Westport Winery Grand Opening

I was able to get a sneak taste of the new Westport Winery wines, and also dropped in on their debut at the Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill... I will try to post photos and more details soon, but definitely if you can make it to their grand opening on Sunday March 30, you really should. What the Roberts family has done there is really something amazing. Their facility is beautiful, the wines are great, and they have a huge selection of wines, which is impressive for their first year.

The winery is not quite halfway to Westport from Aberdeen on highway 105 (if you're familiar with Lily Lane, they are just to the East). You can stop, taste the wines, buy your favorite bottle, and stock up on snacks and supplies for a beach picnic.

April Clam digs at Grayland and Westport Beaches

WDFW declared 2 weekends in April open for clam digging! This marks a new season, so if you buy the annual pass, its time to get a new one.

Here are the details:

Tentative early-April dates and low tides are:

• Sunday, April 6, 7:23 a.m., -0.7 ft: Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
• Monday, April 7, 8:09 a.m., -1.2 ft: Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
• Tuesday, April 8, 8:55 a.m., -1.5 ft: Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
• Wednesday, April 9, 9:43 a.m., -1.4 ft: Twin Harbors only

Tentative mid-April dates and low tides are:

• Saturday, April 19, 6:40 a.m., -0.1 ft: Long beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks
• Sunday, April 20, 7:18 a.m., -0.4 ft: Long beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks
• Monday, April 21, 7:55 a.m., -0.6 ft: Twin Harbors only
• Tuesday, April 22, 8:30 a.m., -0.6 ft: Twin Harbors only
• Wednesday, April 23, 9:06 a.m., -0.5 ft: Twin Harbors onl

Again, Twin Harbors include the beaches between the South Jetty of Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. Tokeland, Grayland, and Westport area each great places to stay if you are coming down for a dig. And if you aren't much a clamdigger, but you're curious about razor clams, the Half Moon Bay Bar & Grill has a razor clam basket, with clams fresh from local beaches.

Happy digging!

Westport and Grayland March Clam Digs

Don't forget about this weekend's clam dig - it's a long one - 6 days, a gift from WDFW for last month's bad weather!

Opening dates and tides are:

• March 7, Friday, 6:21 p.m., +0.3: Twin Harbors only
• March 8, Saturday, 6:58 p.m., +0.5: Twin Harbors and Longbeach only
• March 9, Sunday, 8:28 a.m., +0.3: Twin Harbors and Longbeach only (switch to morning tides)
• March 10, Monday, 9:12 a.m., 0.0: Twin Harbors only
• March 11, Tuesday, 9:59 a.m., -0.1: Twin Harbors only
• March 12, Wednesday, 10:51 a.m., 0.0: Twin Harbors only

Here is a repost of my map of the Twin Harbors clam dig areas. I think the Grayland area is better for first timers, because there are so many people out there and you're more likely to find someone to give you pointers.

Happy hunting!

Beach Glass Treasures in Westport and Grayland

On a recent weekend road trip to Ocean Shores, I met an artist who happens to be a neighbor here in Westport. Beth is the proprietor of Seashore Collections, a small art studio that specializes in Beach Glass Jewelry. She was participating in small beachcombers fair there at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Beth had some of her jewelry on display and for sale, and it was so beautiful.

She told me that she finds almost all of her glass on the Westport and Grayland Beaches. I love that. I love hearing about finding treasure. I don't have the patience to comb the beaches and find cool stuff. I try to keep my head down when I walk the beach in front of our home, but I don't really have the patience (and now I'm usually chasing my 2 year old). But the payoff is gorgeous, as you can see in these pictures.

To own a piece of beach treasure without the long walk, find Beth on ebay (search for Seashore Collections Westport), or at one of Westport's many street fairs this summer.

Grayland Driftwood Show

The Cranberry Coast Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 46th Annual Driftwood Show on March 15 and 16, 2008 at the Grayland Community Hall. I have wanted to attend this for years, and am looking forward to finally making it this year.

You can purchase a "hunting license" for $3, which entitles you to "hunt" in designated locations on Grayland Beach for a specially marked sand dollar. If you find one, you can exchange it for a glass float. It looks like a lot of fun - who doesn't love a treasure hunt?

Additionally, there will be tons of driftwood, flotsam, jetsam, and the like on display (and being judged for awards). You can enter your interesting driftwood and beachcombing finds, as well as photography on Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning. For more information, check out the Cranberry Coast Chamber's website at http://www.cranberrycoastcoc.com/driftwood2003.html

Good luck!