Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Most towns on the Oregon coast can rightfully stake a claim as a “great destination,” but Bandon takes that game to a new level.

What is there to do in Bandon? Rent a crab pot and head down to Weber’s Pier. Eat fresh-caught fish at one of three dueling seafood shacks. Play a round of golf at Bandon Dunes. Visit the Coquille River Lighthouse and comb for rocks on Bullards Beach. Sample local beer, cider and rum. See some of the most ambitious public art projects in the Pacific Northwest.

Bandon feels like a town that’s constantly reaching for something new, and that might stem from a history that’s required it.

Ever since whites arrived on this stretch of the coastline, locals have dabbled in a variety of industries, managing to stay relevant on a Pacific coast full of small port towns. Gold miners came first in the 1850s, but the town wasn’t founded until 1873, after which it got busy in a hurry. In 1880 a local cheese industry started up. In 1883 the first sawmill opened in town. In 1884 construction began on the Coquille River jetty, and in 1885 a settler from Massachusetts planted the first cranberry bogs.

The burgeoning port town continued to grow, but in 1936 Bandon was almost entirely destroyed by a wildfire, fed by the highly flammable gorse plant – a shrub native to Ireland that was introduced to the area by George Bennett, founding father of the town.

Locals rebuilt in the wake of the fire, and today the small town of some 3,100 people appears to be thriving. The bustling Old Town district is the beating heart of Bandon, where a dense collection of aging tourist stops mingles with timeless, beloved restaurants and modern businesses like the year-old Bandon Brewing Company, which has quickly established itself and seems primed for success.

Some locals advertise the town as “Bandon-by-the-Sea” (which sounds a little too California for this Oregonian) but truthfully the town doesn’t need that kind of breezy moniker. Bandon can stand on its own as one of the best little towns on the Oregon coast, a place where thoughtful creativity thrives, and diversity of entertainment is second nature.

Here are 20 reasons why Bandon a truly great destination.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

ATTRACTIONS

1. Circles in the Sand

Denny Dyke started making sand labyrinths on the beaches of Bandon as a personal meditation, but his creations – now called Circles in the Sand – have since become a popular public event around the area. The 2018 season will wrap up on Aug. 28, but Dyke and his team will be back next spring.

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John M. Vincent/The Oregonian

2. Coquille River Lighthouse

The Coquille River Lighthouse was first lit in 1896, built on the north jetty of the Coquille River. It was decommissioned in 1939, its precious Fresnel lens removed, and over the ensuing decades fell victim to vandalism and neglect. In 1976 it was restored, and today is a popular attraction, part of Bullards Beach State Park.

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3. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Widely considered to have the best links in Oregon, Bandon Dunes is home to four beautiful golf courses, built on the dunes beside the ocean north of town. Green fees come with discounts for Oregon residents and guests staying at the resort, ranging from $100 to $325 per round, depending on the season.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

4. Washed Ashore Gallery

Bandon artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi used to ignore trash on the beach, but now she leads a team that turns ocean pollution into art, displaying incredible sculptures at the Washed Ashore gallery downtown, at various points in the area, and at zoos, aquariums and museums around the country.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

FOOD AND DRINK

5. Bandon Brewing

Bandon Brewing Company held its grand opening just last September, but already the Old Town brewery is one of the most popular joints in town. The brewery's ales and coffee porter are all solid, as is the Cranberry Squall cider made by local Bandon Rain Cider Co. And while the menu is limited, the wood-fired pizza is one of the best meals in Bandon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Tony's Crab Shack

With a funky building and fresh seafood, Tony's Crab Shack is a must-visit – just expect to stand a while in line. The house specialty are the fish tacos, but consider the famed crab sandwich, too. It's one of three dueling seafood shacks along the waterfront in Bandon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

7. Bandon Fish Market

A line generally stretches out the door at the Bandon Fish Market, and there may be a long wait even after you order, but the small restaurant remains a local favorite. The fish and chips I ordered were soggy and hardly worth the effort, but the consistent crowds seem indicate that something good is still afoot. It's one of three dueling seafood shacks along the waterfront in Bandon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

8. Bandon Bait

An odd cross between restaurant, bait shop, and information center, Bandon Bait retains the rugged authenticity of the old Oregon coast, serving up good seafood to boot. The menu is small compared to its competitors, but on the plus side there's rarely a long line. It's one of three dueling seafood shacks along the waterfront in Bandon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

9. The Rolling Pin

The Rolling Pin is a tiny, family-owned bakery tucked into a small space in Old Town Bandon, specializing in a wide assortment of ridiculously delicious cupcakes, as well as savory biscuits, breads and hand pies. I ordered the chocolate turtle pecan cupcake and a shot of espresso – a combination that melted my heart and rejuvenated my spirits for the rest of the afternoon.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

10. Bandon Baking Company

Owned by tourists-turned-locals who cater to tourists and locals, Bandon Baking Company has now been around for 20 years, serving up fresh croissants, cinnamon rolls, bagels and breads. The bakery and café are open for breakfast and lunch.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

11. Stillwagon Distillery

With tasting rooms in both Bandon and Florence, Stillwagon Distillery has made a name for itself with variety of great handcrafted rum. The classic spiced rum is good, but be sure to try their rums made with pineapple, walnut and fig, ginger, falernum (a tropical fruit), and coffee. Bottles are a bit expensive at $41.50 apiece, but the rum really is worth the price.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

12. Edgewaters

The obligatory fine dining establishment in town, Edgewaters has one of the best views in Bandon, with tables looking out over the mouth of the Coquille River. I ordered the black rockfish, which was fresh and buttery, though overloaded with actual butter. Despite the white-tablecloth aesthetic, Edgewaters still draws a more casual crowd – but hey, that's just Oregon for you.

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Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

13. Face Rock Creamery

In 2013, Face Rock Creamery opened a beautiful new building where the once-iconic Bandon Cheese Factory used to stand, bringing an old tradition back to town. It's not nearly as big or crowded as the Tillamook Cheese Factory, but you can stop by for some of the same attractions: cheese samples, ice cream, and a glimpse at the cheese making process.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

OUTDOORS

14. Coquille Point

A beautiful headland just south of the Coquille River, Coquille Point is surrounded by small islands and sea stacks in the ocean, with a sandy beach and viewpoints on the cliffs above. The area is managed as Kronenberg County Park, and is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The views are amazing, but the seabird watching alone is worth a visit.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

15. Bandon State Natural Area

A wild and diverse beach, Bandon State Natural Area is a great spot for fishing, horseback riding, bird watching and beachcombing. Also part of the state park site is Devil's Kitchen, where dark and imposing rocks rise from the sand, and turkey vultures roam the beach.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

16. Bullards Beach State Park

Bullards Beach is a sizable state park, stretching from the Coquille River north to the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. It includes the Coquille River Lighthouse and a campsite with more than 200 sites, as well as a long stretch of beach that is one of the best rockhounding spots in town.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

17. Face Rock viewpoint

Head to the edge of the headland overlooking iconic Face Rock, then head down to the beach and wander among the big sea stacks in the surf. The viewpoint is also known as the usual home of Circles in the Sand – when the event comes to the state park site, the parking lot quickly overflows.

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18. Bandon Marsh

The large tract of saltwater marshes and mudflats near the mouth of the Coquille River is protected as the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, a great place to watch seabirds, songbirds, raptors and waterfowl. You can access the area by land at the Ni-les'tun Unit north of Bandon, but consider kayaking through the refuge along the Coquille River instead to get a more intimate natural experience.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

19. South Jetty Park

With a small beach and rugged jetty, Bandon’s South Jetty Park doesn’t seem like much, but it offers some of the best views of beautiful Table Rock and the other islands and sea stacks to the south. It’s also a good starting point for backpackers headed south to Cape Blanco on the Oregon Coast Trail.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

20. Horseback riding

The long stretches of beach around Bandon are great for horseback riding along the ocean. You can arrange tours with Bandon Beach Riding Stables, which offers hourlong rides during the day for $50 or 90-minute sunset rides for $70.

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Honorable mention

Bandon Coffee Café, Coastal Mist Chocolate, cranberries, Kayaking on the Coquille River, Nasomah Memorial, Old Town Marketplace Farmers Market, Seven Devils State Park.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

Low tide treasures: From the ghost forest to shipwrecks and tide pools, find these coastal treasures at low tide.

Newport: The sea lions are great and all, but here are 20 other reasons to love Newport, the funky capital of the Oregon coast.

Oregon's most beautiful places: From the coast to the desert and tall, volcanic peaks, these are the 50 most beautiful places in Oregon.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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