Travel

A Day on Newport Oregon's South Beach

When it comes to the Oregon Coast, there is no shortage of exploration, adventure or learning that can be experienced. It seemed insane to try and capture all of those wonderful places in one or two pages so I'm not going to. I'm going to group some of these places together by proximity so that I can dig into each one. That's not to say that I'm including everything in that general area though. Like I always recommend, do your research and see what interests you then go for it.

Today we're going to take a look at 3 incredible places in the South Beach/Yaquina Bay area of Newport. We're going to the southside of the bay (the north will be a later post). We'll start our day at Fishtails Cafe and then visit both the Oregon Coast Aquarium & the Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center.

When starting any day full of adventure, it's always a good idea to start with an amazing breakfast. The best breakfast I've ever had anywhere on the Coast can be found at Fishtails Cafe. It's just off Hwy 101 on the way to the aquarium and it'll be easy to spot by the line of people and cars waiting to get in. This place is a legend among the locals and many of us who discovered it by happenchance while on vacation. You can pretty much count on a wait so this isn't going to be a grab-and-go breakfast. That Marionberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast is worth every minute of your wait! Quite possibly one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. (Did you know Marionberries come from Oregon?) I've heard good things about their lunches too, but I can't move past breakfast. My oldest son tells me their Salmon Hash is out of this world too. I'll take his word on that one - I'm not a salmon fan. I love fish, but not the darker, pink ones. I'm okay with being weird like that. Ha ha!

Next stop the Oregon Coast Aquarium. I was in college when the aquarium opened and my first trip compared to the most recent one? No comparison! Over the years, they have done such an amazing job of continuing to expand and make their exhibits always interesting and new. Some aquariums get a feel of "been there, done that" but the Oregon Coast Aquarium isn't like that. They have a well-versed staff, the room to expand (23 acres) and the desire to keep educating people. Those things have served them well and it's been inspiring to see the changes over the years.

After entering through the main entrance to the aquarium (where you'll find the gift shop, bathrooms, food, etc) you move directly into an area that is a constantly changing exhibit. Our last visit included what was undeniably my favorite thus far: Secrets of Shipwrecks. You can search on their website for the current displays and also past ones if you're curious. From there you step into "Sandy Shores" where you'll encounter organisms living closest to the shore. The "Rocky Shores" which brings you face to face with the plants and animals in the rocky intertidal zone and it's also home to the infamous touch tank. Beyond that is the "Coastal Waters" area full of animals that habitate further out in the ocean.

Once you've been through the indoor exhibits you step out into an open courtyard with exhibits surrounding it. Here you'll find Otters, Seals, Sea Lions, Turkey Vultures, a Seabird Aviary & the Octopus Cave. At the back side of this open area, lining the shore, you'll find the Yaquina Bay Estuary Trail. It's 1/2 a mile long and follows the marshland from the aquarium to to the science center.

Before we leave the aquarium though, we've got to talk about "Passages of the Deep". In 1992 Keiko (the Orca from Free Willy fame) made his home in a ginormous tank at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. He lived there until he was returned to his home waters off the coast of Iceland in 1998. That left the aquarium with this massive empty tank that they turned into "Passages of the Deep". Passages of the Deep is a 1.32-million-gallon exhibit featuring three expansive ocean habitats connected by a series of tunnels stretching under water, creating a sense of walking beneath the sea. Visitors experience nearly 360-degree views of the 3,500 sea creatures. The exhibit is designed for guests to view the changing underwater landscape, from Oregon’s rocky coastlines to the open sea environment far off shore. The highlight? Is walking through a tunnel surrounded by sharks! Seriously - a very cool experience!

The last stop on this trip down memory lane is a place that is very dear to me - OSU's Mark Hatfield Science Center. I don't remember how old I was the first time I visited here, but from the minute I walked in the door, I was smitten. It sounds cheesy to say it, but even now when I walk in those doors I feel a sense of being "home." I love the ocean with everything in me and for most of my life I was determined I was going to be a marine biologist. Life took a different direction for me, but the love and the desire to study the ocean and the inhabitants in it has never dimmed. In fact, if I ever decide to go back to school for anything, it will be that.

How does the Science Center differ from the Aquarium? In a number of ways, but the biggest one for me is the hands-on research & education. The aquarium has a research team as well, but it's not front and center - it's more behind the scenes. They are, in fact, one of only 22 Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers nationwide. The science center has it all out there on display. They share successes as well as failures. They share ideas and possibilities. They lay out their hypotheses and ask for your input. They're committed to learning as much as they can from as many sources as they can.

The Science Center has been around since 1965 and is operated by Oregon State University. Unlike it's neighbor, it invites the public in asking only for donations instead of entrance fees. They sponsor exhibits, lectures, seminars, programs for kids (including day camps), grant opportunities and visiting scientists from all walks of life.

Do they have all the cool animals and touch tank too? Of course they do! It's a totally different experience though. The Science Center is geared more for the person who wants to learn and dig a little deeper, but the Aquarium is a better option for the person who wants to be mesmerized by the animals. Normally, my family has done everything and seen everything way before I'm ready to go. Every single time. They could drop me off and leave me all day and I think I'd be happy as a clam. (See what I did there?)

As I wrap this up, I want to re-iterate the quote shown in the picture I shared here. I believe this with every fiber of my being: "If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water."

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