The Hood Canal, located between the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, is a beautiful area to visit year-round and perfect for PNW adventures. It’s famous for marine life, oyster farms/aquaculture, charming small towns, and proximity to Olympic National Forest. The Hood Canal is a 2 hour drive from Seattle and 2.5 hours from Portland.
We were excited to check out Mike’s Beach Resort since it’s by far the most unique place we have stayed at due to their oyster U-pick/ farm and all their outdoor activities including scuba diving! We took our parents here who were visiting from out-of-state for a quintessential PNW experience (and yes, it’s pup friendly)
Mike’s Beach Resort
Mike’s Beach Resort has been a Hood Canal icon since the 1950s, and it’s still a family run business, now on its 4th generation. Located in Lilliwaup, Mike’s Beach Resort offers a variety of accommodations, from cozy cabins to RV spots and glamping tents. The area is divided into two parts – the waterfront side by the beach and Iliana’s Glamping Village across the highway.
What sets Mike’s Beach Resort apart is its connection to nature—guests can enjoy oyster hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and kayaking right from the shore, or simply relax by a campfire and watch the sunset over the Olympic Mountains.
The units are small, so we stayed at one of the waterfront cabins and one waterfront glamping tent. The accommodations are decorated in a cozy PNW style. Our cabin had a small kitchen, private bathroom, comfy beds, and even a TV. Our glamping tent had a romantic bed, fridge, microwave, portable heater, plus an open dining/seating area to enjoy the water views; there’s a separate shared public bathroom and shower. Do note that the highway is nearby, and you can hear occasional cars, so bring earplugs if you’re sensitive to noise. There’s good wi-fi in the cabins/glamping tents and throughout resort area.
I recommend the waterfront side; we were literally right by the water! It was amazing to fall asleep to sound of the waves against the shore and wake up to a sunrise by the mountains.
Of course, our pup Nike always comes on our trips, and Mike’s Beach Resort welcomes pets at their cabins and waterfront tents (no pets on the Glamping Village section for those who prefer pet free accommodations). The owners absolutely love dogs and provide a cute welcome basket for pups with bowls, treats, and blankets!
Outdoor Adventures
We spent the entire weekend outside in nature. We relaxed on the private U-pick shellfish beach, which is open for guests to harvest their own clams and oysters during low tide. There’s fishing opportunities with local guides for trout in the spring, shrimp and crab in the summer, and saltwater coho in the fall and winter. Don’t forget a WA shellfish or fishing license.
Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at the resort – Bryan explored the canal on a kayak during sunset and was amazed at the water’s calmness.
With its easy shore access, the Hood Canal is a popular spot for scuba diving – divers can spot Giant Pacific Octopus, wolf eels, lingcod, rockfish, nudibranchs, crab and more. There’s local scuba rentals, and Mike’s Beach Resort has a spot to fill your scuba tank with air. We didn’t have time, but we’re both scuba diving certified, so we need to come back for this!
Our girls enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt and got a little prize when they completed it! They also had a lot of fun digging on the rocky beach, collecting oyster shells, and running around the playground on Mike’s Beach Resort (playing with the owner’s friendly grandkids, who are close in age).
In the evening, we roasted s’mores at the fire pit in the common area, as we watched the sun set on the water. During the summers, there’s live music with local artists. The weekend we stayed, it happened to be the birthday of Mike’s wife’s (Iliana, whom the glamping village is named after). Mike and the family had a big BBQ (inviting and feeding the resort guests), and sang karaoke in a big celebration – it was awesome to meet the many family members that run Mike’s Beach Resort / Olympic Oyster Co, as well as other resort guests.
One final tip: Don’t forget bug spray!
Olympic Oyster Co
We had the pleasure of chatting with Sara and Matthew, the family members who launched Olympic Oyster Co as a branch of Mike’s Beach Resort, to learn more about oyster farming.
“Our U-Pick oyster farm has been a cornerstone of Mike’s Beach Resort from the very beginning, offering guests a unique gastrotourism experience long before the term became popular. For decades, guests have enjoyed the opportunity to stay with us and, with a shellfish license, harvest their daily limit of oysters and clams.
Eight years ago, we expanded by launching a commercial venture called Olympic Oyster Co., which now supplies oysters to about a dozen restaurants in Seattle with great success.
From October through June, we focus on our wholesale business, while the summer months are dedicated to farming. Our two pickers, Nate and Shyana, are locals with shellfish farming in their blood, working tough hours—often in the middle of the night and through harsh winter weather—to harvest the best shellfish. Dave, our expert farmer, brings extensive knowledge of bivalve cultivation and oversees the farming process. Matthew manages the entire operation, personally delivering fresh oysters to restaurants every Friday.
What sets us apart is the unique experience we offer. Guests can stay onsite and immerse themselves in the world of oysters, and thanks to our small-scale operation, our oysters are harvested and delivered within 24 hours—never placed in holding tanks—ensuring maximum freshness.
This year, we’re excited to host our first-ever Oyster Palooza, an event that unites Mike’s Beach Resort and Olympic Oyster Co. We’re introducing ‘Sea to Suite’ Oyster Kits—room service oysters delivered right to your room—and offering master classes on oyster shucking, giving guests the chance to deepen their oyster knowledge and refine their shucking skills” – Sara
We got to listen to a portion of the Oyster Masterclass, where Matthew taught us newbies how to shuck oysters properly (“twist, don’t stab”). We learned about the life cycle and varieties of oysters, the demanding farming process, and the gastronomic history of oysters (which is as extensive as wine culture/tasting). Sara also gave us a quick tour of their aquafarm and watershed, located a short walk from the cabins. In addition to their farmed oysters in bags, they also have lots of wild natural oysters, and I had never seen so many oysters in my life!
Finally, we got to put our shucking skills to the test with their brand new Sea to Suite Kit, and while I’m no oyster connoisseur, the oysters were absolutely delicious, and we grilled it (while Sara says “freshly shucked on the beach with nothing on it” is the way to go, I’m still team cooked oysters).
Exploring Hood Canal
A short 15 min drive get you to the closest towns, Brinnon up north or Hoodsport down south. A must do is Hama Hama Oyster Saloon, which is a very famous dining farm-to-table eatery, offering fresh oysters harvested directly from Hood Canal. They have adorable A frames you can reserve by the water, and lines get long. Our favorite dish was their roasted oysters with chipotle bourbon butter and purple savory clams in coconut green curry.
For other eating options: we loved the coffee and ice cream from Hoodsport Coffee Company so much we visited twice (check out their iconic Octopus mural). Other recommendations are the Overboard Pizza from Crow’s Nest Bistro and Café (next to Pleasant Harbor Marina), and Captain’s Crew Seafood platter from The Halfway House Restaurant.
We also drove to Lake Cushman Lookout for gorgeous water views and hiked to Rocky Brook Falls, which is a short, easy trail with a beautiful 345 foot waterfall at the end.
Heading Home
A weekend at Mike’s Beach Resort / Olympic Oyster Co on Hood Canal is the perfect blend of relaxation and outdoor adventure. With its rustic charm, rich history, and incredible natural surroundings, this unique PNW destination offers something for everyone – couples on a romantic getaway, a family reunion, outdoorsy parents bringing their kids in nature, a friends’ trip, foodies looking for a gastronomic tour, even camp-style weddings.
We’re looking forward to returning since there’s so much to do and explore!
Natalie Uy and Bryan Holand
Natalie Uy and Bryan Holand
About Us: Natalie and Bryan chronicle their travels while being full time physicians, hence the name “Adventures on Call”. When not treating patients in the hospital, they’re out hiking mountains, doing freelance photography work, and exploring the PNW. Nike is a sheltie mix (or “freckled fox”) and the perfect hiking and travel companion. You can follow their adventures @adventuresoncall
