Olympic Peninsula & Washington Coast - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 288

chowder, clams, prawns, scallops and crab legs - wait for it - deep-fried. Service can be
a little tardy, but hey, this is low-key Westport, not Seattle.

Information

Westport-Grayland Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center ( www.westportcam.com ;
2985 S Montesano St; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat & Sun) Located at the turnoff from

Hwy 105.

TOP OF CHAPTER

Long Beach Peninsula
The name's hardly original, but of the half a dozen or so Long Beaches in the US, the
Washington version - a 28-mile-long sand spit that lies directly to the north of the
Columbia River estuary - is unequivocally the longest (less proven is its claim to be the
world's longest beach). The adjoining 28 miles of seaside development aren't quite as
unique. There's nothing particularly eye-catching about the amusement arcades, cheap
motels and trinket shops that characterize Hwy 103, though none of the half-dozen or so
settlements are large or high-rise. Much of the beach itself is overrun with pickup trucks
in peak season (as Washington state beaches are considered highways). Purists might
prefer the Willapa Bay side of the peninsula, with its old towns, oyster beds and wildlife-
viewing. The main settlements on the peninsula, running north to south, are Oysterville,
Nahcotta, Ocean Park, Klipsan Beach, Long Beach, Seaview and Ilwaco.

Oysterville & Nahcotta

The charm of these old communities - the only ones on the bay side of the Long Beach
Peninsula - derives not just from their history but also from their surrounds of mossy
Douglas fir trees and bird-filled wetlands. Here, wildlife-viewing, oyster harvesting and
gracious dining occupy residents and visitors alike. Oysterville stands largely unchanged
since its heyday in the 1870s, when the oyster boom was at its peak.

Sights & Activities

Oysterville TOWN