Coast
Photo of Depoe Bay by Gary Halvorson, courtesy of Oregon State Archives
The Pacific Ocean is only 60 miles west of Corvallis! Within an hour's drive, you could be throwing a frisbee on the beach, strolling the bayside boardwalks in Newport, snacking on fish and chips, or strolling around the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Oregon's nearly 400 miles of beaches and dunes are all open to the public, offering endless exploring possibilities. If you're headed for Newport, be sure to check out these attractions....
Hatfield Marine Science Center
2030 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport
Phone: 541-867-0226
Across the Yaquina Bay bridge is OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center, which welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually. The center's exhibits focus on interpreting the results of marine science research, much of which is conducted by OSU researchers at the center. Explore the touch tanks and octopus pool or take a guided walk along the estuary, offered daily beginning in mid-June. Entrance to the Visitors Center is by suggested donations, which help to offset the cost of operation and allow expanded educational programs for the general public. Summer hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Oregon Coast Aquarium
2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd, Newport
Phone: 541-867-3474
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is also in Newport and just down the road from the Hatfield Marine Science Center. For a nominal fee, visitors can learn about the vast sea life that exists throughout the oceans along with a walk through the undersea aquarium to experience undersea life from a whole new angle. Summer hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
For More Information
Oregon Tourism website (The Coast)
Travel Oregon, the official Oregon Tourism website, includes excellent sample itineraries and countless links to individual chamber and visitor bureaus websites located on the Oregon Coast.
