Jeff Hunter manages the Harborview Inn in Garibaldi, Oregon.  He was kind enough to send Portland Family Adventures an invitation to do some crabbing right off the local pier. Since I’ve never crabbed in my life, we decided to take the whole family for a quick day trip.  We spent a few hours in Garibaldi hoping to catch some crab, checking out the sights, and eating fish and chips at the highly recommended “Fisherman’s Korner.”  Jeff is enthusiastic about the area and all it has to offer families.  After visiting, I share his enthusiasm and want to pass along a quick interview.

 

 

 

Portland Family Adventures (PFA):  Who are you and what is your job in Garibaldi?

My name is Jeff. I grew up in Newberg but moved away from Oregon 30 years ago to pursue my dream of being a hospitality professional. I’ve run hotels, restaurants, country clubs, & catering companies.

I jumped at the chance to move back to Oregon and run the Harborview. I’ve been doing that for about 18 months.

PFA:  Tell our readers a bit more about the Harborview Inn.

We are a clean, comfortable, affordable little family-run motel in a unique location. We are VERY pet-friendly. Any of our rooms can be a pet room and we charge just $25 for the length of your stay, not a per-night fee.

We’re a single level motor-court style motel with recently renovated rooms, each of which has a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, 75 channel cable TV and free wi-fi.

We’re right out on the Port of Garibaldi surrounded by Tillamook Bay.

PFA:  You’re on a mission to promote Garibaldi as a family-friendly destination.  In your opinion, what makes it a family-friendly stop?

Garibaldi is the closest Pacific port to both Portland and Salem; we’re less than 2 hours away from both.

There are SO many things around here that both parents and their kids would find interesting & fun. Within 10 miles of Garibaldi are a Pioneer Museum and an Air Museum that is the largest free-standing wooden structure in the world. There is also the Three Capes Scenic tour featuring whale-watching (Harborview Whale Watching Special), lighthouses, the Octopus Tree, and incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.  Just 3 miles North is a seven mile stretch of beach right across the street from a kite shop!

And right here in Garibaldi we have a marine museum with an 18^th century shipbuilding shop, you can go crabbing, clamming, hiking, biking, fishing, and tour a real working fishing village complete with two seafood shops that are just like buying it off the boat.

PFA:  Crabbing and clamming are fun for families.  Tell our readers what you offer and the prices?

We have all the equipment and local knowledge you’ll need to catch, cook, & eat your own Dungeness crab or Bay clams. It doesn’t get any fresher or more fun that that! We even sell the shellfish license you’ll need for both crabbing & clamming. Anyone under 14 doesn’t even need a license.

We rent crab rings for just $5/day and sell bait for $3. There are two public crabbing piers within walking distance of the motel. A bucket and crab gauge for measuring your catch are also included.

We rent clam rakes with buckets for $5/day that you can take just 100 yards from the motel and dig your limit of cockles.

PFA:  Any other recommendations for families while traveling in the area?

Every Saturday night (weather permitting) we build a fire and break out the s’mores makings for our guests. We also do other fun events along with the s’mores like a crab feed, local legends & stories, Q & A with a real live charter boat captain, and many other events.

The last full weekend of July every year (this year it’s on July 27-29) is our big shindig, Garibaldi Days. This year we’re having a parade, carnival, an Air Force flyover, go karts, helicopter rides, fireworks, and a teen dance.

Right after that we have the Tillamook County Fair on August 8-11. Carnival rides, fair food, the Pig-n-Ford races, and live music every night.

Before that on June 23 starting at 10:30 am is the Tillamook June Dairy Parade through the streets of Tillamook followed by a weekend filled with the 26^th Annual Tillamook County Rodeo.

And the weekend of June 9 & 10 is Free Fishing Weekend in the state of Oregon. The Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife invites everyone to fish, crab, & clam anywhere in the state without requiring a license. There are 35 free fishing events across the state, including one at the hatchery just 25 minutes from the Harborview.