Help..day trip..which beach? (Seattle, Longview: hotels, live, restaurants)

[Pittgal]

We live outside Seattle and want to take visitors to the coast. Which beach is the best? Looking for scenic, clean, family-friendly, great little shops and restaurants. Any help would be great!

[StealthRabbit]

which side of Seattle?

Inland beach (Puget Sound) or ocean beach (Pacific)?

for kids (play in sand) or for adults (views)

[MichaelinWA]

Ocean Shores would be a possibility, but it's probably 2 1/2 hours away and better suited for a weekend jaunt than a day trip.

Ocean Shores - Beach Getaway

[Fat Freddy]

Here are two pictures of the beach at Ocean Shores.

One is a tourist promotion fantasy.
One is reality on a non-crowded day.

[Pittgal]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

which side of Seattle?

Inland beach (Puget Sound) or ocean beach (Pacific)?

for kids (play in sand) or for adults (views)

We want the coat ( Pacific Ocean) family-friendly ( we have a baby so no sand play, but want to walk on the sand)

Ocean shores seems to be what I keep hearing so I'll look into that. Anywhere else cute on the coast?

THANKS!!!!

[LookinForMayberry]

Shilsho, past Ballard Locks. Follow the road to the end -- the only sand in town. If you want to take a ferry, take them to Faye Bainbridge SP, and though its gravelly, you have a great view of the city.

Of course, there's always Alki, made famous by "Sleepless in Seattle."

[nwcountrygal]

Long Beach but it is a ways for just the day more of a weekend....family friendly lots of shops hotels B&B lots of sand! Westport Grayland is the south side of Aberdeen...long day to the ocean and back in one day.

You might also want to check out Port Townsend or Hood Canal much closer for a day trip to Seattle but not a Pacific beach.

[Pittgal]

Originally Posted by nwcountrygal

Long Beach but it is a ways for just the day more of a weekend....family friendly lots of shops hotels B&B lots of sand! Westport Grayland is the south side of Aberdeen...long day to the ocean and back in one day.

You might also want to check out Port Townsend or Hood Canal much closer for a day trip to Seattle but not a Pacific beach.

Thanks! We def want a Pacific Ocean Coast Beach, we don't care how far the drive is, we prefer 4 hours and under.

[jertheber]

I moved to Elma, west of olympia, two years ago, I do a lot of photography out at the beaches, north and south of Aberdeen. I'd have to say the quickest and by far the most scenic is through Aberdeen on hwy 105 down to Astoria Oregon, an absolutely beautiful town. On the drive, you'll see the Ocean, and the various River/Ocean coves that are truly stunning, You can pull over in many spots and walk the beaches. The North coast doesn't compare in any way with this south beach landscape, up north you would be at the upper elevations along the beach road, trees virtually meet the beach in this area. On the way back from Astoria, you can go along hwy 30 in Oregon and cross the Columbia River at westport Oregon on a neat little ferry boat that will take you to the Washington side and the town of Cathlamet. Follow Wa route 4 back to Longviewan up interstate 5 to Seattle. All in all, it's one long day, but, it would be a memorable one.