Not all coasts are lined with a gratuitous amount of seaside oyster shacks, oyster bars and oyster farms. Some are, though. The good ones. So let’s focus on those. Specifically, these five stretches of shoreline you can visit to partake in their many oyster-centric establishments, thereby ensuring your travels are never lacking in mollusks.
The Pedigree: Well, they call this stretch the Oyster Capital of the East Coast,
so...
The Oysters: They’ve got seven regions of distinct flavors, like the Nassawadox Salts of
the Bayside Eastern Shore and the sweet, buttery Rappahannock River oysters.
The Highlights: The Chef’s Table Tour at Pleasure House Oysters, where you dine knee-deep
in the sea. Ample oyster-and-craft-beer tours. Sunset cruising on Chesapeake Bay.
The Pedigree: Cold northern waters produce some damn unique oysters.
The Oysters: Try the Glidden Point, which is pretty much the gold standard of Maine
oysters. Oh, and the small, briny Basket Islands from Casco Bay.
The Highlights: Taking a wine-and-oyster river cruise on the Damariscotta. Drinking dark
Pemaquid Oyster Stout at the Marshall Wharf Brewing Company.
The Pedigree: Washington grows more species of oysters than anywhere else on earth, and
Puget Sound is a prolific oyster-producing region. Go to it.
The Oysters: The southern Puget Sound Olympias. Kumamotos. Shigokus. You can’t go
wrong.
The Highlights: Partaking in grilled oysters with chipotle-bourbon butter at the Hama Hama
oyster saloon. Grabbing some smoked oysters to go from the massive Taylor Shellfish Farms.
The Pedigree: Hog Island and Tomales Bay—two fine oyster farms—are neighbors on this
scenic stretch of California coast.
The Oysters: Don’t miss the Hog Island Sweetwaters. Or the mineral-forward Cliffsides. Or
the buttery Kumamotos. So keep your head on a swivel.
The Highlights: Shucking your own oysters on the bay where they grow. Grabbing a to-go bag
at the Hog Shack. Snacking on barbecued oysters at the Marshall Store.
The Pedigree: They’ve got the world’s most sustainable oyster industry and some
impressively clean waters. And pedigree aside, it means a trip to Australia.
The Oysters:: Sample the Sydney Rocks, Angasis and your standard Pacifics.
The Highlights: Loading oysters into your kayak on the Clyde River kayak tour. Fishing at
dusk in front of your Hobbs Point waterfront cottage. Being in Australia.
