Visiting Newport on the Beautiful Oregon Coast
Coastal towns in the Pacific Northwest are different from coastal towns in other areas. The climate is wetter than most people think of when they imagine a beach vacation, for starters. This is not a place you go to swim in the water in your bikini, at least not for too long. The water is just too cold. And you can find better places to get a suntan. What you will find are beaches that are always changing, and always wonderful in different ways. You can go to the same beach on different days and be in a seemingly entirely different place. The water, the cloud cover, the light. All give changing views. You can go to beaches in a place like Florida and get a tan, but it gets old quickly. You can explore the beaches around Newport and experience alot more variety. . In 1967 Oregon enacted “Oregon’s Beach Bill” which declared that the beaches belong to the people of Oregon. Free and uninterrupted use of all beach areas is an Oregon right. Some of the State Parks charge for parking and/or use. The two lighthouses in the Newport area are interesting in their own right, especially the one on Yaquina Head, with its unique natural area. At 93 feet it is Oregon’s tallest lighthouse.
Newport is more than the beach, though. It has a large number of art galleries, small theatrical productions, and a very good aquarium. The Oregon Coast Aquarium together with the Hatfield Marine Science Center offer an educational and interesting visit. There is the bay front area, where you can see working fish docks and processing centers aside art galleries and quaint eateries. There is Nye Beach area, with a small but eclectic cultural scene. The Newport Seafood and Wine Festival held in February is regarded as the premier seafood and wine festival on the west coast. In a town with a population of about 10,000 there are about 80 restaurants, so dining opportunities abound. The Rogue Brew Pub on the south side of Yaquina Bay brews Internationally recognized microbrews with attitude. Try “Dead Guy Ale” if you like a stout brew.
Whale watching is a favorite activity of many visitors. From about mid December to early February, Gray Whales migrate south from waters near Alaska to the warm waters near Baja California in Mexico. Starting in March and running through the summer, the go the other way. An organization called “Whale Watching Spoken Here” has volunteers at key whale viewing points along the coast during peak weeks.
To the south of Newport is the small village of Waldport, right next to the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area that could provide days worth of exploration. A little further south is Yachats, home to many artists and writers. To the North is Lincoln City which also has many attractions. From any of these towns you can go crabbing, fishing, hiking in deep forests, or beach combing. You can enjoy a cool summer day away from the inland heat, or go watch a storm crash against the headlands from a cottage with a fireplace.
In short, if you are looking for something more from your beach than bodies and sun, if you are interested in exploring an area of the World that is truly unique, or if you are just trying to escape smoldering summer heat, than take a look at Newport.
