The Honeymoon Thing in Newport

Tie That Knot

It’s official: we are now Mr. and Mrs.!

The past few weeks have been a wild ride. The moments leading up to taking our vows were nail-biting in a silly way.

First, we wrap up the final details at Andy’s townhome. Next, we arrive at at my townhouse to change into our wedding finery, only to find the front door covered in plastic. My building is being painted two months late in the rain on our wedding day!

We tear through the sheet plastic to get changed, then bust back out of the house through the plastic like super heroes.

It’s Friday, and we get behind every school bus all the way to our secret vows location. We are the last ones to arrive, gravel flying as we slide into the parking lot! Afterward, once again we bust back through the painters’ plastic as husband and wife when we arrive back home. It’s a bit difficult to carry a middle-aged bride over a threshold covered in plastic!

Next day, we start lazy. We’ve been burning the candle at both ends, and now it’s time to chill. We wind our way to the Oregon Coast, soaking in the fall leaves and listening to Paul Weller.

Something for Growling Tummies

Don’t neglect your picnic basket on road trips! Fill it with treats for the road and hotel room. I started doing this when my kids were little. Nothing’s worse than driving hours, checking into a hotel room, and facing tired, hungry, crabby natives. The natural default is overpriced hotel food or the nearest fast food joint to calm everyone’s hangry. This is a money bonfire, and sets the tone for bad food choices. Personally, I want to spend my travel food dollars on local flavor.

Plan ahead, and take advantage of what your rental offers. Most hotel rooms include a microwave and mini fridge. AirBnB, rental cottages, and hotel suites likely have full kitchenettes.

Pack up sandwiches, drinks, bagels and cream cheese, fruit, and other favorite snacks. It’s not a trip to the beach without chips and salsa for my family! Remember, beach towns are touristy, so the stores price things accordingly. Think ahead and bring your own S’mores supplies from home to save big money.

For romantic weekends for two, pack charcuterie, chocolate, plenty of good wine, votive candles, and bubble bath.

Leave room in your basket to pack home gourmet treats and wine from your destination. You can keep that vacation vibe going once you get home!

Home Away from Home

We’ve booked two nights at the Hallmark Resort in Newport Oregon. Our room overlooks the ocean, which we pull back the curtains to reveal right away. It’s a 2½ hour drive from Portland to Newport on the central Oregon coast. That’s just close enough to be convenient, and just far enough to feel like a getaway.

Newport is a quiet costal town with tons to explore. But first, well… we ARE on our Honeymoon! So we are going to get comfy and not leave the room for awhile, except to get a bucket of ice for the bubbles.

Our beachfront view is stunning, with a gas fireplace set in the wall right next to the sliding glass door. We have a walk out balcony, and are treated to crashing waves and a spectacular sunset. When it gets a bit chilly, we cozy-up by the fireplace inside on comfy chairs, watching the waves lap the sand through the glass railing.

Break Out the Goodies

All this romance requires treats to keep our energy up! I have packed the picnic basket with Romance: Candles. Charcuterie. My warm brie, apple, and pistachio salad. And of course, chocolate and wine. Lots of wine!

We have a bottle Port, perfect for cold nights on the beach. We brought a special Oak Knoll Willamette Valley 2011 Pinot Noir Rose Festival Edition. Oh, and that bottle of Marchesi Prosecco Andy bought back in the spring, “Just in case we needed to celebrate something.” Of course, we also have music and bubble bath to add some extra spice to the evening. See you in the morning!

Good Morning!

Sunday morning, fueled by a hot mug of coffee, we head down to the beach for a long, misty walk along windswept dunes to start our day. We’re almost as wet as if we had fallen in, but there’s something about love (and coffee) that keeps you warm!

Next, it’s on to Yaquina State Park to tour the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, built in 1887. Lighthouses play a major role in Oregon history, and this one is preserved as a little museum.

We grab some photos of Yaquina bridge, and do a Facebook live for the folks back home. We ask our audience for a restaurant suggestion for lunch, hopefully with oysters on the menu. One of Andy’s fans recommends Local Ocean Seafood on the waterfront.

One Restaurant, Two Grooves

The dining tip is spot-on! Local Ocean is right across from the docks in the Newport Historic Bayfront. The street-level entrance has a small (but boisterous) café and fish market. That sounds like a lot of loud fun, but we’re looking for quiet sexy.

Upstairs is more our speed, a stylish restaurant with a view of the boats sailing in and out of the harbor. The waitstaff is friendly and they really know their seafood. They’re eager to help us choose oysters, and educate us on their merroir!

Oystertopia

We order Pearl Point oysters from nearby Netarts Bay and Kumamato oysters from Humboldt Bay in Northern California, both topped with a champagne mignonette. The Pearl Points are huge, light and tender. The Kumamatos are smaller, with a sweet melon flavor.

We round-out our lunch (and maybe our bellies) with some fries, because I love fries and bubbles! We watch the boats and enjoy chatting with other restaurant guests.

Browsing on the Bayfront

It’s raining, but that’s not slowing us down. In fact, we quicken our pace a bit as we stroll along the waterfront, occasionally darting into cute little shops as much to escape the rain as to see their wares.

The drizzle stops, and we pay a visit to the barking sea lions lazing on the docks. It’s fun to get so close to wildlife! But for the locals, the sea lions are a nuisance. They’re loud, stinky, and get in the way.

We find a wine bar and come in out of the shower to do some tasting. Noble Estate Tasting Room [now closed] has a friendly staff and generous pours! I am feeling a glow. We grab a few bottles of J Scott for winter days back home.

Our defenses down, we stumble into a candy shop where questionable sugary choices are made. We’re in no particular hurry, just ambling through the Newport afternoon with more shopping and sea lion watching.

Shiny Objects

Once we’re okay to drive back to the hotel, we stop by Oregon Coast Glassworks. Glass blowing is big on the coast. We’re mesmerized by all the glass art on display! We find the perfect glass float to buy as a souvenir of our honeymoon.

Once we’re back in our room, we nibble on snacks and a glass of port while watching the sun sink into the Pacific. Neither one of us is particularly hungry. But this is our Honeymoon, so we scrub up, put on fresh clothes, and set out for Georgie’s, the ocean view restaurant at the Hallmark Resort.

Unbelievable that we’re eating again! I know I am way in over my head, but it’s all so good. I mean, how many times do you Honeymoon? (Don’t answer that!) We both order the Ahi tuna and the world’s biggest jalapeno margaritas! This huge hunk of chocolate cake? Let’s take that to-go for breakfast tomorrow.

Okay, maybe a bite. Or two. With some port. While we watch some guy in a T-Rex costume run around the beach with a flash light. At least, I think it was a costume. Did I mention we had port?

A New Daybreak

In the morning, our chocolate cake is almost gone. We decide to up the decadence, and head back to Georgie’s for breakfast. Now fueled by omelets and coffee, we make our plan to sightsee up the coast on the way home.

But first, a stop back at Local Ocean Sea Food for a pound of fresh lump crab meat. I will turn that into crab cakes for a party we will be throwing to cap off our celebrations.

Blue Skies and Golden Leaves

We are blessed with a beautiful sunny day for our drive home. Now that we’re learning about Oregon Coast history, we can’t pass up Yaquina Head Light House. We can’t go inside, but the views are stunning, and we catch sight of whales!

From the same parking lot, we walk down to Agate beach where harbor seals frolic on the rocks. We spend some time walking around the tide pools before we get back in the car.

Next, we find Rocky Creek Park view point in Depoe Bay for even better whale watching… and one last toast.

As we cruise home through Tillamook, Fall flashes one last flourish of color before an onslaught of winter storms rules our lives for several months.