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Between the states of Washington and Oregon, beach enthusiasts have more than 2,700 miles of marine coastline to enjoy. The Oregon Coast has some of the West Coast's most beautiful beaches with landmark rock formations, while Washington's are expansive and wide, with sand dunes and picturesque backdrops of tree-filled cliffs. Each state offers numerous beach areas, but only a handful are deemed the best by Dr. Beach and Frommer's experts.
Northern Washington
Washington's Olympic National Park features some of the state's best beaches. You might have viewed or heard them referenced in the "Twilight" movie series. Near the ocean-side Native American community of La Push are Rialto Beach, and First, Second and Third Beaches. Visitors can drive to First Beach, as it sits right in the heart of the La Push community. To access Second and Third Beaches, you will need to park and hike along their mile-long nature trails. Each features an abundant amount of driftwood, rugged cliff areas and miles of sandy beachfront. Rialto Beach stretches for 29 miles and features a massive rock formation called Hole in the Wall.
Shi Shi Beach sits in Washington's Makah Indian Reservation near the coastal town of Neah Bay. This beach is at the corner of the state, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To access it, you must hike over three miles through wilderness trails. Wildlife commonly viewed at the beach includes sea otters, eagles and, during the fall, migrating gray whales. Dungeness Spit near Sequim is a six-mile stretch of sand that juts into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In summer, visitors can often see harbor seals lying along the beach areas or swimming.
Southern Washington
Westport Beach is a top surf location in Washington. While you will need a wetsuit to surf or boogie board in these chilly ocean waters, waves here are plentiful all year. Westport's beachfront is an expansive stretch of sand, perfect for taking a long walk, flying a kite and beachcombing.
Long Beach is one of Washington's largest beaches, with 28 miles of continuous beachfront. It is a favorite vacation destination during the spring and summer for its many festivals and beach-related events, such as the International Kite Festival and Sandstations Sand Castle Competition.
Northern Oregon
In northern Oregon, the neighboring coastal towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach receive millions of visitors each year. Seaside is a large resort community with numerous amusement attractions downtown. It has a wooden boardwalk along the beach so couples can take a romantic two-mile stroll. Seaside's wide beach draws crowds of volleyball players every summer, and toward the south end is a prime surfing spot, nicknamed the Cove by locals.
Cannon Beach is known for its miles of clean, sandy beach area, as well as its looming landmark, Haystack Rock, which sits just off the coast. When the tide is low at Cannon Beach, visitors can walk out for several miles along the gently sloping beach toward Haystack. The sand here is fine and perfect for building sandcastles and sculptures, which is why the coastal town hosts its annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Day each June.
The beaches in Bandon are some of the most photographed annually for their intriguing rock sculptures. Known as Face Rock, Table Rock and Elephant Rock, each rock formation has been carved to its present state by years of crashing ocean waves. Bandon is also known as the storm-watching capital of the world, as some of the waves have reached heights of about 100 feet. Beachcombing on Bandon's beaches will garner you a treasure trove of semiprecious stones, such as jasper and agate.
Farther south in the town of Brookings, visitors can view the migration of thousands of gray whales in December and January from the shores of Harris Beach State Park. This spacious beach area also features several large rock formations known as monoliths that sit just off the coast, as well as wildlife species such as pelicans, sea lions and seals.
Frommer's: Best Beaches in Oregon
Frommer's: The Best Beaches in Washington State
Dr. Beach: Beaches in Oregon
Dr. Beach: Beaches in Washington
Gorp: The Top Ten Beaches of the Pacific Northwest
Forks Web: LaPush Washington
National Park Service: Olympic National Park -- Visiting Mora and Rialto Beach
National Park Service: Olympic National Park -- Shi Shi Beach
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Welcome to the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Brookings Oregon: Official Website
Westport Washington: Things to Do in Westport
Funbeach: Calendar of Events -- Long Beach WA Peninsula
Welcome to Seaside Oregon: Home
Cannon Beach, Oregon: Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce and Information Center
Bandon Oregon: Official Site of the Bandon Chamber of Commerce
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