Driving north from Yachats to Newport, Oregon, you will pass through the community of South Beach just before you cross the Yaquina Bay Bridge. You may be familiar with the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but South Beach is also home to some hidden gems that are easy to miss on a casual trip up Hwy 101.
Aquarium Village is home to Fishtails Cafe where you can enjoy Marionberry French Toast any time of day. They make all their own bread and desserts and are an exceptional breakfast destination. A few doors down, you’ll discover Pirates Plunder, 8,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, and some things that defy categorization! It is easy to spend over an hour weaving in and out of the entertaining displays and to walk out with an unexpected treasure of your own like an Oregon Thunderegg formed forty million years ago!
Primal Tones is a community performance venue and home of Didjeridu by Tyler Spencer that hosts a variety of live entertainment, workshops, and events. South Beach Surf Shop is also in Aquarium Village and you can rent boards and wetsuits and take individual or group lessons from a certified surf instructor. Escape Room Newport provides immersive live adventure games. Players are given a set time limit to unveil the secret plots hidden within themed rooms by solving a series of puzzles and challenges.
Interested in Disc Golf? New Wilder Disc Golf Course is a mix of open shots, deep woods, and ravines with elevation through the Wilder family’s timber conservation property. South Beach State Park offers access to miles of broad, sandy ocean beaches and trails for walking and bicycling. Located just south of the South Jetty, this is your gateway to exploring Newport. Yaquina Bay Estuary Trail is an educational nature trail by Hatfield Marine Science Center that provides an easy, scenic walk along the estuary. During low tide, you are able to walk out onto the sand and watch the many birds that come to feed.
If you’re looking to enjoy an immersive and memorable stay in South Beach, with easy access to everything Newport has to offer, consider Dancing Seal, Second Story, or Oregon Waves as home bases. Visit our website to learn more about our Sweet Homes where you can stay relaxed while you explore the beauty and diversity of the Central Oregon coast.