Bandon
Oregon
Our Visit
August 2026
Area population
3,321
Elevation
72 feet
County
Coos County
Bandon is a fabulously peculiar spot. The locals seem to be either people who work for the massive Bandon Dunes golf complex or retirees enjoying a slower pace of life. It is almost aggressively casual. We repeatedly got comments that our clothing identified us as visitors since locals "don't dress up." This when we were wearing athleisure wear and running shoes.
The crowning jewel of Bandon is its beautiful beach. It stretches for miles and miles and serves as a canvas for artists, a playground for kids and dogs, a wildlife refuge, and an open space for recreation of all kinds. Each evening, people gather on the overlooks to watch the sunset. On days when it was too windy people sat in their cars but it was clearly a beautiful part of the daily routine and the overlook at the end of our street was always full.
Photo Albums
August 1, 2026
Bandon
Get ready for a lot of ocean pics.
August 5, 2026
Bandon Dunes
Bandon Dunes is a massive golf resort complex about 15 minutes north of the town of Bandon. It covers 2,525 acres, over half of which is kept in its natural state. There are five full-length courses, a couple shorter courses, and a huge putting course called The Punchbowl. Erik played all the full-length courses and decided Pacific Dunes was his favorite just ahead of the original Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails.
August 15, 2026
A Few Other Random Pics
Some non-ocean pics that still have ocean vibes.
Our Thumbs Up List
- The whole reason we are here is so Erik can play Bandon Dunes (opens in new tab). There are seven golf courses crafted in the Scottish links style. The Scots are golf OGs and consider sandy coastal land the premier base on which to build a course.
- Washed Ashore (opens in new tab) is a local non-profit that collects plastic beach trash to create giant sculptures. The pieces are imaginative and impressive but also hold an aura of sadness that these massive constructs are built with what amounts to human carelessness.
- Old Town Tap & Grill (opens in new tab) is dark and a little weird but has good beer and live music on Saturdays.
- Circles in the Sand (opens in new tab) is an organization that creates intricate sand labyrinths. People can walk the maze until the tide comes in.
How to Speak Like a Local
- Sea stacks: The iconic rock formations that define the Oregon Coast are called sea stacks. Over millions of years the wind and waves slowly eroded the softer earth leaving towers of dense rocks formed by harden lava and the immense pressure of the small Juan de Fuca tectonic plate subducting under the massive North American plate. (I'm so obsessed.)
- Face Rock: The famous coastal sea stack shaped like a human profile looking toward the sky. It is said to be Ewauna, the daughter of Chief Siskiyou floating in the ocean with her face tilted up to look at the moon.