Washington fishing and beach town at Grays Harbor, with a working fleet and Pacific surf
Westport is a small fishing and beach town on the southern Washington coast, sitting at the mouth of Grays Harbor where the bay meets the Pacific Ocean. It is the kind of place that gets described as the end of the road — US 105 terminates here — and it has the straightforward, unpretentious character that comes with that geography.
The town built its identity on fishing, and the fishing fleet is still the heart of it. Charter companies run trips for salmon, halibut, and albacore, and the docks have the smell and noise of a working port. The Westport Light, built in 1898, is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast and now sits in a state park a short walk from the beach. At the end of Neddie Rose Drive stands the Fisherman's Memorial, a reminder that the sea here is not always generous.
Surfers know Westport as the best break in Washington State. The cold water requires a full wetsuit year-round, but the waves are consistent and the crowds are a fraction of what you'd find further south. Gray whales pass through Grays Harbor during their spring migration from Baja California to the Bering Sea, and the charter fleet offers whale watching trips at reasonable prices.
Guide
Sights in Westport
Contributors
August 30, 2005
Westport Light
The Westport Light was built in 1898 and is the tallest lighthouse on the west coast.
type: Hotspots
url: www.parks.wa.gov
Fisherman's Memorial
At the end of Neddie Rose Drive is the Westport Fisherman's Memorial.
type: Memorials
Washaway Beach
Twenty miles south of Westport is Washaway Beach. Forces of the tides and the water entering and exiting Willapa Bay has caused massive amounts of erosion near Tokeland.
type: Hotspots
Guide
Things to do in Westport
There are many things to do during a visit to Westport
Contributors
August 30, 2005
Charter Fishing
For those who enjoy fishing, there isn't much better than having a 30lb salmon on the line. There are many charter companies in Westport who provide charter fishing services.
type: Hunting and Fishing
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url: charterwestport.com
Reportedly, the best surfing in Washington State. Bring your board and your wetsuit.
type: Going to the Beach
During their annual migration from Baja California to the Bearing Sea, Gray Whales enter Gray's Harbor for a rest. The Westport Charter fleet offers whale watching excursions for reasonable prices ($20-$30 per person).
type: Other