Samuel Boardman

Despite countless road trips over the past five years, I had yet to visit the southern-most section of the Oregon coast. Since Tom and I wanted to visit good friends in southern Oregon before our move, we decided to take the scenic route.

June 22-25

Day 1: Newport

We packed up Sullie on Thursday morning, and left around noon. We drove southeast, picking up Highway 101 in Lincoln City. From there, we winded our way south through the lush and wild coastal foliage. The coast is typically cooler than Portland, and this weekend was no exception; we dropped 20 degrees into the low 60s.

We reached Newport after 2.5 hours of driving. Oregon Coast Glassworks is a local art gallery that offers glass blowing lessons and demonstrations. Tom and I signed up to make paperweights. The lesson was fun and insightful. I learned that glassblowing is common on the Oregon coast because the cool climate affords artists a comfortable environment near the hot ovens, and energy is cheap from nearby hydro sources.

 

After the lesson, we continued south for two hours to Coos Bay. We stopped at Thor's Well along the way. Also known as the drainpipe of the Pacific, the well is actually a hole in the rock that only appears to drain water from the ocean. The site is most spectacular at high tide and during storms. It would have been better to get a closer, birds-eye view by veering off-trail, but we were not willing to traverse the slippery rocks.

We made our way to Coos Bay, watching the sun drop gradually over the ocean. Having just passed the summer solstice, we were gifted with close to 16 hours of daylight. Dinner at 7 Devils Brewing Company.

Day 2: Bandon
On Friday, Tom and I drove 30 minutes south to Bandon, passing the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Shores Acres State Park. Bandon is known for its surfing, mountain biking, storm watching, and the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

We walked several miles along the beach from Face Rock to Coquille Point. This area is filled with iconic rock formations that were once part of the coastline thousands of years ago. While I would have preferred blue skies, the dreary overcast created a mystical, extraterrestrial ambiance.

Throughout the summer, local artists create intricate artwork in the sand, called Circles in the Sand. The designs only last for a few hours during low tide before being washed away. Unfortunately, our visit did not coincide with its schedule.

Aunt Judy hooked us up with a room at Bandon Inn, which is close to Old Town and the boardwalk. We treated ourselves to a nice dinner at Alloro Wine Bar.

Day 3: Samuel Boardman

On Saturday, Tom and I continued 1.5 hours south to the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Craggy bluffs, secluded beaches, and offshore rock formations await visitors along this 12-mile section between Gold Beach and Brookings. Countless turnoffs offer viewpoints and trailheads that connect an 18-mile segment of the Oregon Coast Trail.

I enjoyed the short hike to Secret Beach. Go at low tide and familiarize yourself with the route ahead of time (several trail forks and no reception).

Natural Bridges is another worthwhile stop. Note that hiking near the bridges is discouraged due to the dangerous cliffside.

Cape Ferrelo and Harris Beach State Park are also worth a visit. We grabbed lunch at a deli in Brookings, which hosts an Azalea Festival every May.

Afterwards, we drove 2.5 hours northeast on Redwoods Highway 199 to Medford. I was grateful to return to the sun and heat. That evening, Tom went out for a boys night with Mike and Joel, while I put my feet up and finished reading my book.

Day 4: Medford
On Sunday, we met Madison and baby Cal for breakfast. We considered stopping at Crater Lake or the Roseburg Abacela winery, but decided to push through the 4.5 hour journey home to Louie Cat!