Newport Oregon Attractions
Agate
Beach State Recreation Site
Diggers, this park's for you! Also known as a surfers
paradise, if you plan to visit prime Newport attractions like
the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center,
you must stop in for a refreshing picnic at Agate Beach. A
tunnel leads to the invigorating ocean beach and day-use area.
If you walk through this tunnel, you might imagine Newport
farmers many years ago leading cattle westward through this
tunnel to the ocean salt.
Beverly
Beach State Park
Beverly Beach is popular for a reason! Like magic, a
well-known walkway goes under the highway and emerges to the
long expanse of sandy beach extending from Yaquina Head (you
can see the lighthouse from here) to the headlands of Otter
Rock. When the weather cooperates, kites color the air and
whip in the wind. Bring a bucket and build a sand castle!
Surfers often head to the north beach, while folks looking for
fossils head south.
Devils
Punch Bowl State Natural Area
Surfers and surf watchers energize this
area! During winter storms, water from the restless ocean
slams with a thundering roar into a hollow rock formation
shaped like a huge punch bowl. The surf churns, foams, and
swirls as it mixes a violent brew. The punch bowl was probably
created by the collapse of the roof over two sea caves, then
shaped by wave action. The park is a popular whale watching
site and displays an intriguing geology. This is a scenic
picnic spot atop the undulating rocky shoreline. Don’t forget
to explore the tidepools.
Lost
Creek State Recreation Site
Lost Creek State Park is located seven
miles south of Newport, Oregon. The park is developed for
picnicking and beach access. Great for beachcombing, whale
watching and incredible sunsets.
Museum Design
148 SE 1st, Newport, Oregon, phone: 541-265-7520
Ona
Beach State Park
Ona Beach State Park is located 8 miles
south of Newport, Oregon. The park is a fine, forested ocean
flat now developed for extensive daytime shore use. Easy
access for beachcombing and great for large picnic gatherings.
Oregon Coast History Center
545 SW 9th, Newport, Oregon, phone: 541-265-7509
Otter
Crest State Scenic Viewpoint
Soak in the view from 500' above the
ocean on the breathtaking crescent sweep of white sandy beach
stretching to the south. Cape Foulweather is stunning and
inspirational with its picturesque promontory. This popular
whale watching spot also provides a good view of the Devil’s
Punchbowl environs. Imagine Captain Cook’s first sighting on
that stormy March day in 1778. The adjacent gift shop is
privately owned.
Seal
Rock State Recreation Site
Seal Rock State Wayside has large
off-shore rock formations which are the habitat of seals, sea
lions, sea birds and other marine life. The wayside includes
interesting tidepools as well as excellent ocean views and a
sandy beach. Developed for day-use, the picnic area is in a
pleasant stand of shore pine, spruce and salal.
South
Beach State Park
South Beach State Park and the
surrounding areas offer a variety of recreational
opportunities. One of the most exciting additions to the
program at South Beach: kayak tours. Folks who register for
the activity will launch from nearby Ona Beach (5 miles south)
and spend two hours exploring the fascinating Beaver Creek
area with a guide.
South
Jetty (South Beach)
Adjacent to South Beach State Park,
South Jetty offers horse access to the beach, fishing,
clamming, surfing, scuba diving and (for the advanced)
windsurfing when conditions permit.
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
"The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, a
charming two-story clapboard structure, is located on a hill
overlooking the northern side of the entrance to Yaquina Bay.
It was deserted a mere three years after its light was first
lit in 1871, and ever since has been the scene for many a
ghostly tale. The story of the lighthouse began in 1871 when
Yaquina Bay was a bustling port, the most populated along the
West Coast between San Francisco and the Puget Sound. The
Lighthouse Board determined there was a need for a lighthouse
to guide traffic into the bay and in April 1871, 36 acres were
purchased at the north entrance of the bay from Lester and
Sophrina Baldwin, original homesteaders, for $500. The
lighthouse was quickly built, the tower and dwelling by Ben
Simpson of Newport, Oregon, the lantern room by Joseph Bien of
San Francisco. Its beacon, produced by a whale oil lamp within
a fifth-order Fresnel lens, shown for the first time on
November 3, 1871."
Friends of the Lighthouses
Yaquina
Bay State Recreation Site
Yaquina Bay State Park is located in
Newport at the north end of Yaquina Bay near its outlet to the
Pacific Ocean. The bluff is forested with spruce and pine, but
the real star is the historic lighthouse. The lighthouse --
later used as a Coast Guard Lifeboat Station -- has been
restored and is open to the public. Attractions nearby include
the historic Newport bayfront, Hatfield Marine Science Center
and the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
"Yaquina Head Lighthouse can be a spooky place on a dark,
cold, windy night. Ghosts lurking, ship compasses not working.
The tower, made from 370,000 bricks from San Francisco, is
double walled for insulation and dampness protection. One
story, which has circulated for years, tells of a workman
falling from the scaffolding into the hallow between the
masonry walls where his body could not be retrieved. A fine
story, and perhaps an explanation for the ghost, but records
show no workers were killed during construction. Strong winds
did blow one worker off the cliff. Amazingly, his oils skins
acted somewhat like a parachute and he only received minor
injuries. The lighting of the first order Fresnel lens was
delayed due to parts of the lantern somehow being lost in
transit. Finally, after almost two years of toil, the light
shone for the first time on August 20, 1873."
Friends of the Lighthouses
back to top
| 