Aberdeen, a stunning community in Grays Harbor County, is recognized as the official entry point to Washington’s picturesque Olympic Peninsula.

Due to its closeness to the Olympic National Park and the southern extremity of the Olympic Peninsula, Aberdeen is known as the “Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula.”

As the hometown of rock music legend Kurt Cobain, the city is a well-liked stop for tourists traveling to the adjacent Olympic National Park. It is also referred to as the “Birthplace of Grunge.”

This post explores some of the best things to do in Aberdeen, WA.

Things to Do in Aberdeen, WA

1. Billys Bar And Grill

The name Billy’s Bar and Grill pays tribute to a notorious criminal from Aberdeen’s early past who committed a series of high-profile crimes in the late 19th century.

The 1904 Crowther-Wooding Building, which originally housed the city’s Evans Drugs and Red Cross Pharmacy enterprises, is where the restaurant is located.

For breakfast, lunch, and supper since 1981, the restaurant has been offering superb American bar food, including its famous half-pound Billy’s Brick Burgers, which bear the name of illustrious local brick mason Bob Bickford.

Additionally, there are chicken burgers and hot sandwiches available, as well as inventive sharing appetizers like deep-fried zucchini and pretzel bits.

The top microbrews from the Pacific Northwest are featured on 12 taps with wines that the glass or the bottle may purchase.

Location: 322 East Heron Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

2. Breakwater Seafood And Chowder House

In 1987, Roberta Timmons introduced the public to the delectable seafood restaurant and business Breakwater Seafood and Chowder House in Aberdeen.

The stunning riverfront eatery is well-known for its legendary seafood chowder, cooked from scratch and served near the confluence of the Wishkah and Chehalis Rivers.

Hand-battered halibut, cod platters, shrimp, and crab cocktails from local catches are just a few examples of the homestyle dishes available.

At lunch and supper, healthy alternatives are offered, including salads packed with shrimp.

Fresh regional seafood is also offered for sale at the restaurant’s fish market, which has been a staple in the area since the 1940s.

Location: 306 S F St, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

3. Lady Washington

Lady Washington is managed by Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, a non-profit organization established in 1989 to commemorate Washington State’s centennial.

The ship is named after the original Lady Washington, which cruised in the early 1800s, as suggested by its name.

Along the West Coast of North America, this replica of the Lady Washington, the state’s flagship, travels through its waterways.

The ship Lady Washington travels year-round, stopping at more than 50 ports in Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia to provide student educational programs.

Nearly 9,000 students from around the nation visit Lady Washington each year to learn about the rich maritime heritage of our nation.

Location: 500 N Custer St, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

4. Stewart Memorial Park

The Stewart Memorial Park Trail in Aberdeen circles a river from beginning to end. It provides a tranquil, rural atmosphere.

This 1.1-mile loop in Stewart Memorial Park is terrific to start if you’ve never run before. Walking and birdwatching are two of the most popular pastimes on the path.

Dogs are allowed on this route as long as they are leashed at all times. Although it’s beautiful, it may get a little slippery if it rains, and the landscape is always changing.

Ensure roots sticking out of the ground don’t trip up your kids. There are several playgrounds, tennis courts, and picnic tables where you can unwind.

Location: Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

5. Morrison Riverfront Park

Morrison Riverfront Park may be a great way to welcome visitors to Aberdeen because it’s the first thing you see while coming from Olympia or Chehalis. Grays Harbor’s Morrison Park is located at the Chehalis River’s mouth.

The park’s facilities include picnic tables, a fishing/viewing dock, a kids’ play area, benches, historical informational plaques, and local artwork.

A 1.5 million dollar log pavilion has also been given to Aberdeen by the Rotary Club for its citizens.

A lease fee is necessary to keep it operating since it must be self-sustaining. Making bookings well in advance is feasible, and the area is great for various activities.

East of Morrison Park, a 1.35-mile paved path parallels the Chehalis River’s coastline. There is a shopping center at the west end of the park if you forget something while enjoying your picnic.

Location: 1301-2527 Olympic Hwy, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

6. Lake Aberdeen

Due to its closeness to a public park and a fish hatchery, Lake Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County is one of the most amazing spots to capture rainbow trout.

Rainbow trout are the sole prominent game fish in Lake Aberdeen, with some “big” rainbow trout measuring over six pounds.

The lake access would be a little less accessible if you went fishing somewhere that wasn’t a typical city park.

For the boat launch, you may also use unpaved gravel, which is appropriate for smaller boats but not for larger ones.

However, because of the ban on gasoline engines, smaller boats are the only practical choice.

Two docks are located on the south side, although fishing from the bank is more challenging throughout the rest of the shoreline.

Lake Aberdeen is open seasonally, like many trout lakes in Washington.

7. East Aberdeen Waterfront Walkway

The 6-foot-wide asphalt East Aberdeen Waterfront Walkway is situated on the north bank of the Chehalis River. This property’s previous use was as an industrial facility.

The ancient Weyerhaeuser Sawmill on the river’s south bank is still visible from the riverfront promenade.

The route passes through Morrison Riverfront Park, a well-liked recreation area in Aberdeen featuring a log pavilion, tables, and a viewing pier.

Along US 12, several retail establishments are directly and safely accessible. Visitors to the East Aberdeen Waterfront Walkway can park at Morrison Riverfront Park.

You may enter the parking lot from the intersection of S. Fleet St. and US 12.

Location: Aberdeen, WA 98520, USA

8. Westport Winery And Vineyards

The first winery in Grays Harbor County is Westport Winery and Vineyards, the farthest western vineyard operation in Washington State.

The charming family-run winery, which is situated halfway between Aberdeen and Westport, offers a broad range of organic fruits for the creation of fruit wines in addition to grape varieties that are ideal for growing in the mild marine environment of the Pacific Northwest.

All enterprises place a strong emphasis on sustainable farming methods, especially those that protect salmon.

The winery’s renowned Mermaid’s Merlot, Surfer’s Last Syrah, and Shorebird Chardonnay types are available for tasting seven days a week in the late afternoon to tourists.

On-site amenities include a stunning outdoor sculpture garden, a gourmet herb garden, and a farm-to-table restaurant.

Location: 1 South Arbor Road, Aberdeen, WA 98520

9. Kurt Cobain Memorial Park

The first official tribute to the iconic grunge music singer Kurt Cobain, well known as the frontman of the influential Pacific Northwest band Nirvana in the 1990s, is Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, also known as Kurt Cobain Landing.

The memorial garden was built in 2011 in the neighborhood of Felony Flats, next to the Young Street Bridge.

Aberdeen has managed it as a recognized city park since 2015. The lyrics of the Nirvana song “Something in the Way” are etched into an aluminum plaque close to the Young Street Bridge.

A granite headstone memorial within the park with the artist’s quotations etched. Fans of the band may also check out the city’s official welcome sign, which has the phrase “Come As You Are,” a reference to the song of the same name by the band.

Location: Young Street Bridge, At the end of E 2nd Street, Aberdeen, WA

10. Bottle Beach State Park

Near Aberdeen in the old settlement of Ocosta, Bottle Beach State Park is a picturesque 64-acre state park along the southern side of Grays Harbor.

The park is most renowned for being home to more than a million migrating shorebirds yearly, totaling more than 130 species.

These birds arrive in the area each spring and offer fantastic photography and nature viewing opportunities.

Visitors of all mobility levels can utilize the authorized Washington State Birding Trail, managed by the Audubon Society.

The boardwalk walkway in the park offers excellent chances for viewing and displaying the remains of a historic pier that served the boomtown of Ocosta in the 19th century.

There are camping options in the neighborhood at Twin Harbor and Grayland Beach.

Location: 33 Ocosta 3rd St, Aberdeen, WA

11. Driftwood Players Theater

The Driftwood Players Theater was established in 1959 by participants in a local civic choir performance of The Pajama Game, which took its name from the tradition of theater by the sea in the Aberdeen area.

Over the following few decades, theater performances such as Auntie Mame, The Drunkard, See How They Run, and Lily the Felon’s Daughter was shown in the city’s 1910 Essex Hotel carriage house.

Since 1981, plays have been performed at the city’s old Christian Science Society building, which the Aberdeen Lions Club helped to restore.

Visitors may watch theater performances annually, which are normally given quarterly and feature local talent.

Location: Aberdeen, WA 98520

12. Steam Donkey Brewing

Steam Donkey Brewing opened in March 2017 and was Aberdeen’s first locally-owned brewery since the 1940s. It is an awesome place to be if you love drinks.

The lovely artisan brewery is family-owned and run and has a public tasting room in the city’s downtown area. It is in honor of a significant invention that transformed the area’s historic logging business.

The company’s innovative signature beers, such as Pickup Limes Pale Ale, Burro de Vapor Mexican Lager, Kalaloch Kölsch, Gypsy Head Brown Porter, and Currant Situation Fruit Beer, are available by the pint.

The family-friendly microbrewery accepts visitors of all ages. Visitors are welcome to bring their outside food inside the taproom, even though no food is provided.

Location: 101 E Wishkah St, Aberdeen, WA

13. Aberdeen Washington Art Center

The Alder Grove Gallery, a branch of the Aberdeen Art Center in Aberdeen, Washington, features artwork by Grays Harbor-based artists.

The Aberdeen Art Center has something for every type of person! The Alder Grove Gallery, which features reasonably priced works by some of Washington’s top artists, is located there.

Every two months, the subjects of the exhibition change, and when paintings are sold, new ones are added to the collection. The artwork in the museum’s collection was acquired from Northwest galleries and institutions.

You can buy presents, jewelry, wall art, and more here. The first Friday open gallery event at the Art Center includes an open house, an art walk, food, and entertainment.

You could have the opportunity to speak with the gallery owners when you visit, who are always eager to discuss the pieces on exhibit.

Location: 200 W Market St, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

14. Young Street Bridge

The Young Street Bridge in North Aberdeen, WA, is a building that crosses the street.

It connects Aberdeen with the North Aberdeen region and other nearby communities for a brief stretch along the Wishkah River.

The bridge is said to have served as Kurt Cobain’s temporary home on several occasions. The lyrics of Something in the Way refer to this reality.

The pillars and beams of the bridge are covered with graffiti honoring Kurt Cobain and the Nirvana band members. Today, grunge fans, teens, or the homeless frequently congregate on the bridge.

Location: Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States

15. Extreme Fun Center

The Extreme Fun Center, Aberdeen’s top entertainment spot, is the best venue to have a party.

The public may now enjoy the roughly 7,000-square-foot entertainment facility finished in 2016.

We are certain to have the ideal party for you, your school, youth group, or even your company, with many alternatives.

Several activities are offered, including racing, bumper cars, mini-bowling, arcade games, and laser tag.

Visit the Extreme Fun Center at S. Boone Street for family-friendly activities, including heart-racing rides and laser-blasting games.

Location: 901 S Boone St, Aberdeen, WA 98520, United States