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Delicious Seafood and Delightful Views in Charleston, Oregon
Seven hours from Seattle, the charm of seaside Oregon awaits
This article originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.
Where: Charleston, Oregon, a quaint fishing town nestled beside the mouth of Coos Bay.
A seven-hour drive from downtown Seattle, Charleston is far from big-city distractions, and boasts scenic views, small-town charm and outstanding seafood. Why: Did we mention seafood? Join locals to feast on freshly caught Dungeness crab at the Charleston Merchants Annual Crab Feed (2/13, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Old Charleston School House, Seven Devils Road; 800.824.8486; oregonsadventurecoast.com), a tradition for almost 60 years. Side trip: About 4 miles from the crabbing festivities sits Shore Acres State Park, another historic gem set on land that once was part of the estate of a pioneer timber baron.
Shore Acres offers everything from a beautifully manicured formal garden (with some winter blooms) and Japanese garden to a more rugged coastal cliff path offering brilliant views and a secluded sandy cove perfect for a quiet stroll. Don’t forget your windbreaker to combat those frigid gusts.
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The Northwest’s Gateway to Wine, Culture & Adventure
Escape the crowds. Slow down. Savor fall in the Lewis Clark Valley. As autumn paints the hillsides in gold, crimson, and amber, the Lewis Clark Valley becomes a picture-perfect place to slow down and savor the season. Where Washington and Idaho meet, fall brings crisp days, colorful landscapes, harvest among the vines, and plenty of…
Meet West Seattle’s “Freelance Beaver Detective”
A group of urban beavers helped Pamela Adams through a tough time. Now she’s returning the favor.
Pamela Adams was living in Port Townsend when her marriage fell apart. Little did she know at the time that she would soon find love again while doggedly pursuing the Five Families—not the ones of Mafia lore, but a four-legged sort living along the Longfellow Creek Watershed. Prior to moving to Washington, Adams resided in…
A Wellness Pilgrimage to the Olympic Peninsula
Two hours from Seattle, a new kind of luxury is taking root—one built on stillness, old-growth forests, and the subtle art of slowing down.
There is a school of thought among the overworked and overscheduled that the most subversive thing a person can do is stop. Put down the phone, close the laptop, and go somewhere that actively resists attempts to stay plugged in. The Olympic Peninsula has always offered this, in its blunt, mossy way. For some city…
Seabrook Is a Little Coastal Utopia
This walkable beach town gives families room to roam, relax, and leave the car parked.
There’s nothing quite like finding an edible mushroom in the forest with a five-year-old. The excitement and pride my son displayed when we found chicken of the woods were contagious, and after battering and frying the mushrooms, our wonderful day got even better. The dark, wet forests in which our mushrooms grew are part of…