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.
Cape Disappointment State Park is one of the area's historic highlights -- Lewis and Clark got their first look at the Pacific here. The park was established in 1957 around Fort Canby, built to defend the mouth of the Columbia in 1862. 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 are in abundance, in addition to rockfish, flounder, sole and lingcod. 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.