For Jeannie, Newport Oregon :)

[Neil D]

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Could you maybe start a travelogue thread (somewhere else on this board), and just tell us all about the town?

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..As I said I was just over there...Actually, I do work for the hospital there from time to time when they call. I like it because I get a chance to see the sea lions and listen to the ocean after work...sometimes before work..

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Is it terribly cold in winter?

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Well, "cold" is a relative term. When you are familiar with Idaho winters, then, my answer is 'no'. However, for the coast climate is just plain different.

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Terribly windy all year?

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As I said, 'windy " is a realative term.

It doesn't seem to get too windy there...However, if you go to Lincoln City, which is about 40 miles north, that area tends to be a bit windy there. They have a kite feastival sometime in early spring or late winter there. They fly kites there a lot. "Go fly a kite" takes on a whole new meaning there.

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The beaches are nonexistent--only a rocky coastline?

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Well, not really. There is a beach about 5 miles outside of Newport, but they do have a rocky coastline there as well. I like the rocky coastline, because there are tidepools and you get to see the rock fish fight over the mussels that I feed them. And you got other sea creatures that wonder in from time to time, like crab, and sea lions....

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Or are there so many "pluses" to living there that the rocks and weather aren't a bother?

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While I have not looked at land prices, it seems to me that most places start out at $300,000 for a small lot and a home already built. But if you want to go a bit inland like about 10 miles, then prices seem to drop off a bit more.

As I said, I don't live there, but I have worked there a couple of times during the year.

The place that I like is Depot Bay. It is a very small harbor and is a 'tourist trap' but very rustic and full of homey little shops and stuff. Lincoln City is also like that, but the buildings are relatively newer, ie built within the last 5 years, in some parts of town. Lincoln City is the longest town in Oregon [some say 5 miles long], but very narrow [try 1 mile wide].

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Oh-h-h-h! You live in Newport, Oregon??!!

I've heard that's the most beautiful, romantic seaside town!

I've always wanted to go there for a visit.

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The Oregon Coast is truely a magnificent place to visit. It is very gorgeous and the scenic views are well worth your time to come and check out. That said, I will say that the Oregon coast is also a major tourist trap. Seaside is a gorgeous place, full of fun things to do, mall shoping, Merry go round, Various restaurants, but it is a tourest trap. There are elk in that area to see, if you get to see them in the country side. Depot Bays' claim to fame is two fold, for me. There is a harbor to see the fishing fleet [albeit a very small one] go out to fish, [which is pretty much decimated I am told by the locals] and a "blow hole" which during the winter, can shoot up sea water onto the highway during an incoming storm. Newport has it's historic bay front where there are seafood resturants proclaiming the "freshest catch of the day", tourist shops with their glass bobbles, pschyidellic 60's shoppes, candy shoppes, coastal trinkets and "made from Oregon" shopes. Oh, almost forgot, Newport aslo has the "Oregon Coast Aquiarium". If you are aware of Montery's aquarium, then scale it down a bit, and you have the Oregon Coast and Sentor Mark Hatfield aquarium. That's a neat place to see.

But the country views are just plain gorgeous and if you like to see fantastic views, then Oregon's central and northern coast is for you.

[Jeannieb43]

What a neat description.

Thank you, Neil. It makes me want to go there. What's the best time of year for that area?

And how do you get there? Does it require a car - or is there easy access by train?

Many thanks.

[Neil D]

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What's the best time of year for that area?

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This year, I would say late spring or early summer. Call for motels and make your plans accordingly. There are campsites along the coast, but...many have reservations. Best to google for Oregon state parks and get a reservation.

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And how do you get there? Does it require a car - or is there easy access by train?

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No trains, sorry. Car is your best bet. And if you come by nothern Oregon, thru the gorge [snake river], you might find some sea lions at the Bonnieviell Dam near the fish ladders eating all the salmon that are making thier way up....Or they may have scared them off with fireworks and loud noises, which is what the rumor is of late to drive them off...

[Amelia]

Neil....thats the Columbia River in the gorge. The snake is way over near Idaho. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mittelgr124.gif" alt="" />

[Nan]

Just glancing thru here - Neil if you are going to whet our appetites like this you should provide guided tours when we get there !! I have been a little way up the Columbia Gorge (in fall and it was just beautiful) but did not get much chance to see the coast line. It is on my list ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Neil D]

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Neil....thats the Columbia River in the gorge. The snake is way over near Idaho.

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You are correct, Amelia...but please forgive this once Idahoan who has traversed the snake river up to the Columbia River Gorge. In my humble [?] memory is this one lone fact about Idaho....Whether you know it or not, Lewiston is Idaho's only seaport and the furthest inland port on the West Coast which the Snake River, that empties into the Columbian Gorge and traverses to the ocean, makes possible.

So please forgive me as I misname the Columbian Gorge's river the Snake. I come from up aways on the river, and forgot that the river changed names to the ....Columbia

[Neil D]

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Just glancing thru here - Neil if you are going to whet our appetites like this you should provide guided tours when we get there !! I have been a little way up the Columbia Gorge (in fall and it was just beautiful) but did not get much chance to see the coast line. It is on my list !

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Make you a deal, Nan and for most anybody on C/A. If you give me plenty of time advance notice [prefer 48 hours or more], I will do everything I can to provide a nice tour or at least a list of 'must see" places that you need to see, and to get the flavor of of the locals....