Newport, Oregon

 city, county seat

Newport, located on the central Oregon coast, has been a favorite tourist destination since the 1860s. The small, succulent Yaquina Bay oyster made Newport world famous, and a popular destination for seafood lovers. Now commercially grown, visitors can buy the oysters and watch them being processed at the Oregon Oyster Company.

Nye Beach is one of Oregon's oldest beach destinations. An expansive sandy beach is complimented by the shops, restaurants and lodging in the Nye Beach area.

Other favorite Newport activities include visiting the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area and the Yaquina Head Interpretive Center. Climb to the top of the 93 foot Yaquina Head Lighthouse, and see the spectacular view from Oregon's tallest lighthouse. In the Natural Area, visitors can find coastal sea birds such as cormorants, murres, and guillemots, as well as harbor seals, sea lions and grey whales. The Natural Area's system of man-made ocean tide pools at Quarry Cove is an entertaining place to find tiny tide pool creatures, and is wheelchair accessible. The Interpretive Center has many different displays, from tide pool life to lighthouse life.