Bandon, OR

We don't need, or even seek, "resorts" and we don't need all the fancy stuff but we do like the hookups and wifi. I need to keep in touch for several reasons - personal and business - so wifi is nice. You would be surprised at the number of parks that tell you that their wifi is great and you find out it is terrible to basically non existent.

But we have been to state parks, a few. Cheyenne Mtn in CO Springs has FHU's and a great place. Were to Roper SP here in AZ last summer - no sewer by w/e. We did fine. We just don't seek them out. And we both a pretty much allergic to campfire smoke when it saturates the air. I mean a little is fine but .....

Lauren wrote:
We rarely do state parks as we enjoy FHU's, etc. Did lots of primitive camping in the past; now like the hookups, etc.

LOL, we usually do primitive and by the end of the summer we're ready for anything with elec/water. Heading out in a week and doing RV parks at the start and finish with elec/water in between. Something to be said for FH, concrete pads, manicured lawns and being able to take a normal shower:).

We rarely do state parks as we enjoy FHU's, etc. Did lots of primitive camping in the past; now like the hookups, etc.

Bullards Beach State Park is probably your best bet. Just across the bridge from the town. We will be there in September before heading home. Make your reservation early. It is a popular one.
John

OK, tell ya what. Go to www.LaurenBarbara.com and click on the Wanderings link on the left. The go to Oregon and Coast. All the pix are in the last few years except the last one which I took about 10 or so years ago.

Do you need to ask me if we love the OR Coast?!

As a photographer, you will certainly appreciate the area around Sunset Bay SP and the entire road from Charleston to the end of Cape Arago. While some may prefer Bandon, we stay at Sunset Bay and drive the other way. I think there is more to Coos Bay/Charleston than Bandon.

Will make reservations for a week. We will be coming down from time at Cannon Beach - which we love - and Newport. On recent trips there we also stayed at Winchester Bay which is a beautiful park but find there is not a whole lot for us to do there again - we are not in dune buggies! :-) Then we have cut over to Crater Lake. But have visited Bandon in the past and thought it would be nice. Have talked to Bandon By The Sea and she was very nice on the phone (passed my first test of a new RV park to us).

As a photographer (gone kinda professional now and going very well - was a hobby) I am always looking for great places. OR Coast, in general, is one of my favorites and have won awards and sold pix of shots in the past.

And we can walk the beach for hours. Sadie loves being able to run on it.

Could not do that last time there but have now had major back surgery and am great. Ironically, was set to have my surgery done at Mayo in Phoenix and we met a couple on an OR beach last time there (I was sitting - could not walk it) who was from Tucson and she mentioned a neurosurgeon here. He did it and gave me my life back. We call that meeting on the beach there one of our "God Moments" - there are no coincidences in life.

Thanks for input. And, if there is more, let it come!

God bless all.

Hi, Lauren,

We spent a week in Bandon last September and loved it.

Along with the activities that have already been mentioned, we enjoyed the following:

The Cranberry Festival was taking place with the whole town participating. The people were very friendly and we spent a whole day visiting interesting booths, enjoying musical performances, shopping etc.

They have a great public pier where the crabbing was great while watching the fishermen/women coming and going with their days catch.

We took a drive one day to the cranberry bogs north of town and then to the little inland town of Coquille. There was an interesting museum there where we spent several hours.

We went beach combing for agates and actually found some nice ones.

The Bandon Marsh was a beautiful place to visit for bird watching and photography.

North of town is the Seven Devils Scenic Drive with several panoramic overlooks as well as a great viewpoint from which to watch a sea lion colony.

I'm ready to go back right now!!

Enjoy your trip,

Sandi

Hi Lauren.....We just spent two weeks at Bandon By The Sea RV Park this summer in July. It's a nice small town. Here are some things that we did and other suggestions:
Face Rock Creamery, Bandon Fish House for great fish and chips, beach viewing and walking (Bandon has a very pretty shoreline with lots of big rocks in the ocean and nice viewpoints), Bandon boardwalk, Farmers Market at end of boardwalk, Horseback riding on the beach, Coquille River Lighthouse, Sunset Bay SP, Shore Acres SP, Cape Arago SP, Charleston (if you like to buy seafood for home consumption check out Chuck's Seafood), Coos Bay, Cape Blanco SP (visit lighthouse and Hughes House), Port Orford Heads SP, take a nice drive on 42S to Coquille and back.

Not all in Bandon, but Coos Bay to the north and Port Orford to the south is the farthest we went from Bandon, about 25 miles each way.

We enjoyed our time there immensely. But that's just us. Your results may differ.

We just spent 4 days there the first of August!!!! I LOVE that town. To understand, I grew up not far from there and hadn't been back in 30 yrs. To me it was a dirty little ocean town. BUT, they've improved a LOT. Lots of little stores to explore, some of the best restaurants on the coast imho, and a little jaunt to the lighthouse beach area and walking on the beach is great!!!!! Yes, I could spend a week there......I could spend 2!!!! My GF and her husband go there every month for a week!

Places to visit:
Old Town Bandon.....all the shops...wow. Includes Face Rock Creamery......ice cream and the best cheeses ever.

Wheelhouse Seafood Grill......BEST crab louis I've had EVER (I'm drooling)
Bandon Fish Market........best fish and chips and fried shrimp I've had in a long time!

I could go on forever.......so..yes, definitely GO there!!!!!

Oh -- we stayed at Bullards Beach state campground. NICE, easy to get in, level spots. People VERY respectful. :)