Newport Oregon, the Dungeness Crab Capital of the World
Known as a playground for visitors since the late 1800’s, Newport, Oregon is home to a wonderland of amazing places to see, people to meet and things to experience. Visit a place where you can catch your own crab on the coast, hike up a steep hill to two historical iconic lighthouses, and enjoy a cold pint from one of the most legendary breweries in the city - all in one day!
Whether you are looking for family-friendly attractions and hotels in Newport or if you are just looking for your newest coastal adventure, this city has it all.
A Fish Lovers Haven: See, Eat and Catch
You haven’t seen all of Newport if you don’t visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium that overlooks Yaquina Bay and offers visitors the opportunity to observe over 15,000 animals and 259 species. Situated just south of Yaquina Bay Bridge, this world-class marine attraction works hard to be the centre for ocean literacy excellence and attracts thousands of marine life enthusiasts every year.
When it comes to fish served on a plate or in a bowl, Mo’s Restaurant has been a long-standing community landmark in the city of Newport. Established in 1946, this family-owned successful restaurant business quickly took off as the number one spot to enjoy some bona fide clam chowder, as well as various other seafood recipes such as fish tacos and oyster stew.
If you’re a DIY-type of person, head over to Bay Street Pier or the public fishing pier in South Beach and catch your own Dungeness crab or visit Upper Bay to catch Eastern softshell clams. You can find ocean-fresh Dungeness and Red Rock crabs almost any time of the year along the beaches, tide pools, jetties, estuaries, and bays. (If you want to take the easier route, climb aboard a local charter operator and bring in buckets-full of succulent crab…don’t worry, it’s our secret.)
Beds, Breakfast and Booze
Loaded with art galleries, pubs, restaurants, breweries, turn-of-the-century storefronts and family friendly attractions, Newport is also home to nice selection of hotels, resorts, and inns. Some of the best hotels in Newport, Oregon are located minutes away from the bayfront and Yaquina Bay Bridge.
A relaxing historical hotel stay awaits you at the Sylvia Beach Hotel where you will find rooms devoted to famous literary greats such as Shakespeare, Dr. Seuss, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, and Jane Austen. Built over 100 years ago, this contemporary hotel is dedicated to Sylvia Beach, an expatriate American publisher who dominated the literary scene in Paris between WWI and WWII when she opened the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris in 1919. Don’t expect TVs, Wi-Fi, radios or telephones at the Sylvia Beach Hotel - it’s time to relax and read a good book!
If you want to stay in a hotel close to the bay and want to mingle with locals, there is a cosy bed and breakfast right above Rogue Ales Bayfront Public House where you can watch the morning fish deliveries arrive in the bay down below!
Beer lovers rejoice when they come upon Rogue Ales Bayfront Public House and are able to sample 40 unique beers on tap. This establishment’s story began in 1989 when its flagship pub opened and people never stopped coming to sample the top-notch ales and spirits. Visitors who want to bar hop can move onto the other unique pubs that sit in the bay area. Rest assured, when you are visiting the area, you’re never too far from restaurants, hotels or pubs.
Family-Friendly Newport
Take the kids to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse Interpretive Centre so they can educate themselves about a lighthouse keeper’s life and how lighthouses work, as well as explore the hands-on exhibits. There is also an amazing dive show at Oregon Undersea Gardens where the whole family can witness the world’s largest species of octopus and other marine life swim through a forest of kelp. Better yet, watch an octopus devour a live crab at the Hatfield Marine Science Centre! Primarily known as a marine science and research centre, this cool attraction is only a short eight-minute drive from the city centre.
When hunger pains hit and you are all ready for a bite, you can save some money on dining with a visit to Newport’s historical South Beach State Park where you can have a picnic, rent some bicycles and even camp if you feel like roughing it. (There is also a playground there for the kids so the adults can have a little quiet time.)
Don’t Miss Out
There are some experiences that you may not want to miss out on when visiting Newport, OR. Amazing wax figures wait for you at two local specialty museums, Ripley’s Believe it or Not and The Wax Works.
Lush green layouts, excellent rates and flexible tee off times are found at Newport’s Agate Beach Golf Course. For those of you that like to party to all hours, Apollo’s Night Club offers snooker tables, dance beats, friendly service and delicious cocktails.
Your choices for fun, fish, and festivities are endless here in colourful and coastal Newport, Oregon. Are you ready to embrace all of what Newport has to offer? We thought so.