{"id":41357,"date":"2026-10-03T04:28:37","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T04:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/41357\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T04:28:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T04:28:37","slug":"washington-road-trips-for-seafood-lovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/41357\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington road trips for seafood lovers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington state is famous for its abundant seafood, thanks to our oceans and rivers, which power a robust fishing industry \u2014 and May is the official start to many fishing seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Every year from spring through early fall, recreational and commercial fishing boats set out for seasonal catches from dozens of waterside ports that dot our state. You\u2019ll find dockside markets, processing plants, shellfish farms and, of course, beaches where you can pluck your own dinner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Popular Washington catches include Dungeness crab, prawns, shrimp, rockfish, sole, albacore tuna and salmon, as well as more unusual specimens such as sea urchins and geoducks.<\/p>\n

Dive into the action with these perfect spring and summer getaways. Luckily, some of Washington\u2019s delicious catches can be found in gorgeous destinations throughout the Washington Coast and Puget Sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Forage and fish<\/p>\n

Some fish are catch-and-release, while others you keep and eat. If you\u2019re experienced, browse Washington state\u2019s fishing locations, which include Puget Sound fishing piers, some with fish-cleaning stations.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re less experienced, a fishing charter may help you get your sea legs. Depending on the location and boat, the charter may be able to coordinate canning, freezing or other preparation for travel and storage. Popular places to set off from include the historic fishing town of Westport and the working harbors of the Long Beach Peninsula.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the central coastal working\/vacation town of Westport, more than a dozen charter fishing boats take visitors out onto the cold waters for salmon, albacore tuna, halibut, rockfish and lingcod. It\u2019s also possible to catch tonight\u2019s dinner off the Westport jetty or in the surf, or go crabbing or razor clamming.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Along Southwest Washington\u2019s Long Beach Peninsula, charter boats depart from Ilwaco. Groups and anglers set out for both saltwater catches and freshwater fishing in the Columbia River, enjoying sportfishing, deep-water fishing and more unusual catch (and release) forays for fish such as sturgeon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A bit closer to Seattle, the Northwest Maritime Center in the historic Victorian seaport of Port Townsend offers a one-day \u201cFishing and Foraging the Salish Sea\u201d class in August on harvesting along the shoreline. The class will teach you about gear, setting Dungeness crab pots, catching flatfish and digging up clams, along with legal rules. Learn safety tips and how to identify species.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wander the Washington Shellfish Trail<\/p>\n

Explore the Washington Shellfish Trail website to learn more about shellfish farms and restaurants in and around the Hood Canal, South Sound, Salish Sea and Washington Coast. You can create daylong driving tours of oyster farms (and oyster saloons and oyster banks), restaurants and public beaches for harvesting clams, mussels and oysters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One such destination (with six farms)\u00a0is Willapa Bay on the Long Beach Peninsula, about three-and-a-half hours southwest of Seattle. Visit National Register of Historic Places-listed Oysterville Sea Farms and other farms to dine on fresh oysters, purchase small-batch artisan coastal foods and catch a chance to see (and buy from) sustainable oyster farms in action, if you bring a cooler for your haul.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To learn what\u2019s in season and where to buy fresh seafood, review options on the Shellfish Trail, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife\u2019s site or Local Catch\u2019s Seafood Finder tool. You\u2019ll find in-person pickup points at docks throughout Washington, both as one-time purchases or subscription options.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Find a festival<\/p>\n

Washington hosts a bevy of bivalve (and briny fish) festivals all summer and fall. Most offer food, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, kids\u2019 activities, opportunities to meet local farmers and fishers, competitions, craft vendors and other fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On May 16, the Seafood Shellebration offers shellfish-curious guests the chance to sample curated tastings of local delights from various farms, including oysters (grilled, raw, stewed), mussel green curry and sushi bites.<\/p>\n

For something a bit different (or for vegan sea-lovers), consider June\u2019s Lummi Island 2nd Annual Seaweed Festival, an excellent excuse to visit the less-touristed Lummi Island. You\u2019ll drive to Bellingham to catch a local ferry for the Lummi Island festival. There, you can learn about seaweed foraging, dip a toe in a seaweed foot bath, watch a sea-kelp cooking demo and dine on Salish Sea-procured fish and chips.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In June, find shrimp served in a variety of ways (paella, kabobs, tempura, cocktails) at ShrimpFest in the small Hood Canal town of Brinnon, about a two-hour drive from Seattle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

July\u2019s Allyn Days Salmon Bake and Geoduck Festival features a salmon bake, an oyster shucking competition and a mud run in Allyn, a little over an hour south of Seattle, nestled within the bucolic North Bay.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

More oysters are on the menu in August at the Long Beach Peninsula\u2019s Jazz and Oysters festival, with fresh-grilled Willapa oysters to a bebop sound. October\u2019s OysterFest offers a West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and seafood festival, held in the small town of Shelton, drawing tens of thousands of diners and spectators.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Bellingham, just about ninety minutes north of Seattle, the two-day, 10th annual SeaFeast celebrates the sea\u2019s bounty, working people, folklore and more. Find more than two dozen food vendors, along with crafts, kids\u2019 activities, Lummi Island firepit salmon, scenic boat cruises, maritime industry tours and a raw oyster bar VIP experience.<\/p>\n

Also in October, the Dungeness Crab Festival takes place in Port Townsend, featuring fresh-cooked Dungeness crab dinners, with two-pound crabs cooked on site and served with homemade coleslaw and corn on the cob (yes, there\u2019s a half-crab portion if you\u2019re not that hungry). It\u2019s wise to pre-purchase dinner, as the festival can sell out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Logistics: If you decide to forage for your sea feast, but don\u2019t want the headache of fines, read up on Washington shellfishing regulations and fishing regulations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Western Washington Toyota Dealers Association\u00a0is a group of 21 independent dealers formed over 35 years ago promoting Toyota vehicles and services in the greater Puget Sound region. Member dealers live and work in their home communities across Western Washington.<\/p>\n

\"Mugs <\/p>\n

Washington welcomes the fall harvest with celebrations and events statewide throughout September and October. It\u2019s a great reason to hit the road.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Early autumn is the last window for a road trip past many of Mount Rainier\u2019s most spectacular destinations, some of which close in mid-fall until next spring.<\/p>\n

\"Naches <\/p>\n

This Mount Rainier road trip takes you through late-summer drives, mountain hikes and a shoulder-season ski resort.<\/p>\n

\"View <\/p>\n

A stop-by-stop guide on where to pull over from I-5 for a hike, a ride down a playground slide or a bite to eat in an adorably small Washington town.<\/p>\n

\"View <\/p>\n

\u201cSet-jetting,\u201d or travel inspired by TV shows and movies, is a big hit with travelers in 2026. The good news for Washington residents? You don\u2019t need to board a jet to see our sets.<\/p>\n

\"Port <\/p>\n

If traditional beach vacations (and crowds) aren\u2019t quite your jam, there are still plenty of sparkling Washington water destinations to explore.<\/p>\n

\n Western Washington Toyota Dealers. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Washington state is famous for its abundant seafood, thanks to our oceans and rivers, which power a robust fishing industry \u2014 and May is the official start to many fishing seasons.\u00a0 Every year from spring through early fall, recreational and commercial fishing boats set out for seasonal catches from dozens of waterside ports that dot<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41358,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[3259,3256,3254,3257,3255,3258,3252,3250,3253,3251],"class_list":["post-41357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-washington","tag-washington","tag-washington-dining","tag-washington-food","tag-washington-grocery-stores","tag-washington-restaurants","tag-washington-state","tag-washington-state-dining","tag-washington-state-food","tag-washington-state-grocery-stores","tag-washington-state-restaurants"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/vive.im\/@dc\/117375094155278430","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41357"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41357\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}