Weekend Getaway: Long Beach, Washington

 If you've been around here for awhile, you'll know that our wedding anniversary is at Christmas time which can be a busy time of year. We usually make time to go out to eat for a fancier than normal dinner in on our actual anniversary but last year I planned a weekend getaway to celebrate in January. We used our Southwest Companion Pass to fly to Portland, Oregon and then we drove two hours north to the tiny town of Long Beach, Washington. We had fantastic weather and a pleasant weekend exploring the southern coast of Washington state. Here's what we got up to on our belated anniversary getaway!

Lighthouse hunting

Before there were lighthouses on the Long Beach Peninsula, ships headed for Portland and Astoria had to navigate their way through the Graveyard of the Pacific. There are two lighthouses on the Peninsula, Cape Disappointment and North Head, which are two of 750 lighthouses in the US. 

We visited the North Head Lighthouse which sits some 190 feet above the Pacific Ocean. We had incredible weather - cool and windy but beautifully sunny - and there are wide, paved paths for the short  walk down to the lighthouse. There are breathtaking views of the ocean and if you really like it here, you can stay in the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage located along the path. And yes, the lighthouse is still a navigation aide.

I'd suggest a visit if you're on the Long Beach Peninsula and a lighthouse lover. It's a very cool place to visit.

Brewery visit

You might have noticed that we love trying out new breweries on our getaways. This getaway was no exception as we tried North Jetty Brewing located on the main street in Long Beach. It was off season, so with the exception of a few locals, it was just us being the tourists. All beers are brewed here with some guest hard ciders.

It was exactly what you'd picture in a Washington coast brewery! The barmaid was quite friendly - the daughter of the owners who had been homeschooled and worked her adult life in the family brewery and we enjoyed the beers. (there are 16 beers on tap usually)

Distillery tasting

Part of our hotel rate included a tasting at their in house distillery so we decided to visit and give it a taste. It is a craft distillery right on the grounds of Adrift Hotel and Spa (you can read about our stay here) which distills award winning spirits. We tasted a few of their products but didn't end up purchasing anything - though they also do online sales as well as in person if you're interested. And the good news was we had the whole place to ourselves - the tasting room employee said the line is out the door in the summer time!

Beach walks

Long Beach is just that, long. And a highlight of a visit here is walking or biking along that beach. Another path you can take is the 8.5 mile Discovery Trail, a Lewis & Clark commemerative Trail that ends in Long Beach. Interpretative displays and sculptures dot the trail and parking for beach access at 7 spots is always free. If you'd like to visit at one of the most popular times, then plan to head to Long Beach for Washington State's International Kite Festival at the end of August - the skies will be very colorful then!

How about you? Have you been to the Long Beach Peninsula?

Linking up with: My Corner of the World at Photographing New Zealand!