Family Activities in Newport, Oregon

Newport, Oregon is located on the beautiful Oregon Coast. It is a great city on the Central Oregon Coast to visit with a family because there is so much to do. Newport is home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium, a great attraction for all ages. Featuring an exhibit called Passages of the Deep. These are huge glass tunnels that you walk through the water in. There are sharks and fish swimming all around you it is pretty amazing to have water above you, under you, all around you. They also have a jellyfish exhibit that is beautiful to view. Another great exhibit is the seabird aviary along with many other educational as well as entertaining exhibits. We took our daughter when she was 15 months old and her favorite exhibit was the otters because they are always so active which would hold her attention. Admission prices are $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors 65 and over, $12.25 for children 13-17, $9.45 for children 3-12, and free for children 2 and under. They are open 10:00am to 5:00 pm daily during the winter and 9:00am to 6:00pm daily during the summer. For more information about the Oregon Coast Aquarium you can visit their website www.aquarioum.org

Another Newport attraction that is good for any age groups is the Undersea Gardens located on the bay in Old Town Newport. The best part of this attraction being their live dive shows where divers put on an underwater show with the fish and octopus. Admission prices are $9.95 for adults, $5.95 for children over 4 and free for children under 4. Hours of operation are 10am to 5pm during the winter, 10am to 6pm in June and September, and 9am to 8pm during July and August. We have not taken our daughter there but I can remember going there as a child and loving it. I have gone as an adult with my husband and did not find it to be as entertaining but worth doing at least once.

An attraction that is good for families with older children is Ripley's Believe It Or Not. This is a museum that has "oddities from around the world" and a hall of mirrors. This is a very exciting place to visit but could be frightening for young children. It is located across the street from the Undersea Gardens and has the same price scale and operating hours. I have been to Ripley's several times as an adult and always have a good time.

The Wax Works museum is another fun attraction for families with older children. This museum contains sculptures made of wax such as Frankenstein and Marilyn Monroe. What the artists have created with wax is truly a magnificent talent. These sculptures are very real and life like it is a worthwhile experience. Located next door to Ripley's Believe It Or Not and across the street from Undersea Gardens and has the same price scale and hours of operation as the others. This was always my sister's favorite attraction when she was a young teenager.

If you would like to visit Undersea Gardens, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and the Wax Works as a package deal you can visit all three for one price of $21.00 for adults, $12.90 for children over 4 and free for children under 4, essentially buying two and getting the third attraction for less than 2 dollars, a great deal if you have a family with older children.

There are 2 lighthouses located in Newport. The Yaquina Head and the Yaquina Bay. The Yaquina Head lighthouse is the tallest in Oregon at 93 feet. This lighthouse is located north of Newport in the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. You can go inside this lighthouse and climb the 120+ steps to the top for an amazing view. You should also visit the interpretive center that has exhibits about the lighthouse as well as animals found in the area. They have a small area set up for children with puzzles and toys that children typically played with years ago such as Jacobs Ladders and spinning tops. My two year old daughter and her friend were content to play in this area for quite awhile with their dads while my friend and I browsed the gift shop. Outside you can walk down the stairs onto a pebble beach with wonderful tide pools full of anemones, starfish and thousands of muscle beds to explore. The park gate is open from 7am or sunrise whichever is later to sunset which is about 4:45pm during the winter hours and later in the summer hours. The interpretive center is open from 10am to 4pm in the winter, 10am to 5pm in the fall and 9am to 5pm in the summer. Lighthouse tour times vary to find out about times you can call 541.574.3100. On a side note children must be 42 inches tall to be allowed to go up into the lighthouse tower. Entrance into the park is $7.00 for a car with less than 9 passengers and the pass is good for 3 days.

The Yaquina Bay lighthouse is located at the mouth of the Yaquina River. This lighthouse is thought to be the oldest structure in Newport, Oregon. You can climb two flights of stairs to the lighthouse watch room but the actual light area is closed to the public because it is a working lighthouse. Entrance into the park is free but they do request a donation. The park is open daily excluding holidays and is open 11:00am to 5:00pm during the summer and 12:00pm to 4:00pm during the winter.

To learn more about either of these lighthouses you can visit their website at www.yaquinalights.org.

One more attraction worth mentioning is the Hatfield Science Center, Oregon State University. They have an octopus tank with a giant pacific octopus. The octopus they currently had when we took our two year old daughter was extremely active and she loved watching it swim all over, she walked around and around the tank as did her friend who is also two. They also have tide pools set up where you can touch fish, starfish and anemones. My daughter did not really like touching the sea life but her friend loved it. Both really liked touching all the buttons and listening to different things such as whales at different exhibits. It is free to visit the center but they do suggest a $4 donation per person or a $10 donation per family. It is well worth the donation. It is great for any age and entertained our two year old for an hour and she wanted to stay longer, this is a pretty amazing place to entertain and hold the attention of a couple two year olds. During the winter they are open 10:00am to 4:00pm Thursdays through Mondays, and 10:00am to 5:00pm daily during the summer. This is a must if you visit the Newport area.

Other attractions are the Historic Nye Beach and Historic Old Town. Both have shops and restaurants. There is a Mo's located in the Old Town they make the best halibut fish and chips. And Nye Beach has great public beach access. Old Town is where all the docks are located which are fun to walk around on. There are usually seals and sea lions sunbathing and barking on the docks which are entertaining to watch. It is fun to watch the commercial fishing and crabbing boats coming in and out of the bay which my daughter loves to watch. You can fish and crab off of some of the docks but you have to watch for signs because some are open to the public while others are not. You can also book charters to go whale watching, deep sea fishing, tuna fishing or halibut fishing depending on the season. I have not personally went on any charters but my husband has been on whale watching charters as well as a deep sea fishing charter and has always had a good time and experience.

I am sure there are more attractions that I have not mentioned but these are all ones that I have been to and enjoyed both as a child and an adult and am now beginning to explore them as a parent with my daughter which is a whole new experience in itself. Watching her learn new things is a great time in itself no matter whether you are playing on the beach, walking the docks or exploring aquariums. I hope if you get a chance to visit Newport, Oregon your family can make as many memories as my family has over the years.

Sources
Oregon Coast Aquarium Website; www.aquarioum.org
Mariner Square Website; www.marinersquare.com
Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses Website; www.yaquinalights.org
Hatfield Marine Science Center Website; www.hmsc.oregonstate.edu