Things to Do in Long Beach, Washington State

Long Beach Things to Do

Beautiful beaches, outdoor recreation, and fun festivals are some of the great things to do in Long Beach.

The Boardwalk

Long Beach’s boardwalk is pretty much a typical trail boardwalk. The trail has several larger observation decks with picnic tables and benches. Bikes are not allowed on the boardwalk itself, but they are allowed on the parallel bike trail (the Discovery Trail). Don’t expect major tourist attractions on the boardwalk itself, such as hotels or amusement park features, it’s not the type you’d find in some other famous tourist cities.

Discovery Trail

The Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail is a paved path that leads among the dunes to several places Clark and his men reached on their exploration of the area (there are markers and sculptures). Even if you aren’t interested in Lewis and Clark, it’s a gentle way to enjoy the ocean, the beach, and the dunes. You can enter the Discovery Trail at various entry points, you don’t have to walk or bike the whole thing.

Beaches

Driving on the beach is a long-held tradition in Washington, and this beach has some of the heaviest auto traffic, so don’t expect it to be completely pristine as you may find in many other places. However, an entire section of the beach is closed to auto traffic from April 15th to Labor Day. During the second week of August every year, Long Beach, Washington holds its Sand Castle Building contest.

All About the Kites!

Kite flying is a popular activity in the area with the International Kite Festival being the big event; it takes place for a full week every August. With the thousands of kites flying, the view on the beach is very spectacular and amazing. People come from near and far for the festival every year, but if you don’t arrive for the event, you can still check out the Kite Museum. If you do come for the festival, plan ahead. Approximately 100,000 people attend, so be prepared for crowds, booked hotel rooms, and long restaurant lines.

Visit the Cranberry Museum

There’s a nice little museum devoted to the growth of cranberry farming in the area, methods, and tools used. The gift shop was nice even if it was a little short of local products. There is a harvest festival in October.

Oh, if you want to bring Fido along on your visit, Long Beach is extremely dog-friendly!

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Long Beach, Washington State.