visit the Redwoods in Northern California the next day.  But as I stared at the glaring engine light on the dashboard of my new Subaru, I saw my carefully crafted itinerary crumbling to pieces. Our trip was ruined!

Only it wasn’t. In fact, it turned out to be pretty great.  The next morning my husband had our car checked out by a mechanic in Brookings. And my boys and I were forced to pause and enjoy the riverfront cabin we had rented at Alfred Loeb State Park. While walking along the pristine Chetco River, skipping rocks and lazily soaking in the sunshine, we waited to hear about our car.

Around noon my husband called.  “So the mechanic can’t find anything wrong with the car,” he said.  “He says we should get it checked when we get back to Portland but he thinks it’s fine to drive for now.  But I don’t think we’re going to make it to the Redwoods today.  Maybe we should just start heading north again.  What was that little beach town we passed through on the way here?”

That little beach town was Bandon. And suddenly terrified of finding ourselves in a random parking lot for the night, I grabbed the free travel magazine I had picked up earlier and flipped it open to Bandon. An advertisement for a hotel caught my eye. Feeling uneasy about booking a place I hadn’t spent hours researching, I picked up my phone and dialed the number.  “Hello,” I said. “Is this the Bandon Inn?”  It was. And it - along with the town of Bandon - quickly became our family’s favorite vacation spot on the Oregon Coast.  

The engine light never came on again after that day.  And the mechanic in Portland couldn’t find anything wrong with our trusty Subaru.  I guess some things are just meant to be.

Top 10 reasons why we love Bandon, Oregon

1. Great weather.  Located on the Southern Oregon coast, Bandon is blessed with sunny summer days and moderate temperatures. It can be cool and windy near the water so important to pack those layers along with your sunscreen.

2. Walkability.  Let’s face it.  Bandon is a long (but beautiful) drive from Portland.  So the last thing you want to do when you finally get there is more driving.  That’s why I love Bandon! Only in Bandon can you go crabbing, visit an art gallery, enjoy the boardwalk, shop the farmer’s market and visit a local creamery all without getting in your car.  Our favorite place to stay is the Bandon Inn which sits on a bluff overlooking the town.  From there it’s a two minute walk into town for restaurants, shopping and almost all that we love to do in Bandon.

3.  Crabbing.  So what if you don’t know a single thing about crabbing? Tony’s Crab Shack will set you up with everything you need including a trap, bait, bucket and fishing license.  They’ll even cook those sweet Oregon Dungeness crabs for you when you’re done. Head down to the main dock in town where more experienced crabbers are happy to give you a few pointers. Looking out over where the beautiful Coquille River meets the Pacific Ocean must put people in a good mood because you just can’t help being happy here.

4. Washed Ashore.  Using garbage that has washed ashore on the Oregon Coast, New York Times acclaimed artist, Angela Haseltine Pozzi and her team create brightly colored sculptures of the animals sea trash has endangered.  The result is as strikingly sober as it is beautiful. The Washed Ashore Gallery in Bandon not only provides a family friendly educational and artistic experience, visitors can actually help work on current projects. 

5.  Farmers Market.  If you’re in Bandon on a Friday or Saturday, check out the Old Town Marketplace Farmers Market at the Port of Bandon. Brimming with local produce, baked goods, artisan crafts and maybe the best fish tacos I’ve ever had, this is one of my favorite farmers markets in Oregon. I once bought some yarn here from a woman who knew the name of the sheep that it came from. It doesn’t get more local than that!

6.  Coquille Point.  Part of the Oregon Islands Refuge, Coquille Point is a great place for birding and wildlife viewing. But we come here for the sunsets - which are almost guaranteed to be epic any night you’re here. So grab your camera, a jacket and someone you love for an unforgettable Bandon sunset.

7. Cranberry Sweets & More.  I’m not much of a candy person. But I would definitely have a cavity and maybe diabetes if I lived anywhere near Cranberry Sweets & More. Their jelly candies are like manna dropped from heaven into little candy dishes that you can freely sample while trying to convince yourself that no matter what you will not spend more than $50 here. They are just so darned good! My favorites are the Vineyard Sweets with flavors like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and White Zinfandel. I also love the beer flavored jellies featuring Oregon Stout and Oregon IPA. And if that makes me sound like an alcoholic, I don’t care. You can eat all of the fruit and berry jellies and leave the Vineyard Sweets for me. The shop also features gourmet popcorn and chocolate - and did I mention free samples?  

8.  Winter River Books and Gallery.  Winter River Books and Gallery is one of our favorite places to shop in Bandon.  This independent bookstore features lots of remaindered books – which means scoring some great books at ridiculously low prices.  Some finds include a fantastic children’s art and history book for $5.00 and my favorite Instant Pot Mexican cookbook for $10.00.  The local interest section is robust and there are unique gifts and local souvenirs to be had throughout the store.  We love this place!

9.  Face Rock Creamery. If cheese were the most important food group, 90% of my worries as a mom would melt like a warm wedge of brie between a slice of apple and ham. As it were, cheese keeps my pickiest eater from starvation. And although I thought about buying stock in Tillamook, Face Rock Creamery has stolen my heart. Known for their cheddar, Face Rock Creamery takes cheese making to the next level with delightfully innovative flavors like Deschutes & Face Rock Black Butte Porter Cheddar and Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar. Here you can see the cheese making process without the massive crowds of Tillamook and shop and sample until your heart’s content.

10.  Circles in the Sand at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint. Circles in the Sand is one of the most unique, must do experiences you can have on the Oregon Coast. Less than 2 miles from the heart of Old Town Bandon, Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint feels a world away. The offshore face-shaped rock is part of a Native American legend and according to Oregon State Parks, some say they can still hear a maiden’s voice in the wind. Maybe it’s just a bird - as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, more than 300 species of birds can be found here. But there’s just something about walking through an intricate sand labyrinth at low tide that will make you believe that a legend has come to life. Here you will find a magical world of tidepools, marble rocks, mysterious sea tunnels and otherworldly beauty. But like time sweeping over the legends of old, high tide will leave others wondering if all that you claimed is true (so be sure to go at low tide!).

Camping near Bandon

There are several campgrounds near Bandon, but my favorites are Cape Blanco State Park about 30 miles south of Bandon and Bullards Beach State Park about 3 miles north of Bandon (that’s right, only a 4 minute drive to Old Town Bandon!). Sites at both of these campgrounds can be reserved at Reserve America.

And there you have it - the Top 10 Reasons Why We Love Bandon, Oregon! As always, be sure to check local resources for weather, road conditions and COVID-19 related closures when planning your trip. And don’t forget to post your photos to #lifelivedoregonstyle on Instagram. We’ll see you out there!