Newport in Winter

I am researching a solo trip and wanted to explore the north pacific coast and think Newport might be the place for me.

I would be there the first weekend in December.

What is the weather like?

What is there to do?

Can I really see whales?

Newport in Winter

What is the weather like?

Wet, rainy, sometime absolutely beautifully clear...when we go it%26#39;s usually raining or it%26#39;s a warm overcast.

What is there to do?

The Aquarium, the Historic Downtown (my favorite part of the city and where we always hang out), Ripley%26#39;s Believe it or Not, the Wax Museum, the Underwater Gardens, the original Mo%26#39;s for some chowder, beachcombing, day trip to Depoe Bay...extremely scenic day-trip drive to Lincoln City (Chinook Winds Casino is in LC if you%26#39;re into that),

Can I really see whales?

Yes, you should be able to

Newport in Winter

We visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium this summer. If you are in Newport, I strongly recommend a visit here. The Tunnel of the Deep exhibit is cool and enclosed if the weather is rainy and cold. The first weekend of December the places should be decorated for the holidays and very pretty! Enjoy the Oregon Coast! :)

Don%26#39;t forget the Hatfield Marine Science Center; it is near the Oregon Coast Aquarium. It has a different feel than the aquarium. It associated with OSU (go beavs) and explains a lot current scientific research going on along the coast. If you are into the scientific process this is the place for you....

Old town is fun, you can walk on the docks, or shop, or go to Mo%26#39;s. (Mo%26#39;s is kind of a local landmark restruant, some people don%26#39;t like their food, but I like it -mom and pop clam chowder.)

There are also some nice beaches to walk on.

More than other times of the year, in December you%26#39;ll want a room with an ocean view, and preferably oceanfront, since there%26#39;s a high likelihood you%26#39;ll spend time in it watching storms roll in (a favorite winter activity around here ;-) ). So, you might consider Yachats, which isn%26#39;t far from Newport, because its got several nice hotels perfectly situated for storm watching. Some of the best sightseeing on the Oregon coast just south of there, too.

Holiday decorations? Is there ANY place in the country that doesn%26#39;t have them at that time of year?

There are a few hotels in this area that are having a special from now until the end of December. Stay one night, get the second free. The places include The Adove Resort in Yachats, the Inn At Spanish Head in Lincoln City, the Embarcadero in Newport, the Elizabeth Street Inn in Newport, and the Inn At Otter Crest which is near Depoe Bay. A Friday check in is excluded, but if you can make it work for you, it is quite a deal!

The Nye Beach area (oceanfront, not bayfront) also has nice shops and restaurants.

The weather is fairly cold and often fairly windy when we visit in January. We always bundle up for a walk on the beach anyways!

Newport is our favorite spot, and we always go in December. Sometimes it%26#39;s sunny and mild, but expect rain off and on, and temps around 40.

You have to get out on a boat to see whales well, but you can see their spouts and maybe a breech from shore, especially with binoculars. We like the Aquarium, Ripley%26#39;s (and the sushi place next to it), and walking and playing on the beach. Just bring hiking boots, layers of clothing, and a waterproof outer shell. Get a hood or rainhat and leave the umbrella in the Midwest or everyone will know ';You%26#39;re not from around here.';

Don%26#39;t stay at Embarcadero if you want to do storm watching, because it is in on the Bay rather than actually oceanfront. You have to drive to go walk on the beach from there. The Shilo and Elizabeth Street Inn are nice oceanfront places, and Inn at Spanish Head up near Lincoln City is also nice. Not as much to do in LC, but there is the casino and an Outlet Mall.

Back from Cancun tonight and sipping a little wine before off to bed, but checking in for Newport.

I hope from Wisc you do not plan to spend all of your time in Newport.

You don%26#39;t say how much time you have, or how you plan to travel here.

but with a week or more would for sure go as far south as Reedsport and maybe as far north as Tillamook.

Suggest you say a little more.

Wow, lots of great information to check out, thanks to all of you!

If this is the hospitality I can expect in Oregon, I%26#39;ll love it there :)

To answer a question posed, I plan on spending 3 - 4 days there, an extended weekend. I don%26#39;t mind the cold weather, as it is much colder here. 40%26#39;s are fine.

I will have a car, so can travel some, but wish to stay near the coast on this trip. Another time I can explore the inland area.

I just thought Newport would be a good place to stay as it seems fairly central and there seems to be a lot to do there and many places to stay.

Depoe Bay and/or Boiler Bay are good places to watch for whales. Rocky shore line and they come in pretty close. we have wacthed them from our window at Whale Pointe less than 50 yards from shore. but you have to be lucky to catch time they are in.

We have also seen them in Depoe Bay from view area along 101.

High chance room at Inn at Otter Crest will not have ocean view.

I have watched storms from Shilo, and Inn at Spanish Head more than once. Inn at SH slightly better cause higher and rooms have some angle to them. I think Elizabeth Inn like Shilo has all ocean view rooms. None of those three good for whale watching.

Also watched a winter storm once from Adobe. but mostly from dining room cause place was amost empty. it was snow storm. can%26#39;t even remember my room. Last fall stayed at overleaf and it should be good in storm too. sister place to Adobe. no storm then.

I have watched several storms from Whale Pointe and they are very good, with waves crashing on rocks below. Channel House in Depoe Bay also good. but both come with high prices. and there is no guarantee in 4 days you will get a storm.

Think i would settle on Elizabeth Inn of those with deals. Mostly because ideas from others of what to do in Newport is right on. A lot to do there. and if you do get a storm Elizabeth Inn good plus you can move about in your car to check rocky places like depoe bay.

I would go as far south as at least Florence to see the rugged coast from Yachats south. Think I would not go to Tillamook. might have suggested it if you were traveling through.

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