Where to take my sister on the southern Oregon coast (Portland: hotel, home)

[Vertigo]

My sister is coming from MN to visit in just two weeks...her first time visiting me since I moved out here 3 years ago and her first time in Oregon. We only have the weekend together and she and her husband will be coming to Medford by way of the Napa Valley. They do not want to drive all the way up to Portland; they'd like to stay close and they'd like to visit the coast.

What are you're favorite cities on the Oregon coast? She loves to walk and exercise, so we'll definitely want to do some hiking too. On the way, or when we get there. Any suggestions?

[Cornerguy1]

How about taking US199 over to the coast then heading north to Bandon. Pretty scenic drive through Cave Junction and the redwoods.

Nice place to stay just outside Bandon Bandon Oregon Hotel - Best Western Inn at Face Rock Hotel & Suites with a great beach right across the street for walking, etc.

[backdrifter]

^^ Seconded. A hike through Jed Smith State Park in CA is always very nice.

It's kind of cheesy, but it's fun to go to the Prehistoric Gardens. It can be pretty peaceful to just walk in the rain forest with the dinosaurs. It's on the way up towards Bandon on 101 between Port Orford (another nice little town you might want to check out on the way) and Bandon.

For lodging, I'd personally recommend the Sunset Motel (www.sunsetmotel.com) in Bandon. My family and I have been frequenting Bandon as long as I can remember, and it's one of the best spots on the whole coast, and we always stay at the Sunset when we're there--it's a really good value. They also have a really great beach right across from the motel and views of Face Rock.

Downtown Bandon is pretty touristy, but still really fun to explore all the little shops and things. You can head up to Bullards Beach State Park just north of Bandon for more beach exploration, and I believe there is some decent hiking around there if I remember, and some good views, as well as access to the Coquille River Lighthouse. Further up north is Seven Devils Wayside with some really nice views as well, but not much else.

On your way back to I-5 from Bandon you can stop in Coquille for dinner. There's a really great Mexican restaurant there (El Tapatio on Highway 42) that I recommend. Maybe not your thing or not convenient but it's there and it's good. The drive back from the coast towards I-5 is really nice too. Not as scenic as the drive on US 199, but still nice.

Oh, also I'd avoid Lord Bennett's in Bandon. It might look alright, but it's a 'fishy' establishment. I've had family members get food poisoning from eating there.

[mdvaden]

Go to Brookings or Gold Beach, Oregon - pass right by the Oregon caves - and don't miss Jedediah Smith Redwoods at least, since you can drive right to there on the way.

40 minutes south is Prairie Creek redwoods. These pics from there can be representative of Jedediah Smith too.

Here's the link to a Brookings Harris beach image I already posted on City Data forums: Harris Beach Brookings area

Below, look for the man in the first image, under the 40,000 pound burl. I've got a bunch of big tree images online.

[puerco]

Brookings. My favorite place on the S. Oregon Coast.

[haggardhouseelf]

Originally Posted by Cornerguy1

How about taking US199 over to the coast then heading north to Bandon. Pretty scenic drive through Cave Junction and the redwoods.

Nice place to stay just outside Bandon Bandon Oregon Hotel - Best Western Inn at Face Rock Hotel & Suites with a great beach right across the street for walking, etc.

This is a good idea. We've stayed there and from the outside it doesn't look like much, but the rooms are cozy and pretty nice on the inside. We had a double queen room and it was really large with a balcony that had a view of the ocean. There's a decent indoor heated pool there, too, for year-round swimming and they also have a dry sauna which is really nice to have after an active day spent outdoors in the wind and cold. We really like Bandon a lot. We just camped at Cape Blanco and had a wonderful time! It was very windy when we were there, but worth the visit. We went up into the lighthouse and heard stories and well... it's a lovely place. And just north of Bandon is Shore Acres. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. If she likes to hike she'll love that area. And I also second (third? ) the suggestion for a visit to the Redwoods. Amazing.

For food in Bandon check out the Wild Rose Bistro or the High Dock Bistro if they are open? We've found that sometimes once summer is over and the crowds go home many places on the coast also close up shop... but those two places are great for really nice meals. For more casual fare you can try the Crazy Norwegian in Port Orford. We love that place.

Be sure to show her tidepools, too! I'm a Texas girl and had only ever been to beaches in Mexico or the Gulf Coast or the east coast... I nearly died the first time I saw the tidepools along Oregon cost! They are so much fun! There's nothing like them. Ask around and locals will tell you the good places to go - and get a tide schedule so you can play it safe.

[Steve97415]

If getting to the southern Oregon coast via 199 through the Smith River canyon is in the offing, I would definitely make a stop at Stout Grove. It is one of the most impressive redwood groves anywhere.

For hiking, the Samuel Boardman corridor has lots of good short coast hikes with impressive views. I particularly like the segment from Indian Sands to Thomas Creek bridge. China Beach is also very impressive. For a very short, but beautiful hike (25 min. each way), hike down to Secret Beach from the Thunderock Cove parking lot. There is a small waterfall on the beach where Miner Creek empties onto the beach. As mentioned above, the trails around Cape Arago near Shore Acres garden just past Charleston are also wonderful. Most of the really good spots are just a bit off the beaten path.

There are four eateries at the Bandon Dunes and I would highly recommend lunch or dinner there if time allows. I think I like the Pacific Grill best. You don't have to be playing golf to eat there. There is also good dining in Old Town, but a trip to the Dunes is really worth it. Bandon would probably be the best overall destination for a compact, walkable area to explore.


Hiking to Secret Beach on a foggy summer morning.

[Cornerguy1]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

This is a good idea. We've stayed there and from the outside it doesn't look like much, but the rooms are cozy and pretty nice on the inside. We had a double queen room and it was really large with a balcony that had a view of the ocean. There's a decent indoor heated pool there, too, for year-round swimming and they also have a dry sauna which is really nice to have after an active day spent outdoors in the wind and cold. We really like Bandon a lot. We just camped at Cape Blanco and had a wonderful time! It was very windy when we were there, but worth the visit. We went up into the lighthouse and heard stories and well... it's a lovely place. And just north of Bandon is Shore Acres. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. If she likes to hike she'll love that area. And I also second (third? ) the suggestion for a visit to the Redwoods. Amazing.

For food in Bandon check out the Wild Rose Bistro or the High Dock Bistro if they are open? We've found that sometimes once summer is over and the crowds go home many places on the coast also close up shop... but those two places are great for really nice meals. For more casual fare you can try the Crazy Norwegian in Port Orford. We love that place.

Be sure to show her tidepools, too! I'm a Texas girl and had only ever been to beaches in Mexico or the Gulf Coast or the east coast... I nearly died the first time I saw the tidepools along Oregon cost! They are so much fun! There's nothing like them. Ask around and locals will tell you the good places to go - and get a tide schedule so you can play it safe.

Best fish and chips in Oregon. Nummers.