Secrets of the Season

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Newport and the "Secret Season" of the Oregon Coast

Above Agate Beach, from Yaquina Head

(Newport, Oregon) – It’s the most neglected time of the year on the coast, yet it probably has the most interesting and awe-inspiring aspects of any season.

The latter half of spring - after all the spring break vacationers have disappeared from the beaches - is nicknamed the “secret season” on the coast because of its lack of crowds and a host of inviting, even unusual, natural features not found any other time of year. Weather pulls some interesting surprises, minus tides are often at their lowest of the year, sea foam is more apt do some wild stunts, and this spring in particular holds some wonders because of low sand levels and changes in beaches. Plus, lodging deals are in such great abundance they almost outnumber the visitors to the coast.

Nowhere is all this more exciting than in Newport, which offers more to do and see during this unique season. When the weather is co-operating - and it does more than many people know - a wide variety of beaches, two lighthouses and numerous trails offer more coastal fun than you shake a piece of seaweed at. If the storms or squalls should kick in, you’re in for a show that rivals any big screen TV, and Newport’s multitude of dining, shopping and indoor attractions provide plenty of cover. Meanwhile, the town’s numerous lodgings provide a front row to seat to nature’s manic show.

Crazed foam at Cape Perpetua, near Yachats

March and April bring a crazed kind of weather, often switching back and forth abruptly between sunny and squalls within the same day, sometimes within a half hour. You get an interesting mix of increasingly nice days, with occasional winter-like storms still possible – periodically within the same day. Those storms create some wild possibilities, especially when paired with the larger blooms of phytoplankton. You then get a better chance of seeing sea foam pulling all sorts of strange stunts, like moving across the highways or even flying upwards, creating the mind-boggling sight of what looks like snow going the wrong direction.

According to Bill Hanshumaker, public information officer for the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, the little creatures that create sea foam are a form of phytoplankton known as diatoms. These tend to bloom in greater numbers in the spring, and seasonal storms can result in incredible sights such as foam so frothy it moves like flurries of snow.

Newport's waterfront

Usually, by May, the storms have subsided, and the sunnier, warmer days are more frequent in number, interspersed by rainy days. But the moody skies that change within an hour still holds true during many days in May.

Thus, the weather reports won’t tell the whole story, says Lorna Davis, Newport’s Director of Tourism Development. The weather pundits on TV may predict one thing, but it doesn’t mean that will hold true for the whole day.

“It’s unpredictable weather year-round,” Davis said. “But especially in spring, things change so quickly. Keep your eye on what’s being said on the weather reports, and be prepared to throw your stuff in the car and head out quickly. You can also take advantage of some great last–minute travel deals too.”

Davis said lodging prices are still near winter lows in Newport, with almost everyone offering incredible deals on weekends and weekdays, as they’re looking to coax people in. “There’s a lot of two-for-one specials, or ‘stay two nights and get the third free,’ especially during the mid week,” Davis said.

Low tide at Lincoln City

Some of the year’s lowest minus tides can happen in March, April and May, with May having a tendency to be the lowest. This allows for greater exploration of tide pools and other sights not always visible.

This means a huge new world to discover on the coast, as a myriad of objects both alive and inanimate open up. It means a lot more than starfish.

Agates are again found at Agate Beach in Newport, thanks to the sand-scouring action of the season’s storms. They’ve been buried beneath the sand layers all along, and haven’t been seen there for ten years, until last year.

“There are a couple of small agate-containing agate bars that are open along the meandering channel of Big Creek,” said Newport beach expert Guy DiTorrice.” The channel has shortened its hard-northerly track this past winter, opting for some wider sections closer to Agate Beach State Park.”

Agate Beach

DiTorrice added there are some agate-containing beaches open north and south of Lost Creek State Park and further north at Thiel Creek, with many collectors reporting nice picking, especially for a particular brand known as the “Newport blues.”

Typically, this time of year means the occurrence of what are nicknamed “purple sails,” or velella velella, as they’re technically called. They look like small, purplish round jellyfish, with a small fin at the top. They often show up in spring or early summer, in great abundance, and usually start creating a pungent fishy smell while stranding on the beaches in such numbers. They start to arrive when the west winds kick up.

Smaller, infant versions of these have already started to show up on the Oregon coast.

There are more indoor attractions and shops in Newport than in any other coastal town. Indoor attractions include the Oregon Coast Aquarium, which is offering numerous events for kids all during April and May. There’s also the Hatfield Marine Science Center, the lighthouse at Yaquina Head as well as the lighthouse above Yaquina Bay, a variety of stores along the historic bayfront and in charming Nye Beach, and other attractions like the Undersea Gardens or Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Inn at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms. Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly. Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com.

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