The Adventure
After experiencing all that 2020 had to offer, we needed a trip to the coast to recharge and reset before digging in to 2021. We’ve not hit the Washington coast before, so the first step was to Google different beaches and communities that fit what we were looking for. We love hiking, so access to a state park was a must. I found a blog post on Washington beaches and researched the communities on the list. Our second highest priority is local food and shopping. The third factor, traveling with a two month old, so distance was important as well. All things considered, we selected Long Beach, WA for our trip.
The Home Base
I love booking with airbnb as it offers a more organic way to experience a community. We loved the décor and amenities that Beach Break offered. The little cabin was perfect for our Long Beach, WA vacation. My favorite part about staying at an airbnb is the kitchen. Having a kitchen allowed us to prepare some meals and snacks ourselves. There was a grocery store (Sid’s Market) right up the street from our rental, making the location extra convenient for our needs. Our rental was close to downtown, and far enough away that things were quiet. Off-season isn’t super busy in Long Beach, however, I could see the advantage of being off the main drag during the summer months. The beach was a two minute drive from our place, and we ended each day with a sunset drive on the coast.
The Community
Hiking at Cape Disappointment State Park was AMAZING. There were plenty of trail options for all challenge levels. Some of the paths are paved and super accessible, and some of the paths are gravel mud pits of awesomeness. We really enjoyed the North Head Trail off of the lighthouse parking lot as there were lots of elevation changes and some moving water. This was the first time we tested out our baby carrier on longer hikes, and all three of us were relieved by the comfort.
Lastly, we had a blast exploring the local community, and I’ll include links to the small businesses we visited below.
Shelburne Hotel & Restaurant – beautiful historic inn and restaurant. This was the only option we found in the area with an outdoor patio tent dine-in option. The gardens and the patio were beautiful. Food was thoughtfully prepared. Service was excellent.
Hungry Harbor Grille – burger joint on the main drag downtown. Choice of crinkle and curly cut fries so both of us were happy. They make their own BBQ sauce and both of our burgers were delicious. Big high five on the Sweet Blu’s Burger from me.
Galletti’s Spaghetti House – name says it all, and they probably could throw the word AWESOME in there. I loved the Italian Chop Suey! There are family size options on their menu, and everything was fresh. This place was incredible fuel for all of the hiking we did.
Malai Thai Restaurant – thai food on the main drag in downtown. Three words: Basil Fried Rice! I love this dish and have been craving it from a place back in the midwest; Malai Thai nailed it! The chicken satay was also on point.
Scoopers Market – ice cream and fudge, yo. I don’t really need to say anything else, however, the service we received here was so awesome that it deserves a shout out.
Marsh’s Free Museum – antiques and typical beach souvenir shop. We loved wandering around and browsing all of the items as well as the odd curiosities hidden in here.
Adrift Distillers – gin, whiskey, liqueur, etc. They still offer free tastings during current COVID restrictions; you just need to step outside. Cool little operation and friendly staff.
Herb N Legend – head shop with metaphysical supplies and lots of glassware. My favorite parts were the stones and the case of knives. We each walked out of here with a vacation knife for future camping trips.
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