Page 100 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

98  P A CIFIC NOR THWEST REGION B Y REGION

Y Devil’s Punchbowl State
Natural Area
15 miles (24 km) south of Lincoln City,
off Hwy 101. Tel (800) 551-6949.
Open dawn–dusk daily.
7 Newport
Road map 1 A3. * 10,000.
n 555 SW Coast Hwy, (800) 262-
7844. ∑ discovernewport.com
This salty old port on Yaquina
Bay is home to the largest
commercial fishing fleet on
the Oregon coast and supports
many oystering operations. The
town is well accustomed to
Colorful kites at one of Lincoln City’s many kite shops tourists, too. Shingled resort
cottages in the Nye Beach
6 Lincoln City 60 ft (18 m). A local amusement neighborhood date from the
is watching the fishing fleet 1880s, and in the late 1990s
Road map 1 A3. * 8,000. n 4039
NW Logan Rd, (541) 994-3070. “shoot the hole,” or navigate travelers came from around the
∑ oregoncoast.org the narrow channel that cuts world to visit Keiko, an orca whale
through sheer rock walls that resided in the internationally
In 1965, five individual com- between the sea and the renowned Oregon Coast
munities united to form one tiny inland harbor, which lays Aquarium and gained stardom
town called Lincoln City. Situated claim to being the in the Free Willy
along Highway 101, the long city smallest navigable films. Keiko left the
boasts several natural attractions. harbor in the world. aquarium in 1998.
Formerly called Devil’s River, the More excitement The place is still
D River flows only 120 ft (36 m) – may be in store at popular, however,
from Devil’s Lake to the Pacific the Otter Crest with plenty to
Ocean – making it the world’s State Scenic Fish market sign in Newport see and experi-
shortest river. The 7.5-mile- Viewpoint atop ence. Surf Perch,
(12-km-) long beach, littered Cape Foul-weather, so named Pacific Cod, and flounders swim
with driftwood and agates, is by Captain James Cook in around pier pilings in the Sandy
popular with kite enthusiasts, 1778 because of the 100-mph Shores exhibit, jellyfish float
who enjoy the strong winds (160-km/h) winds that regularly through the Coastal Waters
off the sea. buffet it. This promontory exhibit, and Wolf Eels peek out
To the north, the steep cliffs provides an excellent view of of crevices along the Rocky
of Cascade Head Preserve rise the adjacent Devil’s Punchbowl Shores gallery. In Passages
out of the surf, then give way to State Natural Area, where the of the Deep, sharks and rays
mossy rainforests of Sitka spruce foaming sea thunders into rocky swim in an 800,000-gallon
and hemlock and a maritime hollows formed by the collapse (3,028,329-liter) tank overhead,
grassland prairie. Many rare of sea caves. Tidal pools on the and alongside in glass viewing
plants and animals, including rocky shore below are known as tunnels. Outdoors, tufted puffins
the Oregon silver spot butterfly, marine gardens because of the and murres fly through North
thrive in the preserve, which colorful sea urchins and starfish America’s largest seabird aviary,
can be explored on steep but that inhabit them. The park is and sea otters, sea lions, and
well-maintained trails. a popular whale-watching site. seals frolic in saltwater pools.
} Cascade Head Preserve
2 miles (3 km) north of Lincoln City,
off Hwy 101. Tel (503) 230-1221.
Lower trail: Open dawn–dusk daily.
Upper trail: Open mid-Jul–Dec.
Environs
At Depoe Bay, a little fishing
port 12 miles (19 km) south of
Lincoln City, rough seas blast
through narrow channels in the
basalt rock, creating geyser-like
plumes that shoot as high as Picturesque fishing boats moored in Newport’s harbor
For hotels and restaurants see pp286–8 and pp296–8

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