Yeah, coast (Newport) is about an hour from Corvalis, only 45-50 miles but do have to go up and over coastal range. Recommend visiting Newport, nice port, good food, fishing charters. Oregon State runs an aquarium there and there are nice tidepools and such in Yaquina Head Lighthouse park on the north edge of Newport. Also, there’s a lighthouse!;) As most you probably know, weather conditions on coast can be completely different than Corvallis.
http://yaquinabaycharters.com/fishingblogs/
Personally only passed-through Corvallis, we took a quick drive by the campus and had a sandwich at a deli. Seems like there were a number of brew pub type places.