Three years ago, Adam and I took a road trip from San Francisco to Seattle. It was our first vacation together, and we still laugh about 'that time' in Seattle when we had no idea where to go or what to do. Little did we know, we'd be calling Seattle home nearly three years later.
Since Adam joined me in the PNW, we've talked about returning to one of our favorite stops along that road trip. I'm not sure what made it one of our favorites - maybe the sweet bathroom at the hotel we stayed at or the amazing waffle I had before we got on the road the next day. I don't know what it was, but something about Newport, OR made me want to return.
After a stressful holiday season with our first time traveling back to the east coast together and not having a getaway since that time in Portland, we decided a long weekend away was long overdue. We debated whether the nearly 6 hour drive to this section of the Oregon Coast was worth it, but ultimately decided it was! I sent an out of office to my team, and we booked the trip!
Where to Stay
Like I mentioned earlier - a huge part of the reason I wanted to return to Newport was the shower at the hotel we stayed at. So, we stayed at the same hotel but upgraded to a room with a giant soaking tub!
The Inn at Nye Beach is the perfect place to relax over a long weekend. There are rooms with walk-in showers (with dual shower heads!) and soaking tubs for all your relaxation needs. I recommend bringing along a bath bomb or bubble bar if you opt for the room with the tub. One tip I'd like to share - the room descriptions are somewhat confusing, so if you're unsure give them a call!
The other amenities are fantastic, as well. You get a small bag of local coffee upon check-in, and for non-coffee drinkers, like myself, there are a variety of loose leaf teas in the lobby to pick from. There is also wine and locally made snacks for purchase in the lobby. One of the amenities we haven't used, it the movie rentals. We took a peek, and there were a lot of good choices!
The best thing though is the HOT TUB! Next to the fire pits, is a huge hot tub that overlooks the beach. We weren't aware of the hot tub, as it wasn't well advertised on the website, so we had to go a frantic shopping trip around the small town to find bathing suits.
What to Do
Walk Around the Historic Waterfront
This was probably my favorite part of the trip - aside from the hot tub, of course. We found a parking spot pretty easily, got out of the car, and immediately heard sea lions barking! There is a great viewing area on the boardwalk - we stuck around for probably 20 minutes just watching them lounge around. After that, we strolled down the boardwalk to the marina and popped in a few shops. It's an easy walk and great way to spend the morning.
Get a Flight at Rogue
Possibly unpopular opinion as a resident of the PNW - I'm not a huge fan of Rogue beers. That being said, it's hard to pass up a flight of beer. We hung out for an hour, tried some new brews, and even bought a couple giant bottles from the gift shop. If you're up for it and have the time, you could also take a tour of the brewery!
Visit Yaquina Light House
We stopped by here around sunset. For less than $10, you can walk around the lighthouse or walk down to the tide pools. It seemed like there are a few trails throughout the park area, too! Just be sure to check what time the area closes - we only had about half an hour or so to explore.
Stop at the Devil's Punchbowl
If you're headed north on your way home, this is a really cool place to stop. Adam and I didn't have time to stop on this past trip, but we spent an hour there on our original road trip. Devil's Punchbowl is a neat rock formation with plenty of tide pools to check out. It's definitely worth the pit stop.
Where to Eat
Nana's Irish Pub
We ate here on both of our trips. It's your typical pub-type atmosphere with traditional Irish food. The corned beef is great. The shepherd's pie is great. The meatloaf was great. I really think you can't go wrong - everything we've eaten has been delicious and super comforting. A huge plus is that it's walking distance from The Inn at Nye Beach!
Georgie's
This most recent trip was our first time here. I don't know if it was the time spent near the marina, but I was craving seafood. Georgie's definitely delivered! We had fantastic spicy margaritas and a delicious dinner. The service was a bit slow, but we had nowhere else to be so it wasn't too much of an issue.
Café Stephanie
Go here for breakfast. Just do it. The pastries are amazing! I also recommend their waffles and marionberry french toast. The café is pretty small with a cool octopus painting on the wall. There's also outdoor seating, that I imagine is perfect in the summer.