Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian
by Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive
Newport is a funky place. Maybe it's the colorful sea life, maybe it's the creepy museums, but the town seems to have a unique kind of character – a great collision of odd attractions, natural beauty and classic qualities of the gritty Oregon coast.
It's a place, for example, where you can tour an eerie wax museum, walk out into the fish-scented air to watch sea lions fight for space on the docks, then have dinner and watch local artists perform at a quirky restaurant stuffed to the gills with modern art. There are several strange roadside attractions, a few incredible restaurants, two old lighthouses, one of Oregon's most popular craft breweries, and a hotel where you can book a Harry Potter-themed room.
There's so much going on in Newport that it's stellar natural beauty – often the main attraction in coastal towns – tends to play second fiddle. You should, by all means, visit beautiful Yaquina Head, but you may find your time occupied at Ripleys Believe It or Not! The local Chamber of Commerce advertises the town as "the coast you remember" and while that's a pretty bold declaration, it's practically impossible to visit without taking away a lasting memory.
Please, keep up the funk, Newport. You're a city like no place else.
ATTRACTIONS
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1. Historic Bayfront
Home to some of the best food and attractions in town – not to mention spectacular views of Yaquina Bay – the Historic Bayfront district is a must-see for any visitor to town. Yes, it smells like fish, and yes, the sound of barking sea lions and gulls are a constant presence, but those only add to Bayfront’s charm.
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2. Yaquina Head Lighthouse
The Yaquina Head lighthouse is the tallest, and one of the most recognizable lighthouses on the Oregon coast. Tours are available to the public at specified times on most days of the week. Check in at the nearby interpretive center for tours, or see the exterior of the lighthouse on your own.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
3. Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
An often overlooked lighthouse, the light at Yaquina Bay was never in operation for long. Built in 1871, the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1874, fell into a state of disrepair and was finally restored and relit in 1996. Today, you can tour the inside of the house, which has been decorated to look as it did for its short three years of service.
Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian
4. Oregon Coast Aquarium
The Oregon Coast Aquarium has been entertaining and educating visitors for the last 25 years, and today continues to offer an interactive experience with harbor seals, sea lions, seabirds, sharks, turtles and more. You can look from behind glass or get in the water with a diver for a closer look.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
5. Ripley's Believe It or Not!
They call it the world's last great side show, and they might be right. While Ripleys Believe It or Not! isn't exclusive to Oregon, it's been a popular attraction in Newport for decades, showing off a weird collection of oddities like shrunken heads, a mummy, a vampire killing kit and that dizzying, spinning tunnel of lights. It's one of three attractions that make up Mariner Square at the Historic Bayfront.
James C. Vincent/The Oregonian
6. Undersea Gardens
Descend beneath the surface of Yaquina Bay to see a massive display of marine life at Undersea Gardens. Tour guides and scuba divers guide you through the experience, showing off octopus, eel, anemone and fish. It's one of three attractions that make up Mariner Square at the Historic Bayfront.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian/OregonLive
7. The Wax Works
The Wax Works is a fascinatingly creepy attraction, one that makes your skin crawl as you lean in for a closer look. Dozens of wax sculptures fill the halls, from superheroes to villains of horror, modern celebrities to historical figures. Explore at your leisure and prepare to be unnerved. It's one of three attractions that make up Mariner Square at the Historic Bayfront.
Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian
8. Nye Beach
A quaint district on the north side of Newport, Nye Beach is home to a great assortment of shops, restaurants, hotels and cafes, as well as the Newport Performing and Visual Arts Centers. The long stretch of sandy beach that’s accessible from Nye Beach runs from Yaquina Bay all the way to Yaquina Head.
Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian
9. Sylvia Beach Hotel
One of the most unique hotels on the Oregon coast, the Sylvia Beach Hotel is a place made for and by lovers of literature. Each room is themed after a beloved author – from Tolkien to Twain, Shakespeare to Dr. Seuss – and is designed as a quiet, one-of-a-kind getaway for book lovers.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
10. Yaquina Bay
Found at the heart of Newport, the wide and scenic Yaquina Bay is good for looking at, boating on, or hiking around. It’s also home of the stately Yaquina Bay Bridge, which is easily one of the most iconic spans on the Oregon coast.
FOOD AND DRINK
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11. Rogue Ales and Spirits
Rogue has made a name for itself around the world with its Dead Guy Ale, and is known in the Pacific Northwest for its creative – and sometimes questionable – craft beers. Rogue's location on Yaquina Bay in Newport is the official headquarters, and while you can just stop by for a drink, consider taking the brewery tour.
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12. Local Ocean Seafoods
I have a lot of good things to say about Local Ocean, but I'll let The Oregonian food critic Michael Russel take this one: "The fried fish is great, the fried oysters are even better, and the cioppino-esque Fishwives Stew comes with two of almost everything from the accompanying seafood market's cold case: crab, shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams and fish in garlic herb tomato broth. When I first tried it six years ago, I went back the next day and ordered it again."
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13. Cafe Mundo
Funky is definitely a proper descriptor of Café Mundo, a Nye Beach staple that's full of interesting art and bright, colorful decorations. Food skews to the healthier, fresher side of things, which is a welcome break from creamy chowder and greasy fried fish. The restaurant also serves as a coffee roaster and venue for live music and local performances.
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14. Chowder Bowl
The Newport Chowder Bowl has been a presence at Nye Beach since 1980, serving thick, creamy clam chowder, fish and chips, and just about everything else you might expect from a seafood joint on the Oregon coast. Food is good, prices are reasonable and it's a short stroll away from the ocean.
OUTDOORS
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15. Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Yaquina Head truly is an outstanding natural area, with several miles of hiking trails and paved, accessible pathways that lead to quarries, coves and hilltops with vistas above the Pacific Ocean. That's not to mention the iconic Yaquina Head Lighthouse and the excellent interpretive center, with exhibits on ocean life and human presence on the Oregon coast.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
16. Agate Beach
Agate beach is long and wide, with plenty of space to lounge, walk or take in views of Yaquina Head to the north and Newport to the south. Part of it is designated as the Agate Beach State Recreation Site, which means it comes with amenities like a public restroom and spacious parking lot.
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17. Ocean to Bay Trail
While it doesn't quite go from the Pacific Ocean to Yaquina Bay, the forested Ocean to Bay Trail is a great hike, running four miles round-trip from Agate Beach to the southern end of Big Creek Park. Several boardwalks and interpretive signs are found along the way, and though the trail does crest the top of a hill, ocean views are hard to find through the trees.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
18. South Beach State Park
The 500-acre South Beach State Park is right on the ocean, and with nearly 300 RV and tent sites, as well as 27 yurts, is a great spot to camp out for a few days. Paved trails run throughout the sprawling park, leading from the campground to the beach, day-use areas and out to the south jetty on Yaquina Bay.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
19. Don Davis Park
Don Davis Park is a mere two acres on the edge of Nye Beach, but it’s easily one of the best designed little parks on the coast. Between the enclosed gazebo, outdoor art displays and paved pathway leading down to the beach, it’s a pleasant place to sit and relax, or simply stroll through on the way to the ocean.
Courtesy of Matt Preusch
20. Surfing and Kayaking
If you're itching to get out on the water, Newport is a great place to do it. Surfers and sea kayakers are a common sight at Agate Beach, while Yaquina Bay and Beaver Creek offer quieter places to kayak. The Paddle Park in Toledo, on the eastern arm of the bay, is a good spot to launch.
Honorable mention
Bayfront murals, Burrows House, Mike Miller Park, Mombetsu Sister City Park, Newport Performing and Visual Arts Centers, Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, sad remains of Jumpoff Joe, Wolf Tree Brewery
Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian
NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES
Oregon's best roadside attractions: From the mysterious Oregon Vortex to Harvey the Rabbit, here are the 40 best roadside attractions in Oregon.
Holiday travel guide: Want to get away for the holidays? Here are 15 seasonal destinations around the Pacific Northwest.
Light displays in Portland: Holiday light displays are a nice way to fight to gloom of the season. Here are the 10 best in Portland.
--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB
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