Change of Scenery

Newport, Oregon, harbor                                                     © Diane Reed

You're right, this doesn't look at all like Walla Walla! We took a little time out to visit family in Oregon, including several days in Newport, Oregon to visit an aunt and uncle and cousins. It's always great to be on the Oregon coast, although at this time of the  year the weather can be a bit changeable -- rain one minute, sun the next and wind in the middle of it all.

Don Davis Park, Newport          © Diane Reed

     Newport is one of our favorite places on the Oregon Coast, and there's lots to do there. We'd visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium on our last visit, so this time we visited Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center. It's a great facility, with lots of hands-on tidepools and interesting exhibits. They also had part of a dock from Japan that ended up on Agate Beach just north of Newport.
     Downtown Newport is an interesting mix of maritime industry, restaurants and galleries.  Our cousin Jeannie André has her line of cards and artwork at Oceanic Arts on the Harbor.

Local Ocean Seafoods chef at work     © Diane Reed  

     We also had a chance to have dinner at our favorite Newport restaurant, Local Ocean Seafoods. The restaurant is always busy, and if you've tried their Seared King Salmon over linguini with roasted poblano pepper and Oregonzola cheese topped with tomato saffron sauce you'll know why. They also have a fish market on site. 
      Of course, there's visits to the beach and the local lighthouses to watch for whales spouting (yup, we saw them), seabirds (lots) and enjoying salt air. It was great to visit, but we're always happy to get back to the beautiful Walla Walla Valley!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport, Oregon                                                                  © Diane Reed