Did you get your tickets for the 2023 Newport Seafood & Wine Festival yet? If not, there’s still time! Why not stay in Newport too, so you don’t have to drive home? As you probably know, the Festival will take place February 23-26 and local lodging options are filling up fast! The Festival will provide a free shuttle bus that will run from South Beach State Park through Newport all the way to Pacific Shores Motorcoach Resort just north of town. The shuttle will run on a continuous 45-minute loop, stopping at most major hotels as well as the Nye Beach Neighborhood and the Historic Bayfront. We also have some fantastic lodging options and super-fun activities for you if you decide to stay overnight or for multiple days. Plan to make a big weekend out of this year’s Seafood & Wine Festival!
Stay in Agate Beach
Agate Beach is Newport’s furthest neighborhood to the north and is perfect for strolling, beachcombing, surfing, and kite flying. Agate Beach connects to the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, home to Oregon’s tallest lighthouse, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, and features trails that will take you to view seals, whales, sea birds, and tide pools teeming with life. The Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn provides a comfortable stay, overlooks the beach, and offers a great breakfast and dinner at The Sea Glass Bistro. Or stay in one of the cozy, PNW-inspired suites at the Agate Beach Motel, also located right above the ocean with easy access down to the beach. Both locations are close to Szabos Steakhouse and Seafood, which serves excellent breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is a favorite of visitors and locals alike.
Stay in Nye Beach
Nye Beach begins where Agate Beach ends, continues south to the North Jetty of Yaquina Bay, and also extends up from the sand into a charming and very walkable neighborhood that offers a variety of shops, galleries, restaurants, and the Newport Performing Arts Center. Stroll through the neighborhood, see a show at the Performing Arts Center, or visit Nye Beach Wine Cellar to check out their wide variety of wines from around the world. Elizabeth Oceanfront Suites is a cozy boutique hotel with a variety of rooms and suites that overlook the beach and is just a short walk to all of the fun places in Nye Beach. Or stay just above Nye Beach at Sylvia Beach Hotel, a booklover’s paradise, where the theme of each room is designed after a famous author, and their restaurant, Table of Contents, offers a full-course dinner. Stop into the Nye Beach Café for breakfast or lunch made from fresh ingredients, with bread and desserts baked in-house daily.
Stay in the Deco District
Newport’s City Center is named Deco District because it features buildings from the 1920s and 30s and is connected by the iconic Yaquina Bay bridge that represents the architectural style known as Deco from that era. The Money Saver Motel is conveniently located on Highway 101 near the Yaquina Bay bridge and is modestly priced for the quality of lodging. Or stay at Days Inn by Windham, also just off Highway 101, this hotel was designed for comfort, and is within walking distance of the Festival and also to the Pacific Ocean. Do you collect vinyl records? Northwest Grooves is located in the Deco District and has a wide range of new and used vinyl and related collectibles. Maybe you’d like to fly a kite? The Kite Company carries a large variety of delta kites, diamond kites, dragon kites, box kites, Parafoil kites, and stunt kites, also known as sport kites or trick kites, and is the largest kite shop in the Pacific Northwest. Start your day off right with an amazing breakfast from Pig ‘N Pancake, the Oregon Coast’s most beloved breakfast chain that serves excellent breakfast all day long.
Stay in the Historic Bayfront
Newport’s Historic Bayfront is an equal mix of canneries, fish markets, art galleries, gift shops, and various eateries that coexist amidst the sound of barking sea lions and the savory scent of freshly cooked Dungeness crab. Embarcadero Resort is a short walk from the many shops, restaurants, and galleries that line Newport’s Historic Bayfront. You can also catch crab from the docks behind the resort, schedule a fishing charter onsite with Yaquina Bay Charters, or take a Marine Discovery Tour to learn all about the Pacific Ocean and the plants and animals that live there. Stop into the Pacific Maritime Heritage Museum to experience the art, interactive exhibits, history of Newport’s working wharf, and educational programs that explore mariner culture. Visit the sea lions that congregate on the docks below the Bayfront; you’ll know where they are by the barking sounds that they make! You can also often buy Dungeness crab right off the docks on Port Docks 3, 5, or 7 in the Bayfront, so look for signs that advertise crab for sale.
Stay in South Beach
South Beach stretches from the southern side of Yaquina Bay, under the Bay bridge, down to the Pacific Ocean, and is where the Seafood & Wine festival is located. Stay at La Quinta Inn, located just above the bay and a short walk to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Or stay at The Newport Belle, a romantic adults-only retreat, this 97-foot paddlewheel boat was built in 1993 and is permanently moored in the South Beach Marina. Become a member of Rogue Nation by reciting the Rogue Nation Pledge of Roguellegiance, or have a tasty craft beer and some great pub food at Rogue World Headquarters right next to the festival grounds. Check out the plethora of diverse sea life through dozens of displays and many nautical-themed exhibits at Oregon Coast Aquarium, the premier regional aquarium for over 30 years. Then visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center to learn even more about oceanography and marine life through a variety of scientific marine exhibits.
The Newport Chamber of Commerce is always ready to welcome you to the beach! Visit newportchamber.org for a detailed calendar of events and a list of local businesses that will take care of every aspect of your stay.