Visit Kalama for dining, lodging, music and more
By Greg Johnson
Sunny summer Pacific Northwest days are ideal for visiting the quaint town of Kalama and its majestic Columbia River waterfront.
On the waterfront, visitors enjoy dining and staying at McMenamin’s Kalama Harbor Lodge, as well as walking along the trail past playgrounds and public parks and taking in a concert at the Westin Amphitheater, an outdoor entertainment venue with stunning river views.
The amphitheater comes alive on Wednesday and Thursday evenings with a full slate of concerts from 6-9 p.m. Upcoming concerts include rock and blues from the JT Wise Band on July 9; 1,000 Year Flood on July 10; acoustic duo Wilson Jones on July 16; Billy D and the Hoodoos on July 17; and Guava Jam on July 24.
Performing Aug. 6 is Olympia band the Lumen, described as a band of “jammers, explorers, song smiths and rhythm-makers.” The soul, funk, jazz and blues band’s performances are heavily influenced by the Grateful Dead, the Band and Bob Dylan.
The 5-acre day-use Marine Park is bordered by scenic walking and bicycle pathways. Newly expanded public beaches are favorite places for fishing, windsurfing and sunbathing.
The walk features the Lelooska totem pole, the tallest totem pole in Washington. Years of weathering forced the removal of the pole from the waterfront in 2019. It was restored and re-dedicated last year. The totem pole — and three smaller poles at the Port of Kalama waterfront — were all commissioned by William J. Wineberg, a local businessman who once owned an American Indian museum in downtown Kalama.
“We recognize that Kalama is within the ancestral lands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and that totem poles are part of the culture of the indigenous people found in present-day British Columbia and Southeastern Alaska,” said Port Commissioner Randy Sweet. “The Lelooska totem pole was carved in Kalama and has become synonymous with the port’s waterfront.”
The centerpiece of the waterfront is Kalama Harbor Lodge, inspired by the Hawaiian heritage of local historical figure John Kalama. The lodge, reminiscent of the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, Maui, features art, local history and secret rooms on each floor leading up to the rooftop Cloud Bar, which features expansive river views.
Each guestroom is named after local historical figures. The stained-glass Holoholo Room and Poly-nesian-inspired Harbor Lounge are great places to enjoy a beverage and watch the rolling river.
Visitors seeking souvenirs of their time on the waterfront can find art and unique goods at the Mountain Timber Market. The market features locally sourced food and crafted goods.
History buffs will want to visit the Port of Kalama’s Interpretive Center. The center explores how transportation influenced Kalama, Native American and settler history.
Wrap up your Kalama visit with a tour of the city’s antique shops and a delicious meal at the Lucky Dragon, Playa Azul II and Willie Dicks.
Port of Kalama
110 W. Marine Drive, Kalama
360-673-2325
Greg Johnson is a travel writer for The Messenger.