Berry byway from Port Orford to Bandon
Ramble along the berry trail from Port Orford to Bandon for a bucketful of sweet tastes.
Start your morning at Port Orford Community Co-op (24), where you can pick up a basketful of picnic provisions, including seasonal produce like sun-kissed, handpicked strawberries from Valley Flora Farm (20). On Saturday, you can also stop in at Wild Woods Gypsy (23), just north of Port Orford, for more locally produced coastal goodies to go in your picnic basket.
Head north on Highway 101 to Peters Cranberries (22) farm stand for cranberry jams, syrups, concentrate and vinegars, all made from their own sustainably grown cranberries. Keep heading north, stopping along the way to enjoy blueberry u-pick experiences at family farms like Jensen Blueberries (21), Valentine Blueberries (18) and Twin Creek Ranch Blueberries (16).
Spread your picnic blanket in the sunshine at Dragonfly Farm & Nursery (19) in Langlois and enjoy a post-lunch stroll through the verdant grounds and greenhouses. Make sure you pick up a bottle of Grandpa Jack’s cranberry concentrate - made with Bowman Bogs (17) cranberries - before you leave.
In Bandon, quaff a fruity pre-dinner drink at one of the local watering holes - cranberry rum at Stillwagon Distillery (9) or cranberry cider at Bandon Rain (10), plus a bottle or two of each to take home with you! Top off your day back in Port Orford at Redfish (26), enjoying both a fresh-caught seafood dinner and a gorgeous sunset from their oceanfront location above Battle Rock.
Seafood search from brookings to winchester bay
This made-for-grownups culinary treasure trek starts with a 3-day weekend booking at Endicott Gardens Bed & Breakfast Spa Retreat (27) in Gold Beach.
Arriving on Friday afternoon, swing by Fisherman Direct Seafood (28) to pick up some edible souvenirs like freshly canned albacore tuna and crab to enjoy after you return home. Then head into town for an early dinner at Barnacle Bistro (29) - try the crab cakes made with locally-caught Dungeness crab and Oregon bay shrimp.
Saturday morning, start with a pastry and coffee at Leavened Bakery (30) before heading north to Port Orford for a two hour exploration by kayak from Port Orford with South Coast Tours (25). Fish from the boat, forage for mussels and edible seaweeds, or just enjoy bird watching in the refreshing sea breeze. Following your kayaking fun, check out the working waterfront, where the unique dolly dock lifts boats in and out of the water by crane. Then head south to Brookings for an early dinner at Catalyst Seafood (39) in the Port of Brookings-Harbor, before heading back to Gold Beach for the night.
Sunday morning, make sure to leave early enough for plenty of stops on your way home: in Gold Beach at Old Agness Store (31) for gluten-free brownies and at Coastal Market (34) for gourmet Oregon goodies; in Bandon at Farm & Sea (13) to pick up smoked salmon; for lunch in Coos Bay at Sharkbite’s Seafood Cafe (8); and at Umpqua Triangle Oysters (1) in Winchester Bay for fresh oysters (packed on ice, of course!)
Timeless beauty from Reedsport to Brookings
This dreamy drive from Reedsport to Brookings passes through some of the South Coast’s most stunning landscapes.
From the Umpqua River Scenic Byway catch a glimpse of majestic Roosevelt elk at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, followed by a hearty breakfast at Reedsport’s Harbor Light Restaurant (2). Further south in Coos Bay, stop in at Coos Head Food Co-Op (7) for energy-packed snacks and beverages, before making a side stop to stroll through the lush formal gardens at Shore Acres State Park, where you can view dramatic surf crashing below the soaring cliffline.
The most direct route from Shore Acres back to the iconic Highway 101 is down 7 Devils Road (and if you’re a mountain biking buff, take note of the signpost to the Whiskey Run Mountain Bike Trail for a future trip!) Once you’re back on the 101, head south toward the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, a 12-mile stretch of drop-dead gorgeous coastline between Gold Beach and Brookings, featuring one turnoff after another, each with access to picnic areas, viewpoints and trailheads that connect an 18-mile segment of the Oregon Coast Trail.
End your day in Brookings with dinner at Fat Irish Restaurant & Pub (35) in the harbor, topping things off at Chetco Brewing Company’s (36) lively tasting room, where you can also get a growler to go before turning in for the night.
This video also highlights the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail:
The Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail - One Part Culture, One Part Adventure, Three Parts Delicious!
(This project has been funded in part by an Oregon Wine Country License Plates Matching Grant.)