Barnacle Bistro 68 VISITTHEOREGONCOAST.COM WILD RIVERS COAST FOOD TRAIL For freshly caught seafood, flourishing berry farms and artisan products like cheese, chocolate and beer, the South Coast fits the bill. During July visit a U-pick blueberry farm like Twin Creek Ranch and Valentine Blueberries, both south of Bandon. Pick strawberries all season long at Valley Flora, a farm with diverse offerings in Langlois. And don’t forget to visit the pumpkin patch and corn maze at Mahaffy Ranch in Coos Bay each fall. Any visit to Bandon should include a visit to Coastal Mist Chocolate Boutique for treats from a Belgiantrained chocolatier. Farther south, stop by Port Orford Sustainable Seafood’s The Galley for the fleet’s offering of hot meals of local fish with global flavors. Savor seafood, salads and more at Barnacle Bistro, housed in a cozy spot in Gold Beach. Off the Wagon, Chetco Brewing’s own food truck in Brookings, specializes in vegan comfort food like nachos and tempeh tacos. Visit the Bandon Old Town Marketplace Farmers Market, the largest indoor farmers market in Oregon, in season. Check the web for dates and times for other seasonal farmers markets in places like Coos Bay, Port Orford and Brookings. Visit WRCFoodTrail.com for more offerings. ALEX JORDAN a crab, shrimp or albacore sandwich at seasonal food cart Blue Box Seafood Company. The Ko-Kwel Casino Resort in North Bend, owned and operated by the Coquille Indian Tribe, serves brickoven pizza at Timbers Café. At nearby Clausen Oysters, order a dozen freshly shucked oysters with blackberry mignonette. In Coos Bay, Himalayan Restaurant & Bar has made a name for itself with its flavorful tikka masalas. Under the Coos Bay boardwalk, Fishermen’s Seafood Market serves up fish tacos and fish and chips with a full bar. Kids will love Yoda’s Hut food truck for burritos and burgers with a “Star Wars” theme. Open spring through fall, Persephone Cafe & Bakery in Charleston mills its own wheat for fresh breads. Fish and chips is the specialty at the Bandon Fish Market on Bandon’s Old Town Waterfront. Cheese lovers, don’t skip a visit to Face Rock Creamery to sample and purchase their specialty, the garlic- studded Vampire Slayer cheddar. For breakfast in Port Orford, get biscuits and gravy at Cafe 2.0 or smoothies and a breakfast sandwich at Golden Harvest Herban Farm and Bakery. Freshly fried fish and chips, shrimp tacos and housemade pies are popular for lunch or dinner at The Crazy Norwegian’s — ask about specials using local catch off the nearby dock. In Gold Beach, fuel up before or after your fishing charter for breakfast or lunch at Indian Creek Cafe. Brisket, tri-tip and pulled pork are the main attractions at Gold Beach BBQ. Gold Beach’s Groundlings Pizza Co., with views of the Rogue River, crafts a pie with creative toppings that rotate seasonally. Try Zola’s on the Water for woodfired pizza with views of Brookings’ harbor, or enjoy sustainably caught tuna handrolls or Japanese grilled meats at Pacific Sushi & Grill. CHEERS! When you’re ready to raise a toast, visit 7 Devils Brewery & Public House’s downtown taphouse or its Waterfront Ale House in Coos Bay — check out the art created by local artists on the walls and the fun upscale pub menu. Rack ’em up at Up the Creek Tavern in Lakeside, where the pool tables are always welcoming and the drinks are always cold. Stop by Stillwagon Distillery, with tasting rooms in Reedsport and Bandon, to try rum flavored with local cranberries or foraged coastal berries. Speaking of fruit, Bandon Rain serves house-made ciders from seasonal harvests, like apples and cranberries, from a tasting room in downtown Bandon. Kids and pets are welcome at Arch Rock Brewing Co.’s taproom in Gold Beach and at Chetco Brewing Company in Brookings. Nearby Misty Mountain Brewing & Tap Haus delights fans of hobbits with its “Lord of the Rings” tasting room theme, and Oxenfrē Public House sports a comfort-food menu with local taps and Belgian beers. Brookings also delights wine lovers with Augustino Estate’s tasting room, with beautiful views of rolling hills. Grown in Southern Oregon, varietals like pinot grigio, tempranillo and pinot noir please many palates. OUTDOORS CYCLING Whether you’re tackling single-track trails, quiet backroads or even the shore itself, you’ll find no shortage of epic bike rides on the South Coast. The mixed-use Hundred Acre Wood trails at the edge of Coquille offer a mix of beginner-friendly cross-country loops and more technical challenges geared toward expert riders. South of Coos Bay, the growing Whiskey Run system comprises 32 miles (51 km) of forested riding across more than 60 trails. In the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the Pine Grove Trail heads downhill and ends at the confluence of two rivers. Shuttles to local trails and guided trips are available via local outfitter South Coast Tours. Explore local logging history, enjoy plenty of solitude and savor
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