Oysters are available year round at local farms in Mason County waters including South Puget Sound and Hood Canal, but according to the folks at Alderbrook Resort and Spa in Union, the best month for oysters on Hood Canal is April and that's why they "shell"-ebrate  with some great oyster-centric events for guests and visitors.

A new business in a small town rarely finds its place and succeeds in just a year. However, Marmo, a café and arts space in downtown Shelton, has achieved this. Recently marking its first anniversary, Marmo has become a favored meeting spot for the community, combining art, culture, and excellent coffee.

AFS-USA, a top high school student exchange program for over 75 years, invites families from the Greater Puget Sound area to host international students. Hosting allows individuals and families to learn about new cultures and share their community with someone from another country.

This issue of the Fjord celebrates our local fall festivals including OysterFest and the Quilcene Fair & Parade amongst many other reasons to celebrate the harvest of the sea and shore. It's Fall y'all! One of the prettiest times of the year for Hood Canal!

We are excited to be creating the 2024 Festival of the Firs community guidebook! Show your support for our fantastic holiday spirit by reserving space and sending your stories and events to be included in this publication!

Prolonged delays in septic engineering have caused the Fjord Oyster Bank restaurant to be closed for the better part of the year but it is expected to reopen in September. Zach wrote about his experiences working with Xinh and th plans for the restaurant menu when we reopen.

We’ve had a lot of requests and we’ve got lots of great oysters so we’re setting up deliveries each week and launching this week with the July 4th festivities on Thursday & Saturday! Select below to help us launch this service.

Vance Creek Railriders opens May 18 for the season. Have you made your reservations yet?

Forest Festival is coming up in May! Check out all the great community events and offer your support! .

Over 2.5 miles of trails and many acres of forests and tidelands, plus the historic homestead, it's a great place to head out and explore.

Jeff and Stefanie head out to find the train from the 1961 movie "Ring Of Fire". This is a difficult trek down the about 140' with ropes that have been placed by others.

Located in Hoodsport on Hood Canal, YSS Dive offers cold water dive training, tours, equipment and more.

Tracing the Fjord had a chance to talk with Chief Deputy Ryan Spurling from Mason County Sheriff's Office about how to be water safe this summer.

Dosewallips State Park consists of more than 1000 acres of prime wildlife habitat along the Dosewallips River at its delta on Hood Canal. Well-known for its campground and excellent fishing and shell fishing opportunities, the park also contains nearly five miles of hiking trails.

Kristian Bush from the hit country band Sugarland talks about his influences, Sugarland, touring, producing, and more. Bush will be returning to Union in July 2024.

Looking at Shelton and Mason County as a Blue Zone community.

Sarah & Austin, owners of the Glen-Ayr Canal Resort in Hoodsport, talk about running a coastal resort. Glen Ayr has plenty of long time customers and a fantastic location on Hood Canal.

Shelton’s new Lincoln Gym Memorial Basketball Courts located where the old Lincoln Gym was back around 1909. Get out and enjoy playing or watching hoops or pickleball when they get the nets setup.

Jeff catches up with Lissa at Hama Hama Oysters . From the Instagram A-Frames to the Shell Pile, Hama Hama has something for everyone.

Erin Ranney, Wildlife Cinematographer, graduated from Shelton High School. Erin now works with BBC, PBS, Smithsonian, Disney+ and National Geographic.