Newport is one of the seven major cities located on Oregon’s Central Coast. With a population of about 10,400, Newport is the largest of the seven. Newport can be found between the Pacific Ocean, the Coast Mountains, and Yaquina Bay. This unique location not only provides a ton of natural beauty but also allows for plenty of outdoor recreation activities, like fishing and kayaking.

In the past, Newport’s economy was built on the Bayfront, a port that housed the commercial fishing and timber industries. Even today, Bayfront still holds one of the largest commercial fishing fleets in Oregon. As time has progressed, tourism has begun to play a more significant role in Newport’s economy. The Bayfront is now a working waterfront with a variety of attractive shops and businesses littered along the street. Visitors can enjoy cozy cafes, eye-catching art galleries, and still-running fish processing plants. Among these numerous shops and restaurants is Local Ocean, a restaurant that focuses on locally, fresh-caught seafood. It even has a seafood market component in case you plan on cooking during your stay. Newport is also home to the famous Rogue Brewery, a massive pub located just underneath the south side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

Lighthouses occur all along Oregon’s coast but Newport is home to the state’s tallest and second oldest active lighthouse. Built in 1872, the 93 foot tall structure can be found at Yaquina Head, a natural area that was formed by lava flow more than 14 million years ago. Other must see attractions in Newport would be the Oregon Coast Aquarium which has some of the animals that make Oregon’s coast so special. One could even pay a visit to OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center to get a taste on how scientific research plays into our understanding of these creatures.