Oceanfront Hotel Minutes from Charming Downtown Newport

As a winter storm rages on the Oregon coast, Pacific waves hurtle into craggy cliffs and sea foam spews into the air like a venting geyser. The phenomenon draws storm watchers, who gather on the shore to witness the massive breakers, but various oceanfront properties also present a vantage point—including Shilo Inns Suites Hotels in Newport. With a jetty to the south and the old Yaquina Head Lighthouse to the north, the hotel overlooks the ocean and sits at a calm remove from the bustle of downtown, which is about a mile away, and less than a 10-minute drive from local attractions and South Beach State Park.

Each of Shilo Inns Suites Hotels' 179 rooms faces the ocean, and large windows help to make the most of the view. The coast works its way into many aspects of the hotel: there's a beach theme to the artwork in the rooms, comforters are colored in aquamarine, and Shilo Restaurant is positioned on the oceanfront. In the restaurant, chefs whip up Northwest and American cuisine with creative twists, including fresh seafood dishes, grilled steaks, and burgers. Finger foods are served in the lounge, where bartenders concoct specialty cocktails during a daily happy hour.

Newport, Oregon: Quiet Bayfront Area with Historical Buildings and Seafood Markets

U.S. Highway 101 traverses the entire Oregon coast, threading through the bustling business districts on the north end of Newport and its quiet, historical Bayfront below. Of the shore-side areas, Shilo Inns Suites Hotels in Newport sits closest to Yaquina Bay; here, 19th-century buildings and cottages are set amid seafood markets and the docking ships of a large commercial fishing fleet. Beach activity wanes in the winter, when windsurfers and storm watchers take advantage of high gusts and beachcombers wait for waves to wash ashore seashells and piggy banks filled with sand dollars.

In early spring, roughly 18,000 gray whales swim by Newport’s shores during migration. When the skies and seas are calm enough, charter boats sail out for close encounters with the gentle giants as well as views of the coastline and the occasional sea lion and harbor seal.