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Discover Newport, OR – South Beach District – Part III

Discover Newport, OR – South Beach District – Part III
Newport, Oregon’s South Beach District includes not only the Port Of Newport Marina and RV Park, but offers a number of other attractions such as a funky brewery (is there any other kind in Oregon?), the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center. Rogue Brewery operates the Brewer’s on the Bay. The brewpub and restaurant overlook the fishing pier and marina and offer 22 beers on tap.
Open year round except for Christmas Day, the Oregon Coast Museum invites visitors to immerse themselves in marine life. The recently opened Passages of the Deep, a 200-foot clear underwater tunnel that snakes through three ocean habitats, is a true highlight. The 360-degree view affords unusual encounters with sharks, skates and rays. At the nearby Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center, guests are invited to learn about marine life through “hands-on” displays and interactive exhibits.
For transient boaters and other visitors, who relish a night ashore, the Newport Belle Bed & Breakfast provides a waterfront getaway and amazing full breakfasts.  Built like a sternwheeler, the five-room “Belle” is moored at the Port of Newport Marina near the guest dock.
Former owner and chef extraordinaire, Sherry Porter said she often hosts transient boaters. “They enjoy a romantic evening on the boat and a leisurely breakfasts with the other guests,” said Porter, who specializes in awesome quiches. “They especially love to look out at their boats across the marina and through the bridge at the sunsets.”
The Embarcadero Resort Hotel & Marina
Situated on the water within easy walking distance of Newport’s historic bayfront, the Embarcadero offers boaters and other visitors a gracious, upscale getaway. The 235-room resort provides a range of rooms, including those with handy kitchenettes.
Visiting boaters at the 238-slip marina, with around 30 guest moorage slips and end-ties for boats up to 60-feet, are invited to participate in the resort’s many amenities including restaurants, indoor swimming pool, spa, laundry, exercise room and grounds. Runabouts and crab pots are available for rental.
Otherwise, guests are welcome to fish and crab off the resort’s fishing dock. Adjacent to the pier, a wonderful, steaming crab pot and covered, outdoor kitchen is available for cooking the catch of the day.
While walking the Embarcadero docks with Strom, he extolled the resort’s virtues. He told me that the previous evening he couldn’t find his favorite beer, Guinness, at any of the local establishments. When he complained, the concierge located a case of the brew and had it delivered to his boat!
“I love that as a marina guest I have all the privileges of a hotel guest,” said Strom. “I can use the crabcooker, the exercise room and I’m close to the bayfront. I’m so excited, I’m headed next door to Englund’s to buy myself a downrigger!”
Historic Newport Waterfront
Walking west from the Embarcadero and Englund Marine Supply, it was fun to stroll the commercial docks, lined with “Perfect Storm-style” shrimp and crab boats. Nearing the bayfront, raucous barking draws visitors to the public pier where we watched several dozen, male sea lions lounge on two floats in the sun. Although, for the most part, the pinnipeds look mighty comfortable, they complain incessantly. However, the oldtimers, the ones with numbers carved on their backs and scars around their ruffs, barely acknowledged the squabbles.
Leaving the sea lions to bluster and bellow, we prowled some of the bayfront’s attractive boutiques, galleries, taverns, and shops before stopping at the Whale’s Tale for fish & chips. Later, we broke into a big bag of saltwater taffy as we joined a gaggle of tourists heading out on one of Marine Discovery Tours’ (MDT) two-hour naturalist trips.
Although MDT declines to guarantee whales, we were thrilled when most of the tour was spent watching two resident gray whales. One of them, Scar Back, is named for the horrible injury she incurred 15 years ago in the Bering Sea when an exploding harpoon went awry.
Upon our return to the bustling bayfront, the sea lions continued their cacophony. Whale watching inspired us to tackle local, fresh crab and oyster appetizers.
We are grateful old Scar Back is intact and we are thrilled Newport and Yaquina Bay have prospered into the modern era. As we discovered, this Oregon Coast, harbor town is much more than a port in a storm. It is a lively, lovely marine-centered destination that holds days, weeks or even months of activities for visiting boaters.
CONTACT:
Port of Newport Marina & RV Park: (541) 867-3321 Fax: (541) 867-3352; www.portofnewport.com/
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce: (800) 262-7844 or (541) 265-8801; www.newportchamber.org
Embarcadero Resort Hotel & Marina: (800) 547-4799 or (541) 265-8521; www.Embarcadero-Resort.com
Newport Belle Bed and Breakfast: (800) 348-1922 or (541) 867-6290; www.NewportBelle.com