Noted real estate expert and Shark Tank TV star, Barbara Corcoran, has written: “Bandon is one of the last unspoiled and undiscovered coastal towns out West.” The air smells good, filled with the scents of nature; pungent and earthy; of the ocean and life as it was meant to be. 

True, there’s lots of rain in the winter, but it’s not as bad as you’ve heard. Storm fronts move in, interspersed with sunshine, hail, and puffy clouds. The rain keeps everything lush and green. Summers are relaxed, long, dry, and balmy. 

Some people ask, “Isn’t Oregon awfully rural? Won’t I feel isolated?” The New York Times said it best: “Bandon is shifting from a ‘West Coast Appalachia,’ … to an increasingly sophisticated haven for retirees.” Most feel right at home after they’ve met a few of their neighbors. They’re surprised how many friendly transplants live in the area. 

Shopping? You’ll find all the essentials and more. So much of the food is fresh and direct from local growers. Being a rural area, family farms abound, with fresh fruits and vegetables for much of the year. Locally grown beef, lamb, pork, chickens, and eggs are all available. The fish and crab are as fresh as can be, often pulled from the waters the very same day. Local cheeses, wineries, and chocolates are all available. 

There is a variety of terrific restaurants, galleries, a bookstore, and crafts. Much is ordered online. Costpro Direct delivers to some 4,000 Costco items weekly to Bandon customers. There’s a terrific library and the Sprague Theatre. More theaters in nearby Coos Bay/North Bend and Coquille. More great restaurants in these towns as well.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, described as follows by Golf Odyssey Magazine: “It is here, on this remote stretch of the wildly stunning Oregon coast, where the finest golf courses in the whole world quietly await you.”

Looking for fun things to do for the family? How about horseback riding on the beach? Or a hike through the wilderness, alongside rivers filled with salmon and steelhead? Or a mountain bike run down long trails through tall forests? Anyone for wind surfing or kiting at Floras Lake or Pistol River? Camping at Bullard’s Beach?  Whale watching, birding, kayaking? Or if you aspire to something with more excitement, consider a rafting trip down the mighty Rogue River.

Ashland, of renowned cultural repute, is an easy three hour drive, offering more theaters, restaurants and galleries, and there are numerous fine vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. 

Like anywhere, there’s a diversity of interesting people to meet. Educated professionals, artists, writers, people from all walks of life, who decided that Bandon offers a lifestyle more in keeping with their sensibilities. There’s a stillness and peace of mind that comes with living on the Oregon coast, a sense that this is what life is supposed to be. Bandon may be off the beaten path, but those familiar with it know that it’s well worth the trip.