WILLAPA BAY

Willapa Bay is in Washington, right along the Long Beach Peninsula. Many of the oysters you eat while traveling the North Oregon Coast are harvested from this bay. Being from Hawaii, I'm used to those huge, gross oysters that need to be cooked on the half shell over a grill. These are not like that. They are small and pretty, and I love eating them smoked or in oyster stew. 

At the very tip of Long Beach Peninsula is Leadbetter Point State Park, where a number of trails run from the bay to the ocean. It's worth the drive alone up the peninsula, even if you don't care to hike at the end. You can walk the tip of peninsula along the beach instead of across. It can be quite windy.

This hike is definitely on the easy scale. I would recommend heading out there on a sunny, not-so-windy day and walking the beach instead of going through the trees. The ocean views are breathtaking, and there are these adorable little birds called Snowy Plovers that run along the sand. 

On your way back, do yourself a huge favor and stop at North Jetty Brewing for a pint and growler fill. They're in Seaview and their beers are delicious. Another fantastic stop is Barbe Queen in Long Beach. If you love true Hawaiian style bbq, this spot does not disappoint.