Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WASHINGTON COAST
The stretch of Washington coast from Ocean Shores down to Cape Disappointment at the
mouth of the Columbia River, with its expansive beaches and locally run oyster farms, is
the state's maritime playground. Free of the wild coves and stormy sea stacks common
further north, this is where the whole of Washington (and beyond) comes to sail, fish, fly
kites and hang out. It gets quieter just north of here heading up towards Moclips, where
Hwy 109 hugs the evergreen-thick coast and small sandy beaches hide between rocky
coves.
Though pockets of modern commercialism may have diluted the quaintness of places
such as Long Beach and Ocean Shores, there are still enough state parks, wildlife refuges
and lonesome stretches of sand to hide an abundance of unheralded local secrets.
Further east the I-5 corridor cuts from Olympia down to Portland, whizzing past Cen-
tralia, Castle Rock (with access to Mt St Helens) and the US (and first) incarnation of
Vancouver.
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Moclips to Copalis Beach
This coastal strip south of the Quinault Indian Reservation is wild and forested, cut only
by the small towns of Moclips, Pacific Beach, Seabrook and Copalis. Of these, surreal
Seabrook, established in 2004 as a planned vacation hamlet, is the most noteworthy for
its strangely endearing faux-Victorian homes and perfectly manicured community areas -
it feels like something out of
The Stepford Wives
or
The Truman Show
. The surrounding
area is perfect for explorations into Olympic National Park and enjoying the beautiful
hidden beaches
Most of the over 200 single-family homes (and counting - the town was only two-
thirds finished in 2013) are holiday rentals. There's a huge variety, from small, romantic
cottages to huge party pads that can accommodate 22 people. Guests can enjoy the Seab-
rook community's swimming pool, shops, restaurants, spa and even a pottery studio. See
Seabrook Cottage Rentals
(
360-276-0265;
www.seabrookcottagerentals.com
;
Seabrook;
houses $99-710;
).
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Grays Harbor Area
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