A bucket, clam shovel, and proper waders are clamming necessities on the brisk Newport beach.
Why go in fall: It's peak season for Dungeness crab, and a great time to try razor-clamming.
Pounds of seafood harvested here yearly: More than 150 million
Main drag: Westhaven Drive, which overlooks Grays Harbor, Washington’s largest fishing port.
Dress code: Skip the clamdiggers (brrr!); instead, pack your hat, gloves, and parka. Waders for clamming are a must.
Best way to get your heart rate up: Scale the Westport Viewing Tower for a crow’s-nest perspective of the harbor.
Where to hang 10: Rent a board (and wetsuit―you’ll need it) for cold-weather surfing at Steepwater Surf Shop, then hit the jetty at Half Moon Bay (at Westhaven State Park).
For home cooks: Buy fresh crab right off the piers for tonight’s dinner.
Cozy overnight option: The remodeled Glenacres Inn has eight B&B-style rooms and two cottages.
Sunset Magazine
Photo by John Clark
Your best one day in Olympic National Park
In one long day, you can experience Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and Hoh Rain Forest. If you have one day to explore the park, here's a trip itinerary that let's you get the most out of of your time.
Grab maps and information. The Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles is your natural starting point.
Hit Hurricane Ridge. From Port Angeles, drive south on Hurricane Ridge road for 17 miles. Named for the 75-mile-an-hour winds that can blow here in winter, in summer the Ridge is merely spectacular, offering amazing views of the Olympic Mountains and the Olympic Peninsula coastline.
Lake Crescent. Spend some time exploring this deep, clear, glacier-carved lake. It's a great place to test your paddling skills--you can rent rowboats at Lake Crescent Lodge, an appealingly simple, 1916 lodge. Nearby, the short hike to Marymere Falls shows off both the park’s old growth forest and a 90 foot waterfall.
Plunge into the rain forest. The Hoh Rain Forest proves the luxuriant power of water. The region’s annual 135 inches of rain has nurtured some of the biggest trees you’ll see in your life―giant Sitka spruce and western hemlock―rise from carpets of moss and ferns.
Here, too, is the park’s herd of Roosevelt elk―named for Teddy, they were an important reason Olympic was set aside as a national monument in 1909 then as national park in 1938. Good trails include the Hall of Mosses trail and the Spruce Nature Trail.
Sunset Magazine
Oregon's Willamette Valley wine country
With luxe new inns and tons of tasting rooms, Willamette is ready for prime time.
You can get lost on the backcountry roads but always find a good glass of Pinot around the bend.
And now, with new hotels opening and tasting rooms mustering in towns like Carlton, you can experience the valley’s off-the-beaten-path vibe yet have the comforts of a soft bed close by.
The Inn at Langley, Wa
The Inn at Langley has 26 guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Saratoga Passage and Cascade Mountains. The inn is located in the heart of the village of Langley, near antique stores, art galleries and boutiques.
Whidbey Island offers a number of exciting things to do, including whale watching, sea kayaking, scuba diving, biking, golf and fishing. Guests can enjoy a relaxing massage at the Essencia Spa.
The Inn at Langley is located on Whidbey Island northwest of Seattle.
The Resort at Port Ludlow
The Resort At Port Ludlow is located in beautiful Port Ludlow, Washington - just a ferry ride and scenic drive from Seattle and just minutes from historic Port Townsend.
Situated on the pristine shores of Ludlow Bay, The Resort At Port Ludlow provides breathtaking views of Ludlow Bay, the lush tree lined coast and the magnificent Olympic Mountains beyond. The resort offers an 18-hole championship golf course and full-service Marina. Bike and kayak rentals available, too.
Rosario Resort, Orcas Island
Rosario Resort is a romantic getaway on Orcas Island, Washington. The hotel has a spa, three swimming pools, a full-service marina and 116 guest accommodations spread across eight acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The Moran Mansion, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, houses the resort's restaurant, spa, music room, library and museum.
Things to Do
Orcas Island is a playground for nature enthusiasts, offering an array of vacation activities, such as whale watching, sea kayaking, sailing, and hiking in Moran State Park.
If you are planning a romantic getaway, book one of the rooms with a sunken Jacuzzi tub, gas fireplace and a private balcony
Alderbrook Resort - Union, Wa
Remember when days used to stretch out forever? When you’d wake up with the sun on your face, have breakfast, sit on the deck all morning and do nothing at all? Dig clams for dinner, then have a fire on the beach? You felt far away from everything, yet close to what was important.
That’s how it is at Alderbrook Resort. A convenient two hours from Seattle, Washington, the Alderbrook Resort takes you worlds away. Surrounded by the Olympic Mountains, the Resort & Spa rests on the shores of the Hood Canal, a glacier-carved fjord home to eagles and osprey, salmon and seals.
The luxury guestrooms and accommodations are beautifully designed with thoughtfully appointed amenities. Like premium linens and comfy duvets. Daybeds and soaking tubs. A lobby with a massive stone fireplace and leather couches to sink into. A waterfront pool. A world-class full service Spa. A neighboring PGA-class golf course. Plus some of the best food in the region, with fresh local seafood and world-class wines. And a marina only steps away. So your boat can come with you.
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