Newport

We offer gracious lodging on the Oregon Coast in a picturesque beachfront setting. Spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the incomparable Oregon coastline can be seen from every window.

Newport is blessed with not one, but two museums less than a block from each other.

The Oregon Coast History Center is just that, a center for learning about the history of not only the development of Newport, but Native American traditions and cultures as well.

Loretta Harrison, executive director of the center, says there are two buildings to see when you visit, the Burrows House Museum and the Log Cabin Museum.

There are many opportunities to touch, see and learn about sea life in Newport. From the Oregon Coast Aquarium to the Hatfield Science Center to the Undersea Gardens, there are several options to see wildlife up close and personal.

While not as educational – or as hands on – as either the Oregon Coast Aquarium or the Hatfield Marine Science Center, the Undersea Gardens are a nice departure if you find yourself on the historic bay front.

Whether it’s Michael Jackson, or a guy with two pupils, meeting reproductions of Hollywood celebrities and freaks of nature are next door in the historic bay front of Newport.

The two attractions, The Wax Works and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, are along the Bay Boulevard, and offer something unique from the normal Oregon coast experience. The two are even connected with a tchotchke type of tourist store with gift items, and an arcade in the same building. It’s easy to visit both, with parking on up the hill behind the second floor.

Sometimes the spots off the beaten path are the ones that are the most rewarding.

For me, that’s the way it is with the Yaquina Bay lighthouse.

Whether there is stormy weather battering the bluff the lighthouse sits on, or a bright sunny day, the view is breathtaking. 

The lighthouse’s claim to fame is that it allegedly is the oldest structure in Newport. But don’t let that fool you, while history buffs might enjoy the significance of the structure, the real star of this show is the view.

While other lighthouses on the Oregon Coast feature small museums about the history of the area, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse offers a significantly sized interpretive center and natural area which shouldn’t be missed.

What also makes Yaquina Head different, is there are really three attractions in one location. Your first stop should be the interpretive center, where you will find a nice, large building that is filled with information about this U.S. Department of Interior park.