Explore Newport Like a Local

What coastal residents like to do for fun and entertainment

By Steve Card

People of all ages enjoy spending time in and around Newport, considered by many to be one of the best coastal towns in Oregon. Newport offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, from weekend getaways and fine dining to local attractions and events. And likely the most favorite thing of all is simply spending time enjoying the awesome wonder of the area’s beautiful beaches and majestic Pacific Ocean.

There are many hidden gems in Newport, Oregon, and it’s easy to see why it attracts so many visitors each year. But locals, too, take advantage of, and enjoy all that the area has to offer — although possibly at a somewhat different pace since they spend most of their time on the coast.

A few tips from locals

So what are some of the things local residents around Newport enjoy doing? To find out, people of varying age groups — a high schooler, a young family, and a retiree — were asked to talk about some of their favorite activities.

High schoolers

Reegan, a high school junior, said one of her favorite things to do during the summertime is enjoy a bonfire on the beach, a time to commune with friends and nature — and perhaps enjoy a s’more or two. Ice cream spots are also a favorite hangout for the high school crowd, Reegan said, with one of her favorites being Subzero Swirlz, located near the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 20. Check out our post on other spots for sweet treats.

Newport’s arts community also offers a lot of opportunities for young people, such as a dance recital or play at the Newport Performing Arts Center that may involve friends, or art programs at the Newport Visual Arts Center. And teen activities at the Newport Public Library are also a favorite gathering spot.

Young families

April and her husband, Keith, are the parents for two girls, ages 9 and 7, and a 4-year-old boy. One of their favorite family activities is hiking at places like the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in north Newport and Mike Miller Park on the south side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge (learn about other area hiking spots at discovernewport.com/hiker).

Hunting for agates on the beach is another favorite family activities, April said, along with the many other things their “littles” enjoy while playing in the sand. They may even spend time on boogie boards while Dad is out surfing.

One of their favorite restaurants to visit is Sharks Seafood along Highway 101 in north Newport. “We really love the gumbo,” April said.

Of course, their children also like stops at local candy and ice cream shops, as well as for boba tea at Sweet Corner located on the Newport Bayfront. And always a fun activity for people of any age is the Oregon Coast Aquarium, with many exhibits to explore, and children can even burn off excess energy at the playground.

Retirees

The beach may be fun for the younger generation, but older folks living in

and around Newport enjoy it on a regular basis as well. Joseph Swafford and his wife, Christina, have lived in Newport since 1981. For nearly 30 years they were the owners of a business called the Champagne Patio in Newport’s Sea Towne Shopping Center.

Joseph and Christina are regular beach goers. “That's one of our daily activities,” Joseph said. “We do about a two-mile trek on the beach every morning. Maintaining physical activity is important at our age, and this is a great place to do it.”

They will also occasionally stop at a local store to pick up some picnic items and a good bottle of wine and go to a nice spot to enjoy a relaxing outdoor lunch. “We find a picnic table and spread the the tablecloth and picnic, and then we take a walk again afterwards in the local scene. This is a very beautiful place to live,” Joseph said.

One of their favorite Newport restaurants is Local Ocean Seafoods. Another popular spot to grab seafood is at the South Beach Fish Market located right along the highway south of the bridge, where there’s generally a large crowd in the outdoor seating area during good weather.

Joseph and Christina are also huge fans of the Newport Symphony Orchestra, which is getting ready to kick off its new season. In fact, Joseph has been on the symphony board of directors for more than 15 years. “We really marvel that Newport, a town of 10,000, has a symphony orchestra that cities of 100,000 and over would be envious of,” he said, adding, “The music scene here is quite rich. In addition to the symphony, we enjoy good jazz, and there is a jazz party format that takes place every October.” They also enjoy enjoy intimate house concerts held in local homes by In-house Jazz.

These are just a few of the experiences available around Newport to visitors and local alike. For more information on what to do in and around this coastal gem, go to www.discovernewport.com