What do you picture when you think about Dungeness crab? Maybe it’s a family dinner with a pile of crab legs on the table, along with plenty of butter. Maybe it’s a crab cake, crispy and hot off the pan. Maybe you don’t picture Newport, Oregon–a bustling coastal town, an easy drive away from Seattle. But if you don’t, you should: Newport is the Dungeness Crab Capital of the World ®.

Speaking of that short drive, if crab is starting to sound good, there’s no better time to take a cruise down to Newport for a seafood-filled getaway. Generally, commercial Dungeness crab season runs from sometime in December through August, but the peak of the season is during winter and early spring, slowing down a bit around April. The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission makes the final decision on when the season opens, they check to make sure the crabs have had enough time to mature and develop meat before giving the green light. This year, the season didn’t open until mid-January. A wealth of lodging and dining options make it easy to be spontaneous with a visit. (You can check out Discover Newport for trip planning tips and other must-dos in the area.) 

While hard-working fishermen and innovative freezing techniques have made it possible to enjoy delicious crab all year, there’s nothing like eating a Dungeness crab freshly caught at the height of the season. The meat is always sweet and tender, but the freshness (and maybe a view of the water while you eat) catapults it to another level.

While you feast, you’re in good company. Dungeness crab have been enjoyed for centuries by the indigenous people living along the coast (you can find Dungeness crab from California to Alaska, with the majority harvested in the Pacific Northwest). It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that the first commercial fisheries in the area began to emerge, bringing this delicacy, named for a little Washington fishing village called Dungeness, onto appreciative plates and menus all over the world.

In Newport, Dungeness crab is everywhere. You can sit and observe the bayfront, watching the boats come in and out, bringing their catch. Crab is on menus, in fish markets, even for sale down at the dock, fresh out of the water. For many, it might be a delicacy, but for Newport, it’s also a big part of the heartbeat of the community.

If you’re itching for some hands-on adventure, you can give crabbing a try (you’ll want to do your homework first to make sure you’re complying with local requirements and have all the right gear; check out the Dungeness Crab Trail for everything you need to know). Get crabbing from land, or charter a boat if you’re ready to get your feet wet.

Maybe you don’t need to catch the crab, but you’d like to cook it? Get some tips from the fisherman or from the fish market. You can buy whole, living crabs, crab meat, or just about anything in between, depending on your needs and how much work you want to put in to make dinner happen. Even if you only try it once, you’ll gain an appreciation for everything that goes into getting a crab from the sea to your plate–which might make it taste even better.

However you want your crab, Newport can make it happen.