Coos Bay has officially been recognized with the prestigious honor of “Best Place People Drive Through on Their Way to Bandon”, as awarded by the esteemed travel magazine Scenic Secrets Quarterly. The recognition comes after an exhaustive survey of road-trippers, coastal wanderers, and lost Californians, all of whom agreed that while Coos Bay is indeed a town that exists, it’s mostly where they stop for gas, stretch their legs, or use the bathroom before continuing on to the far more Instagrammable town of Bandon.

“We were really excited to visit the Oregon Coast, and then we realized we were in Coos Bay,” said one anonymous traveler. “We stopped for a quick sandwich, looked around, and thought, ‘Yeah, this is nice... but Bandon is only 25 minutes away.’”

Local officials were reportedly thrilled with the recognition, calling it “better than nothing.” In a press conference outside the region’s 17th antique shop, the mayor emphasized that Coos Bay has much more to offer than just being a drive-through destination. “We have history! We have culture! We have a Home Depot!” he exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Bandon residents graciously acknowledged the award but admitted they weren’t surprised. “We love Coos Bay,” said one Bandon local. “It’s a great place to tell tourists to stop for gas before they get here.”