WorldMark

There are certain attributes to the ideal Northwest beach vacation: tide pools, wide sandy beaches, whale watching, museums, aquariums, boutiques and fresh seafood. Book time at the Schooner Landing resort in Newport, Oregon, and you’ll be able to check from your list all of these items.Put one mark down for the lighthouse and thriving tide pools at the Yaquina Head Natural Area. Here, you can meet protected critters such as sea anemones, goose barnacles, hermit crabs, starfish and sea slugs. The Oregon Coast Aquarium deserves a score as well. Its natural-habitat exhibits feature seabirds, seals, octopus, sea otters and wolf eels. Between these stops, walk down to the pounding surf and breathe in the fresh salt air of the historic Newport waterfront. Close up your file with a soak in the tub back at your resort—located just beyond the beach.