This is a place made of pure family fun, where you can go swimming, birdwatching, clam hunting, fly kites or build sandcastles. Just a hop and skip away from Olympia, Washington, you'll discover a whole new universe of outdoor enchantment. So toss your technology aside, book a one-way ticket and let your travel bug run wild in this heart-stealing destination.
1. Endless Beach Fun
Run for the beach and jump into whatever sandy adventure beckons. Construct a sand castle if the mood’s right. It's such a passion here that master sand sculptors come from far and wide to join the annual competitions. Fly your kite high into the Pacific winds, or get your kicks by watching participants in kite-flying tournaments held each June. Go beachcombing through the sand and the shallows of the beaches—you’ll net a bounty of not only sand dollars but seashells and agates. Ride a rented pony along the shoreline or take a relaxing stroll. You may even occasionally see whales leaping out of the water, so keep your eyes peeled.
2. Ocean Shores Interpretive Center
The Ocean Shores Interpretive Center exhibits Indian artifacts, shellfish, local wildlife and sand dollars and offers insightful information about the rain forest. When you’re done, go outside and revel in the area's natural beauty. Walk the nature trail behind the center to experience native plants and explore other outdoor exhibits.
3. Bird-watching Tours
Three hundred species of birds know Ocean Shores is the place to be—they flock here at certain times of the year, and you can make it your business to spot them. You'll catch glimpses of black turnstones, surfbirds and wandering tattlers, as well as cormorants, alcids and loons. The variety is vast because of the diversity of habitats—beaches, salt marshes, rocks, mudflats, freshwater ponds, forests and fields. For great bird watching, grab your binoculars and head out to Damon Point, a 1.5-mile land jetty stretching into Grays Harbor south of the downtown area. If it's clear out, you'll catch breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the Olympics, too.
4. Oyhut Wildlife Area
Speaking of birds, hike out to Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area, a 683-acre salt marsh near Ocean Shores that happens to be a prime location for spotting waterfowl and shorebirds, and deer may be seen passing by. As you hike the nearby trails, look out for glimpses of reptiles and smaller mammals like coyotes, rabbits, raccoons and river otters.
5. Casting Out Your Line
With all the types of angling the area offers, Ocean Shores is a haven for fishermen. Toss that line into the Pacific near the jetty or Damon Point for surf fishing, or venture out on a charter boat from Westport, just across the harbor from Ocean Shores. Westport is the state's ideal launching point for fishing, and you can reel in black rockfish, lingcod, salmon and tuna. You can also try your hand at year-round freshwater fishing at Duck Lake.
6. Exploring the Canals
Ocean Shores sits on the upper lip of North Bay, so while the western edge of the town is the Pacific Ocean, to the east side is the freshwater bay. Explore the bay and more than 20 miles of interconnected freshwater canals in an electric boat rental from Ocean Sands Electric Boat Company. Some boats seat up to eight people, so stock up on the snacks and take the family out cruising. The boats are so quiet; they don't even startle the wildlife.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Ocean Shores, WA.