The enchanting seaside town of Bandon, on Route 101 along Oregon's coastal highway, is an ideal retreat from city life. Visit its historic center with shops and galleries in antique buildings and a boat-filled basin with restaurants and other activities. Golf enthusiasts flock to the town’s courses to take advantage of the challenging terrain, serene atmosphere and picturesque ocean views.
Browse the shops and cafés in the Old Town. Galleries feature a broad range of art from photography and paintings to pottery and stained glass. Visit Bandon’s Historical Museum. There is a small admittance fee, although children enter for free. Nearby, amble along the marina to check out the boats of this pleasant oceanfront town. Walk out along the pier that stretches into the water and capture photos of the ocean view. Try the fresh seafood at one of the restaurants around the boat basin.
Try out your clubs on the hilly landscape of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort against the backdrop of the ocean’s crashing waves. Restaurants and accommodation are available on-site. The fees for lodging and golf vary depending on the season, with summer the most expensive period.
South of town, take the 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) Beach Loop road tour. Along the way, look for Bandon Rocks and Face Rock, said to be the face of an ancient Native American frozen in time.
Visit Bandon in the middle of September for the annual Cranberry Festival. Enjoy parades, live music and food fairs. If you are feeling courageous, enter the cranberry-eating contest to compete for an array of prizes.
Bandon is located in south Oregon, where the Coquille River opens into the Pacific Ocean. It lies on the well-traveled Route 101 that leads north to Washington state and south through California to Los Angeles. The regional airport is 30 miles (46 kilometers) north along the famous highway. Bandon is also a stop on the Greyhound bus service.
The charming coastal region surrounding Bandon is an ideal pit stop after the bright lights of San Francisco.
