The Long Beach Peninsula has enough activities to fill a week of vacation and allow plenty of time to relax and unwind.

The Beach: Stretching for 28 miles, the drive on beach is spectacular in its length. All you can see for miles in either direction is sandy beach and crashing waves. Zoning keeps buildings back behind the dunes and allows unobstructed views.  Swimming is not recommended due to strong currents, very cold water and floating logs. Instead, park your car right on the beach and enjoy a stroll and hunt for sea shells. Insider tip: Buy a kite locally and support a small business, then enjoy some of the best kite flying conditions in the world.

The Quirky Stuff: No trip to the area is complete without a visit to Marsh's Free Museum. A tourist attraction and a store, Marsh's uses oddities to lure you in to shop.  Don't miss Jake the Alligator Man.  This interesting specimen even has its own website. Once you are finished, head across the parking lot to see the world's largest chopsticks and then across the street for the world's largest frying pan and largest spitting clam.

Marsh's Free Museum, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 408 Pacific Ave. S., Long Beach, 360.642.2188

The Discovery Trail: This 8.2-mile trail's northern terminus begins right outside the Breakers Resort (which has complimentary beach cruisers for guests to use). Traveling south, the trail weaves through grassy, sand dunes, forest groves and across bridges and boardwalks to Ilwaco.  Along the way, there are bronze sculptures and historic markers highlighting Lewis and Clark's trek through the area. The trail is very scenic with great views of the ocean.  Wildlife sightings of deer, bald eagles and other birds are common.

The Discovery Trail, daily, 210 26th St. NW, Long Beach

Scoopers: A must-stop when you come to Long Beach.  The store is large and contains all the souvenirs and salt-water taffy needed for a beach vacation.  Where they shine is in the ice cream selection with over 60 flavors. It is so many they have to order from three different brands including Tillamook to carry that many flavors.  It is popular so cue up in the line and pay first, then pick your flavor. Insider tip: Less is more; the scoops are huge so one should be enough.

Scoopers, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., 101 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, 360.642.8388

State Parks: There are two state parks at each end of the peninsula.  Cape Disappointment State Park to the south gives you Cliffside views of the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean. To the north is Leadbetter Point State Park, which has beach frontage on both the Pacific Ocean and Willapa Bay and is located adjacent to the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy hiking trails and observing migratory birds.

Cape Disappointment State Park, daily, 6:30 a.m. to dusk, 244 Robert Gray Dr., Ilwaco, 360.642.3078

Leadbetter Point State Park, daily, 6:30 a.m. to dusk, Ocean Park, 360.642.3078

Cranberry Museum & Gift Shop: Everything you ever wanted to know about cranberries. Visit the museum to learn about the local cultivation history and how cranberries are now raised in the area. The gift shop has everything from cranberry soap to cranberry ice cream. Next take a walking tour around the property and view the cranberry bogs.

Cranberry Museum & Gift Museum, daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 2907 Pioneer Rd., Long Beach, 360.642.5553, cranberrymuseum.com

There is plenty to keep you busy when visiting Long Beach, but make sure you take time to relax.  There is something about the beach that just takes all the stress away.