Crab Shack in Newport, Oregon

There comes a time in every menu blogger's life when she needs to get away from the 107 degree heat and the exciting, tumultuous world of menu design and restaurant marketing, and head to the shore.

Oh, right. They don't call it the shore out west. My bad.

Next week, I'll be taking off on Wednesday and driving up the coast to Newport, Oregon, for some much-needed time off, cool breezes and seafood. To say that I am excited for the seafood would be an understatement—other than good mussels on my birthday, I haven't eaten good seafood in months.

Stop #1 will be the Drift Inn in Yachats, Oregon, on Highway 101. Don't let the simple menu fool you—I've had some seriously yummy seafood specials at this fun, funky joint. I especially like the halibut in a hazelnut-blackberry sauce that pops up occasionally on their specials menu.

But what I am looking forward to most of all is visiting what my husband calls "The Crab Cooker." I'm not even sure of its real name; all I know is that it has a big sign out front that says CRAB. If that's not the epitome of a crab shack, I don't know what is.

Our Crab Shack Menu captures the casual fun of the local crab shack. Looking at it, I realize that I can't wait to tear into a fresh Dungeness crab.