Bandon – Where Sea Stacks Meet Stories of the Past

In the southwestern part of Oregon is a small seaside town called Bandon. It’s a quiet little corner with a quaint and picturesque old town, some homes and vacation homes scattered around, a lighthouse that looks straight out of a children’s book, and a rocky coastline.

I must admit, it was the rocks — mainly the sea stacks that drew me to this coastal town in the Beaver State. If you head to the seaside, you’ll see rocks sticking out of the water and even off the sandy beaches. Created by wind and water erosion and moved around by subduction, these geological structures add unparalleled natural beauty to Bandon.

Many of these weathered rocks have amusing names, and many of them have Native American folktales linked to them. Like many older cultures, I guess, these stories were passed down orally and retold by generations in an effort to respect and preserve nature’s gifts.

One of the most well-known stories here is that of Face Rock, which relates the story of the daughter-of-a-chief, who was turned into a rock. One of the most recognizable features in the waters here, Face Rock resembles a girl’s head with her face turned up to the sky (and you spot it?). And near her, are the ‘Cat and Kittens’ rocks, Elephant Rock and Cathedral Rock. Not very far from there are Wizard’s Hat, Table Rock and even a Haystack (not to be confused with the one in Cannon Beach).

Bandon, OR

Bandon, Oregon, in the southeastern part of the state, has a recorded history that dates back to the mid-1800s when Irish settlers arrived in the area. Before that, the area was home to the Coquille (NoSoMah) tribe of Native Americans who had settled by the mouth of the Coquille River.

This small town’s history also talks about a small amount of gold that was found here at one point, some cheese-making and cranberry growing, as well. Bandon is often called the ‘cranberry capital’ of Oregon, and it also hosts an annual Cranberry Festival in late summer.

If you’d like to see Bandon for yourself:

• Note: Bandon is in the southern part of Oregon’s coast.
• This coastal town is around a 4-hour drive from Portland, and a little over 2.5 hours away from Eugene, OR.
• If you’re traveling from California, the drive north is around 8.5 hours from San Francisco and over 13 hours from Los Angeles.
  
  Have a great trip!

More Oregon Coast Trip Ideas:
Cannon Beach
Astoria
Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area

From US’s Beaver State – Oregon

Linking to—
My Corner of the World