[artemis33]

So the end of Sept is DD's 1st birthday and a week later is our 4th anniversary. The next week is DH's birthday. SOooooo...sometime during that couple of weeks or so we want to take a 3 day or so trip to the coast. This will be the first pleasure trip we've taken since we had DD (not counting travelling to visit family

) and of course she is coming along so it needs to be friendly for that.

So where should we go? DH said Ocean Shores but when I started looking online I saw lots of touting of mini-golf and go carts. Maybe it isn't like that at all so please fill me in. I'd prefer something in that general area cause I've never been down there- not up on the Peninsula.

We love eating great food and want to spend time on the beach. I'd love to stay on the beach or at least be close.

We generally like to rent little houses or apartments instead of hotels - someplace with a mini kitchen so we can at least make coffee and have snacks there. We would do a hotel though if we need to.

Any great ideas?

Thanks!!

 

[mamapajama]

I'm not familiar with Ocean Shores, but I do spend a lot of time on the Northern west coast of the penninsula. That area is all National Park, so it's wild, not the drive on the beach kind of beach. If you want to stay on the beach, you'll have to camp, unless you go to La Push which has cabins on the beach. I have no idea what the food is like there. becasue we always cook. There are some smaller cabin resorts on Lake crescent abt one hour from the coast. Olsen's Cabin is decent and that is three miles from Rialto Beach, which is fabulous. You could stay in Forks, which is also close to the beach, but not exactly a resort town. There are other nice areas further East on the Northern part of the penninsula, but then you are not really on the coast per se. We spend a ton of time out there but mostly hiking and camping, so hopefully someone else will know of some other places as well. Good Luck, Michelle

Oh yeah if you want to camp, Mora is our fav campground. Two miles from the water.

 

[artemis33]

Thanks Michelle! Yeah, we live in Seattle and I have spent quite a bit of time on the Peninsula (and even done some work in the rainforest!)- that's why I wanted to go down the coast and do something a little different. The ONP is awesome, but I'm in the mood for some beach (well, a different beach anyway!)!

Oh yeah, and also trying to keep the drive reasonable since our babe will be along.

I'll check out the cabin you mentioned though - might be good for another trip or maybe this one if I don't find something interesting further down the coast!

 

[mamapajama]

What about Long Beach? I've been there once, in the winter, but it was more of a go to the beach type of thing, with a lot of bed and breakfasts and little shops. It is a long drive though. There is some surfing beach that is closer that my BIL loves to go to and for the life of me I can't remember the name. I'll let you know when I can remember it. Michelle

oh geez, I read your original post so quickly, I thought you were looking for something "up on the penninsula" but you really said the opposite. I need to find my glasses. Well at least I bumped your post up a bit.

 

[Lemon Juice]

I've been to Long Beach and just the beach at Ocean Shores. Just depends on what you're looking for. Both are small townish...very different from Seattle too!

I liked Long Beach, actually. We went last year on the 4th..so it was packed a WILD w/ fireworks everywhere! BUT it was a cute little beach town...etc. Ocean Shores beach was nice....VERY windy when we went too. Not sure about the town there...I can ask a mama i know. She just bought a vacation house there...I'll see what places she likes while there.

 

[surf mama]

Westport is great...we live here. There are lots of cabins for rent but since we live here I don't know which ones are good or costs or anything. But we love our town. Lots of nice beach to play at especially Westhaven State Park. It has a stretch of beach where cars aren't allowed and it is a popular surfing beach. There are always lots of nice families out playing with kites and sandcastles, etc.
Hope you find a great place to celebrate!

 

[webby]

We go to Westport a bunch. It's about 2 and half hours from Seattle if you don't get stuck in Tacoma traffic. There's really not much to do but enjoy the beach! We always camp out and spend our days surfing, so I don't know about accomodations, but I'm sure there are plenty with kitchenettes. It's an itty bitty town and most the shops are closed, but there are a few places to eat and a really yummy donut shop!

Hey Surf Mama- did you participate in the Clean Water Classic?

 

[surf mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by webby We go to Westport a bunch. It's about 2 and half hours from Seattle if you don't get stuck in Tacoma traffic. There's really not much to do but enjoy the beach! We always camp out and spend our days surfing, so I don't know about accomodations, but I'm sure there are plenty with kitchenettes. It's an itty bitty town and most the shops are closed, but there are a few places to eat and a really yummy donut shop! Hey Surf Mama- did you participate in the Clean Water Classic?

I've only been surfing about 2yrs now and I'm still nowhere near decent. My dh has picked it up faster and he is pretty good, but probably not enough to compete yet.
It would be fun to meet you sometime when you're in Westport. Let me know if you want to...we could meet at Westhaven to surf and have a picnic.
My dh(SurfDaddy) recently registered here on MDC and here is a tribe he tried to start for surfers....he put a bunch of surfing pictures through out the thread:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=492044

Back on topic....Westport is a small town. A developer is pouring a bunch of money into the town so it is changing and will continue for the next few years. He built a bunch of expensive condos, is building a golf course, a sushi restaurant is supposed to open sometime soon, etc. We're excited for the growth but we hope it keeps it's small town beachy charm too.

 

[NameDeNada]

Westport is great. Just spent a weekend there recently.