Top 10 Things to Do in Westport, Washington

There are so many things to do in Westport, Washington. Westport is a charming small town on the coast that offers visitors surfing, beach, lighthouses and more. If you’re a fan of the beach, you are not going to want to miss out. Today I’ll share with you my list of the top 10 things to do in Westport, Washington.

I have a confession, though: 

Taking a trip to Westport started off as a joke between a friend and me. We’ve both read the book It Happened One Summer, which takes place in Westport. When I planned to visit her in Seattle, we joked about taking a day trip to see the attractions in Westport mentioned in the book.

Then, suddenly…it wasn’t a joke anymore.

All in all, I’m so glad we decided to take a day trip to Westport. It was a peaceful excursion, and I’d highly recommend it for anyone located in Seattle or a neighboring city.

Westport is about an hour and a half drive from Olympia, two hours from Portland and 2.5-3 hours from Seattle. Be careful when driving, we stumbled upon a mama and baby deer crossing the street just outside of Westport!

Wander the Marina

If you’re wondering what to do in Westport, my first recommendation is to wander the marina. Admittedly, I don’t know much about boats, but I loved having the chance to walk through all the parked boats and chat with local fishermen.

Westport is a popular place for crabbing (dungeness and red rock crab), and I’m willing to bet you’ll run into some being sold. There’s a few hidden shops in the marina, too, and they’re perfect if you’re looking for fresh catch.

One of the best parts of the marina? The playful sea lions and seals that like to sunbathe there!

Enjoy the View at the Westport Viewing Tower

To get an even better viewpoint of Westport, climb up the three flights of stairs in the viewing tower. Looking north, you’ll see Ocean Shores, and looking south, you’ll see Grayland. This is a great place to make a few friends, local and tourist alike.

Walk Along the Beach

As someone from the East Coast in the USA, I noticed some differences between the beach at Westport and the beaches in Florida. Though it has a different vibe, I noticed the beach here has a lot of activities and is family friendly.

Throughout the sand, there are lots of shells, rocks and sand dollars. Kids have a great time collecting these in their pockets. There’s a lot of driftwood, too. I’ve heard locals make sculptures and art out of it.

You don’t need much to enjoy the beach here. Even in the summer, it likely won’t be hot like a California beach, but it’ll be chilled out and easy to enjoy. No burns or giant waves here.

If you’re interested, you can even take surf lessons in Westport. Places like Bigfoot Surf School and Sleepwater Surf Shop offer lessons. 

Head to Westport Light State Park

To add on to the above, Westport Light State Park is a public park with ocean views of Half Moon Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Its close to Gray Harbor Light, the tallest lighthouse in Washington. In 2016, the park combines with the former Westhaven State Park to give visitors even more land to visit.

You can go hiking, fishing, beachcombing and birdwatching here. From this park, it’s easy to get back to Westport and its other major attractions.

Explore the Westport Aquarium

Another family-friendly attraction in Westport is the Westport Aquarium. Established in 1955, Westport Aquarium is one of the few remaining private family run aquariums on the West Coast. 

Westport Aquarium has received tons of fish for collection from the local charter and commercial fisherfolk. When you visit the local sea life exhibit, you are also seeing the local fishing industry on display.

Some animals you can see at the aquarium include sharks, rays, eels, octopuses, crabs, and starfish. As a non-profit, it relies solely on donations and admissions.

Explore the Shops and Restaurants in Downtown Westport

To complement all the activities in Westport, the city has plenty of shops and restaurants for you to visit. I love window shopping, and downtown is perfect for this because the shops are full of quirky items that I find we often don’t need, but we want anyways. 

Like, do I need this toy crab? It is pretty cute…

Some shops you may not want to miss are Sea Bird Gift and Candy, Tides and Anchors Boutique, and Basket House. We found a few vintage shops and sidewalk sales by wandering the local area, too.

For my fellow seafood fans, Westport is the place to be. Stop by Bennett’s Fish Shack for some fish and chips, or by Mermaid Deli and Pub for some clam chowder. 

Visit the Westport Maritime Museum

If history and learning is more your speed (or if you’re exploring on a bad weather day), be sure to stop by the Westport Maritime Museum. The museum often has limited hours so it’s a good idea to double check the hours before you visit. 

Budget tip: The lighthouse may give you a coupon for the museum, so visit there first!

One of the coolest parts of the Maritime Museum is all of the marine mammal bones on display outside. Parts of a blue whale, a full gray whale, minke whale and other marine creatures make the outdoor displays great for learning and fun.

Grab Some Dessert

Now, on to one of my personal favorite parts: dessert. It would be a grave mistake to forget to mention where you can get some great dessert in Westport.

We stopped by Whale of a Cone for an afternoon pick-me-up, and it hit all the right spots. They had a lot of maritime themes for designing an ice cream cone, and I’m pretty sure they had ice cream flavors to go with every color of the rainbow.

You also shouldn’t miss out on the saltwater taffy. Granny Hazel’s Candy and Gift Shop, named for the woman who sold fudge there nearly 50 years ago, makes their taffy the old-fashioned way (pulling it).

Try Local Beer and Wine

I always love trying local beer when I can in a new city. Blackbeard’s Brewery has two locations in Westport. There’s one by the docks and another by the Lighthouse. Not only do they have beer, they have food, too! They have a rotating beer menu, so be sure to stop by to see their current offerings.

Just outside of downtown is Westport Winery and Ocean’s Daughter Distillery if wine and spirits are more up your alley.

Go Fishing

Of course, I have to end this list with one of the top recommendations I can give you: go fishing. I unfortunately didn’t have time to fish during my day in Westport, but it seemed like a popular activity.

Based on the time of the year, you won’t be booking a “fishing trip” as much as you will be booking a “salmon trip” or a “halibut trip”. 

Here are some examples of what you might be catching based on season:

• Salmon: Fun fact, Westport is hailed as the “Salmon Capital of the World”.
• Lingcod and Rockfish: From early spring to late fall, Westport charters head out of the harbor for Lingcod and Rockfish.
• Albacore Tuna: Westport has become the Pacific Coast’s headquarters for Albacore Tuna.
• Halibut: Spring and early summer is prime for Halibut fishing in Westport.

I hope this helped you plan your trip to Westport, Washington! Whether you have just a day or maybe even a week, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy the time away from the hustle of busy life.

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