Oregon Coast Vacation: Newport

Fifteen minutes to the south of our beach cottage was Newport. We went there a couple of times. The first time, Darin rode his bike and we met him there. Here I am with the kids in front of the famous "Mo's", a seafood and clam chowder hot spot on the waterfront. My mom and dad have many memories going to this very spot when they lived in Oregon. (Before I was born, my dad got his PhD at Oregon State.)

About sixteen years ago, Darin and I took a trip here to Newport with my mom and dad. That was my first time going to "Mo's", and it looked just like this picture, with people lined up down the sidewalk.

We were lucky and got seated right away. We got the famous chowder, fish and chips, and fish tacos. Ellie had a corn dog. Silly girl. The kids got toy sharks with their drinks. Can you see Logan's and Ellie's faces looking out the window? We had that perfect table by the window. "Mo's" has expanded over the years. Right across the street is this red "Mo's Annex", and there are five other "Mo's" along the coast now. But because my mom loved it, I insisted we go to the original. 

We spent some time along the bay waterfront. It is a bustling place with big fishing vessels going in and out, tourist attractions, fun little shops and eateries, and seafood processing places. And...resident sea lions! When they "bark" you can here them for blocks. So fun! The bridge is the Yaquina Bay Newport bridge.

Logan was "barking" right back to the sea lions in this picture. 

A bunch of the critters live out on the end of the rock jetty. And here is Ellie sitting next to one of the big fishing or crabbing boats.

We spent some time touring both the Yaquina lighthouses. In the taller one, we got to walk the stairs to the top. The picture of the kids is at the top of the lighthouse. 

Spent some time exploring the tide pools below the lighthouse, at low tide. 

Ellie found a brown spotted blue eggshell. We took pictures but could not keep it. This particular beach is protected and nothing can be taken from it, except for drift wood. 

Lots and lots of seals and sea lions live on the rocks below the light house. 

The Newport bay bridge picture is taken from the other Yaquina light house. This lighthouse is shorter, and is a full house inside. We got to tour all the rooms, and learn about the history. At one time there was a light keeper living there with his wife and seven children!

On a rainy day, we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. Some pretty amazing stuff. Wolf eels, seahorse, sea otters, octopus, seals, giant crabs, etc. We tried out a hurricane simulator machine. We drove a real mini submarine in one of the huge tanks with a remote. The kids got face paintings. We got those souvenir smashed pennies. And the kids got stuffed animal seals. We told them they could choose one toy or keepsake while on the trip. Why am I not surprised that they BOTH chose STUFFED ANIMALS!! Ellie chose a white stuffed seal. She already HAS a white, stuffed seal. "But mom, this one is so fuzzy and my other one isn't."

The shark encounter was the highlight of the aquarium. Big, long walkway tunnels that you walk through, with water on all sides. Huge sharks would suddenly come out of nowhere and swim right over you. 

 

Yep, we loved Newport.