Occupying a peninsula between South Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Westport is a laid-back harbour city south-west of Seattle. The area was used as a summer hunting and foraging ground by Native American tribes, including the Chehalis people. Westport has been known by several different names throughout its past, including Fort Chehalis after its 19th-century U.S. Army fort.
Things to do in Westport
Dominating the main street is the Westport Maritime Museum, which occupies a Coast Guard building that dates back to 1939. Its exhibits detail the local shipwrecks, whaling industry and rescue operations, as well as Westport’s long-established fishing industry. A highlight of the collection is the Destruction Island Lens built in 1888 on the design of Augustin-Jean Fresnel.
Rising 33 metres atop Point Chehalis is the Grays Harbor Lighthouse, which is the tallest lighthouse in Washington. Designed by Carl Leick and first illuminated in 1898, it features a whitewashed tower that can be ascended via a 135-step cast-iron staircase. Sprawling north is Westport Light State Park, a popular recreational area for hiking, birdwatching and fishing.
On the opposite side of South Bay from Westport is Bottle Beach State Park, which is renowned for its open tidal flats that attract migratory shorebirds hunting for invertebrates. It has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society, with more than 130 different species recorded here. Due to the abundance of prey, peregrine falcons are occasionally spotted.
Getting around Westport
Westport is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect to Westport, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the area. The centre of Westport can easily be navigated on foot.