Southwest Washington - Washington State - page 252

This is one of the largest gatherings of such birds on the West Coast and is also
one of the state's biggest annual events for bird-watchers. If you're a birder, you
won't want to miss this impressive gathering. The wildlife refuge is adjacent to
the Aberdeen/Hoquiam Airport on the west side of Hoquiam.
Between early May and September, the Westport Ocean Shores Passenger
Ferry, Silver King Motel, 1070 Discovery Ave. SE, Ocean Shores ( & 360/289-
3386 ), connects Ocean Shores with Westport Marina. The ferry operates daily
between mid-June and Labor Day. From early May to mid-June and from Labor
Day to late September, the ferry operates only on weekends. The crossing takes
between 20 and 40 minutes, and the fare is $10 for a round-trip ticket. In West-
port, the office is at 321 Dock St. ( & 360/268-0047 ).
DRIVING AROUND WILLAPA BAY
Though it's only about 5 miles across the mouth of Willapa Bay to the northern
tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, it's about 85 miles around to the town of Long
Beach by road. Along the way you skirt the shores of Willapa Bay. There aren't
too many towns on this bay, which is why this is one of the least polluted estu-
aries in the country and is a great place to raise oysters. Punctuating the miles of
unspoiled scenery are oyster docks and processing plants.
As you pass through the town of Raymond, keep an eye out for the 200 steel-
plate sculptures that comprise the Raymond Wildlife-Heritage Sculpture Cor-
ridor. The majority of these sculptures are silhouettes that can be seen along
U.S. 101 in the most unexpected places. Included are sculptures of Native
Americans, modern sea kayakers, bicyclists, and dozens of wild animals. Also
here in Raymond, you'll find the Willapa Seaport Museum , 310 Alder St.
( & 360/942-4149 ), a fascinating little museum dedicated to all things nautical.
This is the best-designed little museum on the coast and is well worth a visit.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4pm; admis-
sion is by donation.
Right next door to the Willapa Seaport Museum, you'll find the Northwest
Carriage Museum, 314 Alder St. ( & 360/942-4150; www.nwcarriagemuseum.
org), which is home to a large collection of immaculately restored antique car-
riages. On display are a wicker carriage, a hearse, and even a carriage that was
used in Gone With the Wind. For the most part, these are luxury carriages that
would have once been owned by the wealthy. Between October and March, the
museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and, between
April and September, Sunday from noon to 4pm. Admission is $3 for adults, $1
for children ages 6 to 14, and free for children 5 and under.
Adjacent to these two museums is the Public Market on the Willapa, Fourth
and Heath streets ( & 360/942-4700 ), which sells local produce, art, and crafts.
The market is open mid-March to mid-December Wednesday to Saturday from
10am to 5pm. This market and the two museums are all located at Waterfront
Park, which has some interesting interpretive displays and is on a 5-mile-long
paved walking/biking trail.
By some accounts, one out of every six oysters consumed in the United States
comes from Willapa Bay, and it is in the town of South Bend that oystering
reaches its zenith. South Bend claims to be the oyster capital of the world and
holds its annual Oyster Stampede festival each year on Memorial Day weekend.
If you just have to have some oysters while you're in town, have a meal at The
Boondocks (see below) or drop by East Point Seafood, U.S. 101, South Bend
( & 888/317-8459 or 360/875-5419), which is at the north end of town.