Right lighthouse, wrong place? According to local lore, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse was supposed to be built to the north at Cape Foulweather, but a heavy weather ship landing at the wrong place shifted the site. In truth, it's where it's supposed to be, it's the name that was wrong. Early on, it was listed as Cape Foulweather Lighthouse simply because the then unnamed Yaquina Head was also called Cape Foulweather.
The latter got its name when famed seafarer and world explorer Captain James Cook landed here in 1778
Right lighthouse, wrong place? According to local lore, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse was supposed to be built to the north at Cape Foulweather, but a heavy weather ship landing at the wrong place shifted the site. In truth, it's where it's supposed to be, it's the name that was wrong. Early on, it was listed as Cape Foulweather Lighthouse simply because the then unnamed Yaquina Head was also called Cape Foulweather.
The latter got its name when famed seafarer and world explorer Captain James Cook landed here in 1778. He recorded the weather as being nasty and gave Cape Foulweather its name. Just north of Newport, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse sees about 400,000 visitors a year. Not only is it picturesque -- it's also reportedly haunted! The lighthouse is just one of the hundreds of interesting places in and around this historic town set in the splendor of the Oregon Coast. The Newport Bayfront is part working harbor, part tourist attraction, and part local hangout. Fishing boats bring their catches in here and you can often buy right from the boat -- it could only be fresher if you catch the fish yourself! Ripley's Believe it or Not, the Wax Museum, and Undersea Gardens attract visitors to the north side, while on the south side, the very interesting Oregon Coast Aquarium invites those wanting to explore sea life and the Rogue Ales Brewer's on the Bay makes finely crafted beers. Historic Nye Beach is another fun part of town and there are nice beaches all along the water.
Moving to Newport
In case you haven't heard, it rains a lot. Not just come-and-go rain, but settle in for a week and throw in some strong winds rain at times. When you drive past areas exposed to coastal winds and see trees growing all to one windswept side, you start to get the picture. Point is, moving during the rainy season -- Late October through April -- is something many people skip. That means you can find better prices on a rental property. Add in the fact that many vacant units will lease out on a seasonal basis if they are still open as summer approaches, and it's easy to see how you can save money by moving in the winter. That said, you are still likely to need decent credit and possibly first, last, and deposit when it comes time for renting an apartment in Newport.
Neighborhoods
Like a few coastal towns, Newport is mostly a rectangular shape, following the coastline. The exception is along the Yaquina Bay as it comes inland toward the town of Toledo. Along the beaches, you will find the majority of the home rentals and naturally, inland a block or so is where you'll see residents living in homes throughout the year. The dominant features are the Yaquina Head Lighthouse on the north and the bridge over the bay to the south.
Nye Beach: The area around where Nye Creek empties into the Pacific is full of quaint shops, nice little eateries and historic buildings. For more than 100 years, it's been a favored vacation spot for many. It's where you'll find the Newport Performing Arts Center, which draws a surprising billing for a city of around 10,000.
South Beach: This area on the south side of Yaquina Bay is home to the Oregon Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center. South Beach State Park is one of the largest on the Oregon Coast for camping. There are single-family homes and a few properties where you can find apts for rent.
Agate Beach: Surrounding the beach by the same name, this part of the community is home to a mix of single-family homes, mobile homes, and apartment complexes. Near Highway 101 through this area and to the south is a good place to look for all-bills-paid apartments.
Yaquina Bay: Stretching inland along the north shore of the bay is this area that has boatyards, housing developments, and even a marina where you can live on a boat. That's a unique way of life that is worth looking into. You can give a cool answer to the question, "Where do you live?" when you say, "Oh, on a boat."
Living in Newport
If you can get through your first rainy season, you will love it here. You will be surprised -- between winter storms, it can be very sunny and beautiful. Be prepared for your heat tolerance to go down, and your cool tolerance to go up! An interesting twist on people watching is to go to the beach in July or August -- when hot weather inland pulls fog and cool winds off the water -- and see tourists who expected to go to a beach in July and be warm, walking around with their teeth chattering! For entertainment there is a cinema complex in town and a few pubs. The nightlife can be fairly thin in the winter and jumping in the summer. Great seafood is to be expected but there are also restaurants offering all manner of great food. Should you start missing city life, Portland is just over two hours away.
