As we sat in our homes, “leaving only for essential travel,” we dreamed of places we’d like to go. And, we started plotting out some post-closure travels where it would be safer even though the threat of Covid-19 still lingered. The Long Beach Peninsula in Southwest Washington came to mind. The businesses had managed to weather the storm and were opening up, albeit with restrictions. Here are five reasons why I would consider a short trip to the Washington coast and what the folks on the Long Beach Peninsula are asking visitors to do to keep everyone safer.

This is a place where the beach goes on “forever.” Photo courtesy Long Beach Peninsula

28 Continuous Miles of Beach

Except during events such as the International Kite Festival, I’ve never felt crowded on the open beach. In fact, people drive, bike, horseback ride, and run on that beach often without seeing many other people.

Walk to the beach to watch the sunset. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose

If you don’t want to get sand in your shoes, there is always the 8.5-mile Discovery Trail running parallel to the ocean, which is plenty wide for social distancing. This Lewis & Clark commemorative trail ends at the north end of Long Beach with an 18-foot bronze tree and meanders south to Beard’s Hollow climbing over the cape and into the fisherman’s port of Ilwaco. It’s a great paved trail for biking and rollerblading. Walkers will find that it links to boardwalks to make getting out to catch some ocean air very easily.

You can bike or walk The Discovery Trail. Photo by Elizabeth Rose

Fine Dining with a Beach-Casual Flair

Both The Depot and Mycovio’s remained open during the state-wide closure serving take-home deliciousness from their chef’s kitchens. The Depot, housed in an old Clamshell Railroad depot, features award-winning chef, Michael Lalewicz and his wife, Nancy Gorshe, who manages the business.

Michael is a classically-trained chef with an eye toward the tastes of beach-goers. You’ll find hearty comfort food cooked to order with a continental flair. While the cuisine is eclectic and always delicious, I just love their award-winning “Clamshell Clams Chowder.” Now that they are able to open, they feature their outdoor patio and limited seating inside. Fresh-air dining is the preference of those taking precautions against the Corona Virus.

Chef Michael Lalewicz of The Depot Restaurant creates magic in the kitchen. Photo courtesy The Depot Restaurant

At the northern end of the peninsula, you’ll find the small wooden building housing Chef Paul’s restaurant, Mycovio’s. Chef Paul Klitsie moved his culinary skills to the Long Beach Peninsula after owning successful restaurants in Portland and Vancouver, Washington. He is also a classically trained chef and you often find marvelous pasta dishes with delicate sauces on the menu. His brunches (now on hold) have been popular and his take-out during this pandemic is highly sought after.

Mycovio’s is now open but seating is very limited. Reservations are almost essential but Chef Paul suggests you call for last-minute dining opportunities just in case. You can check out table availability on Yelp. Masks are required until you are seated because the restaurant is cozy. Plan to dine there at least one evening of your stay on the peninsula. You won’t be sorry!

Brunch at Mycovio’s featuring delightful eggs Benedict. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose

Hiking to Long Beach Peninsula Lighthouses

Cape Disappointment is one of Washington’s most popular state parks and has more than eight miles of hiking trails. With two functioning lighthouses, the remains of Fort Canby, old-growth forests, and rugged stretches of beach, it is an ideal place to socially distance and get some exercise and fantastic pictures.

The Long Beach Peninsula has two lighthouses and both are serving as aids to navigation today. Photo courtesy Long Beach Peninsula

The North Head Lighthouse is the easiest to hike to. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse can be viewed from the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. If the Center is not open you can take the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse Trail and walk right up to it to enjoy the view of the crashing surf hundreds of feet from the high cliff.

Walking Historic Oysterville

The entire town of Oysterville is on the National Historic Register. Oysterville, named after the rich oyster beds of adjacent Willapa Bay, is picturesque and very different from the bustling beach towns of the Long Beach Peninsula. Take a walk through the whole town (it won’t take long), peek into the little church, or relax with a view of Willapa Bay. The maintenance of the little town is a labor of love by the locals. You, too, will fall in love with Oysterville when you visit, and it’s super easy to socially distance.

Oysterville’s oldest house was once the county seat. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose

Experience Unique Places to Stay

You can find a full range of places to stay including the luxury (and very pampering) Boreas Inn as well as the funky and fun Sou’wester trailer resort where you can socially distance to your heart’s content in your own restored vintage travel trailer.

The Sou’wester has modified their property and advises visitors that “we have chosen to limit access to public spaces, including our lobby, honor system store, pavilion, thrifty, bike shed, and sauna.” Recently travel writer Adam Sawyer stayed in a vintage trailer there, did some hiking, enjoyed several of the local restaurants, and found the getaway a great “respite from cabin fever.”

At the Sou’wester, within steps of the beach, you can cozy up in your own vintage trailer. Photo courtesy Adam Sawyer

Meanwhile, Susie Goldsmith and Bill Verner have been busy re-opening the beautiful Boreas Inn located on the beach within walking distance of the shops in Long Beach. Under current guidelines, they are permitted 75 percent occupancy. So, their guests have plenty of space. Susie even has arranged to serve breakfast both in the living area as well as the dining room in order to enhance social distancing and do whatever is necessary to make guests comfortable.

Take your morning coffee out on the deck in the sun and listen to the waves breaking in the distance. Photo courtesy Boreas Inn

When You Go to Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula

If you’re looking to make a road trip to Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula, we have a few tips thanks to the visitor’s association and based on my knowledge of the area from the many times I have visited.

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  The Peninsula is for relaxing. There are brewpubs, a brewery, a distillery, and restaurants like The Depot with their specially-chosen red blend waiting to pair with a nice cut of meat hot off the grill. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose

Check Out These Other Exciting Trips in Washington

• San Juan Islands: Natural Beauty, History, and Relaxation
• Wandering Port Angeles on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
• Ultimate Guide to 2 Days in Seattle
• 10 Wow Things to Do South of Seattle
• Wandering Seattle’s Amazing Pike Place Market
• A Visit to Leavenworth, WA
• Getting Outdoors on Bainbridge Island, WA
• Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion Memorial: A Lesson for All Time
• Food and Wine of Bainbridge Island, WA
• Red Mountain AVA: Discover the Magic
• Ultimate Guide to 2 Days in Tacoma

Getting to the Long Beach Peninsula

The Long Beach Peninsula is 2.5 Hours from Portland and 3.5 hours from Seattle. Travelers can fly into Sea-Tac or PDX airports and then take a scenic drive to the beach.

The drive through the countryside to the peninsula is relaxing and scenic. Photo by Elizabeth R Rose

For more ideas on visiting Washington State see these articles by Wander writers.