Westport

Miles of beachfront on the Pacific Ocean, pathways through coastal sand dunes and the endless horizon from the top of a lighthouse. This is Cohassett Beach, a small community of a few hundred people on the coast of Washington state. Cohassett Beach is better known as part of Westport, a small town oriented around the shore from scenic state parks to homes walkable to the ocean. “Westport has the jetty and the waves for surfing,” says broker Jennifer Custer who works with Windermere Real Estate Westport and has over a decade of experience in the area. It also has a waterside retail hub next to a marina, where people can dine while watching boats floating on the South Bay of Grays Harbor. Cohassett Beach residents experience a coastal lifestyle about 20 miles west of Aberdeen and 70 miles from Olympia. The most popular recreation space in the area, Westport Light State Park has a walking trail through grassy sand dunes that leads to an open beach. It also features the Grays Harbor Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in the state, ideal for scenic aerial views of the ocean and the town. Fisherman often visit the Westport Jetty, where visitors should be careful on the rocky surface, especially slippery in the rain. Twin Harbors State Park is more of a tourist destination, with campsites for RVs and cabins. “The Twin Harbor location is more woodsy, and you walk to the beach from there. A lot of families from Seattle and all over the state come to camp at the beach,” Custer says. Visitors with four-wheel drives can drive and park on the beach. South of the main part of Westport, Cohassett Beach homes rest on small yards often divided by tall evergreen trees for extra privacy. These houses tend to be bungalows, manufactured houses and midcentury ranch-style homes. The driveways are usually large, with room for RVs and boats as well as cars. In the Cohassett Beach South neighborhood, a gated community with a boardwalk, there are about 30 beachfront homes within walking distance of the ocean. The homes here are often larger, contemporary builds, sometimes on lots over an acre in size. Ranch-style homes range from $500,000 to $650,000, while houses with ocean views range from $700,000 to $1 million. Westhaven Drive, located on the Westport Marina, is the largest retail and restaurant hub in the area. It offers a walkable street of quaint shops and restaurants on the water, including Bennett’s Fish Shack. The seafood restaurant serves classics like fish and chips with deck views of the docks and boats. The corridor is also home to Westport Maritime Museum, where visitors can learn about local history and see whale skeleton exhibits. Another retail spot is on the corner of West Ocean Avenue and South Montesano Street. A well-known locals’ haunt, Pine Tree Bar & Grill booms with audience cheers on both karaoke and live music nights. The eatery serves burgers in a dimly lit pub with a pool table and a dog-friendly patio. Those looking for produce and other groceries can stop by the Shop 'n Kart. The Westport/Grayland Chamber of Commerce hosts frequent community events. At the 22nd Annual Rusty Scupper’s Pirate Daze, a band of pirates take over Westport for a weekend of dancing, eating and shopping — the town like the set of a “Pirates of the Caribbean” film with many attendees dressed in swashbuckling attire. Local artists can show off and sell their work at the South Beach Art Gallery & Clay Studio. Located at Westport Marina, the Booming Bay Fireworks Display celebrates July 4th with a dazzling show reflected in the waters of Westhaven Cove. The community is served by the Ocosta School District, which earns a C-plus grade according to Niche. Ocosta Elementary School also has a C-plus rating. Ocosta Junior/Senior High School serves middle through high school levels and has a C-plus rating. The school offers courses from financial algebra, which factors math into real world spending, to Photo II, where students can learn how to use photo editing software. Cohassett Beach is a car-dependent community. It's located about 70 miles from Olympia via State Route 8. About 20 miles from Aberdeen, residents can get to the town center via State Route 105. Those who prefer public transit can catch a Grays Harbor Transit bus. For a nearby hospital, Harbor Regional Health Emergency Department is 20 miles away in Aberdeen. The Seattle–Tacoma International Airport is about 120 miles away.