Photo By Tim Sperry Tim's Web Site
About halfway down the Oregon Coast, the picturesque Yaquina Head Lighthouse welcomes you to Newport, a town known for its Dungeness crab and glorious harbor under the graceful Yaquina Bay Bridge. The historic Bay Front offers a mixture of shops, galleries, canneries and restaurants that serve fresh clam chowder, shrimp, oysters, crab and salmon.
Across the bay, the Oregon Coast Aquarium which has four indoor Aquarium galleries showcase coastal habitats and the animals that live there. Seals, sea lions and otters play in rocky pools, while birds soar and dive in North America's largest walk-through sea bird aviary.
Newport also serves up a long list of other attractions:
- Fishing -
Pacific Ocean, Yaquina Bay, Yaquina River, and Big Creek Reservoir.
Many fishing charters available.
- Places of Interest -
Antique Gallery - 4424 North Coast Highway Newport, OR 97365 (541) 574-6000
Coast Arts: Performing Arts Center & Visual Arts Center - P.O. Box 1315 Newport, OR 97365 (541) 265-2787
Facets Gem & Mineral Gallery - 1240 NW Grove St. Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 265-2514
Lincoln County Historical Society - 545 SW 9th St. (541)265-7509.
Free admission. Preserving the History. Visit the Lincoln County Historical Society's Log Cabin Museum and The Burrows House. Both facilities are located just one block off Hwy 101 behind the Newport City Hall and the National Guard Armory.
Hatfield Marine Science Center - Oregon State University - 2030 S.E. Marine Science Dr.
(541)867-0100. Free admission. See its research through marine exhibits and the estuary walk.
Historic Nye Beach - Merchants Association - P.O. Box 1211 Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 265-6262
Oregon Coast Aquarium -2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Road · Newport, Oregon 97365 · (541) 867-FISH / 541 867-3474 ext 5224 Aquarium Web Site
Pyromania Glass Studio & Gallery - 2925 Ferry Slip RD #101 Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 867-4650
Oregon Coast History Center - 545 SW 9th Street Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 265-7509
Ripley's Believe It Or Not! - 250 SW Bay Blvd. (541)265-2206.
The Ark - 453 So. Coast Hwy. Newport, Oregon 97365 (541) 574-8879
Undersea Gardens - 250 SW Bay Blvd. (541)265-2206.
The Wax Works - 250 SW Bay Blvd. (541)265-2206.
Agate Beach State Park - Off Hwy 101, 1 mile N. of Newport
Day Use Only. Picnicking, fishing, viewpoint, exhibit information.
Beverly Beach State Park - 7 miles N of Newport on Hwy 101. (198 NE 123rd St).
(541)265-9278. RATES $13-$19 (279 sites). Camping year round, showers, dumping station, picnicking, fishing, hiking (1 mile trail), beach access, restrooms (wheelchair accessible). Reservations available. 52 full hookup, 75 electrical, 152 tent sites, hiker/biker camp. Max. site 65'.
Devil's Punch Bowl State Park - Off Hwy 101, 8 miles N. of Newport.
Day Use Only. Picnicking, hiking, viewpoint, beach access.
Lost Creek State Park - Hwy 101, 7 miles S. of Newport.
Day Use Only. Picnicking, fishing, beach access.
Ona Beach State Park - Hwy 101, 8 mile S. of Newport.
Day Use Only. Picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking, viewpoint, beach access.
Otter Crest State Park - Hwy 101, 10 miles N. of Newport.
Day Use Only. Viewpoint, wildlife viewing.
Seal Rock State Park - Hwy 101, 10 miles S. of Newport.
Day Use Only. Picnicking, fishing, hiking, viewpoint, beach access.
South Beach State Park - 2 miles S of Newport on Hwy 101 (5580 South Beach, 97366).
(541)867-4715. RATES $14-$18 (254 sites). Camping year round. Showers, dumping station, picnicking, fishing, hiking, beach access, restrooms (wheelchair accessible), hiker/biker camp.
Reservations available. 254 electrical. Max. site 60'.
Yaquina Bay State Park & Lighthouse - 846 SW Government. (541)867-7451.
Day Use Only. Picnicking, fishing, viewpoint, beach access, exhibit information, gift shop. Special feature - 1871 Lighthouse.
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area and Lighthouse - Located 3 miles North of Newport, off Hwy 101. Tidepooling, hiking, whale watching and bird sanctuary.
Day Use Only -- Yaquina Head's History: Jutting into the Pacific Ocean, Yaquina Head is battered and scoured by waves, wind and rain. The headland is a lava flow which originated at least 14 million years ago in eastern Washington and Oregon, and spread some 300 miles before reaching the ocean. The lava then cooled to form basalt rock which refuses to be worn away as quickly as the surrounding sandstone and other rock. Thus the bordering sandy beaches recede, while Yaquina Head endures. Life abounds in this seemingly harsh, unforgiving environment. Harbor seals haul out year-round on Seal Rock, just south of the tip of the headland. Spring and summer, thousands of seabirds flock to the nearshore islands to breed and raise their young. Migrating gray whales can be observed in early winter and again in spring. In recent years, a number of "resident" whales have taken to feeding off Yaquina Head during the summer. Low tide reveals a great diversity of like in the "Marine Gardens". Seaweeds, sea stars, hermit crabs, purple urchins, sea anemones and other organisms find a home on this rocky ocean floor. People have also found Yaquina Head a worthy site to visit. Layers of shell debris attest to native people's taste for the mussels and other seafoods found here over 2,000 years ago! Oregon's tallest and second oldest lighthouse has illuminated this promontory since 1873. The hard basalt which forms the headland was quarried and crushed to build local roads and driveways. In 1980, Congress created the 100-acre Yaquina Head Outstanding natural Area. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to protect its scenic, scientific, educational and recreational values for your enjoyment and the enjoyment of future generations. Cooperating in this endeavor art the State of Oregon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coast Guard. Sights at the tip of the headland interpret the life and history of the area. Interpretive activities are scheduled during summer season. Groups may make arrangements for special programs by calling (503) 265-2863. Tax-deductible donations to support Yaquina Head's environmental education and interpretive programs will be accepted gratefully by: Northwest Interpretive Association - c/o Bureau of Land Management - Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area - POB 936 - Newport, OR 97365.
Wind Drift Gallery II - 414 SW Bay Blvd Newport, OR 97365 (541) 265-7454
- Visitor Contact Information -
AM-1310 KNPT - 906 Alder. (541)265-2266
FM-95.1 KSND - POB 484, Newport, OR 97365. (541)574-1000/1-800-951-KSND(5763).
FM-97.5 KSHL - 644 SW Coast Hwy, Suite F. (POB 1180).
(541)265-6477.
FM-100.7 (AM-1230) KZUS - 304 SW Coast Hwy (POB 456). (541)265-5000
FM-102.7 KYTE - 906 SW Alder. (541)265-2266