Table of Contents
Introduction viii
Maps xii
Summer
Outings 3
Whale-Watching Trips in the Salish Sea 3
Kayak Camping Trips 10
Beach Camping Trips 16
Road Trip: Victoria to Campbell River 21
Catch It, Cook It, Eat It 25
Clams 25
Squid 35
Blackberries 43
Beach Projects 46
Beach Volcano 46
Sand Candles 47
Collected Stardust 48
Beachside Shade 49
On the Water 50
Paddleboarding 50
Full-Moon Kayak Paddle 53
Bioluminescence Tours 54
Celebrations & Nature 56
Perseid Meteor Shower 56
Summer Solstice Bonfire 57
Festivals & Events 61
Sand Castle Competitions 61
Outdoor Music by the Shore 62
Autumn
Outings 69
Multiday Bike Trips 69
Road Trip: One Square Inch of Silence in the Hoh Rain Forest 75
Paddle Day Trip: Seattle's Ballard Locks 78
Catch It, Cook it, Eat it 83
Salmon 83
Beach Projects 96
Seashore Fossils 96
Herbed Sea Salt 97
Rock Cairns 99
Fish Prints 100
On the Water 103
Surfing 103
Celebrations & Nature 107
Labor Day Beachside Family Reunion 107
Salmon Watching at the Locks 111
Festivals & Events 112
Fall Salmon Derbies 112
Port Townsend Film Festival 114
Bellingham SeaFeast 115
Winter
Outings 119
Winter Storm-Watching Getaways 119
Road Trip: Lighthouses on the Washington and Oregon Coasts 126
Best Winter Beach Hikes 134
Catch it, Cook It, Eat It 137
Crab 137
Razor Clams 146
Beach Projects 151
Gold-Painted Seashell Ornaments 151
Sea-Class Votive 153
Beachside Shelter Hot Dog Roast 155
On the Water 156
Scuba Diving 156
Celebrations & Nature 159
Winter Solstice Bonfire 159
New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge 162
The Snow Geese of Fir Island 163
Stargazing by the Shore 165
Festivals & Events 170
Winterruption 170
FisherPoets Gathering 170
Walrus and Carpenter Nighttime Oyster Picnic 171
Strange Brewfest 171
Smelt Derby 171
Spring
Outings 175
Day Bike Trips 175
Catch It, Cook It, Eat It 183
Spot Prawns 183
Pacific Northwest Oysters 187
Beach Projects 196
Lavender Sea Salt Body Scrub 196
Seashell Night-Light 197
Driftwood Fort 199
Message in a Bottle 200
On the Water 201
Boating 201
Celebrations & Nature 207
April's Shooting Stars: Lyrid Meteor Shower 207
Spring Fireballs 207
Explore the Tide Pools of Spring 208
Festivals & Events 213
Celebrate Seafood! 213
Spring Whale Watch Week in Oregon 216
Pacific Rim Whale Festival 217
Kite Festivals 217
Acknowledgments 222
Resources 223
Appendix 224
Index 227
