Newport, Oregon has been ‘the place to go’ since the ‘summer people,’ as they were called, began coming in droves during the late 1800′s.  People came as far as they could be train and when the tracks stopped they caught a ferry to Newport’s bay front, where finally in 1891 a boardwalk was built that took people into the town. It’s been a popular place to heal, rejuvenate and relax ever since.

The coastal city is large enough to have public transportation via buses that run the length of the town along the coast. There’s no fare required of Newport’s guests that stay in commercial lodging while there, and they need only ask at the office where they’ll receive a free pass. There’s more to do in Newport than meets the eye, with two historic lighthouses; the Yaquina Bay State Park Lighthouse and Yaquina Head Natural Area and Lighthouse.

The one at the state park is the second oldest on the coast and was only in service from 1871 to 1874, and is  now a museum. It sits atop a knoll of Manzanita trees with a hiking trail that goes through them and up to the lighthouse. The kitchen garden is still well kept and the lawn is green, soft and inviting to picnicers and people who just want to rest on it. The museum contains a picture that was hand-made of hair that a woman saved from her brush, and the flowers and detail look kind of creepy. There’s a story that a young girl named Muriel disappeared in the house and all the authorities ever found was a puddle of blood, and they never found Muriel’s body.

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse sits on the top of a rock outcrop and marks a natural wildlife sanctuary that offers interesting tide pools, animals and birds. It doubles as a great place to watch for whales taking their calves north for the summer months.

The best shops and restaurants are found on the historic bay front docks where fishermen bring in their catch each day. The public docks are home to the largest gathering of California sea lions in the US. They can be found on the wooden docks and rock jetties off Bay Boulevard. The best place to see them close up is between the Undersea Gardens Aquarium and the Port Dock One Restaurant.

Another great place to get to know Newport is the Mark O. Hatfield Marine Science Center where visitors can interact with the animals in the aquariums and exhibits. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is where tourists can see the best when looking at the sea otters, sea lions, puffins, octopi, jelly fish, sharks, and bat rays. Also, the Oregon Coast History Center offers coastal history exhibits, a museum, a store and a research library.

Chinook Winds Casino and Spirit Mountain Casino are both very close to Newport and can be reached in a matter of minutes, in both Lincoln City and Grand Ronde.

Three golf courses grace the area with Agate Beach Golf Course right there in town and it has a regulation 9 hole public par 36 and a restaurant on the grounds. Vacationers can also find boat rentals, charter fishing, whale watching, indoor mini-golf, recreation centers, sand boarding, surfing, sun bathing, sand castle building, wave watching and storm watching. Nearby is RV resort camping, too.

Some of the Newport amenities include four candle companies, a lapidary and rock shop and a some unique toy stores, along with the antique stores, variety of restaurants and a wide array of lodging in town and on the beach front. Some of the 41 annual events Newport provides are Jazz at Newport; a culture shock festival, the Seafood and Crafts Festival in October, Newport Microbrew Festival, and the Seafood and Wine Festival in the last weekend of February.

Another of the annual events is the Paper Arts Festival during the end of April as it celebrates paper arts and book arts. Workshops, galleries and exhibits fill the time of a three day weekend with 2010 partnering classes with thirteen instructors for everything from making paper from plants to felting paper to make durable fabrics.

Newport sports eleven parks within the city and they range from a little less than an acre to several acres, each offering something different. Agate Beach Neighborhood Park is dog-friendly and has covered picnic areas, play structures, restrooms, playing fields and BBQ grills.

Geocaching is the newest rage for gamers of all a ges. It’s an electronic scavenger hunt for those who have a GPS and Internet access. Newport participates and has hidden several caches in and around the city for anyone to find. For more information, learn more at www.geocaching.com.

A place that’s busy every day of the week and every week of the year is Newport’s Senior Center. Some (but not all) of the activities and events are listed here:

• Book clubs
• Aerobics
• Pinochle
• Pool
• Quilter’s club
• Square Dancing
• Tennis
• Wii sports and tournaments
• Bridge clubs
• Classes
• AARP
• Seminars
• Bingo

The NRC (Newport Recreation Center) is another busy place with activities and events all year round. They offer classes, rummage sales, bake sales and craft classes and shows, and are always openly looking for volunteers to help. While at the NRC, a visitor can borrow an MP3 player loaded with books to listen to while they work out. The public library offers the MP3 players on loan to the center.

The NRC has a public swim pool that’s also open all year round. They offer swim lessons for young and old alike and several exercise classes are held there, as well. For Easter they’ve planned an Egg Dive that should prove to be fun for locals and visitors. To find out about their calendar of events, go their website (below) and check it out.

Visitors won’t be bored with all there is to do along the Oregon coast and there’s even more to see. A great family vacation destination, Newport is quickly becoming a surfer’s getaway and the wildlife sanctuary and several histories ensure it will always be a fun and educational visit. It is the place to go, summer or winter.

For more information, go to the Visitors Center and Chamber of commerce in downtown Newport.

The Famous Newport Bridge

The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

555 SW Coast Hwy

Newport, Oregon 97365

1.800.262.7844

www.NewportChamber.org