Washington State is renowned for its variety of oysters, and a scenic road trip is the perfect way to experience these tasty bivalves. This four/five-day Salish Sea oyster road trip will take you from Blaine near the Canadian border down into the San Juan Islands, with an optional extension to Whidbey Island.
Just like with wine, the subtle taste profile of an oyster can vary by location. The salinity, temperature, and food sources create each oyster’s unique flavor, whether it be briny, sweet, creamy, mineral, vegetal, or sharp. Explore these flavors as you slurp your way through local restaurants, visit oyster farms, and enjoy excursions like sea kayaking or whale watching in postcard-worthy settings.
Salish Sea Oyster Road Trip Itinerary
This road trip can be done in either direction. If heading out from the Seattle area, consider starting on Whidbey Island and following the itinerary in reverse, ending in Blaine.
Day 1: Blaine to Bellingham
Start your oyster road trip near the Canadian border in the coastal town of Blaine, where you can grab lunch at family-owned Drayton Harbor Oyster Company. Enjoy sustainably cultivated Drayton Harbor Pacific oysters grilled, stewed, or raw on an idyllic patio overlooking the water. For beer fans, don’t miss the Dark Harbor Oyster Stout, a “black beer and bivalve” collaboration with Atwood Ales, which uses the oyster shell, meat, and brine in the brewing process.
Afterward, cruise south to Bellingham, stopping at Birch Bay State Park. There, the Terrell Marsh Interpretive Trail leads to a rare saltwater and freshwater estuary frequented by great blue herons.
Once in Bellingham, stroll the boardwalk from Boulevard Park to the Fairhaven neighborhood. Tip: Time your visit for sunset.
For dinner, head to Rock and Rye Oyster House in downtown. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on local sustainable seafood. In addition to raw Washington oysters, guests can expect options such as oyster chowder and oysters Rockefeller with pork belly. Don’t overlook their craft cocktails. Try the Garden of Eternal Sunshine–snap pea vodka or gin, atxa blanco, falernum, and lime bitters.
Where to stay: Hang your hat at the Heliotrope Hotel, a modernized vintage motel with outdoor communal spaces. For water views, the upscale Hotel Bellwether sits next to the marina on Bellingham Bay.
Day 2: Bellingham to San Juan Island
Get your day started at Narrative Coffee with a latte and homemade buttermilk-biscuit egg sandwich before making your way to nearby Larrabee State Park for a leisurely kayak ride. Moondance Sea Kayak offers half-day excursions and will take care of all the logistics.
Afterward, take the stunning Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway toward Anacortes, where ferries depart to the San Juan Islands (make sure to check the ferry schedule, make vehicle reservations in advance, and show up early). The drive takes around an hour, so there’s time to enjoy the views of Samish Bay with the San Juan Islands in the distance. And, of course, stop for oysters.
In Bow, Taylor Shellfish Farms’ Samish Oyster Bar and Shellfish Market is great for a casual lunch of freshly shucked oysters. Visit on the weekdays to avoid a crush of shellfish lovers. You might get to try an Olympia oyster (known as the Oly). This Washington oyster played an important part in Native American culture, and overharvesting and pollution almost drove them into extinction. Today, Taylor Shellfish Farms is working to help bring back the Oly by participating in the Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration initiative.
If upscale dining is more your style, consider stopping at The Oyster Bar, also located along Chuckanut Drive. Diners can enjoy six different kinds of oysters offered at its raw bar, all sourced from Washington and British Columbia waters.
Continue your northern Salish Sea oyster road trip through Skagit County’s rich farmland. Once in Anacortes, catch a ferry to San Juan Island and settle in for the night.
Where to stay: Bed down at Friday Harbor House for views of ferry boats and easy access to dining. For a woodsy escape, Lakedale Resort sits on 82 acres of forest and lakes with a variety of lodging, including glamping tents.
Also See: Where to go Glamping in Washington
Day 3: San Juan Island
Start your first day in the islands with a morning farm tour at Westcott Bay Shellfish Co., a family-run aquaculture farm near Roche Harbor. Tours take place during low tide and include six raw oysters and a drink. A staff member will answer questions and give a behind-the-scenes look at shellfish cultivation and harvesting. Westcott farms both the Pacific oyster and the Olympia, and they invest in clean water and sustainability practices.
Afterward, head to The Tide Tables, Westcott’s lunch restaurant. From the water’s edge seating, you can watch the shellfish farmers working the tidal beds. Waitstaff can provide instructions on how to shuck your own oysters. Don’t miss the kitchen’s specialty: barbecue grilled oysters served with a variety of scratch butter compounds.
After lunch, stretch your legs by exploring the tide pools at Grandma’s Cove in San Juan National Park. The half-mile shallow shelf hosts anemones, sculpin, mussels, crabs, and a variety of seaweeds. Be sure to be gentle while exploring and practice good tide pool etiquette.
If you want to get out on the water, consider a whale-watching tour. San Juan Outfitters offers wildlife tours where naturalists not only point out orcas, but also porpoises, humpback whales, and bald eagles. A portion of each ticket goes into a fund for salmon and orca conservation. Alternatively, strike out on your own to Lime Kiln Point State Park, considered by many as one of the best places in the world to view whales from land.
Orcas can be sighted throughout the year, but your best bet for spotting the three Southern Resident pods is usually from May through September.
For dinner, check out Duck Soup. Nestled into a forest overlooking idyllic ponds, this upscale restaurant puts the bounty of the islands on display, from local produce and wild-harvested botanicals to fresh seafood. In the summer, lounge on the deck. In the winter, cozy up by their stone fire pit.
Day 4: Orcas Island Day Trip
The next day, continue your Salish Sea oyster road trip by catching a morning ferry to Orcas Island. Walk-on passengers can travel between islands for free. Learn more about interisland ferry travel.
Start by exploring the cafes and galleries of Eastsound, the island’s main town and a hub for artists. For lunch, make your way to Buck Bay Shellfish Farm (open seasonally). The farm’s casual market and restaurant boasts buoy-forward décor and picnic tables right on the bay. Slurp oysters or dig into crab mac and cheese.
Afterward, hike or drive to the summit of Mount Constitution for sweeping views of the islands and distant mountains before catching the ferry back to San Juan Island.
After a day of adventures, head to dinner at Coho Restaurant in Friday Harbor. Choose from a seasonal prix fixe menu or opt for hearty pastas or the fish of the day.
Day 5: Whidbey Island (Optional Extension)
Return by ferry to Anacortes and continue your Salish Sea oyster road trip south to Whidbey Island. Drive across the stunning Deception Pass Bridge and make your way south to Coupeville. This charming town stood in for the fictional town of Hallowell in Practical Magic.
For lunch, stop into The Oyster Catcher on Penn Cover for oysters broiled, raw, and fried. The rest of their menu is thoughtful and creative—think beet salad with nasturtium leaves and goat milk mascarpone. Mussels are also on offer. In March, the Penn Cove Musselfest celebrates shellfish with chowder-tasting competitions and boat tours out to the mussel beds.
Head south, stopping for a stroll around Meerkerk Gardens, which boasts 10 acres of display gardens and is famous for its rhododendrons. Alternatively, hike under the canopy of an old-growth forest at South Whidbey State Park. The day-use park has a trail that accesses a beach with panoramas of the Olympic Mountains.
At the southern end of the island in Langley, grab a bite at the Saltwater Fish House and Oyster Bar, which has a daily chalkboard of raw oyster offerings, not to mention its fried oysters and chips basket. The menu also leans heavily into Penn Cove mussels.
Where to stay: On the southern end of the island near the ferry to Mukilteo, The Inn at Langley offers water views within walking distance to downtown. If you’re looking to spend more time on Whidbey Island, consider basing yourself at the charming Captain Whidbey in Coupeville, with its forest grounds along the peaceful shore of Penn Cove.
About the Author
Ellee Thalheimer is a freelance writer and guidebook author based in the Pacific Northwest who has contributed to publications like Lonely Planet Guidebooks, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and Adventure Cyclist Magazine. When she can’t get outside, she writes fiction, drinks local IPAs, and perfects her handstands.