16 Fun Things to Do in Long Beach, WA

In many ways, the beaches along the coast of the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington are not typical of the Pacific Northwest. While you can find a few impressive basalt cliffs here, most of the peninsula is covered with flat grassy dunes, wetlands, and Sitka spruce forests. This area of the coast also tends to get overlooked by tourists and is a good destination if you’re looking for picturesque beaches and a quintessential beach town feel without the crowds. At 2.5 hours away from Portland and a little over 3 hours from Seattle, Long Beach can be a fun day trip or long weekend. Bring your kids, your friends, and your dog when you check out the best things to do in Long Beach, Washington.

1. Explore Cape Disappointment State Park

Pass required: Discovery Pass required, $10/day or $30/year. Pay stations are available near the parking areas.

Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome.

While most of the Long Beach Peninsula is lined with flat, sandy beaches, Cape Disappointment on its southern tip is the exception. The cape got its name in 1788 when British trader John Meares mistook the Columbia River for a bay, a conclusion that disappointed him. Rest assured that nothing is disappointing about the scenery. Lighthouses stand on rocky cliffs overlooking the waves where the Columbia River flows out into the Pacific Ocean. Pine forests cover dramatic basalt formations that surround secluded beaches.

Both the natural beauty of the park and its manmade features make Cape Disappointment, in my opinion, the best thing to do in Long Beach. There are so many things to see at this park that it could easily occupy a full day. Here is what you can do at Cape Disappointment State Park:

See the two lighthouses: Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and North Head Lighthouse. The hike to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is a hilly 0.5-mile out-and-back trail that will take you past Deadman’s Cove. The trail to North Head Lighthouse is an easy 0.6-mile loop hike. Both have incredible views of the Pacific.
Visit Deadman’s Cove. If you take the trail to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, you can’t miss catching a glimpse of the ethereal Deadman’s Cove, which has the look of a secret pirate hideout. A single pine tree grows on top of a tiny rocky island surrounded by towering basalt cliffs. From the trail to the lighthouse, look for a short, steep trail that forks off to the right that will lead you to the cove.

*Abandoned Battery 247 at Mackenzie Head*

Explore the eerie military battery on Mackenzie Head. Nature is slowly reclaiming these abandoned bunkers that were active during WWII, giving them a creepy, post-apocalyptic feel.
See the driftwood at Waikiki Beach. Cliffs flank this picturesque beach, which offers a great view of Cape Disappointment Lighthouse from below.
Check out the 8 miles of hiking trails through old-growth pine forests.
Visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center ($5 admission) to learn about the history of the area.
Walk along the sands of Benson Beach. There are 2 miles of tranquil, isolated coastline to explore at Benson Beach. You can see North Head Lighthouse overlooking the beach. Make sure to look for the excellent pillow basalt formations on the cliff face to the north.
Stay the night at one of the campgrounds.

2. Long Beach Boardwalk

Distance: 0.5 miles (one way)

Pass required: None, free parking is available at either end of the boardwalk.

Dog friendly: Yes

If you only do one thing in the town of Long Beach, I would suggest heading to the Long Beach boardwalk. The 0.5-mile boardwalk runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean through grassy dunes, providing views of the cliffs of Cape Disappointment to the south as well as miles of sandy coastline. Enjoy the sun on a nice day or watch the clouds roll in on a stormy one. It’s a great place to watch the fireworks if you visit on July 4th or the Kite Flying Festival in late August. Once you reach the end of the boardwalk, you can return the way you came or head into town and walk through downtown Long Beach on the way back to the car.

*Access to public beach access at Long Beach*

3. Walk on the World’s Longest Beach

Distance: Up to 28 miles

Pass required: None, free parking available.

Dog friendly: Yes

I want to clear this up right away: Long Beach is not the longest beach in the world. According to World Atlas, that honor goes to Praia do Cassino in Brazil at 150 miles long. Long Beach is also not the longest beach in the United States, being beaten out slightly by Virginia Beach. That being said, Long Beach has 28 miles of sandy coastline, so even being the world’s eighth-longest beach, there is plenty to explore. Watch the waves roll in as you walk, bike, or drive along the generous stretches of sandy beaches.

*Whale sculpture on the Discovery Trail*

4. Discovery Trail

Distance: 8.5 miles (one way)

Pass required: None, free parking available at either end of the trail.

Dog friendly: Yes, although be aware of bikers on the trail.

The Discovery Trail is an incredible shared walking and biking path that is undeniably one of the best things to do in Long Beach. The trail runs from the town of Long Beach to the Port of Ilwaco through some of the best scenery of the Long Beach Peninsula, including a short detour to include North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park. Look for sculptures, art installations, and interpretive information along the trail. You’ll travel through both forests and grassy dunes with ample opportunities to admire the ocean along the way.

The Discovery Trail is paved and 17 miles long as a roundtrip. Unless you are a very accomplished walker, I’d suggest going by bike if you want to see the entire trail. Long Beach has bike rental shops just a few blocks away from the Discovery Trail. Otherwise, there is great scenery throughout, so feel free to do as much or as little of the trail as you want.

5. Drive out to Leadbetter Point State Park

Distance: There are several options for hiking trails with distances ranging from about 1-8 miles. The trails are flat, easy, and family-friendly.

Pass required: Discovery Pass required, $10/day or $30/year.

Dog friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are allowed.

The Long Beach Peninsula ends at Leadbetter Point located at its northern tip. Here the Pacific Ocean flows into the protected Willapa Bay. It is a haven for migrating birds, especially in the springtime (more on that below), and a destination for photographers.

Leadbetter Point State Park is a 30-minute drive north from the town of Long Beach and feels worlds away from the bustle of a beach town. The park has miles of hiking trails through forests of Sitka spruce. On the eastern side, you can look for birds in the calm waters of Willapa Bay or take a trail west to see the waves of the Pacific.

6. Go birdwatching

The entire Long Beach Peninsula offers great birdwatching potential, including many migratory bird species. While birdwatching is one of the best things to do in Long Beach no matter where you are on the peninsula, here are some good spots to check out:

Cape Disappointment State Park has rocky cliffs that serve as nesting sites for cormorants in the spring. Waikiki Beach is a good place to look for them.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge provides large swathes of protected habitat for both seabirds and shorebirds. There are too many species to list here, but dedicated birders can download the wildlife refuge’s checklist that breaks down species by the season you can see them.
Leadbetter Point State Park has hosted over 180 bird species on its grounds. Spring is an especially good time to visit when many migratory species will be present. It is a breeding site for snowy plovers during part of the year.

If you are a truly dedicated birder, you may want to plan your trip around the Wings over Willapa Festival in late September, which celebrates the birds of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. There are tons of activities and field trips during the festival, including opportunities to go birding with experts.

You might also spot other animals besides birds. Roosevelt elk, bears, beavers, seals, whales, and orcas have been sighted on and around the Long Beach Peninsula. I’d recommend bringing a good pair of binoculars when you visit.

7. Visit the World Kite Museum and Store

Cost: Admission is $6.00 Adults, $5.00 Seniors, $4.00 children.

The peninsula sees a lot of windy days that make kite-flying one of the best things to do in Long Beach. Kites are so popular here that Long Beach hosts the Washington State International Kite Flying Festival during the third week of August every year, which is both a celebration of kites and a kite-flying competition. If you aren’t able to make it to the festival, you can check out the splendor of kites past and present at the World Kite Museum. The museum contains some remarkable kites and provides a history of kite-flying through the years. If the museum inspires you, you can pick up a kite at the store and take it down the street to the beach.

8. Marsh’s Free Museum

Located right in the heart of Long Beach, Marsh’s Free Museum is a gift shop with an impressive collection of oddities on display. Think old-fashioned traveling circus meets beach town convenience store. It is a tourist trap in the best way and easily one of the best things to do in Long Beach.

Merchandise covers the usual souvenirs like sweatshirts, toys, and seashells as well as some oddball items like iridescent swords. Scattered amongst these wares are various relics that make up the “museum.” There are buoys from old ships, a test-your-strength machine, nickelodeons, and a stuffed two-headed calf. The highlight of the oddness is in the back corner, where you will find Jake the Alligator Man of bumper sticker fame.

9. Stay in a vintage trailer

There are plenty of hotel rooms, RV parks, and campsites in and around Long Beach, but nothing quite matches the fun of the vintage trailers at the Sou’wester Historic Lodge & Vintage Trailer Resort. You can choose your level of rustic based on your trailer, some of which offer private bathrooms and kitchenettes. The park is surrounded by woods and close enough to the ocean to hear the waves. There are many communal spaces to discover, like a decommissioned school bus that shows short films, a thrift shop trailer, and a geodesic dome hang spot. More than just being a place to crash, exploring the Sou’wester is one of the best things to do in Long Beach in its own right.

10. Have dinner with an ocean view

Like anywhere on the Pacific Coast, one of the best things to do in Long Beach is watch the sunset. Perhaps the most impressive view in town is from the top of the Adrift Hotel at the hotel’s restaurant, Pickled Fish. The restaurant’s windows look out onto the Pacific from four stories up, offering a rare ocean panorama from above in an otherwise flat area. It also makes for a good place to watch storms come in while being protected from the elements. Eat pizza with a beer, glass of wine, or craft cocktail while you watch the waves.

11. Visit the tasting room at Adrift Distillers

While beer is pretty much always a safe bet at the coast, finding quality spirits is not always such a sure thing. Know that you will be in good hands when you visit the tasting room at Adrift Distillers in Long Beach. The distillery makes artisanal spirits, including classics like vodka, gin, and whiskey, as well as specialty products with local flair like their cranberry liquor. Have a tasting while you do your holiday (and personal) shopping.

12. Horseback riding

Long, open stretches of sandy beaches make horseback riding one of the best things to do in Long Beach. There are a couple of companies in town that rent horses for guided one or two-hour rides on the beach. This activity is also the most expensive you will find on this list and might be more of a special occasion adventure. An hour on the beach will be about $50 for adults and children ages 7 & up. If you’re traveling with younger children, you might want to check out the $5 pony rides near the stable.

13. Try out the mini golf course and go-cart track

In the unlikely event you are looking to spend some time away from the beach, one of the best things to do in Long Beach is to check out the games and attractions a few blocks inland. The whole town seems like it was designed for family vacations. Just down the road from the World Kite Museum, you can find a variety of other kid-friendly activities, including a mini golf course, bike rental shop, go-cart track, and pony rides. I’m afraid I must report that the mini golf course had neither a windmill nor a giant gorilla, but if you can bear these privations I’m sure you’ll have a good time.

14. Go stargazing

There’s no picture to go with this one because I didn’t have the tripod with me, but I promise that stargazing is one of the best things to do in Long Beach and was an unforgettable treat for a city-dweller like myself. If you are staying overnight in Long Beach, make sure to head down to the water after dark to look at the stars on a clear night. Unlike my home in Portland where it is hard to make out enough stars to form a constellation, the Long Beach Peninsula has beaches so secluded that the stars seem to sit on top of each other. If you’re lucky, you may come across the shimmer of bioluminensce in the wet sand.

15. Have lunch by the port in Ilwaco

After a day of hiking at Cape Disappointment State Park, it is easy to work up an appetite. Just down the road from the park is the town of Ilwaco, where Salt Pub has dog-friendly patio seating near the water with views of the marina and surrounding coastline. The food is pub fare done well, with an emphasis on seafood and several good vegetarian options. The drink selection is better than you often find at the beach, including craft beers, a wine list focusing on local producers (including several from Walla Walla!), and specialty cocktails.

After lunch, there is plenty more to see while you’re in town. My friends and I were lucky enough to catch the town’s Saturday market when we visited, which takes place at the marina during the summer and early fall. Ilwaco also hosts an art walk on the first Friday evening of June-August.

If you’re looking for more time in nature, the Port of Ilwaco begins the Discovery Trail that runs all the way through the town of Long Beach. Have lunch to fuel up before heading out on the trail.

16. Visit the Cranberry Museum

I was skeptical about this one, too, but the Cranberry Museum is more interesting than it sounds. Visiting the museum and cranberry bog is one of the best things to do in Long Beach if you visit during cranberry season in September and October. Washington State is a major grower of cranberries and the Long Beach Peninsula is a great place to find cranberry bogs. Look for little pools covered with bright red berries to spot a bog.

Pacific County hosts an annual Harvest Festival at the beginning of October that celebrates the cranberry. In 2022, the festival will be happening on October 8th. You can stock up on fresh cranberries as well as cranberry pastries, juice, ice cream, and just about any other cranberry-related product you can imagine.

The Cranberry Museum & Gift Shop is open from 10 AM - 5 PM. It is free to visit. Museum exhibits walk through the process of cranberry cultivation and harvesting, including historical farming equipment. Outside of the museum is a cranberry bog where you can take a self-guided tour.

In summary, the best things to do in Long Beach, Washington are:

Cape Disappointment State Park
Long Beach Boardwalk
Walk on the World’s Longest Beach
Discovery Trail
Leadbetter Point State Park
Go birdwatching
Visit the World Kite Museum and Store
Marsh’s Free Museum
Stay in a vintage trailer
Have dinner with an ocean view
Visit the tasting room at Adrift Distillers
Horseback riding
Try out the mini golf course and go-cart track
Go star gazing
Have lunch by the port in Ilwaco
Visit the Cranberry Museum

Enjoy your time in Long Beach, Washington!

With love,

Emma

Looking for more to do at the Coast? From north to south, here are trip suggestions and travel tips for:

Also, check out my guides to the wildlife of the Oregon Coast and Oregon geology.