Newport Day Drive

Road to Newport Map

This is one of the longer trips that I've done.  If you leave early in the morning you should have plenty of time to explore quite a few places on the route.  I've outlined a few on the map that are worth checking out.

For a reason unbeknownst to me, the coast is loaded with used book stores (if anyone knows why please fill me in!) My favorite place to stop and buy used books is called Robert's Bookshop.  There are two locations, the one near the center of town sells mostly new books and the one outlined on the map sells all used.  It is an absolute maze of books, thousands upon thousands stacked high to the ceiling..  A word of warning, you can get lost for hours among the aisles upon aisles of used books so keep an eye on the time.  Reasonable prices and huge variety make this place a must stop for me every time I'm in Lincoln City, although I must exercise a modicum of restraint when I'm riding the V-Strom, not a lot of storage space...

Next is the small town of Depot Bay.  Oregon is blessed with the fact that the grey whale migratory path takes them within miles of the coast.  Here is a link for more information.  If you are here at the right time of year you are very likely to see one pass by. You can also watch boats take the harrowing trip through the mouth of Depot Bay and if you are brave enough jump on a whale watching charter boat. There is a parking lot across from the main section of town where you can watch waves crash into the rocks, as well as watch boats enter and leave the bay.  The endless crashing of waves against the rocks have formed a blowhole that shoots water up like a geyser during high tide.

Fun fact: Depot Bay is the world's smallest navigable harbor.

Right before the large bridge that crosses Newport Bay there is a road called SW Bay Blvd, a historic boardwalk. Rogue Brewery is right across the bay, and has a public house on SW Bay Blvd.  Shops are countless, and you can watch fishermen unload the day's catch.  Sea lions are aplenty on nearly every pier available and the crab at any restaurant of your choosing is fresh.  My favorite place is called Local Ocean Seafoods near the end of the bay front.

Newport Historic Bayfront