From the azure lagoons of the South Pacific to shores of Waikiki Beach to the Caribbean islands of the Atlantic Ocean, beaches have long been a favorite destination for family vacations and romantic getaways.
Though not really known for its beaches, Washington state is not without its own stunning coastlines, rocky coves and white sand beaches.
Hundreds of miles of Washington beaches include prime whale watching sites, clamming, islands with mountain views, pebble beaches, rocky coves, trails, tidal pools, storm watching venues, rock formations and the last of the wilderness beaches in the contiguous United States.
Here is a list of some of the most popular beaches in the state.
Kalaloch & Olympic Park Beaches, Forks
The Olympic Park beaches consist of about 100 miles of Pacific shoreline beaches. The northern part of this long stretch of beaches includes more than 60 miles of the last wilderness beaches in the contiguous United States. To the south, the byway parallels the beaches of Kalaloch where people can climb rocky cliffs and view the tide pools and creeks.
Twin Harbors Beach State Park,
Grayland
This 172-acre park located on the Pacific coast is about four miles south of Westhaven. Beachcombers can visit the beach and enjoy kite flying and surf fishing, and see animals ranging from chipmunks, deer, elk and raccoons to crabs, seals, squid, starfish, whales and more. Water activities include diving, fishing and clamming.
San Juan Island Beaches, Friday Harbor
Looking for a romantic place to go with your sweetheart? Try the beaches of the San Juan Islands. Comprised of four major islands, (San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw) all can be reached by a scenic cruise on a ferry.
- South Beach looks across the Strait of Juan De Fuca toward the Olympic mountains.
- Fourth of July Beach offers access to Griffin Bay and is a great location for watching eagles.
- Eagle Cove is located on an island that contains pebble beaches that offer places to tan, ride a skim board or play on the beach.
- Jackson Beach offers a fire pit, volleyball courts and a place to launch kayaks.
- Located nine miles West of Friday Harbor, Lime Kiln State Park is the only park in the country dedicated to whale watching. The whales pass close by the shoreline once or twice each day. It's also a great place to watch porpoises, seals, eagles, otters and shorebirds.
Ocean Shores Beach, Ocean Shores
Located on the shores of Washington's premier oceanfront city, Ocean Shores has six miles of sandy beaches and is the most popular beach in the state. The highest tides of the year occur in July and December. This beach is also a well-known winter storm watching site.
Rialto Beach, Forks
Visitors to Rialto Beach can check out tidal pools and rock formations. The beach continues for miles. Rialto Beach is one of the easiest beaches to get to, and visitors can drive right down to the beach. Rialto Beach is an entry point for 55 miles of wilderness coastline protected by Olympic National Park.
Long Beach, in Long Beach
Long Beach consists of more than 20 miles of sandy beach. Visitors can walk along the trail to view the sunset.
This beach is very dog-friendly and offers doggie Olympics Games that include a Frisbee Throw, Brush Shedding, Peanut Butter Lick and the Pavarotti Sing-off.