Awesome Things to Do in Coos Bay, Oregon

Wander With Wonder – Discovering Wow Moments Around the World or Across the Street

Experience the beauty of Coos Bay, Oregon, with its stunning beaches, thrilling outdoor activities, and delicious food. Read on for some awesome things to do in Coos Bay, Oregon, and plan your getaway now!

Coos Bay, Oregon, is a small town where the land meets the sea. Together with neighboring North Bend and Charleston, the three towns make up Oregon’s Bay Area, boasting the largest deep-draft port between Puget Sound in Washington and San Francisco, California. This coastal area is home to some of the world’s most impressive beaches and dunes and is an ideal destination for outdoor adventurers. With access to incredible produce, meat, and seafood, Coos Bay offers food lovers an abundance of tasty food at upscale restaurants and seaside eateries. There are so many things to do in Coos Bay; I have visited several times, and getting there is part of the fun.

How to Get to Coos Bay

Coos Bay, located approximately four hours southwest of Portland, Oregon, is easy to find. Heading south on Interstate 5 from Portland, take exit 162 in Douglas County to follow OR-38 West and meander along the Umpqua River. The road weaves through the picturesque countryside. Green or golden rolling hills, depending on the season, are peppered with Oregon Myrtlewood evergreens on one side, and the gently flowing or rushing water of the Umpqua River is on the other. At Reedsport, go south on US-101 to Coos Bay.

Where to Stay in Coos Bay

Coos Bay and neighboring North Bend offer a variety of accommodations.

The Mill Casino Hotel is an Exciting Waterfront Hotel

The Mill Casino Hotel has remodeled many of the rooms. The recently refurbished “Lodge” building features various rooms and suites from budget-level to upscale. On a trip with my daughter Brittney, we shared a large suite with a gigantic bedroom and living room featuring huge windows that opened to the bay. The pullout couch was comfy and the ideal place to sit by the fire and gaze out onto the water at the end of the day.

Itty Bitty Inn is an Eclectic and Unique Motel

The alluring, retro, no-frills, geek-chic Itty Bitty Inn on US Route 101 is a funky place to lay your head at night. Each of the five themed rooms has a small refrigerator, microwave, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and a large workspace. Oregon-made products, including locally sourced soaps and roasted coffee, are in each room, and vintage vibe and cruiser bikes, record players, and Atari 2600s are available for entertainment.

My husband, Steve, and I stayed in the Tiki Room, where we played albums featuring Jimmy Henricks, Beach Boys, and other rock bands on an old suitcase-style record player. Beads hung on the doorway, and bright yellow walls added to the Polynesian/Hawaiian atmosphere.

Bay Point Landing is a High-end Resort/Campground

Bay Point Landing offers various forms of luxury camping. Three types of Scandinavian-style furnished cabins and Airstream rentals are available, and the park has 95 spots for attractive one- to ten-year-old RVs.

I stayed in a well-appointed waterfront Drift Cabin. It was very similar to a high-end tiny house. The modern kitchen was well-equipped, the bathroom was sizeable, and the bedroom boasted a king-sized bed. The unit had plenty of light, and the porch featured two Adirondack chairs and a table.

The campground/resort boasts a saltwater-heated swimming pool, a game room, a kid’s room, and a stunning waterfront space for gatherings, parties, and events.

Outdoor Adventures Near Coos Bay

Hiking Trails Near Coos Bay

The Oregon Coast has some fabulous hiking destinations. I have enjoyed several trekking adventures in the mountains, along the rivers, and next to the ocean near Coos Bay.

Sunset Bay to Shore Acres State Park

The four-mile Sunset Bay to Shore Acres trail has relatively no elevation gain, is quite broad, is accessible to most individuals, and is quite popular. The trail offers spectacular ocean views, but the observation point from Shore Acres State Park is exceptional and attracts storm chasers worldwide.

Photographers capture split-second photos of some of the Pacific Northwest’s most colossal, overwhelming waves as they crash against the rugged sandstone cliffs. The ocean spray from these waves is astonishing.

The formal gardens nearby are gorgeous during the spring and summer. Brittney and I enjoyed the stunning water features, blooming trees, and other flowers.

Golden and Silver Falls

Reaching Golden and Silver Falls requires an hour’s drive east of downtown. Each waterfall is outstanding, but both trailheads begin from the same parking lot, offering hikers a two-for-one package deal.

Ride the Oregon Dunes

Inside the Siuslaw National Forest lies the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This sandy, desert-like landscape spans 31,500 acres and runs from Florence to Coos River in North Bend. Inside the Recreation Area, visitors discover ocean beaches, green forests, rushing rivers, and quiet lakes encompassing an ever-changing ecosystem. The water, wind, and sand continually restructure the landscape, creating an ever-evolving playground.

Spinreel ATV & Dune Buggy Rental, a family-owned and operated company, is a fabulous way to explore the dunes. One of the fun things to do in Coos Bay is to join a follow-me trip where guests rent dune buggies and follow the leader through the dunes. It was a blast racing up and down the dunes and taking flight when reaching the top of a dune.

Deep Sea Fishing

It is easy to charter a fishing trip on one of the boats departing from nearby Charleston and Winchester Bay. My husband Steve and I headed out to sea with one of the local boat companies, and the trip was well beyond our expectations. Deep sea fishing is one of the most exciting things to do in Coos Bay.

Our 28-foot aluminum fishing boat seated four guests. Thanks to the captain’s excellent driving skills and the 350 HP Suzuki engine, GPS, fish finder, radio, and radar electronics, we anchored 450 feet above a 90-foot-thick school of rockfish.

The captain and his assistant baited the hooks and handed us the rods while we rocked and rolled in the 12-foot swells. We had two-pound rod-shaped copper weights on the lines with three hooks each. Thank goodness for the electronic reels; there is no way I could have hauled in three rockfish at a time with 450 feet of line. In less than 30 minutes, the crew and passengers caught 50 canary and yellow-tail rockfish. The adventure was thrilling and, honestly, a bit nauseating.

South Coast Tours

South Coast Tours, out of Port Orford, offers numerous tours throughout Oregon’s Southern Coast, including boating, fishing, paddling, kayaking, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, surfing, and mountain biking.

Brittney and I kayaked the South Slough, part of the local estuary. We paddled through various topographies. Some parts of the slough were vast, where two or three kayaks could paddle side by side, while others were very narrow and required kayakers to pay close attention and pass sections single file.

Trails and rivers change throughout the seasons. When the waters are low, rocks and sand can make it easy to run aground. When the waters are high, they often become an obstacle course with floating debris and tree branches that require removal or head ducking. Kayaking is another one of the most fun things to do in Coos Bay.

Where to Eat in Coos Bay

Eating is an integral part of travel. In Coos Bay, I inhaled the aroma of a cheesy pizza, savored the crispy crunch of fish and chips, or warmed up with a cup of steamy clam chowder on a cold, rainy day. These dishes are samplings of traditional seaside fare.

Over the last few years, chefs, bakers, and pub cooks in Coos Bay, Oregon, have raised the bar on local eats. They have elevated the standards by sourcing the best local ingredients, creating more innovative dishes, supporting each other by buying and selling products from one another, and collaborating to stimulate additional economic growth.

Wildflour Public House

Wildflour Public House is a farm and sea-to-table restaurant that makes incredible dinners, baked goods, and chocolates. I have dined here more than once, and at a recent dinner, I began with a passion fruit margarita and a house-made pretzel with beer cheese dip.

The cocktail was sweet and fruity, and the pretzel was soft and chewy with the ooey-gooey cheese. I chose a tasty Asian bowl for my entrée, containing microgreens, carrots, herbs, and pork belly topped with peanut sauce and crunchy peanuts.

Restaurant O—Fine Dining in Coos Bay

Diners at Restaurant O can choose from tasty Bistro fare, tapas, fine dining downstairs, or fine dining and a tasting menu upstairs with a view. Chef O’Neill has earned some serious credentials. He knew he wanted to become a chef at an early age. Growing up, Chef O’Neill loved watching his mother in the kitchen. At the age of 17, he left home and pursued his career by graduating summa cum laude from hotel and catering studies at Canterbury College in southeast England.

Chef O’Neill worked for the Michelin-star Restaurant La Manoir De Barville in Normandy, France. He then moved to The Savoy Hotel in London, where he mastered the art of classical cooking. Still eager to learn more, he went to work for celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay at Gordon Ramsay’s Aubergine and three-star Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road.

To increase his expertise in French, German, and Asian cuisine, he catered and worked in various hotels and three-star Michelin restaurants. Finally, in 2013, Chef O’Neill opened his flagship Restaurant O in Alghero, Sardinia, Italy, earning a Michelin guide recommendation.

Chef O’Neill opened Restaurant O in Coos Bay, Oregon, in December 2017, and his wife, Kariktan Cruz, designed the impressive upstairs décor. She curated bronze and copper sculptures and multi-metal leaf pieces from artists that create dramatic beach-like pieces that bring the outside indoors.

My daughter Brittney and I enjoyed a nine-course tasting menu at Restaurant O. One of my favorite dishes was the Chinook salmon tartare with bok choy and a cilantro emulsion. The dish was clean and fresh, with beautiful flavors and textures. Another favorite was the tender sous-vided filet mignon with pinot noir jus. The beef was smoked and served under glass, and the lobster gratin with asparagus risotto was rich and creamy.

Brittney and I went into the kitchen to watch Chef O’Neill prepare his mixed seafood platter.

Tokyo Bistro

Tokyo Bistro does a fabulous job with sushi. During a recent dinner, I began with tempura veggies and a great dipping sauce. Later, I tried a few sushi rolls: the Summer Roll, which comprised mango, avocado, cucumber, lemon, white tuna, and sweet chili sauce, and the Caterpillar Roll, which had avocado and smoked eel. Both rolls were delicious.

Shark Bites

Shark Bites serves all the tasty food you would expect at a seaside eatery, and they do it to perfection. The crabcakes are spectacular, the cole slaw is tart, sweet, and refreshing, and the fish tacos are perfectly fried and comparable to my favorite ones in Sayulita, Mexico. Pair those with one of their excellent margaritas, and it makes a fantastic lunch or dinner.

Espresso Mill Coffee Shop & Bakery

Espresso Mill Coffee Shop & Bakery is fantastic for breakfast. I ordered a chocolate cherry coconut scone and a mocha. Brittney ordered the maple bacon scone, while our friend Janice had an everything muffin top with toffee, chocolate, and other crunchy bits. Everything was delicious and warm.

7 Devils Brewery Brewing Company

Carmen Mattews, the 7 Devils Brewing Company owner, strives to be a good neighbor. He says, “We try to complement the businesses in our immediate area as opposed to duplicating what already exists.” There are two locations. The Brewery and Tap Room are on 2nd Street, and the Waterfront Ale House is on Bayshore Drive.

I have eaten at both locations, and the food is excellent, although the environments are very different. I enjoyed the tuna fish and chips with roasted red potatoes and arugula salad lightly dressed in lemon juice with a touch of red onion slivers, an extreme mule, and a sample of their Woodford stout. Both were quite tasty.

Scoops

Ice cream is a must when visiting the seaside. I tried a scoop of the Kahlua crunch in a chocolate chip cookie sandwich at Scoops ice cream shop. Oh, so yummy.

Front Street Provisioners

The staff at Front Street Provisioners create unique handcrafted cocktails and tasty pizzas. I had lunch here and tried the spicy aioli nachos with Ahi tuna poke. The dish was both savory and refreshing. Next, I had a burrata caprese. The tomatoes were delicious and ripe, and the burrata was extra creamy.

North 40 Brewing

Chef Chanupa Uha Manee was the original chef at Front Street Provisioners. He has moved to North 40 Brewing, and I have heard that his eclectic menu is excellent. I must stop there on my next visit.

The Tin Rooster

The Tin Rooster is another excellent place to stop for coffee, breakfast, or lunch. I tried their avocado toast with goat cheese, tomatoes, and chives; it was superb.

The Tin Thistle Café

Paula owns The Tin Thistle Café, which serves delicious, colorful vegan dishes. We stopped there for lunch and tried a decadent sampling of dishes.

I had the roasted taco-seasoned cauliflower tacos with salsa and purple cabbage. Brittney tried the veggie burger, which was also very tasty. We also enjoyed the macaroni and cheese made with nutritional yeast. It was so creamy and flavorful. I would have thought it was made with regular cheese if I hadn’t known better.

Farmers’ Market

The Farmers’ Market is held outside on Wednesdays from May through October and indoors during the rest of the year. There are approximately 60 food and craft vendors in May and June, and in the high season, about 90 vendors participate. The outdoor event takes up three blocks downtown.

Unique Places to Visit in Coos Bay

Coos Bay History Museum

The Coos History Museum showcases the history and present life of the people in Coos County and Oregon’s South Coast. This small museum is jam-packed with artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of the local people’s diverse history, culture, and heritage.

Coos Bay Art Museum

The Coos Art Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary. It is located in the Art Deco building, which was built in 1936 and served as the Post Office for many years. The museum hosts art classes, lectures, and community events. This museum is Oregon’s South Coast’s only cultural resource showcasing ever-changing exhibits that inspire art appreciation and offer a unique look at visual art through color and medium.

Washed Ashore Gallery and Volunteer Workshop

Washed Ashore is a gallery and workshop where staff and volunteers create elaborate sculptures and art installations made from recycled ocean trash. The main workshop is in Bandon, Oregon, but a smaller workshop is in Coos Bay. Art from the workshop is located all over Coos Bay.

Charleston Marine Life Center

The Charles Marine Life Center is a hands-on mini aquarium highlighting different animals and habitats along the coast. Exciting animals, from sea slugs to octopi, sea anemones, and more, make this marine center a fabulous stop for adults and children of all ages.

Romantic Things to Do in Coos Bay

Bay Boardwalk is an accessible walk on the waterfront in Coos Bay’s center. The interpretive panels are being replaced, but it is still a lovely place to take a romantic stroll. Sunset Bay is another much-loved place to walk on the beach, picnic, or enjoy watching the sunset with someone you love.

Reading List for Coos Bay

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