Spring and early summer are an exciting season for wildlife on the Oregon Coast, and Newport is one of the best places to experience it. Migrating birds return, marine mammals become more active, and tidepools are full of life. This time of year offers the chance to observe animals in their natural habitats.

Newport’s rocky shoreline offers a front-row view into the hidden world of tidepools - shallow, saltwater habitats filled with marine life. These temporary windows into the ocean are revealed during low tides and provide one of the best ways to observe sea creatures up close.

Newport’s working waterfront is a mix of boats, seafood, and storefronts, but it’s also home to one of the most distinctive and loudest sights (and sounds) on the Oregon Coast: sea lions. Whether sunbathing on the docks or barking in chorus, these seasonal visitors are a memorable part of the Bayfront experience.