Day Trip to Ocean Shores and Seabrook

The Washington Coast is rugged, wild, and often forgotten. Unlike the renowned stretches of Pacific shoreline in Oregon and California, the Washington beaches can feel like a bit of an afterthought. 

Geographical and logistical barriers divide Washington’s coastline into three distinct sections. The northern part lies within Olympic National Park and is largely regarded as the state’s most striking, while the southern portion boasts the state’s largest and most famous beach. 

Washington’s central coast lacks the wow-factors that draw visitors north and south. Characterized by its haphazard resort towns and drivable beachfront, it is perhaps the US’s most overlooked stretch of Pacific coastline. 

 

THE CENTRAL WASHINGTON COAST

South of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington’s seastack-laden shores give way to wide sweeping beaches that extend infinitely outward.

The central Washington coast—interrupted by a handful of massive bays that provide logistical challenges for ‘road-tripping’—features a patchwork of tourist resorts, state parks, and Native land.

And yet, while the area is often an afterthought among out-of-state tourists, two of Washington’s favorite coastal getaways lie along its sandy stretch of shoreline. These communities—both born out of the desire to bring tourism to the central coastline—are a study in contrasts. 

 

OCEAN SHORES

Ocean Shores is one of the most well-known seaside towns in Washington. It is equal parts kitschy, brash, touristy, and fun. 

Once cattle country, the area received an unrecognizable makeover in the 1960s. When a developer bought tracts of farmland in hopes of attracting tourism to the region, thousands of lots sold, many sight unseen. Sandy beaches and oceanfront proved to be a powerful allure. 

Soon, developers planned 25km of canals, a six-hole golf course, and a mall shopping area. Three years later, the city opened its gates with fanfare. It hosted celebrity golf tournaments and became a magnet for family vacations and second homes.

By 1969, Ocean Shores was declared the “richest little city” per capita in America.

Today, the Ocean Shores dream seems all but faded in the rear-view mirror. The town remains a sprawling collection of strip malls that hold little cohesive charm.

That hasn’t stopped tourists from frequenting the area, however. As the Seattle area’s closest stretch of Pacific coastline, it remains a favorite destination for those looking to dip their toes in the ocean, drive on the sand, and soak in spectacular sunsets. 

Ocean Shores surely ins’t a version of Malibu that some hoped it would become, but it is a fantastic family-friendly destination nonetheless. 

 

• GRIFFITHS-PRIDAY STATE PARK

Griffiths-Priday State Park lies north of Ocean Shores, where the Copalis River meets the sea. It is a windswept stretch of beach defined by a solitary rock monolith and undulating dune grasses. 

The area’s beach seems to stretch endlessly, bordered by the Copalis National Wildlife Refuge and Copalis Spit. The serene natural area is a haven for migratory birds.

The shoreline is also renowned for its bounty of razor clams in season. 

 

• DAMON POINT

Damon Point, a 61-acre day-use park, constitutes the southeastern tip of the Ocean Shores Peninsula. Surrounded by water on three sides, it is one of the best wildlife-viewing places along Washington’s Pacific Coast.

The area consists of a mile-long stretch of land that juts out into the sea. On clear days, the park offers spectacular views of Grays Harbor, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. 

Since cars are prohibited from driving along the spit’s sandy banks, Damon Point is a relaxing destination for a leisurely pedestrian stroll. 

 

SEABROOK: A TOWN OF CREEPY PERFECTION

Washington is full of cute towns. But surprisingly—up until 2004—none of those cute towns could be found along the Pacific Ocean.

So Casey Roloff decided to change things up a bit. 

He bought a tract of land and developed it into an intentional resort community akin to those found along Florida’s coast. He named it Seabrook. 

Seabrook is less than two decades old. Like Ocean Shores, the town began as a developer’s dream and seemingly sprung up overnight.

Dan and I found ourselves in Seabrook, thanks to a friend’s recommendation. We had never heard of the town before, nor did we know anything about its recency on the Washington map.

Based on my knowledge of Pacific Nortwest coastal towns, I suspected that Seabrook might be similar to Cannon Beach or Depoe Bay. 

But mere seconds after we began exploring Seabrook’s well-laid-out streets on foot, Dan and I turned to each other. I knew what Dan was thinking before he opened his mouth. And when he spoke, he may as well have articulated the same thoughts that were swirling through my own mind. “This place is weird,” he said. “It’s like a movie set.” 

I nodded. It was giving me the heebie-jeebies. 

Never had I seen a place so flawless. We felt as though we had been sucked into some sort of cult world that would soon crumble around us.

Cheerful children rode their bicycles down quaint cottage-lined streets. Not even a nail seemed out of place.  It looked too much like a movie set to be a real town. Were we witnessing scenes from Pleasantville? The Stepford Wives? The Truman Show? 

It was difficult to tell. 

While Seabrook took us aback with its meticulously-planned streets, we simultaneously realized that there is a lot to love about the resort town. Roloff designed the community very intentionally—adding barbecue pits, parks, and gathering places every few blocks. The town is a textbook example of New Urbanist architecture. It has a lot in common with other intentional communities, like the Issaquah Highlands or Northwest Crossing in Bend. 

It didn’t take long before the creepiness faded and we began to fall for Seabrook’s charm. 

And we agreed that if we were to return to the central Washington coast, we wouldn’t hesitate to visit Seabrook again. 

 

WHERE TO STAY ALONG WASHINGTON’S CENTRAL COAST

If you’re traveling to Washington’s central coast, you’ll likely choose to stay in Ocean Shores or Seabrook. Top places to stay in Ocean Shores include the Ocean Shores Resort and the Collins Inn Cottages.

In Seabrook, the accommodation options are almost exclusively vacation homes. Most of these vacation homes are bookable online, on the town’s official website. 

 

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The central coast near Ocean Shores is often pegged as one of Washington’s best family-friendly destinations. I can easily see why. 

In summer months, the expansive waterfront is a playground for kite-flyers and beachcombers. During winter months, the area overflows with vehicles zooming up and down the vast tract of sand. It is a fantastic area for wildlife-spotting, beach-bumming, and soaking in stellar sunsets. 

Ocean Shores and Seabrook both give tourists access to the beach—transforming the overlooked coastline into a popular local retreat.

And while Washington’s central coast isn’t the most dramatic portion of the Pacific, its access to uninterrupted shoreline is nonetheless pretty special. 

 

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