Grays Harbor Travel Information
From the pounding of the mighty Pacific to the lush hush of the
only temperate rain forest in the continental United States, the
sights and sounds found throughout Grays Harbor County are subtly
seductive. Sporting pristine ocean beaches, sky-grazing trees, a
scenic harbor and only a short way from the superbly pretty Olympic
National Park on the Olympic Peninsula there's good reason to enjoy a
detour through these parts. Grays Harbor itself offers a variety
of getaways geared towards all age groups. Families will find on hand
an abundance of activities, whether it be beachcombing, kite-flying
and building sandcastles or bumper boat rides, mini-golf and arcade
play. Many of the towns around offer a variety of festivals and
holiday activities with plenty of small-town flair, from Fourth of
July fireworks to Christmas light show spectaculars. Local music
extravaganzas feature jazz, bluegrass and folk and in season, everyone
enjoys digging for their limit of the area delicacy: razor
clams. Extreme sports enthusiasts will want to catch a wave at
Westport or spend long hours kayaking in the many rivers that run
through this lush region ; there’s also a skateboard park for amateurs
and experts. Golfers find the area ideal for perfecting their
drive, even in the often temperate winter months while shoppers can
explore the numerous gift boutiques or hunt for one of a kind antiques
in the many specialty stores located throughout the county. For those
with rest and relaxation in mind, storm-watching or reading in front
of a cozy fire are two favorite pastimes in the quiet off
season. The biggest towns around are Aberdeen and Hoquiam, both
set on the harbor's northeastern shore, the former home to the Gray's
Harbor Historical Seaport (where a replica of the 18th-century ship,
Lady Washington, anchors and opens for tours) and the birthplace of
“Grunge”, the latter boasting expansive estates with historic
connections like the Polson mansion, now a museum, and Hoquiam's
Castle, these days a bed & breakfast viewable on guided
tours. Aberdeen is technically just over four miles east of
Hoquiam though it's difficult to determine where one ends and the
other begins; Olympia is50 miles farther east and the Olympic National
Park (and Colonel Bob Wilderness) lies to the north.
| 
