rock on beach, Bandon, OR

Exploring Bandon, OR

"Welcome to Bandon" was a very welcome sign, literally. After a picturesque and meandering 4 1/2 hour drive from Portland, it was great to finally make it to the destination. As the body started to stiffen up, and the second pee stop was just a distant memory, getting to the actual coast was a relief, in more ways than one. The chosen route was not down the coast, but rather through rolling hills of farm country and rural dwellers, then by rivers and creeks as they made their way to the ocean.

And by the dunes. Oh, the dunes. Didn't get to see much of them but saw lots of people with their high octane toys. Quite the scene. Those dunes also stood between the road and the ocean, so not much of a vista for many miles.

And now, Bandon. After rolling through some typical Oregon coastal towns (a bit weathered and worn, trying to find the balance between their down-to-earth authenticity and being a viable economic option in today's world), it was quickly apparent that Bandon was something different. Granted, there are competing "dollar" stores upon entering city limits, but there's a cleanliness and aesthetic that rings different from the nearby towns.

Being Labor Day weekend, the first choice of lodging was booked, so Best Western it was. Ultimately, it was a great choice. Located a short walk from the beach, with just the right-sized human-scale groupings of buildings, the room was updated and clean.

Hoping for a slightly different Oregon Coast experience, that was not in the cards, nor the clouds. The weather was cool and overcast, the water a bit rough, and the scenery rocky and magnificent. That didn't stop the dog walkers, joggers and random explorers. Gotta love that about the Coast. Weather be damned, people get out.

Speaking of getting out, Old Town Bandon is a great place to start the day. Bandon Coffee serves up some good brew (and chai too). Funky, clean, a bit artsy, a bit touristy, and very walkable. Still carrying on with some stereotypes, the store offerings are nothing special, but who knows, maybe that gem is there to be found. Multiple t-shirt shops, but ours are probably better.

Image

 

Food

While a few finer dining options were available, something a little more casual was chosen. Wilson's Market came highly recommended by somebody (Google?) and did not disappoint. The smoky smell up on arriving was a great indication of things to come. The suggestion from the very enthusiastic counter guy (who had been coming there since he was a kid) was to go with a loaded burrito bowl, and that happened. So good, so flavorful, so much. The downside was that it was so much food, a visit to Tony's Crab Shack the following day never happened. Speaking of food, a few amazing pastries were had at Coastal Mist Chocolate Boutique & More. Don't love the name, but the pastries made up for it.

Mountain Biking

A visit to the Whiskey Run mountain bike trail system was one of the main reasons for this trip. Can't really comment on how amazing they are, as only a small portion of the system was ridden, but overall, they seemed decent, and like a lot of thought and effort had been put into the trails. Love that this has been created, wish it were closer to home. But there are lots of great trail options in the Portland area...

Architecture

Not sure where the money has come from, but it has made its way into the architecture. Lots of simple and elegant homes, with a more modern, minimalist style creeping its way into the vernacular. It leads to a refined feel to many of the coast-side neighborhoods, with a more down-to-earth feel to the the inland ones. There's a very dramatic swing in land and house prices, more than was expected. 

Misc.

While there were many posters about town for an upcoming pickleball tournament, not a court was seen. Maybe it's one of those things that if you know, you know.

Bottom line, if you have the time, visit Bandon. It's similar, yet different. And worth exploring and forming your own opinions and creating your own memories.

Back to blog