DH and I will be heading down there from Seattle on Wednesday for a few days. I'd love to know of some picturesque spots you would recommend we visit. He's pretty easygoing, and will definitely put up with me heading out to do some shooting.
I was going to suggest Battle Rock near Port Orford, but it looks a little too far down the coast from Newport to be practical. I think Cannon Beach and the Oregon Dunes might be near where you'll be.
The Newport Aquarium is always fun, both for entertainment and some photo ops. We went down by the docks where they have the Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Undersea Gardens (which isn't that great) and got some fun sea lion photos too.
I did a quick search and found this site that sounded kinda interesting. I've never been but now that I've found it I may take a trip and see what's there - particularily the memorial. I love to see what different towns put up for memorials to different things.
Anyway here's the site.. be warned there's A LOT of advertisements for their local businesses. I'm assuming many of them are links to various shop websites too.
If you want to keep heading south about 45 minutes there's Sea Lion Caves. You actually ride in an elevator down into the caves. I went there a few times as a kid and remember it being pretty cool. I remember the cave stinking too though, heh.
"Average herd of 200 animals living in the Sea Lion Caves region
-this number varies from season to season and from year to year."
I think August is the tail end of their breeding. Maybe there will be baby seals. Oooo...
The extra 45 minute drive is very pretty and there's lots of lighthouses along the way. There's also some really pretty historic bridges. So even if you don't make it all the way to the caves I doubt you'll be disappointed with the drive.
We just got back from vacation there a little over a week ago. We crossed over from Salem (I5) to Lincoln City on 101 by hwy 18...DON'T take Hwy 18!!!! It took us 4 hours!!!! We kept thinking there was a car wreck or something....10 miles an hour...stop....10 miles an hour...etc....apparently it's a popular route to the beaches. Anyhow....TONS of pull-offs all the way down the coast. We stopped at the Devil's Punchbowl, Devil's Elbow (I think) and stopped at the Yaquina light house and Heceta Lighthouse....there's a road ride by the Heceta LIghthouse turn off that takes you down to the beach....look to your left...excellent photo ops of bridge, logs, little river, forest, etc.....very cool place :) We got to the sealion caves too late and it was closed :(
Newport is a fun town...head on down to the pier located just below the bridge on the left side...I love that place :) Have fun!
I would second Lucid Lotus' recommendation of the Newport Aquarium.
There is a beautifully designed habitat for shore and off-shore birds. They have the full run of the exhibit and are extremely photogenic. I went once and was so enchanted I went back again. It's run by knowledgeable scientists and the birds come first.
Heck, if you just drive along the coast between Astoria and Newport you should find all kinds of photo opportunities.
Of course, the early morning and evening light is usually the best, but you can get some awesome lighting conditions at other times too. It all depends on the weather.
