Grew up there (age 5 to 13):

• Beachcombing, rock/driftwood-hunting, and clam digging at the ocean (roasting hot dogs/marshmallows over a campfire).
• Perch fishing/crabbing off the Westport docks,
• Excellent YMCA and summer camp (Camp Bishop at Lost Lake).
• Roller skating at the (Harborena) Roller Rink.
• Biking to Junction City and back.
• Warm water swimming at Lake Aberdeen.
• Swimming/diving lessons at the Natatorium (Aberdeen Aquatic Center).
• Salmon berry picking.
• Easter egg hunting at Franklin (Sam Benn Memorial) Park.
• Camping out/fishing on the Wynoochee River.
• Grays Harbor County Fair (Elma).
• Sat/Sun double-matinees at the D & R and Aberdeen Theaters - the D & R hosted music shows prior to 2020 and may again; the Aberdeen Theater was a church, last time I checked. The 7th Street Theatre in Hoquiam is still going.

The Channeled Scablands - https://hugefloods.com/Scablands.html

Its happening with everything that has value and a finite supply. Bots buy up the supply and then ask triple the face value. An event is listed as sold out, but you go to it and it is half empty. NP campsite reservations, of course, don't have a face value, so are primed for abuse.

Rialto Beach/Hole-in-the-Wall tide pools: Starfish, sea anemones, hermit crabs, seaweed/kelp, sea rocks/stacks, sea otters, bald eagles, etc.: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/tidepool-activities.htm

For octopuses, you'll need to snorkel-dive in Puget Sound or visit the Seattle Aquarium.

Especially in hunting season.

Remote workers and AirBnB have gobbled up that supply. Aberdeen, one of the most depressed areas, has four listings (five units) with only one renting for less than $1,200.

The closest ocean beaches:

North Beach: Ocean Shores, Oyehut, Ocean City, Copalis Beach, etc.

South Beach: Westport, Cohassett Beach, Grayland, North Cove/Washaway Beach, etc.

Yeah, I wouldn't do that drive in winter. Wait until spring.

Was raised age 5 to 13 in Aberdeen. McDermoth Elementary and a year at Hopkins Junior High. I remember: The Roller Rink, clam digging at Oyehut, and Moclips, fishing off the dock at Westport, beachcombing (for driftwood, agates, and glass floats), roasting hot dogs and marshmellows on the beach, "grab bags" at Chuck's Chili Bowl, eating salmon berries, "blow me down" gales, visiting the Quinault Reservation beaches, camping on the Wynoochee, swimming at Lake Aberdeen. Got "sand in my soul", because sand gets into everything...

Thought that I'd be a Weatherwax Bobcat, but instead became a Lincoln Lynx in Seattle.

The Mountain Loop Scenic Byway

Deception Pass State Park - Whidbey Island - Ferry to Mukilteo

The Channeled Scablands

What local papers? They've been reduced to chain advertising sheets with little or no "news" in them.

You'll smell it before you see it. Bring a clothespin for your nose.