Long Beach Peninsula Travel Information
Long Beach Peninsula is, not unexpectedly, a long beach. 28 miles of
sand stretch north from the city of Long Beach, separating Willapa Bay
from the Pacific Ocean. Passing showers keep the area regularly
watered, and make for impressive winter storm watching. With no
shortage of sand for strolling or beach for combing, visitors can stay
busy outside when the weather is fine. Strong currents and riptides
make the area hazardous to swimmers however, so a rain storm is
probably the safest way to get wet. Long Beach has the typical
selection of shops expected in a sea-side city. Take a quick stroll
around before voyaging on to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse or North
Head Lighthouse for an ocean panorama. Fort Canby State Park is
one of the area's historic highlights -- Lewis and Clark got their
first look at the Pacific here. Fort Canby was built to defend the
mouth of the Colombia in 1862 and was made a state park in 1957.
Explore the remaining bunkers and gun emplacements before moving on to
the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and an education in early west
coast history. For really fresh sea food, book a charter fishing
trip out of Ilwaco, just south of Long Beach. Salmon runs have been
down the last few years, but rockfish, flounder, sole and lingcod are
in abundance. Surf-fish along the Long Beach Peninsula if you haven't
yet found your sea legs. Long Beach is 165 miles southwest of
Seattle, and 115 miles northwest of Portland, Oregon.
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