The grant will be used to cover the purchase of doors, paint and fixtures for the restrooms. The Equestrian Center hosts on-going programs and special activities throughout the year – from high school team events to public rodeos to horseback riding for kids with disabilities.

“We are extremely thankful for the grant from the Grays Harbor Community Foundation,” said Kelly Peterson-Lalka of Grays Harbor Fairgrounds.

“We host thousands of participants and visitors throughout the year for equestrian activities, and the improved restroom facilities will make a big difference.”

Read more here at http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2018/01/03/grays-harbor-fairgrounds-receives-grant-for-improvements-to-equestrian-area-restrooms/

Grays Harbor’s 50 miles of ocean coastline are a beachcomber’s paradise. Treasures range from driftwood to shipwrecks and everything in between. In years past, treasure hunters have found household debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami, and Nike shoes and rubber duckies from container spills. With some basic knowledge and a little luck, you too can discover something amazing or interesting on the beaches of Grays Harbor.

Carl Ebbesmeyer is a researcher that tracks the treasures floating across thousands of miles of ocean. He calls his study flotsamology. Experts like Ebbesmeyer suggest the best treasures will be found after a storm along the wrack line — the swath of debris deposited by the previous high tide. Follow the descending tide for deposits of driftwood, bullwhip kelp, bottles, plastics, glass, balls, buoys and more. Watch for shells, rocks and agates as the tide nears low.

Check the weather and tide tables for your planned beach before heading out, and make sure to take some supplies to be prepared. It’s always a good idea to have a first aid kit, snacks and plenty of water in your car. Rubber boots and rain gear as well as some good plastic-coated garden-type gloves will be helpful in muddy conditions. Of course, you’ll want a container to stow your finds in, and a camera for restricted items or treasures too big to take home.

Most beaches will gather flotsam as the tide goes out, but in Grays Harbor there are a few beaches that stand out as treasure troves of desirable debris. Grayland Beach is one of the best. The local area hosts a yearly Driftwood Show and Glass Float Hunt and is so well known that the beachcombing here is competitive. Be sure to arrive early and follow the tide out. After a big storm, you will find sand dollars, driftwood, bullwhip kelp, sea creatures, cool rocks, shells and incredible amounts of flotsam. You may drive on this beach year-round, but beware of soft sand at the beach approaches. It’s always a good idea to have shovels, tow ropes and lumber to assist in towing a stuck car.  Read more here:  http://www.southsoundtalk.com/2017/12/20/grays-harbor-beachcombers-paradise/

Along the Washington Coast, the razor clam digging season is upon us. With the return of the rain and cold weather, hearty Pacific Northwest residents flock to the coast in hopes to get their limit of delicious mollusks. Considered to be one of the quintessential Pacific Northwest activities, clam digging is a fun, cheap and family-friendly activity that will provide delicious meals and incredible memories. Fun for all ages, all that is needed to clam dig is a permit, an implement to dig the clams and a container to put the clams in once you have found them. While that sounds easy enough, there are a handful of tips and information you’ll need to ensure a successful, safe and legal clam dig along the Washington beaches of the Pacific Ocean.

Where and When to Go Clamming

Stretching from Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park down to the southern end of the Washington Coast along the mouth of the Columbia River, numerous destinations are available to clammers. While many clam diggers have their favorite beach, the most important thing is to ensure that the beach you are planning to go to is open for clamming that day. Before heading out, it is also important to check the time of the upcoming tides. The lower the tide, the better clamming. Because of this, most clam digging dates are centered around low tides. In the fall and winter, the low tides take place in the dark, when it is often rainy and cold. Spring tides allow for daylight clam digging with a potential for better weather, but most serious clammers go during the fall and winter season.  Read more here at http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2017/11/17/how-and-where-to-clam-dig-on-the-washington-coast/

All around Grays Harbor amazing outdoor opportunities await those who are searching. Some find solace in the rivers or along the coast. Others find their happiness foraging in the depths of the towering timbers, searching for delicious treasures along the forest floor. Grays Harbor County is home to some of the most sought after and delicious mushrooms in the world. From chanterelles, hedgehogs, morels, oysters, boletes, and chicken of the woods, the mushrooms in this corner of Washington State are extremely tasty and sought after. If you like to hunt for mushrooms – to sell, eat or just to look at – Grays Harbor is an amazing destination to forage.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of mushroom hunting before starting this fun activity. The Puget Sound Mycological Society tells us that “Washington State is divided into numerous federal, state, local and Native American jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction has its own rules (or not) and its own way of publishing and enforcing these rules (or not.)”

Knowing who to contact and what to ask can be confusing, but the Department of Natural Resources is usually your best step. Besides being able to direct you to the proper person to speak with, they also have information on harvest locations and limits. The National Forest Service is also an excellent resource, giving a straightforward guide to the rules and regulations of personal and commercial mushroom harvesting.  Read more here:  http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2017/10/27/where-to-hunt-mushrooms-in-grays-harbor/

Each year, as the kids go back to school and summer starts to wind down, the town of Hoquiam starts to buzz. Buzzing with excitement and the sound of chainsaws in the early morning air, the end of summer means the Loggers’ Playday is once again upon us. For one glorious Saturday, this year on September 9, this annual event celebrates our town’s logging history, raises money for great causes and brings the community together.

From 6:00 a.m. until at least 10:00 p.m., Hoquiam becomes the center of both Grays Harbor and the logging world. Since 1965, this event has been an incredible community gathering and this year will be no different. With seven unique opportunities to participate, you’ll have a full day of connecting with the history and neighborly spirit of Hoquiam.

History

For the past 52 years, the Loggers’ Playday has been held in one way, shape or form. While it went by other names in the early years, the constant theme of the event has centered on the industry that populated our corner of the world. Known for amazing lumber history, Hoquiam and Aberdeen were once the crown jewels of the logging world, seeing millions of board feet of timber pass through the streets.  Read more here:  http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2017/09/05/loggers-playday-2017/

The Cranberry Coast Scenic Byway, also known as Highway 105, is a loop off Highway 101 that, starting in Raymond, follows the Willapa River and Willapa Bay out to a hidden 20 mile stretch of Pacific coastline before looping back to 101 in Aberdeen.

From Raymond, follow the north bank of the Willapa River as you take highway 105 out of the city. To the left are agricultural marshlands and a network of sloughs home to many migrating birds. On the right, just past mile post 10, you will pass the Smith Creek State Wildlife Recreation Area. This too is home to many varieties of birds and a great spot for bird enthusiasts to pull out the binoculars.

Another ten minutes of driving in and out of the estuary and forested hills and you will come into the Shoalwater Reservation. Pay close attention to the speed limit signs here. The newly remodeled Shoalwater Bay Casino will be on your right and a gas station to the left. If you’re interested in a jaunt down a side road, turn left on Tokeland Road. This will turn into Kindred Avenue and within a couple blocks you’ll see Historic Tokeland Hotel to your left. The hotel was built in 1885 and is the oldest resort hotel in the United States. It is still in use as both a hotel and restaurant. Each July the hotel hosts the popular Tokeland Wood and Arts festival.  Read more here:  http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2017/08/03/take-a-drive-on-the-cranberry-coast-a-guided-tour/