A couple of weeks ago we spent a wonderful few days on the Pacific Ocean at Grayland State Park. It had been many years since I had been in this area and I am so glad we took the time to explore this hidden gem. We ventured around the region and had a great time. Here is my post Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Grayland Washington.
Where is Grayland Washington USA
Nestled on the remote Pacific Coast of Washington, Grayland is tiny town that is home to about 700 residents. Located in Grays Harbor County on the border with Pacific County, Grayland is south of Ocean Shores and Westport, southwest of Aberdeen and north of Tokeland.
Camping in Washington State
When I was a child we spent a lot of time camping, often on the Pacific beaches near to our home. I remember miserable gray, rainy days…but also fun barefoot beach experiences too. In Washington State you never know what the weather will bring…and so you come prepared. Camping as a child we were surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins…it’s one of the best memories I have and I feel lucky to have grown up in this way.
Driving to Grayland
We drove from our home in Port Orchard and it took about two hours and fifteen minutes. Shelton was our first stop for a coffee at the amazing Marmo Gallery Cafe and I highly recommend it. We also stopped in Elma for lunch at the iconic Rusty Tractor Family Restaurant.
Grayland State Park & Surrounding Area
Our friends invited us to spend three days with them at Grayland State Park. This beautiful Washington State Park has yurts to rent. Our friends brought their travel trailer and we stayed in a comfortable yurt in the same camping spot. The yurt can sleep four, but for just Arne and I it was very comfortable. Electricity and heat but no running water. Restrooms nearby. It was camping but with a little extra comfort for this ole gal.
The sites are large and have firepits which we enjoyed as well as a picnic table where we ate most of our meals. Like any good camping trip there was plenty of good food, lots of beer, a couple margaritas and card games.
Close to the campground we enjoyed the following activities;
Grayland Beach
This gorgeous, long sandy beach is pure Washington coast. The kind of beach Washington State is known for. You are allowed to drive on the beach, and we parked on the hard sand and walked and walked on a sunny day. The season for razor clamming had just ended when we were visiting, and the beach was quiet and peaceful. We saw bald eagles, sandpipers and pelicans.
Cranberry Farms
There is a Cranberry Museum in Grayland, but unfortunately we missed it. But we really enjoyed driving around and looking at the acres and acres of cranberry bogs. Cranberry farms are abundant in this damp climate, many family-owned. Harvest traditionally runs from late September through early December. On the way into Grayland you can’t miss the Ocean Spray cranberry processing plant.
Bottle Beach State Park & Ocosta by the Sea Ghost Town
We loved the walk through this wildlife reserve at Bottle Beach State Park where we spotted two new-to-us birds. This region was once a boom town known as Ocosta by the Sea and was proposed to be the Pacific terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Real estate was hot after that announcement and the town blossomed. But that all changed when the railroad terminus was changed to Tacoma.
Today, all that remains of the original boom town includes:
- Historical Home: A majestic Queen Anne-style farmhouse sits atop a bluff on State Route 105 just before entering Ocosta.
- Ocosta Grange Hall: This building, which served as a community dance hall in the 1960s, still stands today.
- Bottle Beach State Park: The original townsite and its collapsed 2,900-foot wharf are now part of Bottle Beach State Park. Instead of buildings, beachcombers occasionally find historic glass bottles and railroad debris from the vanished development
International Mermaid Museum and Westport Winery
We had to make a stop at the International Mermaid Museum, easily accessible right off the highway. Conveniently the Westport Winery is located right next door. This museum is dedicated to “teaching ocean ecology from seashore to sea floor immersed in mermaid mythology unifying oceanic cultures.”
The museum has an extensive collection of mermaid memorabilia; the well-done signage explains in detail the myth and lore of mermaids with a healthy dose of ocean ecology. Only $3 to enter, how can you not spend some time at the International Mermaid Museum? Check out the website for special events and activities throughout the year.
Right next door is the Westport Winery and Ocean’s Daughter Distillery, with a restaurant and nice gift shop. Tastings are $15 per person which you can put towards a purchase if you decide to bring some tasty local wine home.
Tokeland
The tiny town of Tokeland has a population of only about 120. It is home to commercial oyster and razor clam operations. It is also home to the historic Tokeland Hotel, Washington’s oldest. Built in 1885 it was originally a private home, and later served a population of wealthy travelers who arrived by boat. Today the hotel is fully restored and is listed on the National Register. It is known for its farm-to-table restaurant. While visiting the hotel we toured the tiny and beautiful garden and met the local pigs and chickens. I’d love to come back and stay a couple of nights.
Westport
Westport is the largest town in the area between the Pacific and inland Aberdeen. We headed out to Westport on our final evening. Home to the largest commercial and charter fishing fleet in Washington, a walk along the harbor to view some of the 180 boats is a must. It was cooler in Westport due to the wide open Pacific Ocean wind, so we bundled up. Our visit on a Tuesday in May found all the shops and most the restaurants closed.
Summer months in Westport you will find surfers in the ocean and families on the beach. A visit to the Westport Maritime Museum is a must any time of year.
We did find a wonderful restaurant called Bennett’s. It was really busy since most other places were closed, but we enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the cozy space. I loved the crab cakes and everyone else enjoyed cod or halibut and chips and chowder. Great beer selection too.
Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Grayland
Grayland and surrounding area is often “gray” but we saw both blue and gray skies on our visit and only one rainy morning. Summer months are busier but also warmer. Fall is a great time to visit this coastal region. If you are interested in digging razor clams, you can find more information at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
To enter the state parks mentioned here, and any state park in Washington, you must have a Washington Discover Pass. Find more info at the Washington State Parks website.
I am so glad we had three full days to enjoy the entire peninsula from Westport to Tokeland. If you are coming from the Kitsap Peninsula, stops in Shelton and Elma are nice. Alternatively if you are coming from Tacoma, Seattle or Olympia you will bypass Shelton but you might consider stops in Montesano or McCleary.
If you are making the Olympic National Park/Olympic Peninsula loop trip, venturing a bit south to see these beautiful beaches is a great add-on. See my post about the
This part of the state is rural, beautiful, and home to hard-working people who bring farm and sea to your table. We are grateful for their work.
Thank you for reading my post Hidden Gems of the Pacific Northwest – Grayland Washington. See last week’s post
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