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ENLARGEDunes recreation
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, with its 100-foot tall sand dunes, is a popular destination for all-terrain vehicle drivers.
The romantic environs along the Oregon Coast hold more in store for visitors than barefoot walks through the sand and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
Although many visit the area to photograph the beautiful scenery and feel the rush of the ocean breeze, just as many come for the recreational opportunities.
Anglers, boaters, hikers, campers, whale-watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts flock to the area around Reedsport and Winchester Bay each year, while dune-riding enthusiasts throng to the windswept terrain of the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area.
Historical buffs may also enjoy visiting the 110-year-old Umpqua River Lighthouse and other landmarks, or learning about the logging and fishing industries around which the coastal communities developed.
<b>REEDSPORT</b>
Its prime location in the center of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and at the mouth of the Umpqua River has made Reedsport a hub for coastal activities.
The visitor center for the dunes is located in town and provides tips on the best places to enter the dunes, along with information on hiking and dune buggy rentals.
Abundant bass, salmon and trout have lured fishermen to Reedsport, where the Umpqua River is navigable for miles both up and downstream. The city has the distinction of being one of the largest recreational fishing ports on the Oregon Coast.
The waterfront area, which is centered around the Umpqua Discovery Center, has also prospered from the fish population.
The discovery center, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, is an educational and cultural resource for all ages. Its goal is to make active and innovative contributions to preserving Oregon's tidewater communities.
The center's showpiece, an award-winning series of exhibits called "Tidewaters and Time," tells the history of a town where daily life revolved around the tide. A periscope in the building's community room provides a broad view of the present-day Umpqua River Estuary.
Interactive exhibits show the relationship between land, water and people and how they've impacted one another over time. Open daily, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for senior citizens, $3 for children 6 through 15 and free to children under 6. A family rate of $12 is also available. Information: (541) 271-4816. On the web: http://www.harborside.com/~discover/
Other attractions:
<b>*</b> The Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area is a worthwhile stop on the way to Reedsport. Three miles east of town on Highway 38, Oregon's largest land mammal can be watched in its natural habitat.
<b>*</b> Professional chain saw sculpture carvers compete in the annual Chainsaw Sculpture Championships from June 17-20.
<b>*</b> Paintball Fest, July 17-18, and Oct. 30-31 at Champion Park.
<b>*</b> Annual Tsalila festival, Sept. 18-19. Part education and part entertainment, the yearly downtown event, held at the Umpqua Discovery Center, focuses on watershed restoration and salmon recovery, with a complete traditional Indian village built.
<b>WINCHESTER BAY</b>
Winchester Bay is home to a commercial fishing fleet and Salmon Harbor, the largest recreational salmon port on the Oregon Coast. At the mouth of the Umpqua River, 77 miles west of Roseburg, the harbor provides a launch site and docking facilities for pleasure craft and commercial fishing boats.
A second beach access at Umpqua Beach on Winchester Bay now has a wheelchair-accessible ramp.
The Marina RV Resort offers RV spaces with a view.
Events in the area include the Salmon Harbor Outdoor and Recreation Show, July 4 fireworks, Dune Fest for ATV enthusiasts July 28 through Aug. 1, Ocean Festival Days July 16-18, and the Kool Coastal Nights car show Aug. 27-28.
Beginning Aug. 1, a Crab Bounty Hunt will be held, offering prizes up to $3,000 for capturing specially tagged crabs in the water of Winchester Bay.
Fishing and crabbing opportunities are available near a pier stretching into the Umpqua River next to Salmon Harbor. Crabbing is allowed year-round, no license required, in area bays, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties.
Sand and surf aren't far away at Ziolkouski Beach. Three parking areas provide visitors with many miles of open beaches. The third parking area also permits off-road vehicles access to the sand dunes.
State, county and private parks provide recreational facilities for visitors. Salmon Harbor Basin County Park provides boat launching, fishing, picnicking and playground facilities. Windy Cove, another Douglas County RV park, has all of the above facilities plus camping. Tent sites and complete hookups are available. Windy Cove is located across from Salmon Harbor.
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, two miles south of Winchester Bay, and William M. Tugman State Park, four miles south, also provide large camping and picnicking areas (see below).
In addition, the Coastal Visitor Center is nearby. It occupies the former Umpqua River U.S. Coast Guard Station, which was built in 1939 and used until 1971. The building has been open to visitors as a historical center since June 1980. It is open from May 1 to Sept. 30.
Restaurants, stores and gift shops round out tourist facilities in Winchester Bay, providing a full range of goods and services for campers and anglers, along with souvenirs for tourists.
Winchester Bay is four miles southwest of Reedsport, just off Highway 101. Information from the Reedsport Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce: (541) 271-3495 or (800) 247-2155.
<b>UMPQUA RIVER LIGHTHOUSE</b>
Located off Highway 101 south of Winchester Bay, this scenic lighthouse overlooks the mouth of the Umpqua River and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
This year, the coastal community will mark the lighthouse's 110th anniversary with a celebration on Aug. 14.
The 67-foot conical tower stands 165 feet above the water. The hollow lens is 5 feet in diameter, 10 feet high and weighs 2 tons. Its nearly 1,000 prisms were hand-cut in Paris in 1890 and produce a captivating light show when dusk falls.
The lighthouse opened in 1894 and is one of five still operating on the Oregon Coast.
The lens revolves around a stationary lamp and produces light equivalent to 210,000 candles. Its 12 beams are easily visible from at least nine miles away. Red beams are created by colored pieces of glass placed in front of the lens.
The Douglas County Parks Department has restored the former Coast Guard Administration building and barracks, which are located nearby. They contain some fine exhibits that depict coastal shipping and timber activities from past years.
The department oversees tours beginning May 1 and lasting until the end of October. Tour hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. Winter tours are available by pre-arrangement. The fee is $2 per person for visitors age 16 and older, kids under 16 cost $1, and children under 6 are free. Information: (541) 271-4631.
<b>FLORENCE</b>
Perhaps best known for its sprawling dunes, Florence, an hour north of Reedsport, is a haven for adventurers looking to take advantage of the mountains of sand.
Dune buggy riding along some of the largest coastal sand dunes in the United States is an ideal way to fulfill a need for speed. Florence is located on the northern edge of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The speedy sand racers can be rented both in Florence and south at Winchester Bay and North Bend.
The dunes are also home to 17 lakes, providing opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating. Other popular water activities in the area include crabbing, clamming and ocean and river fishing.
Sea life viewing takes center stage at the Sea Lion Caves. Formed 25 million years ago and towering 12 stories above the ocean, the caves are alive with aquatic life.
Jet boat trips are available up the Siuslaw River during the summer months, while the Westward Ho! sternwheeler ship provides dinner cruises and tours up and down the river at a more gingerly pace.
Hiking, bird watching, and riding horses are other activities that the dunes, which range up to 500 feet high and three miles deep, have to offer.
Other attractions:
<b>*</b> The Florence Fourth of July Celebration provides a view of fireworks sparkling over the ocean.
<b>*</b> The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum, filled with artifacts that tell the history of Florence. Open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
<b>*</b> North and south jetties. These manmade rock abutments serve as a buffer for boats entering the harbor, but they also act as a platform for visitors who want to experience the power of the Pacific up close. The north jetty is most accessible and is free. A trip to the south jetty will cost visitors $3 per car.
<b>*</b> Chowder Blues and Brews festival will be held Sept. 24-26. Local restaurants will compete in a clam chowder contest, and beer tasting and blues music will also be featured.
<b>*</b> American Museum of Fly Fishing, located in Old Town, houses a private collection of thousands of hand-tied flies mounted in frames. Some pieces date back to the 1800s and come from more than 20 countries.
<b>*</b> Old Town offers a variety of interesting shops, boutiques, coffee houses and restaurants.
<b>*</b> The Ocean Dunes Golf Links public course, with 60-foot sand dunes surrounding the holes is open all year. The Sandpines Golf Resort public course also provides coastal harmony for duffers.
Information: (541) 997-3128
<b>COOS BAY, CHARLESTON, NORTH BEND</b>
Festival season is a year-round endeavor in the three coastal communities of Coos Bay, Charleston and North Bend.
Just about every weekend features a festival or other event. For fish-lovers, the area holds the Charleston Seafood Festival every August. Birders should check out the annual Shorebird Festival in September, sponsored by the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology.
For those who are athletically inclined, several fun runs, walks and relays occur throughout the spring and summer:
<b>*</b> The 27th annual Roseburg to Coos Bay Relay starts in Roseburg and ends on the coast. The event is held in mid-April.
<b>*</b> "Jennifer's Catching Slough Classic" offers a 10-mile run, 5K run/walk, and a 1-mile kids run at 8:30 a.m. on June 19. Participants run or walk at Catching Slough Road and Coos River Highway.
å On the Fourth of July, athletes can run or walk in the Mayor's Firecracker Run/Walk, a 4K run/walk or 1-mile run at Mingus Park in Coos Bay.
<b>*</b> Really ambitious runners should not miss the Circle the Bay Run/Walk/Relay that starts in North Bend Aug. 7. The 30K event takes runners around Coos Bay.
Area events also include the annual Memorial Day Parade, a July 4 fireworks show over the bay, the annual Blackberry Arts Festival in August and the annual Bay Area Fun Festival the following month.
Agate hunting, surfing, clamming, crabbing, hiking, kayaking and a host of other outdoor events are also available in the southern coastal communities.
Visitors can tour a myrtlewood factory and see craftspeople make wooden bowls, clocks, spoons and various ornamental items out of the dense, fine-grained wood. The House of Myrtlewood is just off Highway 101 in Coos Bay.
The Coos County Historical Society Museum in Coos Bay is the place to learn about the history and culture of the coastal community. The Millicoma Marsh Trail, a half-mile interpretive trail, is worth the hike as it's filled with wetlands, wildlife and views of the bay.
The Mill Casino and Hotel in Coos Bay, owned by the Coquille Indian Tribe, attracts gamblers and those looking for a hotel getaway. The casino features nightly live entertainment, weekly blackjack games, a poker room and a newly expanded bingo room. When Vegas-style gaming turns to hunger, the casino has a saloon, buffet, burger joint, and fine dining restaurant. The hotel houses 115 rooms, including waterfront suites with Jacuzzi tubs. For information: (541) 756-8800, (800) 953-4800 or www.themillcasino.com.
One of the biggest draws down the road in Charleston are the botanical gardens at the Shore Acres State Park. The park features 7 acres of botanical gardens, including a Japanese lily pond and historical interpretative information. Visitors can even catch a glimpse of whales and other sea creatures from the park's spot along the shore.
<b>*</b> Holiday Lights, Thanksgiving through Jan. 4, 2005, at Shore Acres State Park in Charleston. Lighted sculptures of flowers, sea creatures and insects, and an animated, lighted seal display will be featured alongside life-size light sculptures of a leaping Orca whale and a spouting gray whale. View holiday decorations and entertainment for $3 per vehicle.
Information from the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce: (541) 269-0215, (800) 824-8486 or www.oregonsbayareachamber.com
<b>BANDON</b>
Bandon beaches are known for their rugged natural beauty, with some of the best agate and fossil hunting anywhere on the coast. Seals, birds and brilliant sunsets can all be taken in from the rocky shores. Camping, fishing, crabbing and horseback riding on the beach are available as well.
Bandon-by-the-Sea boasts quaint little shops and art galleries throughout its Historic Old Town district located on the waterfront.
Tours through the Faber Cranberry Bogs are available, while the Coquille River Museum is open daily.
Golfers shouldn't miss the scenic Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and The Bandon Face Rock Golf Course.
Scheduled events include:
<b>*</b> Bandon Irish Fest on Memorial Day weekend at the Community Center in City Park will feature two days of wine, beer, food, crafts and live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A blessing of the fleet will also be held on Sunday.
<b>*</b> The Old-Fashioned 4th of July in Old Town features a parade, a fish fry put on by the Bandon Fisherman's Association, a craft show put on by the Quality Crafters Guild, a beer garden and live music. A wild-west shootout, dance-hall girls, a two-day car show, dances, and theatrical performances in the new amphitheater also will be held. Western dress is encouraged. For more information call (541) 347-2437.
<b>*</b> The 58th annual Cranberry Festival, a celebration of the harvest in the cranberry capital of the West Coast, is slated for Sept. 10-12. It features a grand parade, the Lions' famous barbecue sandwiches, golf challenge, music, arts and crafts, a food fair and a street fair marketplace in Old Town.
<b>*</b> Bandon's Little Farmers Market is open every Saturday from July 10 through Sept. 25 in the courtyard at the corner of 2nd Street and Highway 101. The market runs weekly through Sept. 20, open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until the market sells out.
Information: (541) 347-9616 or www.bandon.com.
Although many visit the area to photograph the beautiful scenery and feel the rush of the ocean breeze, just as many come for the recreational opportunities.
Anglers, boaters, hikers, campers, whale-watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts flock to the area around Reedsport and Winchester Bay each year, while dune-riding enthusiasts throng to the windswept terrain of the Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area.
Historical buffs may also enjoy visiting the 110-year-old Umpqua River Lighthouse and other landmarks, or learning about the logging and fishing industries around which the coastal communities developed.
<b>REEDSPORT</b>
Its prime location in the center of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and at the mouth of the Umpqua River has made Reedsport a hub for coastal activities.
The visitor center for the dunes is located in town and provides tips on the best places to enter the dunes, along with information on hiking and dune buggy rentals.
Abundant bass, salmon and trout have lured fishermen to Reedsport, where the Umpqua River is navigable for miles both up and downstream. The city has the distinction of being one of the largest recreational fishing ports on the Oregon Coast.
The waterfront area, which is centered around the Umpqua Discovery Center, has also prospered from the fish population.
The discovery center, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, is an educational and cultural resource for all ages. Its goal is to make active and innovative contributions to preserving Oregon's tidewater communities.
The center's showpiece, an award-winning series of exhibits called "Tidewaters and Time," tells the history of a town where daily life revolved around the tide. A periscope in the building's community room provides a broad view of the present-day Umpqua River Estuary.
Interactive exhibits show the relationship between land, water and people and how they've impacted one another over time. Open daily, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for senior citizens, $3 for children 6 through 15 and free to children under 6. A family rate of $12 is also available. Information: (541) 271-4816. On the web: http://www.harborside.com/~discover/
Other attractions:
<b>*</b> The Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area is a worthwhile stop on the way to Reedsport. Three miles east of town on Highway 38, Oregon's largest land mammal can be watched in its natural habitat.
<b>*</b> Professional chain saw sculpture carvers compete in the annual Chainsaw Sculpture Championships from June 17-20.
<b>*</b> Paintball Fest, July 17-18, and Oct. 30-31 at Champion Park.
<b>*</b> Annual Tsalila festival, Sept. 18-19. Part education and part entertainment, the yearly downtown event, held at the Umpqua Discovery Center, focuses on watershed restoration and salmon recovery, with a complete traditional Indian village built.
<b>WINCHESTER BAY</b>
Winchester Bay is home to a commercial fishing fleet and Salmon Harbor, the largest recreational salmon port on the Oregon Coast. At the mouth of the Umpqua River, 77 miles west of Roseburg, the harbor provides a launch site and docking facilities for pleasure craft and commercial fishing boats.
A second beach access at Umpqua Beach on Winchester Bay now has a wheelchair-accessible ramp.
The Marina RV Resort offers RV spaces with a view.
Events in the area include the Salmon Harbor Outdoor and Recreation Show, July 4 fireworks, Dune Fest for ATV enthusiasts July 28 through Aug. 1, Ocean Festival Days July 16-18, and the Kool Coastal Nights car show Aug. 27-28.
Beginning Aug. 1, a Crab Bounty Hunt will be held, offering prizes up to $3,000 for capturing specially tagged crabs in the water of Winchester Bay.
Fishing and crabbing opportunities are available near a pier stretching into the Umpqua River next to Salmon Harbor. Crabbing is allowed year-round, no license required, in area bays, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties.
Sand and surf aren't far away at Ziolkouski Beach. Three parking areas provide visitors with many miles of open beaches. The third parking area also permits off-road vehicles access to the sand dunes.
State, county and private parks provide recreational facilities for visitors. Salmon Harbor Basin County Park provides boat launching, fishing, picnicking and playground facilities. Windy Cove, another Douglas County RV park, has all of the above facilities plus camping. Tent sites and complete hookups are available. Windy Cove is located across from Salmon Harbor.
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, two miles south of Winchester Bay, and William M. Tugman State Park, four miles south, also provide large camping and picnicking areas (see below).
In addition, the Coastal Visitor Center is nearby. It occupies the former Umpqua River U.S. Coast Guard Station, which was built in 1939 and used until 1971. The building has been open to visitors as a historical center since June 1980. It is open from May 1 to Sept. 30.
Restaurants, stores and gift shops round out tourist facilities in Winchester Bay, providing a full range of goods and services for campers and anglers, along with souvenirs for tourists.
Winchester Bay is four miles southwest of Reedsport, just off Highway 101. Information from the Reedsport Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce: (541) 271-3495 or (800) 247-2155.
<b>UMPQUA RIVER LIGHTHOUSE</b>
Located off Highway 101 south of Winchester Bay, this scenic lighthouse overlooks the mouth of the Umpqua River and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
This year, the coastal community will mark the lighthouse's 110th anniversary with a celebration on Aug. 14.
The 67-foot conical tower stands 165 feet above the water. The hollow lens is 5 feet in diameter, 10 feet high and weighs 2 tons. Its nearly 1,000 prisms were hand-cut in Paris in 1890 and produce a captivating light show when dusk falls.
The lighthouse opened in 1894 and is one of five still operating on the Oregon Coast.
The lens revolves around a stationary lamp and produces light equivalent to 210,000 candles. Its 12 beams are easily visible from at least nine miles away. Red beams are created by colored pieces of glass placed in front of the lens.
The Douglas County Parks Department has restored the former Coast Guard Administration building and barracks, which are located nearby. They contain some fine exhibits that depict coastal shipping and timber activities from past years.
The department oversees tours beginning May 1 and lasting until the end of October. Tour hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. Winter tours are available by pre-arrangement. The fee is $2 per person for visitors age 16 and older, kids under 16 cost $1, and children under 6 are free. Information: (541) 271-4631.
<b>FLORENCE</b>
Perhaps best known for its sprawling dunes, Florence, an hour north of Reedsport, is a haven for adventurers looking to take advantage of the mountains of sand.
Dune buggy riding along some of the largest coastal sand dunes in the United States is an ideal way to fulfill a need for speed. Florence is located on the northern edge of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The speedy sand racers can be rented both in Florence and south at Winchester Bay and North Bend.
The dunes are also home to 17 lakes, providing opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating. Other popular water activities in the area include crabbing, clamming and ocean and river fishing.
Sea life viewing takes center stage at the Sea Lion Caves. Formed 25 million years ago and towering 12 stories above the ocean, the caves are alive with aquatic life.
Jet boat trips are available up the Siuslaw River during the summer months, while the Westward Ho! sternwheeler ship provides dinner cruises and tours up and down the river at a more gingerly pace.
Hiking, bird watching, and riding horses are other activities that the dunes, which range up to 500 feet high and three miles deep, have to offer.
Other attractions:
<b>*</b> The Florence Fourth of July Celebration provides a view of fireworks sparkling over the ocean.
<b>*</b> The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum, filled with artifacts that tell the history of Florence. Open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
<b>*</b> North and south jetties. These manmade rock abutments serve as a buffer for boats entering the harbor, but they also act as a platform for visitors who want to experience the power of the Pacific up close. The north jetty is most accessible and is free. A trip to the south jetty will cost visitors $3 per car.
<b>*</b> Chowder Blues and Brews festival will be held Sept. 24-26. Local restaurants will compete in a clam chowder contest, and beer tasting and blues music will also be featured.
<b>*</b> American Museum of Fly Fishing, located in Old Town, houses a private collection of thousands of hand-tied flies mounted in frames. Some pieces date back to the 1800s and come from more than 20 countries.
<b>*</b> Old Town offers a variety of interesting shops, boutiques, coffee houses and restaurants.
<b>*</b> The Ocean Dunes Golf Links public course, with 60-foot sand dunes surrounding the holes is open all year. The Sandpines Golf Resort public course also provides coastal harmony for duffers.
Information: (541) 997-3128
<b>COOS BAY, CHARLESTON, NORTH BEND</b>
Festival season is a year-round endeavor in the three coastal communities of Coos Bay, Charleston and North Bend.
Just about every weekend features a festival or other event. For fish-lovers, the area holds the Charleston Seafood Festival every August. Birders should check out the annual Shorebird Festival in September, sponsored by the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology.
For those who are athletically inclined, several fun runs, walks and relays occur throughout the spring and summer:
<b>*</b> The 27th annual Roseburg to Coos Bay Relay starts in Roseburg and ends on the coast. The event is held in mid-April.
<b>*</b> "Jennifer's Catching Slough Classic" offers a 10-mile run, 5K run/walk, and a 1-mile kids run at 8:30 a.m. on June 19. Participants run or walk at Catching Slough Road and Coos River Highway.
å On the Fourth of July, athletes can run or walk in the Mayor's Firecracker Run/Walk, a 4K run/walk or 1-mile run at Mingus Park in Coos Bay.
<b>*</b> Really ambitious runners should not miss the Circle the Bay Run/Walk/Relay that starts in North Bend Aug. 7. The 30K event takes runners around Coos Bay.
Area events also include the annual Memorial Day Parade, a July 4 fireworks show over the bay, the annual Blackberry Arts Festival in August and the annual Bay Area Fun Festival the following month.
Agate hunting, surfing, clamming, crabbing, hiking, kayaking and a host of other outdoor events are also available in the southern coastal communities.
Visitors can tour a myrtlewood factory and see craftspeople make wooden bowls, clocks, spoons and various ornamental items out of the dense, fine-grained wood. The House of Myrtlewood is just off Highway 101 in Coos Bay.
The Coos County Historical Society Museum in Coos Bay is the place to learn about the history and culture of the coastal community. The Millicoma Marsh Trail, a half-mile interpretive trail, is worth the hike as it's filled with wetlands, wildlife and views of the bay.
The Mill Casino and Hotel in Coos Bay, owned by the Coquille Indian Tribe, attracts gamblers and those looking for a hotel getaway. The casino features nightly live entertainment, weekly blackjack games, a poker room and a newly expanded bingo room. When Vegas-style gaming turns to hunger, the casino has a saloon, buffet, burger joint, and fine dining restaurant. The hotel houses 115 rooms, including waterfront suites with Jacuzzi tubs. For information: (541) 756-8800, (800) 953-4800 or www.themillcasino.com.
One of the biggest draws down the road in Charleston are the botanical gardens at the Shore Acres State Park. The park features 7 acres of botanical gardens, including a Japanese lily pond and historical interpretative information. Visitors can even catch a glimpse of whales and other sea creatures from the park's spot along the shore.
<b>*</b> Holiday Lights, Thanksgiving through Jan. 4, 2005, at Shore Acres State Park in Charleston. Lighted sculptures of flowers, sea creatures and insects, and an animated, lighted seal display will be featured alongside life-size light sculptures of a leaping Orca whale and a spouting gray whale. View holiday decorations and entertainment for $3 per vehicle.
Information from the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce: (541) 269-0215, (800) 824-8486 or www.oregonsbayareachamber.com
<b>BANDON</b>
Bandon beaches are known for their rugged natural beauty, with some of the best agate and fossil hunting anywhere on the coast. Seals, birds and brilliant sunsets can all be taken in from the rocky shores. Camping, fishing, crabbing and horseback riding on the beach are available as well.
Bandon-by-the-Sea boasts quaint little shops and art galleries throughout its Historic Old Town district located on the waterfront.
Tours through the Faber Cranberry Bogs are available, while the Coquille River Museum is open daily.
Golfers shouldn't miss the scenic Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and The Bandon Face Rock Golf Course.
Scheduled events include:
<b>*</b> Bandon Irish Fest on Memorial Day weekend at the Community Center in City Park will feature two days of wine, beer, food, crafts and live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A blessing of the fleet will also be held on Sunday.
<b>*</b> The Old-Fashioned 4th of July in Old Town features a parade, a fish fry put on by the Bandon Fisherman's Association, a craft show put on by the Quality Crafters Guild, a beer garden and live music. A wild-west shootout, dance-hall girls, a two-day car show, dances, and theatrical performances in the new amphitheater also will be held. Western dress is encouraged. For more information call (541) 347-2437.
<b>*</b> The 58th annual Cranberry Festival, a celebration of the harvest in the cranberry capital of the West Coast, is slated for Sept. 10-12. It features a grand parade, the Lions' famous barbecue sandwiches, golf challenge, music, arts and crafts, a food fair and a street fair marketplace in Old Town.
<b>*</b> Bandon's Little Farmers Market is open every Saturday from July 10 through Sept. 25 in the courtyard at the corner of 2nd Street and Highway 101. The market runs weekly through Sept. 20, open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until the market sells out.
Information: (541) 347-9616 or www.bandon.com.
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