Bandon By The Sea is my favorite coastal town in Oregon. There are many photographic opportunities to be had in Bandon.

Nearby Bullards State Park has lots and lots of beach and is home to the historic Coquille River Lighthouse. Early mornings are a good time to catch the local fishing boats in the middle of the Coquille River.

A visit to the Old Town area with its Marina, Boardwalk, and rustic Shops is a must. The myrtle wood carvings on the boardwalk are outstanding, as is the cuisine in the local eateries. My favorite food spots are Tony’s Crab Shack, Bandon Brewing Company & Pizzeria, and Coastal Mist chocolate shop.

The most famous sights in Bandon are the sea stacks at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint and Coquille Point, where sunsets can yield some outstanding images.

Unfortunately, fame has a price, and while the increase in tourism is an economic boon to the town, the influx of photographers make it more and more difficult to get shots of an empty beach, and the appearance of modern homes in the rustic neighborhoods of Beach Loop Road ruin the coastal charm of the area.

Still, Bandon has, for the moment, charm a-plenty, and remains my favorite coastal town in Oregon.

Myrtlewood (Umbellularia californica) sculpture of a seahorse on the boardwalk at Bandon "Old Town" in Oregon.

Myrtlewood Seahorse At Bandon

A sea stack near the cliffs by Gravel Point in Bandon, Oregon.

Gravel Point Sea Stack

A sea stack near the cliffs by Gravel Point in Bandon, Oregon.

Gravel Point Sea Stack BW

Driftwood beach house constructed on the beach near Bandon South Jetty County Park at Bandon, Oregon.

Bandon Driftwood Beach House

Seagulls flying and patroling the beach near Elephant Rock at Coquille Point in Bandon, Oregon. Bandon's more famous seastacks at Face Rock State Scenic Virepoint are in the background.

Another Day On The Beach At Bandon 1

Seagulls doing Gull things on the seastacks by Elephant Rock at Bandon in Oregon.

Seagulls On Seastacks At Elephant Rock

Seagulls and cormorants line the seastacks near Elephant Rock at Coquille Point in Bandon, Oregon. Bandon's more famous seastacks at Face Rock State Scenic Virepoint are in the background.

Another Day On The Beach At Bandon 2

Massive tree trunk impedes foot-traffic between the beaches north and south of Coquille Point at Bandon in Oregon.

Tree Trunk At Coquille Point

Seastacks and sand on the beach near Coquille Point at Bandon in Oregon.

Seastack At Coquille Point

Seastacks reflected in wet sand on the beach near Coquille Point at Bandon in Oregon.

Seastack Reflections At Coquille Point 3

Seagull perched on a rock as the waves break on the shore of the beach at Coquille Point in Bandon, Oregon.

Seagull On Perch At Coquille Point

Stairs leading up to the cliff above Bandon beach, between South Jetty County Park and Coquille Point, with a private residence atop the cliff.

Stairs And House At Bandon Beach 1

The paved path down to the beach above Coquille Point in Bandon, Oregon, looking toward Coquille Point.

Paved Path Down To Bandon Beach 2

Paved path down to beach above Coquille Point in Bandon, Oregon, looking toward Bandon South Jetty Park.

Paved Path Down To Bandon Beach 1

Stairs leading down to the beach at the north end of Kronenberg County Park near the 8th St SW parking area in Bandon, Oregon.

Path And Stairs To Bandon Beach 4

Stairs leading down to the beach at the north end of Kronenberg County Park near the 8th St SW parking area in Bandon, Oregon.

Path And Stairs To Bandon Beach 2

Stairs leading down to the beach at the north end of Kronenberg County Park near the 8th St SW parking area in Bandon, Oregon.

Path And Stairs To Bandon Beach 3

Dunes and grass framing the way out to the North Jetty of the Coquille River at Bandon in Oregon.

Dunes And Grass At North Jetty

Two men fishing by the Coquille River Lighthouse at the mouth of the Coquille River in Bandon, Oregon.

Fishing At Coquille River Lighthouse

Two men fishing by the Coquille River Lighthouse at the mouth of the Coquille River in Bandon, Oregon.

Fishing At Coquille River Lighthouse BW

Setting sun casting fiery glow over the Kittens seastacks at Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Sunset Over The Cat And Kittens

Pair of seagulls perched atop rock during sunset near the Kittens seastacks at Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Sunset Over Face Rock And The Kittens

Pastel pinks and magentas imbued seascape during sunset near the Cat & Kittens on Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Sunset Over The Kittens

Face Rock in dark silhouette amidst crashing waves during a wonderful sunset at Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Sunset Over Face Rock 2

Face Rock in dark silhouette amidst crashing waves during a wonderful sunset at Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Sunset Over Face Rock 1

Local horseback riders out enjoying the sunset near Wizard Hat on Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Horseback Riding On Bandon Beach

Golden sun obscured by cloud embankment setting over the Kittens at Bandon, Oregon.

Sunset Over The Kittens

Local horseback riders out enjoying the sunset on Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Horseback Riding On Bandon Beach 2

Local horseback riders out enjoying the sunset on Bandon Beach in Oregon.

Horseback Riding On Bandon Beach 2 BW

Misty late afternoon on Bandon Beach near Wizard's Hat on the Oregon Coast.

Afternoon Mist At Wizard Hat

House atop cliffs, seen through the afternoon mists from the beach near Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon, Oregon.

House On Cliff Near Face Rock 2

House atop cliffs, seen through the afternoon mists from the beach near Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon, Oregon.

House On Cliff Near Face Rock 2 BW

A composition showing various sea stacks at Bandon Beach in Oregon on a misty afternoon.

Misty Afternoon At Bandon Beach

Various sea stacks at Bandon Beach in Oregon on a misty afternoon.

Misty Afternoon At Bandon Beach BW

House atop cliffs seen through afternoon mists from beach near Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon Oregon.

House On Cliff Near Face Rock

House atop cliffs seen through afternoon mists from beach near Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon Oregon.

House On Cliff Near Face Rock BW

Seagull and cliffside homes peek through mist during foggy afternoon near the Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon, Oregon.

House On Cliff Bird On Beach

Seagull and cliffside homes peek through mist during foggy afternoon near the Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon, Oregon.

House On Cliff Bird On Beach BW

Children exploring the wonders of the beach with their father on a foggy afternoon at Bandon in Oregon.

Teach Your Children Well

Sea stacks and beach at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint in Bandon, Oregon

Sea Stacks At Bandon

Ominous storm clouds brood over clump of twisted kelp stranded on beach.

Stranded Before The Storm 2

Ominous storm clouds brood over clump of twisted kelp stranded on beach.

Stranded Before The Storm 1

The Coquille River Lighthouse at the mouth of the Coquille River in Bandon, Oregon.

Coquille River Lighthouse 10

Lighthouse by the Coquille River.

Coquille River Lighthouse 2