Whether you're in town to catch fish and crabs or enjoy a glimpse of Oregon coastal culture, Bandon isn't a bad place to sample all of the above. Home to a thriving community of artists who showcase their wares in quaint "Old Town", within easy reach of scenic sandy beaches, world-class golf greens and outdoor activities galore, this is one sea-side destination not to be overlooked.
In addition to rivers, fish and coastline,Bandon is also noted for its prolific production of little red berries - cranberries, to be precise, whole bogs of them. September is when cranberry festivities kick off; otherwise, head into the old town for some cranberry candy to balance out your palate. If you're still hungry, the Coquille River is a hot spot for catching crabs. Rent crab rings and bait in Bandon and work off the docks, or book a trip out on the Pacific for some time on your sea legs with one of the town's charter fishing operations.
Bullards Beach State Park, two miles north of Bandon, has plenty of campsites and provides access to historic landmark Coquille Lighthouse (which stopped shining in 1939). Reach the beach and the Coquille River from the park, or on blustery days, enjoy a scenic drive along the Beach Loop. Sea lions and tufted puffins make the ocean side of Bandon their abode, but when the wildlife refuses to put in an appearance, walk to Face Rock State Park and brush up on local lore, spotting wheeling sea birds and surreal stone formations as you wander. When you're tired of getting sand in your shoes, hire a horse from the riding stables south of Bandon and gallop off into the sunset.
Golfers passing through can practice their swing at one of America's top courses, Bandon Dunes, or play by the beach at Bandon Face Rock Golf Course. Windsurfers can head south to Langlois for access to wind-swept Floras Lake. Rent equipment on site and sign up for lessons if the waves on the lake look a little too much like big ocean swells.
Bandon is 90 miles north of the California boarder on Highway 101. To learn more about the area, please select a topic of interest from the navigation bar on the left.
