I am taking a little vacation there the 20-24th of September, and I am wondering about the sights and sounds and goings on around town. Our condo faces the ocean (Worldmark), and we have no set plans in place.
No visit to Long Beach is complete without a stop at Marsh’s Free Museum to pay your respects to Jake The Alligator Man!
We are definitely going there!
I spent a long weekend in late March there a couple years ago. I liked the Discovery Trail which runs for 8.5 miles along the dunes. It’s paved and really nice for walking or biking (our hotel provided free bikes). You can catch it directly in front of your hotel.
The North Head lighthouse is near the south end of the trail. Good views, cool if you like historic lighthouses, but I wouldn’t call it a must-see.
The only thing we did in town was visit North Jetty Brewing, which was a nice relaxed place with decent beer. Maybe not quite top Portland level, but everything tastes better at the beach.
We also made a shorter visit to the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. There are lots of nice hiking trails, and it’s especially known for bird watching. I would have spent more time here if I had it.
We spent a weekend last month at the Sou’Wester (an inn about 1/2 mile south of Worldmark, where all the rooms are vintage trailers), utterly enchanted by the woods, the beach, and the wildlife. Very sweet, very peaceful.
So I’ve got a couple of days off for my birthday (Sept. 21st) before I start the trip to Long Beach…and I spent the entire day in the Emergency room with a friend who turns out to have a bit of an infection. Got home and had a beautiful meatloaf a few minutes ago to wash down a Big Juicy Ballard Imperial IPA and an Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale. Tomorrow will be much, much better!
Gawddammit, quit laughing.
Currently eating lunch at North Jetty Brewing, after crossing the very lengthy (and very scenic) Astoria Bridge.
Life be good.
Hit the Cottage Bakery for lunch (Reubens)’ Stormin’ Norman’s and Marsh’s Free Museum to visit Jake, then Adrift Brewing for a free flight of drinks and to pick up bottles of bourbon and cranberry liquor…and it is only 1:17 pm!