The pacific northwest hosts a variety of treasures and gems such as Long Beach. It's a quiet beach town with a family-friendly vibe. Are you looking for what to do at Long Beach, Washington? Keep reading as we explore where to grab delicious food and where to find the action. Visit the "World's Longest Continuous Peninsula Beach" for some fun and relaxation!
Where to Eat a Meal
Before we get into what to do at Long Beach, Washington, let's talk about what's really important - FOOD! The beach is gorgeous, the shops are fun and the people are friendly, but let's make sure our bellies will be happy too! We left Portland around seven in the morning, so by the time we made the two-ish hour drive up to Long Beach, we were ready for some breakfast. We ate at Pickled Fish, which is on the third/top floor of Adrift Hotel. Every window from the restaurant had amazing views of the beach and lush surrounding forest.
Other dining options for a big beach bonanza include:
- The Chowder Stop has the BEST clam chowder. Try their unique Chowder Fries, which is basically like Canadian poutine, but with hot New England clam chowder smothering French fries.
- Stop by Castaways Seafood Grille for delicious and fresh fish and chips. If you're more in the mood for a steak, salad or burger, they have that too. But when you're in sight of the beautiful Pacific Ocean, why not get some fried fish or clams?
Where to Eat a Snack
If you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth or carb-cravings, head straight to Dylan's Cottage Bakery. We snagged an uber-chocolate muffin and a pecan honey pastry. Both were divine. The bakery is just a ten minute walk from the boardwalk and beach, so you can take a short stroll whenever you get the munchies. And I must say, nothing beats eating fresh sweet pastries on the beach with the ocean waves caressing the sandy shore.
What to Do at Long Beach, Washington for Fun!
Horse Riding!
There are two spots just minutes from the beach to be able to book a horse ride! Availability depends on the season and day of the week, so it's best to call ahead if you can. We stopped by Long Beach Horse Rides on a Sunday around 10 am, and they had plenty of spots open for us to join their 2:30 pm ride that same day. And nearly right across the street is West Coast Horse Rides. We didn't take a ride along the sandy trails, but it's on the bucket list for our next visit!
Marsh's Free Museum!
Are you ready to see the weird, unimaginable and down right creepy? Marsh's Free Museum at Long Beach has oddities like a stuffed two-headed cow, a mounted barn owl on steroids, a jackelope, vacuums from the early 1900's, a mermaid, and much more! The museum is connected to a store where you can buy seashells, post cards, clothing and other fun merchandise.
Note that they are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in case you're planning a weekday trip and want to catch these crazy creatures.
Drive Your Car on the Beach!
Is driving on the beach allowed where you live? Driving your car out on the beach is allowed at Long Beach, WA and this was a total novelty for me! This was probably the coolest thing I found when searching for what to do at Long Beach, Washington. And I felt like I was a total outlaw breaking the rules when I drove my little Honda onto the sandy beach! I was hooting and hollering the hole time as I was giddy with the thrill of adrenaline.
If you've never driven a car on a sandy beach, there are a few critical things to think about.
First, if you have a smaller two-wheel-drive rig like mine, try to only drive on wetter packed sand. If you try to drive on loose, shifting dry sand, you could get stuck. Which would not be fun.
The second thing to think about is that the tide at Long Beach has a massive water level difference. If you drive your car out during low tide and think you're a safe distance away from the water, you might just wake up from a nap and find your car is about to be washed away into the ocean! So keep an eye on the water level and keep your car a safe distance from the water.
What Else to Do Near Long Beach?
If you have time, here are a few side trips to make your beach day even more fun!
If you're driving from the south, you'll likely drive through Astoria, Oregon - the film location of many scenes from the movie The Goonies! There are a ton of things to do in Astoria! Take a beautiful river walk or visit Fort Astoria, which was built by fur traders back in the early 1800's!
We stopped at Camp 18 on Highway 26 about an hour and half into our trip home from Long Beach. The restaurant was closed due to a heat advisory since we took this beach trip when it was 115°F! If you walk down the gravel slope behind the restaurant, you can cool off and enjoy the sounds of a trickling stream at Humbug Creek.
Read more info about Camp 18 here!
More Pacific Northwest Travel Posts
- Visiting the Portland Rose Garden
- Apple Picking Near Mount Hood
- Exploring Camp 18
- A Weekend at Timberline Lodge
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- 6 Best Places for Sunset on Oahu
- 10 Best Hikes on Oahu
- Best Food on Oahu
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Yum-number1
This looks such a relaxing and cute gateway to take your family to or just significant other, thanks for sharing this! I can't wait to hear more about other trips you take!
strawberryandcream
Aww thank you! It was a really fun and exciting yet still relaxing day 🙂
Azilde Elizabeth
Super cool! And beautiful! I've heard of beaches you can drive on but I haven't gone yet. On my list lol I'm glad you had a great time! â¤ï¸
strawberryandcream
It was so much fun! It definitely had me feeling like a rebel. 😎
Are there beaches near where you are located that allow cars to drive on it?
Azilde Elizabeth
Haha right!! 😎 there is one I've heard of in Cape Cod but I didn't end up going when I went. I'll have to go so cool!