Forming part of Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula, Ocean Park lies wedged between Willapa Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It was once a station on the Ilwaco Railway and is home to several buildings dating back to the late 19th century.
Things to do in Ocean Park
Sprawling on the western edge of Ocean Park is Pacific Pines State Park, which is a popular setting for fishing, birding and beachcombing. Particularly scenic at sunset, it’s named after its beautiful grove of Pacific Ponderosa pine trees and is frequented by clammers and crabbers. Further north is Leadbetter Point State Park, where you can spot peregrine falcons, brown pelicans and terns.
If you drive in the other direction from Ocean Park, you will arrive at Loomis Lake State Park, which is renowned for its stocks of largemouth bass and yellow perch. Cast a fishing line to see what’s biting or follow the paved trail that leads to an ocean-viewing platform. From here, you can continue along a sandy trail to the beach for a day of swimming, sandcastle building and kite flying.
In the nearby city of Long Beach is the World Kite Museum, which showcases the 2,500-year-old history of kites. Learn about their development of the years while admiring kites from around the globe, including 1920s dime store kites and examples from one of the world’s first kite manufacturers, ALOX. The museum also features a collection of stamps depicting kites from as far afield as China.
Getting around Ocean Park
Ocean Park is around 20 minutes’ drive from Ilwaco and 2.5 hours from Olympia. Portland International Airport is also 2.5 hours away and has flights to destinations across North America and Europe. Renting a car is the most convenient way of accessing Ocean Park and getting around the Long Beach Peninsula.