South Bend: friendly county seat

Snuggled against the shores of the Willapa River, South Bend offers visitors a wide variety of activities, sights and shops.

Located 45 miles north of the Peninsula on U.S. Highway 101, it bills itself as the “Oyster Capital of the World.”

South Bend is home to numerous turn-of-the-century buildings, including four listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The prime piece of architecture on the list is the Pacific County Courthouse.

The heart of the business district is nestled along U.S. Highway 101, renamed Robert Bush Drive for a local winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor, as it curves through the town. Antique shops, boutiques and gift shops are tucked between the grocery and other retail stores.

South Bend’s annual festivals include the Oyster Stampede on Memorial Day weekend and a Labor Day weekend extravaganza and parade.

As is the case throughout the county, fishing and hunting are excellent around South Bend.