Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
appealing is
Ocean City State Park
(178 campsites), which at least has trees
for protection against the wind. This is a good choice if you plan to bicycle along
this stretch of coast. To make a campsite reservation at either of these spots, con-
tact
Washington State Parks
(
&
888/226-7688;
www.parks.wa.gov/reserve.
asp).
WHERE TO DINE
IN THE OCEAN SHORES & NORTH BEACH AREA
The best restaurants in this region are the dining rooms at the Ocean Crest
Resort and the Quinault Beach Resort (see above for details).
IN ABERDEEN& HOQUIAM
Billy's Bar & Grill
AMERICAN Named for an infamous local thug, Billy's
evokes Aberdeen's rowdier days as a lawless, Wild West timber town. Although
this is a perfectly respectable restaurant these days, there's a bar down the length
of the room, a pressed-tin ceiling, and enough old paintings and prints to give
this bar and grill just the right dance-hall atmosphere. The menu features every-
thing from burgers (including yak-meat burgers) to fresh oysters to T-bone steaks.
322 E. Heron St., Aberdeen.
&
360/533-7144.
Main courses $5.25-$17. AE, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 8am-11pm;
Fri-Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 8am-9pm.
Mallard's Bistro & Grill
CONTINENTAL Located in downtown
Aberdeen and owned by a Danish chef who cooked all over Europe before even-
tually locating here, this cozy little restaurant is one of the most unexpectedly
enjoyable restaurants in the state. In a town filled with burger joints and cheap
Chinese restaurants, Mallards dares to serve such creative fare as a delicious
salmon with pinot noir sauce. The menu sticks mostly to traditional Continen-
tal fare, including coquille St. Jacques, and there are lots of good seafood prepa-
rations. The setting, with its many images of mallard ducks all around the dining
room, is casual and homey. A good spot if you're in town bird-watching.
118 E. Wishkah St.
&
360/532-0731.
Reservations recommended. Main courses $14-$28. MC, V. Tues-Sat
5-8 or 8:30pm.
IN THE SOUTH BEACH AREA
Your best bet for a memorable meal in the South Beach area is the dining room
at the historic Tokeland Hotel (see above for details).
Tokeland Hotel Dining Room
AMERICAN With its painted wood
floors and wall of old wavy-glass windows looking out to the salt marsh, this
restaurant has more historical feeling than just about any restaurant in the state.
If you're anywhere on the central coast, you should be sure to have a meal here.
Sunday suppers featuring cranberry pot roast are legendary, but any day of the
week, you can get a sandwich made from the same tender pot roast. There are
Finds
Finds
The Power of the Pacific
At the southern end of the South Beach area, just north of Tokeland, is a
stretch of coastline known as Washaway Beach. This beach is so named
because of the rapid rate at which it has eroded over the years. The old
highway past this beach long ago began caving into the ocean, and the
current highway has had to be protected with rocks to prevent it from
disappearing into the breakers as well.
Fun Fact
