One of the highlights of visiting the Oregon coast is a chance to explore Newport, situated on Yaquina Bay. Newport is a traditional fishing town which has an interesting historic district.
One of the most popular spots in the historic district of Newport are the sea lion docks, located at Port Dock One. Here you have the chance to study several dozen California sea lions up close, hauled out on the wooden docks.
(One Clue Mystery Photo)
Last weekend’s One Clue Mystery featured the Newport Sea Lion docks (see above). The photo was recognized by George G — Congratulations!
The sea lions in Newport are all males. They spend 11 months of the year here but in July migrate south to the Channel Islands off the California coast where they mingle with females before returning to Newport in August. The sea lion docks were destroyed by a strong winter storm in 2022 but were rebuilt and replaced in 2023.
The following video gives you a feeling for the crowding of the docks, and the noise that goes with having a lot of sea lions close together. They bicker constantly for a spot, and all that’s missing is the smell that goes with them.
The attraction is free and open 24 hours a day. I enjoyed seeing the sea lions.
I really like visiting here. There were probably 12 sea lions in the cave and a lot that visible from the outside observation deck. It was a steep walk down to the observation deck and back up.
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