Wash. St. beaches in January just to check out? Never been.

Submitted by Big-Guarantee-6598 t3_108jgaq in Washington

I assume it would still be a cool experience. any one particular along the coast you'd recommend me checking out? Flying in to SEATAC tonight and heading out Thursday night. Havent been to the coast in ages so i imagine i'll be in a joyful mood no matter which specific part I hit.

edit - arrived in SEATAC last night, saved all of these places on to my google maps, instead of driving the coast up and down im going around the olympic peninsula.

45

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

SmbdysDad t1_j3sml6m wrote

Ruby Beach is amazing. The number beaches are pretty awesome too.

57

retrorefl3ctor t1_j3szmwr wrote

Ruby Beach was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean. Totally breathtaking and always the first WA beach I recommend to folks. If you go at low tide you’ll have a lot of great tide pools to explore.

23

lalaluna05 t1_j3stx8y wrote

YES I was going to say Ruby Beach. Hands down my favorite.

13

mobleyd t1_j3tkd3m wrote

Tree of Life in that area as well.

8

Fizzlewitz48 t1_j3soxe2 wrote

Since it sounds like you’re not here for very long (just overnight?) it doesn’t sound like you’ll have time to make it out to the actual coast, which is about a 3-4hr drive depending on where you want to go. If you just have a single evening and want to get to a beach, head to Alki, Golden Gardens, or Seahurst.

38

Big-Guarantee-6598 OP t1_j3spq9q wrote

I messed up and put tomorrow morning, not sure what i was thinking, there tuesday - thursday night

11

Tiny_Thumbs t1_j3t5wcu wrote

I rode the coast from Astoria to Sequim/ Port Angeles and it was beautiful.

5

SunnySideUpMeggs t1_j3szmhn wrote

Just FYI, big storms are working their way along the coast this week, so be safe. Research tides and carry a tide chart. Be cautious around driftwood logs if the tide is high and watch your step.

27

Reggie4414 t1_j3t69pj wrote

as luck has it tomorrow is the king tide and it’s supposed to be windy af

9

SunnySideUpMeggs t1_j3t7p1d wrote

Yeah, I’d skip this week personally. Or explore along the Puget Sound rather than the ocean beaches.

5

glittervan206 t1_j3tuf54 wrote

Hell nah, I saw go for it and just be careful and enjoy the amazing beaches and ocean waves crashing ! Imo anyways

3

Piddy3825 t1_j3snmmz wrote

If you want some privacy I'd avoid going to Ocean Shores. If you travel north a ways just past Humptulips you can find some nice spots open to the public that are relatively unused at this time of year. Be sure to bring some kites along, nothing better than than flying a kite as you stroll along the beach.

12

BeaverInTheForest t1_j3ss6md wrote

Westport and Grayland are nice too for privacy, more locals while Ocean Shores is more tourist-y. If you do get to Ocean Shores though make sure you check out Damon Point and the Interpretive Center there.

1

chuckanut909 t1_j3szzn1 wrote

There is a group of beaches out on the peninsula: Rialto Beach, First Beach, Second Beach, and Third Beach. While you are out there check out Cape Flattery also.

10

wpnw t1_j3u8gm9 wrote

Definitely stay away from Rialto with this storm coming in. Almost certainty that there will be widowmaker logs being throw around, and they do get to the parking lot. I wouldn't be surprised if the road is closed at Mora even.

3

Lonny_loss t1_j3sokci wrote

You can drop the “state” qualifier when speaking to people from the PNW.

There is one Washington, and there is a D.C.

Also if you’re here for only one day, it’s unlikely you’ll have time to go the ocean proper, unless that’s all your doing that day.

9

Big-Guarantee-6598 OP t1_j3sprt1 wrote

I messed up and put tomorrow morning, not sure what i was thinking, there tuesday - thursday night

1

sgnl_01 t1_j3thkko wrote

Since you don’t much time, why bother driving so much. I’d take a trip to Whidbey, spend some time at Deception Pass State Park. Check out the bridge and go to the beach there instead. And stop in Coupeville or Langley for a quality lunch!

6

pnwfarming t1_j3soaea wrote

Ruby beach is spectacular! It’s a bit of a long drive but the drive is beautiful too, so worth it if you have the time.

6

Holiday_Parsnip_9841 t1_j3t4i1n wrote

If you have time, drive around the Olympic Peninsula. Rialto and Kalaloch are spectacular beaches.

6

Big-Guarantee-6598 OP t1_j3t54s5 wrote

thank you. instead of heading south after aberdeen these kind of comments have me really considering just checking out the olympic peninsula

5

Holiday_Parsnip_9841 t1_j3t6n3p wrote

If you’ve never been to the peninsula, go there. In addition to Kalaloch and Riato beaches, stop at the Hoh Rain Forest (one of the only cold rain forests in the world) and Lake Crescent. If Hurricane Ridge is open (weather dependent), it’s spectacular. The visitors center has a great view of the glacier.

2

DeaditeMessiah t1_j3smnfm wrote

Drive to Hoquiam, turn north, and drive up the part of the coast that's in the National Park.

5

ac19723 t1_j3ubr7i wrote

King Tide season. Beautiful but deadly if you don't know what you're doing.

3

Calm-Ad8987 t1_j3su3c3 wrote

Do you have time to drive out along the actual coast or are you looking for sound beaches around seattle-ish area? (It's hard to tell from your post where you'll be based)

2

CrankyReviewerTwo t1_j3tdjg0 wrote

Stay at Kalaloch cabins and observe the rage of the ocean storm from the safety of the cliffs above. Kalaloch is near Ruby and the number-beaches. You can also dip into Forks to view the little town now that the Twilight frenzy is long past.

2

AlienMutantRobotDog t1_j3t1zug wrote

Westport Grayland is great to be in a storm, very powerful waves on a sandy beach, it’s also easy to get too, and a little closer but there are really spectular rocky beaches in the Olympic national park

1

fartron3000 t1_j3tiz3l wrote

Kalaloch. Around this time (maybe a little later) is "storm season" and you can watch various storms converge on the Pacific from the point there. It's awesome.

1

SturdyBBQ t1_j3tkaw0 wrote

If you can make it out, make Shi Shi Beach a priority if you can! It’s such a drive but the views are unparalleled. Also the Cape Flattery Viewpoint; the furthest northwest point on the continental US coast. You can get your Makah permit in Neah Bay. (These are located within an hour of each other, out at the Olympic Peninsula’s tip)

If you aren’t able to make it that far, Ruby Beach is another fabulous spot (as you can see haha) and the Tree of Life at Kalaloch is worth seeing while it’s still standing! It’s a Sitka spruce that’s spanning a cutout in the little bluff. There are other ‘unnamed’ beaches (I.e. Beach 3, Beach 4) that are also great!

Wherever you go, be safe, and have fun! I hope you love your time here!

1

Uwlwsrpm t1_j3trcg7 wrote

If you just want to go to the ocean and don't really care about the scenery too much, I would suggest Westport. The entire way from Seattle except the last 20 or so miles from Aberdeen onwards is multi-lane highway. Also, there's a local seafood place called Merinos that has whole cooked crab dinners for only 20 bucks.

1

Zhenja92 t1_j3tvqi4 wrote

I would start at Ocean Shores - and take US 101 up North (make sure to stop off at Lake Quinault). The beaches above Ocean Shores are amazing as are the ones in the National Park. Continue with the loop and enjoy the Strait of San Juan De Fuca. If you like beaches, make sure to walk out on the Dugeness Spit, and then come back along the Hood Canal. https://maps.northwestportal.com/outdoors/#7.09/47.248664/-123.716852 has all the recreation - if you want some good food tourism stops (wine, beer, cider, etc, you can find those at https://maps.northwestportal.com/taste/#7.09/47.326304/-123.714610 And if you are going to use the maps to navigate, make sure to download the free apps as there are a lot of dead zones on the coast.

1

Bardamu1932 t1_j3u2g96 wrote

The closest ocean beaches:

North Beach: Ocean Shores, Oyehut, Ocean City, Copalis Beach, etc.

South Beach: Westport, Cohassett Beach, Grayland, North Cove/Washaway Beach, etc.

1

Eternally_Blue t1_j3ux4at wrote

Seahurst is very close to the airport and it is lovely.

1

Old-Emphasis9994 t1_j3v5mpj wrote

As a native Washingtonian it pains me to say this but the Oregon coast beats WA by a mile. Depoe Bay or Lincoln City.

1

Big-Guarantee-6598 OP t1_j3ws5s9 wrote

honestly i am really considering coming back out and doing that next mid-week.

2

RakaYourWorld t1_j3sz9f9 wrote

Ocean Shores is south of Seattle a couple of hours. Beautiful though.

0

Walking-Unseen t1_j3tn1s6 wrote

I went out walking and looking for agates along Cannon Beach in March last year. It's a little windy, and you should wear a coat, but it's definitely worthwhile.

0