Southwest Washington - Washington State - page 257

VISITOR INFORMATION Contact the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors
Bureau, P.O. Box 562, Long Beach, WA 98631 ( & 800/451-2542 or 360/642-
2400; www.funbeach.com), which operates a visitor center at the intersection of
U.S. 101 and Pacific Avenue in Seaview.
FESTIVALS Annual events on the Long Beach Peninsula include the North-
west Garlic Festival on the third weekend in June, the Sand-Sations sand-
sculptures tournament in late July, the International Kite Festival in
mid-August, the Cranberrian Fair in early October, and the Water Music Fes-
tival (chamber music) in late October.
SEEING THE SIGHTS
Fort Columbia State Park ( & 360/642-3078 ), a former military base that
guarded the mouth of the Columbia River from 1896 until the end of World
War II, is located 9 miles east of Ilwaco on Wash. 103 near the Astoria-Megler
Bridge, which is a 4 1 ⁄ 2 -mile-long span that connects Washington with Oregon.
The views from the park's wooded bluff are breathtaking, and there are some
picnic tables from which you can enjoy the views. There are also 5 miles of hik-
ing trails here. The park's 1903-vintage buildings have been restored and house
an interpretive center with displays on the history of the fort. There are also
exhibits on the local Chinook Indian tribe. From Memorial Day through Sep-
tember, an interpretive center is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and the old
commanding officer's home is open daily from 11am to 4pm. There are also a
couple of vacation rental homes here. For reservations, contact Washington State
Parks ( & 888/226-7688; www.parks.wa.gov/reserve.asp).
To learn more about the history of the area, stop by the Ilwaco Heritage
Museum, 115 SE Lake St., Ilwaco ( & 360/642-3446 ). This modern museum
houses displays on the history of southwest Washington and has an excellent col-
lection of Native American baskets and other artifacts. There's also an anxiety-
inducing exhibit about Gerald D'Aboville, who, in 1991, made a solo journey
by rowboat across the Pacific Ocean. A railroad exhibit includes a model railroad
of Long Beach's Clamshell Railroad, as well as an actual passenger car that was
used on this railroad. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9am
to 5pm and Sunday from noon to 4pm (Oct-Apr Mon-Sat 10am-4pm).
Admission is $3 for adults, $2.50 for seniors, $2 for youths 12 to 17, $1 for chil-
dren 6 to 11, and free for children 6 and under.
Also in Ilwaco is the historic Colbert House, which is operated by the Wash-
ington State Parks and Recreation Commission. You'll find this restored home
at the corner of Quaker and Spruce streets. It's open Friday through Sunday
from noon to 4pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Anchoring the south end of the peninsula is forested Cape Disappointment
State Park ( & 888/CAMPOUT or 360/683-4985), which is located at the
mouth of the Columbia River. The park is a former military installation used to
guard the river mouth, and many of the bunkers and batteries are still visible.
Also within the boundaries of the park are the North Head (open for tours in
summer) and Cape Disappointment lighthouses. The former lighthouse suffers
some of the highest winds on the West Coast, and has sustained winds as high
as 160 mph. The latter lighthouse was built in 1856 and is the oldest lighthouse
on the West Coast. The park is also home to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive
Center ( & 360/642-3029 ), which chronicles the 1805-06 journey of the
two explorers; it's open daily from 10am to 5pm and admission is by suggested
$2 donation. Cape Disappointment, here in the park, was the end of the westward