Long Beach Peninsula
The longest beach in the United States is on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula.
You’ll remember the peninsula for a long time after you leave. The endless stretch of beach is peaceful and beautiful, from taking a deep breath of fresh sea air to sitting by a fire and watching the Milky Way. The peninsula is in the southwest part of Washington State. Its cute beach towns and laid-back culture make for a truly authentic experience. Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula has a lot to offer: history, excitement, great food, and beautiful scenery.
Peaceful beaches and lots of nature
This peninsula is a natural paradise with 45 kilometers of beautiful beach, steep basalt cliffs, thick old-growth woods, and six state parks. The beach is a great place to relax and explore. Horseback rides, bonfires, biking, photography, and watching wildlife are some of the things that can be done. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment State Park is a good place to look for humpback whales. Check out what’s left of coastal forts.
As you walk through the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, you can wrap your arms around big trees. The best time to see birds in this area is during the fall migration. Also, don’t miss the chance to take beautiful pictures at the North Head Lighthouse and the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, which is the oldest lighthouse on the US West Coast that is still in use. From the Long Beach Boardwalk, you can see a lot of scenery, and maybe even a beautiful sunset.
History and culture of the sea
The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center is part of the Lewis & Clark National Historical Park and lets you learn about the area’s history of sailing. At the Pacific Coast Cranberry Museum, you can walk through cranberry bogs that are still used for farming. At the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, you can learn about interesting local history.
At the World Kite Museum, where the Washington State International Kite Festival takes place, you can see beautiful kites from around the world. History buffs will love Fort Columbia Historic State Park because it has buildings and guns that have been kept in great shape. The 13.7-kilometer Discovery Trail is named after the Lewis and Clark journey. Along the way, you’ll find interpretive panels and art installations.
Long Beach Is Unique
People know the Long Beach Peninsula for its very fresh fish, especially its oysters. Willapa Bay is one of the best places in the world to grow oysters. At the north end of the peninsula, in the historic town of Oysterville, you can see the bay in all its glory. You can get fresh oysters to cook on the grill at Oysterville Sea Farm.
Book a fishing trip from Ilwaco, which is at the southern end of the peninsula, to go on a world-class fishing trip with experts from the area. You can get some of the best Dungeness crab, salmon, Albacore tuna, and other fresh seafood in the Pacific Northwest at any of the seafood shops in the area.