Newport is a wonderful place to bring a family. The obvious main attraction here is the Oregon Coast Aquarium where you could easily spend the entire afternoon. It’s best to allow several hours to really see the exhibits here and enjoy the attractions. There is also a waterfront where there is a wax museum.
One option for a day with the family is to start in the morning with a Sea Life Cruise with Marine Discovery Tours, the official cruise company for the Oregon Coast Aquarium, then go to the aquarium in the afternoon This friendly cruising company is owned by a family of naturalists who have a passion for sharing "their backyard" - the Pacific ocean, Yaquina Bay and River. The aquarium-style programs are delivered by a naturalist on the boat, who introduces fun volunteer activities for the kids like crabbing demonstrations, plankton net pulls and driving the boat with the captain. Kids love seeing gray whales and sea lions. Parents will love the extreme safety and comfort of the boat - the friendly office staff reassures all that the captain does not stay on a rough ocean, exploring the calm inside waters, instead. They are reasonably priced and popular, so a call ahead to reserve tickets is a good thing.
Newport also has a working waterfront that is great fun to watch them catching seafood and crabs. There are many great places for families to stay here, a favorite being the Hallmark Resort with Georgie’s Beachside Grill. If you like to beachcomb, there are agates to be found in Agate Beach.