Nana’s Irish Pub

Nana’s Irish Pub is one of the local’s favorites thanks to the budget-friendly and delicious comfort food. Nana’s Irish pub combines Irish and American flavors with options like corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and their famous Reuben sandwich. This pub also serves Guinness on tap, Irish coffee, and craft cocktails you can enjoy with your meal. 

Besides food, Nana’s Irish Pub also hosts live music on weekends, and it’s close to the waterfront, where you can stroll to enjoy great views after your meal. Kids are free to tag along until 9 pm when it becomes more of a pub than a restaurant.

Local Ocean Seafoods

This restaurant was once voted the Best Seafood Restaurant, and you will understand why when you try their menu made from sustainable seafood. The seafood meals are so delicious that you can’t deny the innovative skills and fresh ingredients that go into preparing them. Some of the options you will find on the menu are Dungeness crab, fresh oysters, and delicious fish tacos. In addition, this great restaurant is home to a full bar featuring wine, beer, and other alcoholic options. 

Local Oceans Seafood has a fantastic location; it’s on the waterfront, and you get to enjoy your hearty meal while taking in the natural beauty surrounding you. This restaurant also serves as a fish market for locals who come to shop for the best seafood from the waters. While you’re here, you should check out the sea lions on the docks.

La Maison

La Maison is a fantastic restaurant popular among locals and tourists for breakfast. This cute cafe has the best breakfast and pastries options with items like omelets, crepes, caramelized banana french toast, English muffins, coffee, mimosas, and so on. They offer friendly customer service, great views, and live music on weekends. There is also a dinner menu full of steak, soup, and seafood options like shrimp and clams. 

Zach’s Bistro

Zach’s Bistro is located in the Nye beach neighborhood and offers a creative and delicious French dining experience. This French bistro serves American dishes with French influence, like filet mignon with blue cheese sauce. The restaurant ambiance is intimate with the small dining room, the dark woods, the brick walls, and the stunning lighting. 

Georgie’s Beachside Grill

One of the best places to experience the seafood scene in Newport is Georgie’s Beachside Grill. This waterfront restaurant has a great atmosphere and is perfect for solo, family, and group dining. There are many options on their seafood-centric menu, but the seafood clam chowder is one of the people’s favorites. 

Georgie’s is also a great spot to eat with the family – the views are beautiful, they offer great service, and they have a kid’s menu with dishes like mac and cheese. Georgie’s Beachside Grill fills up quickly, so we recommend you come here as early as possible or book a reservation before coming. 

Pacific Kitchen at Nye Beach

Pacific kitchen has a serene, casual atmosphere with beautiful decor and large windows overlooking the park. This restaurant has an extensive menu serving flavorful meals like burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, pasta, and salads. Seafood lovers will enjoy their seafood menu, and kids will love the kids’ menu featuring favorite dishes like chicken fingers. 

Clearwater Restaurant

Another outstanding seafood restaurant in Newport is Clearwater. This is especially a great place for romantic dates or any special occasion. Clearwater Restaurant serves a variety of seafood and other delicious options made from local and fresh ingredients. The menu is seasonal and changes daily to reflect the season. 

Clearwater also features sea lion shows and has a cocktail menu specially crafted to complement the meals. We recommend you try their Dungeness crab, oyster shooters, and wild salmon while you are here. You can also enjoy staple menu items like fish and chips and mac and cheese. 

Asiatico Waterfront Fusion Sushi

The best sushi rolls in Newport are in Asiatico, a waterfront sushi restaurant with a serene atmosphere and scenic views. This Asian fusion cuisine serves delicious sushi while guests enjoy the amazing views of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Asides from sushi, there are also options for dishes like chicken teriyaki, tempura, noodles, gluten free, and salmon. 

One of the best things about this restaurant is its generous portions; the quantity of food and the burst of flavors will make you come another time. 

BJs Ice Cream

BJs is a good restaurant if you are looking for delicious dessert options like super creamy ice cream and yogurt. The portion sizes are impressive, and one scoop is all you need to get filled up. BJs also offers excellent service with staff who are always ready to make recommendations if you can’t pick from the variety of options available. 

Newport Café

Newport Cafe is an ideal spot for tasty breakfast options and a satisfying cup of coffee. This coffee house features breakfast and lunch options like pancakes, sandwiches, eggs, and salads. The service is great, the atmosphere is cozy, and it’s a short walk from the waterfront, where you can enjoy the best views of Newport, Oregon. 

Mo’s Seafood & Chowder

Mo’s Seafood has an extensive menu featuring comfort food, classic American flavors, and fresh seafood. This restaurant has been serving the best chowder and seafood to the people of Newport since 1946. Some people’s favorites are baked oysters, clam chowder, deep-fried shrimp, crab cake, and fish & chips. You will also find an extensive wine list and gluten-free options for guests with dietary restrictions. 

Excellent service, generous portions, great views, and value for money is what you get at Mo’s Seafood. 

Where to Stay in Newport, Oregon

Bottom Line:

Newport is a paradise for food lovers, and you will be impressed by the fantastic culinary scene in this city. There are many food options here, but seafood is Newport’s staple, and rest assured that you will enjoy unforgettable coastal cuisine here in the city. Visit any of these 10 Newport restaurants to enjoy the best dining experience in Oregon. 

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13 Things to do in Newport, Oregon with Kids

Newport Coast Park 

Newport Coast Park

This newer playground is so much fun for kids and close to the beach. Free parking is available in there on site parking lot and nearby.

Hang at the beach

Look for shells, build sandcastles, or fly a kite. The beach in Newport is neat with lots of sea anemones. My kids love digging holes in the sand, so bring a shovel. Many recommend visiting Agate Beach for beach combing. 

Oregon Coast Aquarium

This large aquarium is considered to be the best aquarium in the state of Oregon and I suppose it is. I cannot think of any other aquariums in Oregon. It is a large aquarium with lots to see and do.

Hatfield Science Center

This is a completely free science center and it’s awesome! They have a touch pool that your children will especially enjoy.

Visit the Sea Lions 

Located near downtown, these sea lions can be fun to watch. Just ask around for where to find them. Every local in town knows where to find them.

Hike Drift Creek Falls

North of Newport is an excellent hike the whole family will enjoy. Plus, you get to see a waterfall. It is steep on the way back up, but not too bad.

Visit Lighthouse

You can also visit the Yaquina Head lighthouse or the Yaquina Bay lighthouse. Lighthouses tend to be quite interesting for kids, especially if they’ve never seen one before.

Devil’s Punchbowl State Park 

This is an interesting rock formation, and worth the drive over to see it.

Newport Discovery Zoo

This is not a traditional zoo, this is more of a rescue. It’s a great place to see exotic animals and learn. 

Aquarium Village

A neat looking area where families can shop or visit a restaurant. 

Ripley’s Believe it or not!

I didn’t originally include this in my list because it was run down. They reached out to me and let me know that they’ve updated it. 

Escape Rooms Newport

Trap your kids in a room with you for at least an hour while you solve puzzles, clues, and more to escape from one of their themed rooms. 

Mike Miller Trail

The Mike Miller hiking loop is a 1 mile easy trail. This is a good place to enjoy native coastal vegetation and maybe even some native wildlife.

For a complete run down on what to do, where to stay, and good places to eat in Newport read our Newport, Oregon Travel Guide!

Where to Stay in Newport

More Fun Towns in Oregon

17 Fun Things to do in Salem, Oregon with Kids

Top 13 Family Friendly Things to do in Eugene Oregon

Hood River

Portland Oregon Travel Guide

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South Oregon Coast Activities and Lodging

Oregon’s south coast is known for its balmy weather, sea stacks, and rugged cliffs. Brookings offers fishing and the annual Azalea Festival on Memorial Day weekend. Harris State Park, north of Brookings, features many sea stacks and the largest island off the Oregon coast, home to rare birds (like the tufted puffin). Pistol River, a township north of Brookings, is known for its excellent windsurfing conditions and holds a popular windsurfing competition each June.

Gold Beach, at the mouth of the Rogue River, offers beachcombing, fishing, hiking, and river rafting. Port Orford affords sweeping vistas and fishing opportunities.

Bandon, Oregon

Bandon has world-class golf and great scenery. 

North Bend and Coos Bay are historic regions that have many free concerts each July. Head inland and discover the beauty of Crater Lake National Park.

Lodging on the south Oregon coast includes vacation rentals in Gold Beach and the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort‘s cottages and lodge. Bandon also has the Sunset Motel, with beach houses and motel rooms, lots of Airbnb places to stay, and a Best Western on the beach. 

Looking for something cozy? Try the South Coast Inn Bed and Breakfast in Brookings. Or stay in a yurt on the Oregon coastline, with many amenities provided.

The Ultimate Southern Oregon Road Trip 9 Day Itinerary

Central Oregon Coast Activities and Lodging

Oregon’s central coast is popular, with many beaches and towns accessible from Salem and Eugene. Florence has sea lion caves where visitors can go deep into the world’s largest sea cave, filled with the sound of echoing barks.

Nearby Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area offers four-wheeling rides over the dunes. Yachats and Walport are smaller towns with beautiful coastlines.

Oregon Dunes National recreation area

Newport is a larger city with many attractions, including the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Hatfield Marine Science Center, historic lighthouses, and Old Town. Depoe Bay is a small town popular with storm watchers.

Lodging on Oregon’s central coast includes vacation rentals in Depoe Bay, Newport, Lincoln City and Yachats. Ocean Paradise Whales Rendezvous B&B in Depoe Bay and SeaQuest Inn Bed & Breakfast in Yachats offer cozy accommodations. Anchor Pier Lodge in Newport is bayside with marine discovery tours available. Newport also features the Best Western Agate Beach Inn. The best place to stay though is Salishan, just south of Lincoln City.

The beach at Salishan

Lincoln City, one of the largest cities on the Oregon coast, has great surfboarding, golf courses, and hiking at Cascade Head. Pacific City, to the north, is a smaller town thatís less crowded than Lincoln City but still offers a beautiful coastline.

North Oregon Coast Activities and Lodging

The northern Oregon coast, with its proximity to Portland, is a popular destination.

Tillamook, on Tillamook Bay, is known for its cheese factories. On the bay, Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach are linked by a historic coastal excursion train.

Manzanita is popular with kiteboarders and also offers charming shops. Cannon Beach is known for Haystack Rock, an often photographed sea stack, with a nearby wildlife refuge and tide pools. Plus, it has Ecola State Park.

Adjacent Seaside has a promenade for bike riding, Seaside Aquarium.

Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River, is proud of its history and hosts a popular Seafood Festival in April.

Fort Clatsop –  Step into 19th-century history and discover Fort Clatsop as the winter encampment for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1806. In January they offer Wintering Over Living History Program, two days of reenactments depict what it is like for these Corps of Discovery members as they survive on elk meat, spring water, and the good graces of their Clatsop and Chinook neighbors while preparing to return to the United States.

Lodging on Oregon’s north coast ranges from luxury to homey. Luxurious beach hotels include Cannon Beach’s Stephanie Inn and Astoria’s Cannery Pier Hotel. On the cozy size, the Inn at Manzanita and Seaside’s Gilbert Inn offers romantic lodging. For families, you can’t beat Surfsand Resort in Cannon Beach. Vacation rentals are available on Oregon’s north coast, mainly in Seaside and Cannon Beach.

Dramatic scenery, many recreational activities, museums, shops, restaurants, and lodging make the Oregon Coast a popular vacation destination. The coastline’s mild weather invites travel at any time of the year.

For more scenic drives and road trips in the Northwest, try the Cascade Loop in Washington, North Idaho’s Lake Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway, Montana’s Beartooth Highway, Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountain Loop, and Alaska’s Seward and Glenn Highways.

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Newport, Oregon Restaurants

All the food we had in Newport was fantastic. We had no bad meals here!

Le Maison

The best breakfast place in Newport! Le Maison is a small French bakery and bistro in Newport, OR. It’s ranked #1 on Tripadvisor, so I had to check it out. It’s a small place, but they were able to accommodate our party of 6 without making us wait. They do not have a children’s menu, but they do have large pastries for $4.50.

Nelscott Cafe

Nelscott Cafe is a cozy restaurant in the Nelscott district of Lincoln City that’s absolutely adorable. They are best known for their hamburgers but they also have amazing stuffed French toast, killer hamburgers, fried pickles, and much more.. On Fridays they have $5 hamburgers. But if you have a hankering for stuffed French toast like I did, be sure and get here before 11 AM when they quit making it. 

Our kids really enjoyed eating here. Around the windows are lots of games. Our kids had fun playing war and Old Maid while we were there.

Here are pictures of the delicious food we tried, breakfast burrito, almond French toast, and a hamburger with fried pickles.
 
 

The Original Mo’s

You can’t visit an Oregon beach and not go to Mo’s for clam chowder.

 

Mo’s Restaurant serves its famous clam chowder at their family-friendly restaurants along the Oregon coast. Mo’s, a seafood restaurant, started at the original restaurant in Newport, OR over 60 years ago.

No trip to Newport would be complete without a visit to Mo’s. You will most likely be waiting for a table no matter what time you get there. We got there around 1 PM and the wait was 30 minutes. The restaurant is located at 657 S.W. Bay Blvd. in Newport.

All of the kids meals were $5 – $6.

Mo’s has many other locations in Oregon, including a small one in the Portland airport.

Starfish Grill – Located in the Best Western is Starfish Grill. They have super cheap breakfast. $3 kid meals and $5 specials for adults. The breakfast was excellent. 

Yummy Bowl – We asked a Newport local where we should go it and he directed us to the Yummy Bowl. It was hands down the best food we had while we were in Newport. All the food was good. We went for lunch and the most expensive entree was 6.55. Every day they run a lunch special for $5.50. All of the entrees came with fried rice, wontons, and soup. The portions were massive. We left with tons of leftovers. The staff was nice too.

La Roca – I prefer spicy Mexican food, but despite being un-spicy it was good. The kid meals are large and about 4.95. The lunch menu has lots of choices for 6.95-8.95. We had lunch fajitas for 2 was 16.95. They do not offer free chip refills.

Things to do in Newport, Oregon

Newport offers a lot of various activities, all of which are family-friendly. With it sitting right on the coast there are loads of water activities, but only if you can brave the cold water. (I can’t, this Texas gal cannot handle the cold water in Oregon.)

Coast Park

Coast Park is the newest park and best part in Newport, featuring state-of-the-art play equipment, a magnificently detailed shipwreck, and more. Located at 100 SW Coast Street

Devil’s Punchbowl State Park

Devil’s Punchbowl State Park is between Newport and Lincoln City. It is a state day-use park on the central Oregon Coast in the United States. It is centered on a large bowl naturally carved in a rock headland that is partially open to the Pacific Ocean. Watch for signs along the highway to point you in the right direction or use your GPS. You only have to go off the main road a tiny bit before getting there.

There is no admission to get into the park. There was plenty of parking and a short walk to see the Devil’s Punchbowl.

  
There’s an easy path along the cliff with breathtaking views. The path is not steep, just slightly sloped. There is a fence along the path, but I would still keep an eye on your children.

We were told this is a great place to spot whales, but we never saw one. There were many people set up to watch whales and photo them. I heard that there were whale sightings off and on everyday, we were in the area. So, if you visit at the end of March or the beginning of April you have a fairly good shot at seeing them.

There’s also picnic tables in the park and a small winery near the parking, The Flying Dutchman Winery. Unfortunately, we were there so early in the morning that the winery was not open yet. 

Oregon Coast Aquarium – This is the best aquarium in Oregon.

OSU Hatfield Science Visitor Center – This place is so cool

Ripley’s Believe It or Not – I’ve heard it’s been updated. Make sure this is true before you go!

Sandcastle Playground 

The Sandcastle playground is the best playground we found in Lincoln City. Regatta Park in Lincoln City is a stunning place on the edge of Devil’s lake.

While we were staying in Newport we drove over so the kids could play on the playground. The playground is one of the best in that area.

Although the wind was awful at the beach, this park was far enough away that it didn’t affect this lake. We couldn’t even get our kite to fly here. They have a small dock that you can fish off of.
 
We came here because we read about the Sandcastle playground. Sandcastle playground is a massive wooden playground for kids.
 
It was an excellent playground and worth the drive from Newport.

I need to mention the bathrooms here. They were pretty rough and you should try to make sure your kids go potty before coming here. They smelled bad and had no doors on the stalls.

Sea lions

The Sea Lions are downtown. They are fairly easy to find, just ask someone.

Undersea’s Garden

This is one of the weirdest attractions we’ve ever done.

The Undersea Gardens in Newport, Oregon is not worth the money if you are paying full price. If you can get a discount then go for it. I got a daily deal that got us into Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Wax Words, and the Undersea Garden. If I had paid full price I would have been upset.

• The Undersea Garden is one room with windows showing local fish. It is very dark in there and it’s moving,
• If you are prone to motion sickness then you are probably going to feel sick when you leave here.
• A few times a day they offer a show. Only go during times that they are doing a show, otherwise you’ll be done in 10 minutes.

During the show you will get to see an octopus, a sunflower starfish, and an eel. Someone in a scuba outfit goes down and picks them up and swims back and forth along the windows with them.

Wax Works

Are you into wax museums? I had never been to one before, so I don’t have anything to compare Wax Works too. Despite this I still wasn’t impressed. This place seems old and run down. The best part was getting to see Yoda, he actually looked more realistic then the others. Maybe, because he’s not a real person! With that said the people in front of us seemed really into it and took tons of pictures. They did seem impressed.
 
I did not pay full price to go here and I do not recommend paying full price. It’s just not worth spending the money. I think it’s pretty common for this place to be included with one or two other attractions.

Update: Wax Works contacted me and told me that they remodeled. I have not been back to Newport since their update so I am unsure if it is any good or not.

Located at 250 S. W. Bay Blvd., Newport, OR.  541-265-2206 

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Yaquina Head Lighthouse is Oregon’s tallest lighthouse built-in 1872 with a 93-foot tower. It’s located in Newport, OR and can be found inside Yaquina State park. There is a $7 entry fee for cars with less than 9 people. It is located at 750 Lighthouse Dr., Newport, OR 97365. The Interpretive Center and Gift Store
are open in Summer from 9-5 and in the Winter from 10-4.

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse was originally known as the Cape Foulweather Lighthouse. The historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is believed to be the oldest building in Newport and is Oregon’s last remaining wooden lighthouse.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse Tide Pools

Down below the Yaquina Head Lighthouse are tide pools. You take a set of stairs down to the beach where you can see many types of starfish, anemones, crabs, and occasionally a sea lion or sea otter.

  

 

Newport Oregon Hotels

We have only stayed at three places in Newport or nearby so far, but I will keep adding new ones as we try them.

Best Western at Agate Beach – We stayed here and our room had a mini fridge, coffee maker, and two beds. It’s on the beach and they have an indoor pool. Breakfast is not included, but cheap. They offer a military discount. 

Schooner Landing – We spent a week here and really enjoyed it. It had an on-site playground and fire pit. There is an indoor pool and jacuzzi at the clubhouse.  It’s up above the beach, so just a short walk down and you are on the beach. This is a timeshare so all units have either one or two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room.

Salishan Resort – Salishan is just north of Newport and has a lot packed into one resort. Pool, hottub, putt-putt, bicycles, beach, live music, great food, a tree top ropes course and so much more. 

What to wear in Newport, Oregon

Recently, I was asked what someone should wear when they visit Newport. This is kind of a loaded question because you are at the beach, but you are not necessarily going to dress for the beach! I have an extensive beach packing list that you can print off. I’ll post it below. I also have a general travel packing printable that is super helpful. Click this packing list to print it!

When we went to Newport it was warm, cold, and extremely cold. However, it could get hot too, depending on when you visit. With that in mind, I suggest layers! Lots of layers! I also recommend a windbreaker or rain jacket, and a warm fleece for the evenings. You can pack shorts in hopes of a warmer day, but know you likely won’t need them. You will likely stick to jeans the entire trip. 

 

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I’ve lived in Oregon for a long time now, but for some reason or another, I have never put together a list of the best places to see in Oregon. I finally sat down and put one together. Here are the best of the best in no particular order.

Crater Lake

26 Amazing Thing To See in Oregon

The first three things on this list can all be seen on my Southern Oregon Road Trip Itinerary! This itinerary also includes the waterfall trail. 

Crater Lake 

Crater Lake National Park is in the Cascade Mountains of southern Oregon. It’s known for its namesake Crater Lake, formed by the now-collapsed volcano, Mount Mazama. Wizard Island is a cinder cone near the western edge of the lake. The Rim Drive, a road surrounding the lake, offers views of the park’s volcanic formations. The park’s numerous trails include Sun Notch, with views of the Phantom Ship, a small island.

Oregon Caves

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is a protected area in the northern Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The 4,554-acre park, including the marble cave, is 20 miles east of Cave Junction, on Oregon Route 46.

Out’n’About Treehouse Treesort

Out’n’About Treehouse Treesort

 Set on 36 acres of countryside next to Siskiyou National Forest, this imaginative treehouse resort is 11.4 miles from Cave Junction and 26.8 miles from the Oregon Caves National Monument. Learn more.

Painted Hills – Photo from http://essentialexplorers.com

Painted Hills

The Painted Hills in eastern Oregon near the small town of Mitchell, is one of the three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, located in Wheeler County, Oregon. It totals 3,132 acres and is located 9 miles northwest of Mitchell, Oregon.

The Painted Hills are a collection of hills that were created from a series of volcanic ash eruptions that formed approximately 32 million years ago. What makes them so special is fact that they’re colored in different tones of red, tan, orange, gold, and black that change during the year depending on the light levels. 

Unlike most depictions of Oregon, this part of the state is a high dry desert, a sight you wouldn’t exactly expect to find here! The area is surrounded by hiking trails and other natural wonders like the Sheep Rock Unit, which will give you an insight into the area’s history through fossilized rocks.

Not far from the Painted Hills is a phenomenal working ranch that you can visit: Silvies Valley Ranch: A Luxury Dude Ranch in Eastern Oregon

Multnomah Falls covered in snow and ice

Japanese Garden in Portland

Lava Tubes

The cave is part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The cave temperature is a constant 42 degrees, so wear warm clothing. This one-mile cave is one of the longest lava tubes in Oregon and offers self-guided exploration.

The Oregon Garden

The Oregon Garden is an 80-acre botanical garden and tourist attraction in Silverton, Oregon, south of Portland and not far from Salem. Opened in 1999, it is home to over 20 gardens, including a rose garden, children’s garden, and Silverton market garden. It is open 365 days a year and hosts both public and private events. The land is also home to the Gordon House, Oregon’s only Frank Lloyd Wright home. 879 West Main Street, Silverton, Oregon.

 

Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park is a state park located near Silverton, about 20 miles east-southeast of Salem. It is the largest state park in Oregon with an area of more than 9,000 acres, with more than 24 miles of walking trails, 14 miles of horse trails, and a 4-mile bike path. Its 8.7-mile  Canyon Trail/Trail of Ten Falls runs along the banks of Silver Creek and by ten waterfalls, from which the park received its name. Four of the ten falls have amphitheater-like surroundings that allow the trail to pass behind the flow of the falls.

 

Ecola State Park https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OregonCoastEcola.jpg

Ecola State Park

This state park is located just north of Cannon Beach. Ecola State Park stretches along 9 miles of coastline. I consider this to be the most beautiful beach in Oregon.

 

Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park is an American state park located in central Oregon’s High Desert near the communities of Redmond and Terrebonne. Its sheer cliffs of tuff and basalt are ideal for rock climbing of all difficulty levels.

Sand Dunes

 

Whitewater rafting the Big Eddy near Bend, Oregon.

White water rafting on the Deschutes River

There are lots of places along the Deschutes to raft. We went Whitewater Rafting with Sun Country Tours

Willamette Valley Wine Country

Lighthouses in Newport

Portland International Test Rose Garden

International Test Rose Garden

The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. There are over 10,000 rose bushes of approximately 650 varieties. This is a free attraction.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Formerly known as the Portland Classical Chinese Garden and titled the Garden of Awakening Orchids, is a walled Chinese garden enclosing a full city block, roughly 40,000 square feet. 239 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209

Hoyt Arboretum

Hoyt Arboretum is Portland’s museum of living trees where we grow and exhibit trees and plants from around the world while educating our community and conserving vitally important plant biodiversity.  The arboretum is open free to the public and encompasses 189 ridge-top acres in Washington Park that are accessible by 12 miles of trails. Our collection nurtures 6,000 specimens from around the world, including over 2,000 species, 63 of which are vulnerable or endangered.

Jerry’s Rogue River Jet Boats

Go on a 104-Mile Wilderness Whitewater will travel into the ‘Wild’ section, an area only accessible by jet boating, rafting, and hiking. Jerry’s is the only commercial jet boat trip allowed to operate in this remote twelve-mile section.

Timberline Lodge

Timberline Lodge

Timberline Lodge is a mountain lodge on the south side of Mount Hood. Constructed from 1936 to 1938 by the Works Progress Administration, it was built and furnished by local artisans during the Great Depression.

Things to do on Mt. Hood

Wind Surfing and Kite Surfing in Hood River – Hood River is the windsurfing capital of the world. People come from all of the world to windsurf and kitesurf here. It’s fun to watch.

8 Kid-Friendly Wineries in Hood River

McMenamins

McMenamins is a family-owned chain of brewpubs, breweries, music venues, historic hotels, and theater pubs in the Pacific Northwest.

Sahalie Falls

Powell Books

John Day Fossil Beds

Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway

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Hiking Drift Creek Falls

There’s a scenic hike just southeast of Lincoln City along Drift Creek, which leads to Drift Creek Falls. Once you pull off the main road you are about a thirty-minute drive from the beginning of the trailhead. At the start of the trail, there are bathrooms and a parking lot. (I really wish I had known there were going to be bathrooms. Yes, I went in the woods. My kids were shocked.)
 

It’s a beautiful hike and was easy enough that my six-year-old did it with no problems. Although the sign says it is 1.25 miles each way, I would guess it’s more like 2 miles each way. I checked a couple of hiking websites and they have various lengths published.

Hiking down the trail is easy, but the way up is more challenging since it is uphill. You go back the exact same way you hike to the falls. I prefer a hike that is a loop so I can see more, but the bridge is so cool and the waterfall is huge making it totally worth it.

Near the end of the trail, you will come upon a suspension bridge. The bridge is 240 long and reaches from one wall to the canyon to the other, over 100 feet above the creek. The bridge is quite impressive. It’s really amazing that they were able to build a bridge like this out there. They had to take in supplies to build it by helicopter.

You only have to walk about on the suspension bridge a few feet and then you will see Drift Creek Falls. It was a great waterfall.

Taking a day hike at the Drift Creek Falls Trail near Newport Oregon was an enjoyable experience. From its towering forest to the roaring waterfalls and fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities, there was something to enjoy here no matter what your preferences may be. This is a must-see destination for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities and travelers alike looking to explore the beauty of Oregon’s wilderness. Renting a campervan or booking a cabin rental in Newport is the perfect way to get out and explore all that nature has to offer in this area. But don’t just take my word for it – pack up your camping chairs, grab those hiking boots, and head out to discover these hidden gems for yourself! All you need is an adventurous spirit, fresh air, and a free afternoon filled with breathtaking views. So what are you waiting for?

Do you know of any other good hikes near Lincoln City, Oregon or Newport, Oregon? We are always looking for fun new hikes to go on. Leave your suggestion below!

Read Next:

Scenic Oregon Coast Road Trip

10 Best Oregon Hot Springs

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OSU has an awesome free science center in Newport, Oregon located inside the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center. They charge nothing for admission but do accept donations. They have a suggested donation of $20 for a family, but nobody asks for it, it’s entirely voluntary. If you cannot afford to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium, this is a great alternative!

It’s a small science museum, but they have packed with kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits. The day we went there was an educational lecture on whales. They also have the Yaquina Estuary Nature Trail outside on the property that is open to the public from dawn to dusk. The trail is ½ mile paved and wheelchair-accessible.

Learning Exhibits

• Tsunamis and Earthquakes – The Tsunami Wave Tank is a hands-on Lego engineering challenge! Kids and parents can build a house and then test it to see if it will withstand the energy of a tsunami wave.
• Sustainable Fisheries
• Tide Pools
• Invasive Species
• Octopus and Sunstars – An octopus is a fascinating creature to see, especially if you happen to catch it when it is active.

Touch Pools

They had touch tanks full of fun sea creatures and kids will get a kick out of seeing what happens when they touch the sticky tentacles of a sea anemone. Our kids spent most of their time here touching starfish and various anemones.

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• $19 per adult and $12 per kid. 
• They offer a military discount. Last time I checked the military discount was $3 off. It’s not much, but certainly better than nothing. 
• If you know ahead of time you will be visiting Newport watch for deals. 

The Oregon Coast Aquarium had lots of hands on activities for kids, including weighting and selling fish, fishing, touch pools, and digging in sand. Each of the play areas has a sign with tips for parents on how to make the exhibit more educational.


I enjoyed the tropical fish displays the most, even if Oregon doesn’t have any native tropical fish.
  

We paid the extra $2 for our kids to do the hurricane simulator. I think it wasn’t that exciting and it bothered my daughter’s eyes. If your kid has sensitive eyes skip the hurricane simulator.
 

We were able to catch one of the otters feeding times and it was worth the wait and crowd. While they feed them, a trainer educates visitors on otters. He gives you the back story on all three and teaches you fun otter facts.

Passages of the Deep (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Be sure to walk your kids through Passages of the Deep. It’s a 200 foot tunnel with sharks, bat rays and more swimming all around you.

Oregon Coast Aquarium
2820 SE Ferry Slip Road
Newport, OR
541-867-3474

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