A Trip to Bandon, Oregon
During Spring Break last year we had planned to go to Seaside, Oregon. Then Covid hit. Everything shut down literally days before our departure. We managed to fit the trip in during June when counties relaxed restrictions. Part of the fun is dining in unfamiliar restaurants, shopping for unique souvenirs, and enjoying the local entertainment.
This Spring Break we chose Bandon, Oregon. The trip was our new puppy Loki’s first family adventure. Less than 6 months old, now fully vaccinated and bursting with energy, I was afraid he would be more than we could handle. Instead, he made the trip more enjoyable.
Wildly running across the beach, getting just close enough to the water to get his feet wet, Loki made sand fly in all directions. Never have I seen a dog so excited and happy. It made having to wake up at 4am to let him do his business worth it. He didn’t know what to make of the horses riding along the beach, giant dogs we told him. With a tilted head and curious stare we had to keep him leashed when they were near. Loki met other canines and still needs to get accustomed to them, but overall, he did excellent on his first vacation.
Of course we had to find a pet friendly hotel. Overlooking the ocean, Windermere on the Beach appeared to be our best bet. From the windows of our room we could see the invasive but beautiful bright yellow Gorse leading to the beach and adding color to the mostly gray skies. A smaller room than expected, but luckily our family gets along so well.
The well-known Face Rock, Table Rock, Wizard’s Hat, and other rock formations were abundant along the coast in Bandon. Much of Oregon’s coast that I have seen is beautiful and a walk along the beach is always calming, even when the waves are wild and crashing. Still, the area lacked the lush green trails like we once hiked near Seaside and Cannon Beach. If only we could swim with the sun out and blue skies above!
Our first venture into the small Bandon Old Town was on the Saturday night we arrived. The time was no later than 7pm, but almost every place was closed. A quick search online explained that Coos County remained under Extreme Risk, meaning restaurants were extremely limited. Not easy to eat outdoors with the cold and wind, so we settled for takeout from Pastries & Pizza.
The next day, mostly sunny and warmer, we chose to visit the West Coast Game Park Safari. Deer and sheep greeted us at the entrance because they expected an ice cream cone of food. My youngest daughter had the chance to pet several animals — a lynx, skunk, ferret, and few other furry creatures. Me, I was ok with just watching them. On one hand, I appreciate zoos for protecting animals that otherwise might end up hunted or extinct. Still, how great can life in a cage be?
The following day, mostly cold and wet, gave us a chance to visit the Bandon Historical Museum. There, we learned about the history of Bandon and the Oregon coast — ship building, cranberries, cheese making, indigenous peoples, agates, industry and more. The hodgepodge of artifacts collected and curated over the years are great ways to get a true feeling of a place, much more insightful and interactive than a Wikipedia article or other website.
All restaurants appeared to be doing what they can to survive while the governor enforces draconian restrictions. Though we always had to eat outside, we managed to keep comfortable or find times when the rain took a break or the sun shone. Worth mentioning is Bandon Brewing. Besides a tasty pizza and good IPAs, the brewery had long lines of people yet still managed to serve them quickly and remain courteous while doing so.
One last stop at Face Rock Creamery on the way out of town. We wanted to keep our cheese as fresh as possible. Upon entering, the smell made me hungry. Through the glass cheese curds were being made by the pounds. No samples, but we left content with blocks of blue cheese and cheddar.
Most everything in Bandon can be seen in a couple of days. Our trip lasted five, and we saw what we wanted. The rain came and went, the sun made some appearances, and near the water was always chilly and windy. The area is worth a visit, and we needed a trip, but the weather makes me long for warmer coastal temperatures where I can lounge on the beach and rinse off in the ocean when I get too hot. Better start planning our next trip…
