If you’re looking for a classic adventure to spice up your summer, head north to Grays Harbor. These beautiful beaches are just over 90 minutes from Centralia. For the perfect pit stop, swing by South Bay Coffee Company in Aberdeen. From mouthwatering mocha to lavender lemonade, you’ll find the perfect sweet indulgence for your drive.
Once you arrive in the North Beach area, you’ll fall in love the beautiful scenery, razor clam digging (in season), fishing, bird watching, extensive hiking and numerous aquatic sports. Read more below for a quick and easy guide to planning the perfect North Beach vacation. It’s so close – you can visit for a day, a weekend or more!
Copalis Beach
This delightfully unique coastal community is located where the Copalis River flows into the sea. This beautiful area is full of hiking trails. It also offers excellent razor clam digging (in season), beach combing, bird watching and fishing. If you’re hungry, swing by the Green Lantern Pub for some great food in a unique environment. The new owners have gone out of their way to make this long-time local hangout a family-friendly community gathering spot.
Grab a kayak or canoe and paddle up river to the Ghost Forest. This unique red cedar and spruce forest became a salt marsh when a large earthquake struck over 300 years ago.
If you wouldd like to stay, check into the Iron Springs Resort. It offers completely renovated cabins with fireplaces or wood burning stoves, new kitchens, enlarged bathrooms, flat screen satellite TVs and DVD players. You’ll love the restored hiking trails and private beach access. From here you can easily take a nice stroll along Copalis Beach or head over to Pacific Beach State Park. Then close out the day with a relaxing beachside fire and watch the sun set behind the Pacific.
Iron Springs Resort is the perfect place for every member of your family, including your four legged friend. They provide towels, dog bowls and a washing station in each cabin. You’ll even get a free tennis ball with a treat at check in.
Seabrook
This wonderful coastal community has something for everyone. In Seabrook you’ll enjoy a wide variety of amenities including a pool, parks, horse barn, tennis courts, playgrounds, dog parks and more, all within walking distance. The town also offers many delicious restaurants, quaint boutiques and the luxurious Spa Elizabeth.
Seabrook was designed with walkability and connectivity in mind. It was featured as Sunset Magazine’s original Idea Town. It was also named one of Seattle Magazine’s Best Pacific Northwest Vacations in 2017 and one of Coastal Living magazine’s Best Places to Live in 2017.
Seabrook is an amazing place to spend your sunny summer days. Cruise through town with a rented bike from Buck’s Bikes or rent a surf board and wetsuit and hit the waves. Stroll through the town’s unique shops, grab a savory slice of pie from Frontager’s Pizza Co. and indulge in a little creativity at Imagine That! Pottery Painting Studio. Savor the elegance of the Stowaway Wine Bar and Cheese Shop and grab a sweet treat at Red Velvet Bakery by the Sea or Sweet Life ice cream parlor and candy store.
If your pet is with you, be sure to stop by the dog park and The Salty Dog which hosts dog-friendly events like “Yappy Hours.” Community activities, shops and restaurants are open to all, but to enjoy the full experience be sure to stay in one of Seabrook’s many lovely rental homes.
Hikers love Seabrook which is surrounded by a series of environmentally conscious trails. These weave through the area’s spruce forests and along its amazingly preserved coastline. Visitors can follow an almost magical trail of crushed oyster shells and reclaimed cedar to the beach where they can hunt for the perfect shell, stroll for miles or simply kick back in a beach chair and relax.
Book one of the town’s many attractive vacation rentals through seabrookwa.com which donates one percent of profits to the Seabrook Community Foundation. This foundation provides scholarships for local students and supports local organizations.
Roosevelt Beach
You’ll find Roosevelt Beach just three miles south of Seabrook. The beach here is even, spacious and vehicle friendly. Crabs and other sea life are abundant here, making strolling along the beach fun for the whole family. Little lagoons offer the perfect place to play and wade safely for little ones, far from the pounding of the breakers. Make a day of your visit by bringing a blanket, chairs and a picnic lunch. Beautiful cliff-side views make this beach particularly memorable.
Moclips and Pacific Beach
Renowned for its breathtaking beaches, Moclips is also home to the Museum of the North Beach. This local gem is chock full of fascinating historical items and interesting curios. You’ll find a train room showcasing an assortment of memorabilia from the Northern Pacific Railway Company. The museum also holds records from the 1964 tsunami and a fully restored 1910 wedding dress from the region’s first “royal” family. Visitors also love looking through the growing collection of Japanese tsunami debris collected from local beaches.
Be sure to stop by the Sea Gate Restaurant & Lounge for a meal you won’t forget. Their burgers are big, juicy and satisfying, and their pizza is delicious. Afterward take a nice stroll around town to discover all the hidden treasures it has in store. Visit Emily’s Confections in Pacific Beach for a perfectly sweet treat.
For a great place to stay, check into the Ocean Crest Resort. This local treasure has been family owned for three generations. Ideally located between the forest and the sea, its clifftop location offers breathtaking views that will make your stay extra special. Ocean Crest Resort also offers the best in comfort with a spa, indoor pool, health club, restaurant and cocktail lounge.
Or stay right in town at Pacific Beach’s Sand Dollar Inn. This property is ideal for any size family, offering stand-alone cottages, a romantic penthouse and suites with kitchens. Adjacent to Pacific Beach State Park, this property is perfect for those travelling with camping friends, who prefer a “real bed.”
After a short 30 minute drive to the northeast you’ll arrive at the breathtaking Olympic National Park. This beauty is full of lake-shore beaches, scenic glacial peaks, waterfalls, the breathtaking Lake Quinault and the only temperate rain forest in North America.
Teeming with awe-inspiring sights, the North Beach of Grays Harbor is not to be missed. You’ll find plenty of fun activities to keep you and your family busy for your entire stay. The more you explore, the more you’ll fall in love with this spectacular area of Grays Harbor County.
