Hey there! Are you feeling burnt out from your busy work schedule and craving a weekend away from it all? Well, why not head out to one of our amazing beach towns, Long Beach, Washington?
About a 3-4 hour drive from the Seattle area, (depending on traffic of course) Long Beach is Washington’s most southern beach. It is almost to the border of Oregon, where the Columbia River enters the Pacific Ocean. Along with the quaint little towns of Seaview and Ilwaco.
This cute little town is a great destination for a weekend getaway. From great beaches to gorgeous hiking and biking trails, Long Beach has something for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready for a bit of relaxing in the sun…maybe (you never know around here). Either way, sun or no sun, Long Beach is a great place to go visit.
First things first, let's talk about the beach. Long Beach is home to one of the longest continuous beaches in the world - 28 miles of sandy shoreline to be exact. You can spend hours strolling along the beach, the boardwalk, or the trails, soaking up the sun (again, maybe) and listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. And if you're feeling adventurous, you can even try your hand at surfing or paddle boarding.
If you really want to get a good hike or biking session in, try the Discovery Trail. This trail is an 8.5-mile-long paved trail that stretches from the Port of Ilwaco to the north end of the Long Beach boardwalk, with several different access points in between. It passes Cape Disappointment and Beard's Hollow, both amazing places to see beautiful wetlands and coastline views.
After working up an appetite, it's time to check out some of the delicious local food. Long Beach is known for its fresh, locally caught seafood, and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. There is the Pickled Fish, located on the top floor of the Adrift Hotel. With panoramic views of the beach and delicious food and drinks, it's the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or a night out with friends. The Adrift is also a perfect place to stay. After a delicious meal and a good night's sleep, head out in the morning to the beach or the boardwalk. They also have bicycles in the lobby for you to use to check out that Discovery tail.
Some other local spots to dine, that are right along the main path, are:
The North Beach Tavern is a great little place to have a beer and some oyster shooters. They also have an incredible pizza menu. We have enjoyed some beer and oyster shooters in their outdoor dining area, watching the “hustle and bustle” of the little town.
The Crab Pot, with their amazing SeaFest meals…ya know, the kind where they dump a bowl of delicious seafood, corn on the cob, sausage, and potatoes on the table and tell you to dig in. My son and I loved going there simply to grab some chowder and fries. Their fries are delish!
Captain Bob’s Chowder is a cute little mom-and-pop shop in a shopping area that serves clam chowder in bread bowls, crab cakes, and crab rolls. Perfect quick, ocean town comfort food.
The Lost Roo is a great local spot to sit down and enjoy some tasty beverages, oyster shooters, chowder, fish and chips, fish tacos, or a good old-fashioned cheeseburger.
But Long Beach isn't just about the beach and seafood. There are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained. For example, you can take a scenic drive to Cape Disappointment State Park, where you can explore the lighthouse and hike through the forest. I personally love the lighthouse at Cape Disappointment. It is my favorite in Washington. It is also the first lighthouse in Washington and as you approach, it seems to shout that fact out at you. The hike up to it is very awe-inspiring with a very old-world vibe. Fort Canby surrounds the area as well and adds to the slightly intimidating awe of the place.
There is also the nearby North Head Lighthouse to go explore. The parking lot here fills up quite quickly in the summertime, so keep that in mind. The lighthouse keepers' houses are also vacation rentals. This is definitely something that I would like to do sometime.
If you are feeling more laid back, and don’t wish to explore the lighthouses and wilderness, you can browse the local shops and art galleries, or simply relax at your hotel or rental house. There are many vacation rentals here and in nearby Ocean Park. Ocean Park is where my family gets a vacation rental every summer for the 4th of July, which is an exciting time to be in Long Beach. It also gets quite busy, and last year finding somewhere to eat the day after the 4th was like mission impossible. If you are interested in the vacation rentals available in Long Beach and Ocean Park, check out Bloomer Estates, which is who we go through each year and they are fantastic.
There are plenty of other options for stays if vacation rentals aren’t your speed. As previously mentioned, the Adrift Hotel at the beach is amazing.
The Breakers is another great place to stay. They have an indoor pool and an outside hot tub, which I love. We have stayed there a couple of times and the rooms are comfy and affordable with nice ocean views.
The Mermaid Inn is a quaint place on the main stretch of road between Long Beach and Ocean Park. The staff is super friendly and they are pet friendly. Double win.
If you are headed out there with the kiddos, hanging out around town is going to be tons of fun. They have the Funland arcade and laser tag, go-karts, the cranberry museum, the World Kite Museum, Marsh’s Free Museum, where you can pick up some cool shirts and trinkets (reminds me a lot of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle), plus horse rides on the beach and of course, kite flying. Finish all of that off with some yummy ice cream at Scoopers Market. The market also has some basic grocery supplies if needed and again, the line can get pretty long in the summertime, so be aware of that.
All in all, Long Beach, Washington is a great weekend getaway destination. Whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation, or just some good old-fashioned fun, this charming coastal town has it all. So what are you waiting for? Get out there! Go explore!
