FUN ON THE COAST 2014-15 LONG BEACH PENINSULA EVENTS CALENDAR
JULY July 4 July 4
Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade, Ocean Park, Sidewalk Chalk Art Fireworks on the beach, Long Beach
Aug. 30-Sept. 1One Nation Under Ink, Tattoo & Piercing Convention, Long Beach
Dec. 1-31
Whale Watching On The Coast
Aug. 30
Dec. 5
Holiday Open House, Skamokawa
Dec. 7
Holiday Tour of Homes/Old Time Christmas Celebration, Deep River Church & Naselle
Dec. 6
Lighted Boat Parade, Port of Ilwaco
Dec. 6
Crab Pot Christmas Tree Lighting, Port Ilwaco
Buzzard Breath Chili Cook-off, Cathlamet
Aug. 30-Sept. 1Chinook Art Festival, Chinook
DECEMBER
July 5
Beach clean up day, Peninsula-wide
July 5
Firecracker 5K Walk/Run, Ilwaco
July 5
Fireworks at the Port, Ilwaco
July 5
Starving Artists Sale, Ocean Park Library
Sept. 5 Sept. 6-7
Rod Run to the End of the World
Dec. 13
July 12
Waikiki Concert Series, Cape Disappt.
Sept. 14
Holiday Community Dinner, Skamokawa
July 16-20
SandSations & City SandSations, Long Beach and Ilwaco
Annual Auction & Wine Tasting, Skamokawa
Dec. 13-14
Sept.13
Discovery Trail Half Marathon, LB
Peninsula Bed & Breakfast Assn. Holidays at the Beach
July 19
Music in the Gardens, Peninsula-wide
Sept. 21
Dec. 15
Tuba Christmas, Seaview
July 19-20
Clamshell Railroad Days
Cape Disappointment Sprint Triathlon & Duathlon, Ilwaco
Dec. 31
New Year’s Fireworks, Long Beach
July 19-20
Bald Eagle Festival, Cathlamet
Sept. 27
Free admission - all Wash State Parks
July 20
Sept. 27
Wooden Boat Festival, Cathlamet
Oktoberfest at NW Carriage Museum, Raymond
July 25-27
Finnish American Folk Festival, Naselle
July 26
NPRA Rodeo Parade, Long Beach
July 26-27
69th NPRA Rodeo, Long Beach
July 26
Trek across Tokeland, Tokeland
July 26
Waikiki Concert Series, Cape Disappt.
July 31
Ilwaco Art Night
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER Slow Drag at the Port at 5 p.m.
OCTOBER
SEASONAL EVENTS May 3-Sept. 27 Saturday Market @ Port of Ilwaco May 24-Sept. 1 Weekends, Summerfest, downtown Long Beach. May 25-Sept. 1 Sunday Market, South Bend
Oct. 1
Wild Mushroom Celebration begins
Oct. 3
Oktoberfest/Punkin Chunkin, Puget Island
Oct. 3-4
Columbia River Days, Wahkiakum County
Oct. 4
Covered Bridge Days, Grays River
JANUARY 2015
Oct. 10-13
Peninsula Arts Assoc. Fall Art Show
Jan. 17-18
Windless Kite Festival, Long Beach
Oct. 11-12
Cranberrian Fair, Peninsula
Jan. 24
Beach clean up day, Peninsula-wide
One Sky, One World Kite Festival
FEBRUARY 2015 Feb. 14
June 4-Oct. 11 Fridays, Columbia Pacific Farmers Market, Long Beach.
2015
Aug. 1-2
OTC Ilwaco Tuna Classic, Ilwaco
Oct. 11-12
Aug. 1-2
Jake’s Birthday, Long Beach
Oct. 11
October Fest Dinner, Grays River Ctr
Aug. 2
Race Against Violence, Long Beach
Oct. 12
Great Columbia Crossing
Aug. 4
Free admission to all Washington State Parks
Oct. 17-18
Water Music Festival
MARCH 2015
Oct. 25
Oktoberfest Chinook Style, Chinook
March 8
Aug. 8-10
Downhill Longboard Races, Cathlamet
NOVEMBER Nov. 1-2
Aug. 8-10
Surf n’ Saddle Junior Rodeo, Long Beach
Aug. 9
Waikiki Concert Series, Cape Disappt.
Aug. 15-16
Blues & Seafood Festival, Ilwaco
Aug. 17
Jazz and Oysters in Oysterville
Aug. 14-16
Wahkiakum County Fair, Skamokawa
Nov. 2 Nov. 7-8 Nov. 8
Aug. 18-24
Washington State International Kite Festival
Nov. 10-11
Aug. 20-23
Pacific Co. Fair, Menlo “Sew It, Grow It, Show It at the Pacific County Fair”
Aug. 23
Waikiki Concert Series, Cape Disappt.
Aug. 25
State Parks Free Day, Natl Parks Birthday
Aug. 28
Ilwaco Art Night, Ilwaco
Aug. 28-Sept. 1”Come Play,” South Bend Aug. 29-30
Nov. 1
Nov. 22 Nov. 28-29 Nov. 28-30 Nov. 28 Nov. 29 Nov. 29
Swap Meet, Appelo Archives, Naselle
2 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
Cribbage Tournament, Long Beach Holiday Bazaar, Rosburg Community Hall Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall back) ‘Ocian in View’ Speaker Series American Legion breakfast, Deep River Hall Free admission, Washington State Parks Holiday Bazaar, St. James, Cathlamet Peninsula Arts Studio Tour Holidays at the Beach, Long Beach Tree Lighting; Santa Arrives, Long Beach Festival of Trees, Cathlamet Tree Lighting Parade with Santa, Cathlamet
Valentine Smorgabord, NHS, Naselle Daylight Saving time begins
APRIL 2015 Apr. 18-19
Razor Clam Festival
Apr. 24-26
Peninsula Arts Association, Spring Art Show, Long Beach
MAY 2015 May 2
Children’s Loyalty Day Parade, Ilwaco
May 3
Blessing of the Fleet, Port of Ilwaco
May 3
Loyalty Day Grand Parade, Long Beach
May 22- 25
World’s Longest Garage Sale
JUNE 2015 June 13-14
NW Garlic Festival, Ocean Park
June 26-27
Doggie Olympic Games, Long Beach
VISIT OUR WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.chinookobserver.com www.discoverourcoast.com
WELCOME TO THE
DISCOVERY COAST
Pacific County and its Long Beach Peninsula on the southwestern coast of Washington state are among the most scenic, delicious and historic places on the West Coast — and 2014 is a perfect year to visit. Beaches have always been our star attraction, with dozens of miles of sandy seashore, riverbanks and one of America’s premier estuaries — Willapa Bay — prime source of West Coast oysters. Willapa oysters were Mark Twain's favorite food! You’re never more than a few minutes from a breathtaking view and restorative recreation. Over the decades, celebrities spanning the spectrum from Woody Harrelson to U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas have enjoyed time here. Movies, TV shows and advertisements capitalize on our wonderful natural setting. Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild” is a recent example.
This amazing intersection of the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River has been a nexus for adventure-seekers and history-makers for thousands of years. The mighty seafaring Chinook people established one of the great Native American civilizations here. The first wellrecorded visits by explorers began in the 1700s. Lewis and Clark arrived in 1805 and considered their mission accomplished upon seeing the ocean from the same cliffs and shores you can visit today along Discovery Trail. Lewis and Clark National Park celebrates all these courageous and interesting Indians, explorers and pioneers. Our national and state parks are full of
watchable wildlife, from black bears and bald eagles to orcas and river otters. Festivals and classic summer holidays are perfect times to partake of our world-class oysters, crab and other seafood. A wide array of comfortable lodging choices await you. Beaches, horses, rides, concerts, classic cars and hotrods, ice-cream cones and countless other attractions make vacation days here fun for young and old alike. Make this the year you become one of the modern trailblazers who discover this incredible place, and return time and time again to our welcoming villages.
INSIDE DISCOVER COAST VISITORS’ GUIDE Beachcombing on the Peninsula..............................................5 Cape Disappointment....................................................................6 Carriage Museum ..........................................................................24 Clamming..........................................................................................13 Cranberries........................................................................................23 Discovery Trail..................................................................................26 Finn Fest..............................................................................................14 Fishing ................................................................................................20 Ilwaco ....................................................................................................4 Kite Museum ......................................................................................9
Leadbetter Point ............................................................................27 Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center ........................................7 Long Beach..........................................................................................8 Long Beach Rodeo........................................................................11 Long Island........................................................................................26 Map of the Peninsula............................................................30, 31 Marsh’s Free Museum ..................................................................25 Nahcotta ............................................................................................21 Ocean Park ........................................................................................16 Outdoors............................................................................................10
Oysterville..........................................................................................22 Razor Clam Festival ......................................................................12 Rod Run to the End of the Earth ............................................23 Safety on the Peninsula ..............................................................28 Saturday Market at the Port ........................................................5 Seaview ................................................................................................7 U.S. Coast Guard ............................................................................28 Washington State International Kite Festival......................9 Whale Watching ............................................................................20 Wildlife ................................................................................................27
DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 3
ILWACO
WASHINGTON’S FAMOUS FISHING CAPITAL
I
lwaco is an incredible place. It possesses a proud maritime tradition stretching back thousands of years, first in the cedar canoes of the Chinook Indian people and continuing on through the sailing era, up to the commercial and sport fishing fleets of today. Framed by one of the world’s most scenic harbors, Ilwaco offers a first-hand experience of Framed by one of humanity’s long partnerthe world’s most ship with the Columbia scenic harbors, River and the Pacific Ilwaco offers Ocean. Summer and fall a first-hand offer unparalleled opexperience of portunities to get out on humanity’s long the water, either in the pursuit of fish, or just to partnership with partake in the sights and the Columbia River sensations of one of the world’s great rivers and and Pacific Ocean. nearby ocean waters. If fishing is your heart’s desire, public boat launches provide easy access to the water. There are plenty of charter offices to fulfill any angler’s request. Salmon, sturgeon, tuna and bottom fishing trips are available in season and fresh seafood is available year around.
Hundreds of private, charter and commerical fishing boats pack Port of Ilwaco's mooring basin in the summertime.
PORT OF ILWACO C ha rter F is hing W a terfront D ining F res h Sea food Shopping W orking W a terfront
Saturday Market, May–September at the Port of Ilwaco Marina Located at the mouth of the Columbia River
F ollow u s on F a cebook a tD iscover Ilw a co w w w .portofi lw a co.com 360-642-3143 4 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
OLEBOB’S Galley Cafe and Seafood Market
Casual Waterfront Dining Fresh Local Seafood * Crab Cakes * Fish Tacos * * Clam Chowder * Fish-n-Chips * * Crab * Oysters * Shrimp * Burgers * * Salads * Beer * Wine * Our Full Service Seafood Market has Fresh Local Dungeness Crab, Salmon, Tuna, Oysters, and more!
360-642-4332 151 Howerton Way, Port of Ilwaco www.olebobs.com
R E TA I L M A R K E T
OPEN Everyday of the Week 8 am to 5 pm May thru September
360-642-3773
On the Docks in Ilwaco
Seals, sea lions and whales all are spotted offshore. A pod of orcas, or killer whales, is sometimes observed in the ocean here. A full-service marina and boatyard and a waterfront promenade for strolling makes Ilwaco Harbour Village a stop you don’t want to miss. Unique gift shops with that special something you can’t find anywhere else and art galleries for that one-of-a-kind treasure dot the waterfront. Downtown Ilwaco, a short stroll from the port, is in the midst of renewal, with old buildings being refurbished. If you are hungry, there are several dining experiences to choose from in Ilwaco. From a quick bowl of chowder to pasta dinners, you’re sure to find a bite to satisfy the appetites of all. Downtown Ilwaco and Ilwaco Harbour Village: Where the Columbia River meets the mighty Pacific Ocean. Come experience it all for yourself.
SATURDAY MARKET AT THE PORT OF ILWACO May through September, the Port of Ilwaco hosts a Saturday Market that attracts vendors, craftspeople and musicians from around the region. Pick from the freshest produce, baked goods and plants. Wonderful crafts and handiwork abound with something new every weekend. It is open every Saturday, rain or shine, all summer long from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
COLUMBIA RIVER DELTA CELEBRATES THE BLUES The Blues and Seafood Festival is set for Aug. 15 and Aug. 16 at the beautiful Port of Ilwaco. It brings extraordinary talent to the area. Still a relatively new event, this festival on the Baker Bay waterfront and picturesque Ilwaco mooring basin has caught on fast. Blues may have originated largely on the Mississippi Delta, but here on the Columbia River Delta we, too, feel the music. This year, Billy D and The HooDoos open up the festival on Friday night. Billy’s Chicago South Side swagger and sprinkle should have everyone swinging. Lisa Mann and Her Really Good Band are up next. And when Lisa says “Really Good Band,” she’s not fooling. Performing next, all the way from the East Coast, the extraordinary Albert Cummings. Saturday kicks off with The Bone Brothers. These guys can really tear it up. Steve Williams and the crew have been a huge hit in the past. Then there’s our area’s very own North Coast Blues and the Cadillac Horns. Up next are Franco Paletta and the Stingers, whose dynamic harp style and unique vocals has made him one of Portland’s favorite blues personalities. The original NW Boogie Cat, Norman Sylvester, is back by popular demand and promises to have everyone up and dancing. The festival’s 2014 headliner, the Heartbreakers, pictured here, features a terrific lineup of the Northwest’s premier female blues singers — Lucy Hammond, Lady A, Lady Kat "True Blue" and Mary
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McPage. This is a show you just can’t miss! The Food Court is expanding, with lots more delights from Peninsula seafood providers. And, of course, there will be microbrews and regional wines. Tickets go quickly and can be purchased at bluesandseafood.com/tickets/
Daily, Weekly & Monthly Rentals
Info & Reservations 360-642-2027 1801 Cranberry Road Long Beach, WA www.cranberryrvpark.com
DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 5
CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT WASHINGTON’S VACATION DESTINATION
C
ape Disappointment is one of Washington state’s most famous and popular parks. Some of its favorite features include: a premier campground, beautiful beaches, new public artworks, two lighthouses, an interpretive center and miles of hiking trails.
CAMPING: Cape Disappointment State Park has 152 standard campsites, 83 utility sites, five primitive campsites, one dump station, eight restrooms (two ADA) and 14 showers (four ADA). Maximum site length is 45 feet (may have limited availability). Camping is available year-round. To reserve a campsite, call 888-CAMPOUT or 888-226-7688.
BEACHCOMBING: Take your pick from three beaches for your beachcombing or strolling. Waikiki Beach is located where the North Jetty meets the rocky cape. This beach is one of the locals’ favorite spots for storm watching because the waves crash on the cape here with the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse in the background. Benson Beach is the sandy stretch from the North Jetty to North Head, hikers can enjoy the lack of vehicles, the huge driftwood trees and a great view of the North Head Lighthouse. Beards Hollow, the southern stretch of the Peninsula, offers visitors a chance to view tide pools at low tide near the historic “Fishing Rocks” or take the Discovery Trail north to Long Beach or east to Ilwaco. THE CONFLUENCE PROJECT: The Confluence Project site is one of seven locations on the Columbia River where artist Maya Lin has created places to think. Using the language of the Chinook people and members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, these artworks put the Bicentennial into a larger perspective, encouraging the visitor to re-consider the cultural and natural layers of history found on the Lower Columbia River. The site at Cape Disappointment includes a basalt fish-cleaning table, a Baker Bay viewing platform, several short trails, and a new amphitheater with a view of the ocean.
Surfers ride the waves at Waikiki Beach in Cape D State Park. DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
TWO LIGHTHOUSES: The park offers access to two historic lighthouses. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was lit in 1856, making it the first in the Pacific Northwest. The view from the Cape Disappointment light is astounding, overlooking the Columbia River bar from the very tip of the cape. The picturesque North Head Lighthouse is perched on the headland surrounded by the ocean in all its glory. Tours are conducted daily at North Head during summer months and on weekends in the offseason. There is a small fee. Children younger than 7 may not climb up into the light. HIKING TRAILS: The cape has over eight miles of hiking trails to choose from. These trails lead hikers through multiple ecosystems, from coastal fog forest to the saltwater marsh to grass-covered dunes. The rustic trails cut through some impressive huge old spruce and hemlock trees and often end up either at a lighthouse or at an abandoned military structure. Fort Canby was a coastal defense fort at the cape from 1852 to 1947. Pick up a hiking trail map from the park — office or the interpretive center.
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31/2 Miles North of Downtown Long Beach on 138th St.
6 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
The Imperial Schooner is now in the heart of Long Beach! Same great food, same great service! Open 11am to 7pm daily, Noon to 6 on Sundays 107 3rd St. SE, Long Beach, WA 97631 360.642.0541
SEAVIEW
LEWIS AND CLARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER
BEACH, DUNES AND COMFORTABLE RECREATION
S
A rare French-made lighthouse lens is among the remarkable artifacts on display in the interpretive center. DAMIAN MULINIX dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
Overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center features new exhibits and rangerled interpretive programs. Original exhibits, which include hands-on activities, trace the entire expedition with particular detail on the Corps of Discovery’s explorations of the Columbia River. A new video, titled, “Of Dreams and Discovery,” focuses on how the arrival of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the ocean at Cape Disappointment was the fulfillment of President Thomas Jefferson’s vision. Exhibits also interpret Fort Canby, the coastal ecosystems, the U.S. Life-saving Service and shipwrecks. Historic artifacts on display include a firstorder Fresnel lens constructed in 1822 and used in both of the cape’s lighthouses and a LifeSaving Service surf boat. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is open daily, year around from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission for adults is $5, $2.50 for children ages 7 to 17, kids 6 and under are free. Tours, programs, and guided hikes are available with an appointment made in advance. Call 360-642-3029 for more information.
eaview was founded in 1881 by Jonathon L. Stout and his wife, Anne Elizabeth Gearhart, daughter of Phillip Gearhart, for whom the town in northwest Oregon is named. The two villages share parallel traditions of history and charm. Seaview is located between Ilwaco and Long Beach but has a character very distinct from its two neighbors. It is, most would agree, one of the Peninsula’s most “classy” villages. Seaview is home to some wonderful B&Bs and restaurants, including the comfortable Shelburne Inn — a National Historical Landmark — and the fantastic Depot Restaurant. Seaview’s waterfront is a popular launching spot for walks south and north on the Northwest’s longest beach. It is somewhat less busy in the summer than the Long Beach seashore access routes to the north, and thus makes for a more peaceful
Surfers head out for a ride near Fishing Rocks on the south end of the Peninsula, an area also popular among picnicking families. Only expert swimmers and surfers should venture into local waters. — MADELINE DICKERSON PHOTO
setting. It is in Seaview where growth (also called accretion) of the beach is most noticeable, with 2,000 feet or more of dunes separating the village’s original shoreline from the ocean today. This means several shipwreck sites lie under what is now dry land, including those of the Vandalia which wrecked in 1853 with a loss of nine lives, and the Marie, which wrecked in 1852, also with a loss of nine.
This is a classic Northwest beach, the original seashore resort for the Portland elite, and deservedly so. There are miles of clean sand, many shorebirds, friendly people and pretty views of the distant cliffs and bobbing crab boats. The new Discovery Trail threads its way through the Seaview dunes, providing a walking/biking path all the way from northern Long Beach to Ilwaco.
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DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 7
LONG BEACH WHERE FAMILIES MAKE MEMORIES
L
ong Beach is a fun place, famous in the Northwest for its eccentric charm, its bustling summer sidewalks, its many festivals and soaring kites. It also is a place of incredible natural assets: miles of beach, dunes and forests. Founded in 1880 by Henry Harrison Tinker from Maine, Long Beach has been a resort town since the beginning. Unlike many “beach” towns, Long Beach is a place with a solid core of reality — the people who make their homes here love it. It is, first and foremost, a community. When you visit Long Beach, what you’ll experience is a bright little town that happens to be on the beach. Visitors to the Peninsula inevitably gravitate toward Long Beach for its shops and the many
activities geared toward families, teens and children. This is where you’ll find amusement rides, horse rentals, go-carts, video arcades, bumper cars and other traditional beach fare. Long Beach also has much to appeal to mature visitors, such as its famous boardwalk, the great new paved Discovery Trail along the crest of the dunes, and a nice variety of art galleries, gift stores and restaurants. If you’ve been here before, come again and see how much Long Beach has transformed in the past few years. If you haven’t been here, come take a look. You won’t regret it. Long Beach has many motels, B&Bs and RV parks, so finding a place to stay is rarely a problem. But on festival weekends, be sure to have a reservation and to check in early in the day.
ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES, BOOKS & FURNITURE Long Beach Peninsula
A GOOD TIME DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE • Settle in for some people watching. Leading sites include benches along the boardwalk and anywhere in fun downtown Long Beach. • Take a romantic walk on the boardwalk and Discovery Trail in the evening, enjoying the sounds of the surf. • Hit the many yard and garage sales. • There’s a new playground for the kids near the corner of Bolstad and Washington avenues, two blocks east of the main stoplight. • Stop by real estate offices and daydream about owning your very own piece of heaven. • Columbia Pacific Farmers Market Fridays June to Oct. 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Veterens Field in downtown Long Beach.
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665-3611 • WE BUY ESTATES Open 7 Days a Week 10am-5pm • Bob & Brenda Hill 8 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
642-8227 • Seaview
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303 Sid Synder Drive, Long Beach, WA 360-642-4020 www.worldkitemuseum.com
If ever there was a place perfectly suited to flying kites, our long beach is it. With a good chance for warm, dry weather during August, the Washington State International Kite Festival in the city of Long Beach packs an infinite amount of fun into one short week — Aug. 18 to 24, 2014. Spanning every category of invention, design and color — from whimsical to practical to rainbow-hued — kites inhabit the skies over our beach. You can expect to see just about anything in our pure, ocean-borne air, including some of the most fantastic shapes the mind can imagine. Lining Bolstad beach approach during the festival, dozens of vendors supply food and fun items for the 50,000 or so guests who attend. Souvenir sales — including the annual poster pictured on this page — benefit the festival and take place all week at a downtown booth. Registration for each day’s events begins at 8 a.m. and activities start at 10 a.m. each day. For a complete schedule of events and many colorful and informative stories you can pick up a 2014 official WSIKF program at local businesses, the Visitors Bureau (funbeach.com) or the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame, or see kitefestival.com/kite-festival The Kite Museum on Sid Snyder Drive (10th Street S.) in Long Beach is an integral part of the festival experience. It was established to preserve and promote all aspects of worldwide kiting and to recognize noteworthy individuals for their outstanding contributions in kiting. Kites on exhibit tell the history, art, science and sport of kiting. Plenty of interesting items are available at the museum’s gift shop. For information, call 642-4020.
A great destination for fun for all! Experience the history and art of kites through video and interactive elements. Make your own kite and fly it here on the world’s longest beach! Visit today!
Featuring: • Bold heroes and story characters on kites from Japan • Delicately painted Chinese silk kites • Kites that saved lives in WWII • Videos of various Asian kite fighting celebrations
Visit Our Museum Store for:
Admission Includes Kite Making! Open Daily, 11am to 5pm April to September Open Friday - Tuesday 11am to 5pm October - March
• Kites for flying on the Beach • Books about kite making, flying & history • Postcards, T-shirts, jewelry & posters
DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 9
THE OUTDOORS RECREATION OPTIONS ABOUND IN SOUTH PACIFIC COUNTY BICYCLING The Peninsula has many trails for bicycling enthusiasts, including Long Beach’s wonderful paved trail through the ocean dunes, stretching north and south of the boardwalk. Some other options include Cape Disappointment and North Head roads, Sandridge Road to Ocean Park, the quiet back streets of Oysterville and Nahcotta, and Parpala Road in the Naselle area. TENNIS Free outdoor tennis courts of various descriptions can be found all along the Peninsula. Both the Ilwaco City Park and Long Beach’s Culbertson Park have courts (and outdoor basketball courts). See signs on the courts for rules. Lighthouse Resort Tennis Club, 12417 Pacific Highway, north of Long Beach, offers both memberships and use by fee. It is a stateof-the-art facility that houses two regulation blue-green U.S. Open courts. For more information call 642-3622, email manager@lighthouseresort.net SWIMMING Peninsula beaches are considered unsafe for swimming. No matter how calm or inviting the water looks, or how strong a swimmer one may be, drownings sometimes occur. Severe undercurrents and rip tides can pull — and have pulled — even the most
north of the stoplight in Long Beach. A putting green, clubhouse and a fantastic restaurant are added amenities for golfers. The dining room is open to everyone. Peninsula Golf Course is a nine-hole par-33 course that is 2,057 yards in length with three par-3 holes and six par-4 holes. The cozy course can be played in less than two hours and provides excellent conditions year around. The course is rated 60 for men and 64 for women and the slope rating is 90 for men and 100 for women. Peninsula Golf Course is located at 9604 Pacific Highway in Long Beach. Call 642-2828. Put your endurance to the test during the Cape Disappointment Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon on Sept. 21. — OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
experienced swimmers out past their limits. Swimming opportunities on the Peninsula are limited to private or public pools. The Dunes, a professional indoor pool, is located just south of Ocean Park on the west side of Highway 103 at the Dunes Bible Camp. For more information and hours, call the camp at 6655542. Eagle’s Nest in Ilwaco, 6428351, is another option. RUNNING The hard-packed sand of its beach and its bountiful back roads make the Peninsula a great place for the jogger and runner. Ilwaco High School also has an eightlane, all-weather track which is
usually available for use during daylight hours. Discovery Trail from Long Beach to Ilwaco offers incredible views to go with your cardio workout. SOFTBALL Softball fields are at Ilwaco City Park, Culbertson Park in Long Beach, Long Beach School, Chinook School and across the street from the Ocean Park School. The area’s Little League baseball field is adjacent to the Long Beach Fire Hall at North Seventh in Long Beach. GOLF LONG BEACH: Peninsula Golf Course is located one mile
SURFSIDE: Three miles north of the stoplight in Ocean Park is Surfside Golf Course. The course is 3,206 yards in length and is a nine-hole course that plays as a par 36. There are two par-3 holes, five par-4s, and two par-5 holes on the course. Surfside features three tees for men and two tees for women in an effort to accommodate golfers of any skill level. The course is rated 69 for men and 73 for women and has a slope of 122 for men and 125 for the ladies. A putting green, driving range, and club house all add to the golfer’s enjoyment. Tee times can be scheduled by calling 665-4148. Surfside Golf Course is located at 31508 J Place, Ocean Park. The course is open year around.
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Come join all the cowboys and cowgirls at the Peninsula Saddle Club on July 26 and July 27 at 1 p.m. for the 69th annual Long Beach Rodeo. Events take place at 6407 Sandridge Road on the beautiful Long Beach Peninsula (1 1/4 mile north of the Hwy 101 junction on Sandridge Road). This Northwest Professional Rodeo Association rodeo is one of the longest running rodeos on the Northwest coast. This year’s show is sure to be one of the finest, thanks to the collaborative talents of great rodeo professionals and a team of wonderful volunteers. The Peninsula Saddle Club hosted its first rodeo in 1951. At that time, the rodeo was held just north of downtown Long Beach (where the fire hall is currently located). The Saddle Club moved to its present location in 1957. The rodeo gets started with a fun parade through downtown Long Beach in the evening of Friday, July 25. Start each day of the rodeo with a genuine cowboy breakfast in the clubhouse, from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Let the crew in the “chuck wagon” dish you up some hotcakes, eggs, ham, or biscuits and gravy. Don’t forget your coffee! Bring the whole family for the fun of a community tradition. Enjoy the beer garden during the show, or wander the grounds and visit more than a dozen vendors serving up treats or selling their wares. And, don’t forget the lunch concessions in the clubhouse where the crew will dish up burgers, hot dogs and more. On Saturday, don’t run away after the show. That’s when they start family night. And remember that this is a two-day event. They do it all over again on Sunday. See you at the rodeo!
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RAZOR CLAM FESTIVAL A TRIBUTE TO GENERATIONS OF CLAM DIGGING ON THE PENINSULA The “world’s largest frying pan” — and at eight-feet in diameter and 500 pounds, whose to argue? — is just one attraction at the Razor Clam Festival in downtown Long Beach, April 18 and 19. “The Giant Clam Pan is an icon in Long Beach,” said Randy Dennis, festival organizer and owner of the Dennis Company. “We’re happy to see it restored and used once again to entertain our clamloving community.” The Long Beach Razor Clam Festival shares the ins and outs of digging for razor clams while celebrating this subsistence tradition. The festival originated in the 1940s, when the Clam Pan toured the region to promote the event and Long Beach. Festival highlights usually include a clam fritter cook-off, free razor clam sighting and digging
lessons, contests with prizes for the biggest clam dug, the best looking limit, the number of clams in the tank, and the best studentdecorated clam guns. A first-come, first-served Chowder Taste-Off with live music is very popular. Commemorative T-shirts, as well as vintage clam festival postcards, will be available for purchase. Clamming licenses and equipment are available at various local stores. Over the weekend, Peninsula restaurants also feature razor clam menu items. A Washington State Fish and Wildlife Shellfish/Seaweed License is required to harvest clams, and a personal limit of the first 15 clams dug is strictly enforced. “Many of us have wonderful memories of digging for razor
The Long Beach Peninsula’s Razor Clam Festival is set for April 18 and 19, 2015. This weekend of classic family recreation pays tribute to generations of clam digging on miles of scenic ocean beach. It includes clam fritters and other delicious foods in downtown Long Beach and at restaurants throughout the area. — DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
clams as children,” says Andi Day, executive director, Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau. “It’s
great to see this Northwest tradition continue on the Long Beach Peninsula.”
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CLAMMING
THE PENINSULA IS THE BEST PLACE IN WASHINGTON TO DIG RAZOR CLAMS
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REALTY Razor clamming on a beautiful autumn evening has to be one of the world’s most scenic recreational activities. Most prefer to use clam “guns,” hollow tubes that are driven into the sand above an unsuspecting clam, but you’ll still find some using an old-fashioned narrow-bladed shovel. — DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
Peninsula people are passionate about razor clams. And with good reason as this is usually the best place in the state to stalk the wily bivalves. Although rarely hampered because of a marine micro-organism found in razor clams that can be harmful to humans, in recent years conditions have always been fine. Good clamming is usually available along the entire Peninsula. However, the largest and most plentiful razor clams are usually found from Oysterville approach north to Leadbetter Point. As a general rule, clamming conditions are so good here that people drive for hundreds of miles to partake in this delicious family fun. You must keep the first 15 clams you dig, regardless of size or condition. Over-digging, throwing clams back, digging in closed areas, or digging out of season can result in hefty fines. Visitors are encouraged to contact the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 360-586-6129 for information about upcoming seasons and regulations or visit the WDFW online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish INFORMATION: Jack’s Country Store in Ocean Park maintains the excellent clam information website: www.razorclams.com
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Trust • Friendliness • Dedication DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 13
FINN FEST
NASELLE’S FINN-AMERICAN COLONY HOSTS BIENNIAL FESTIVAL IN 2014 The theme for this year’s 17th biennial free Finnish American Folk Festival reflects the history of Naselle, a small community in southeastern Pacific County. Held July 25 to 27 at the Naselle-Grays River Valley School 12 miles north of the Astoria-Megler bridge at the junction of State Route 4 and State Route 401, there will be activities for people of all ages. Whether of Finnish heritage or not, everyone is invited to bring their family and enjoy the festival. Sporting events once again include a Golf Tournament, the Paavo Nurmi 5K Run/Walk, Wife Carry and Boot Toss. The Golf Tournament starts at noon Thursday, July 24, at the Peninsula Golf Course in Long Beach. Pre-registration is necessary. Forms can be downloaded from the website (www.finnam.naselle.net) or by calling Mike Swanson at 360-751-1565. The format is a four-person team scramble. The Paavo Nurmi 5K Run/Walk on July 26 also requires advance pre-registration if a souvenir t-shirt is desired. Again, the registration form can be downloaded from the website or by contacting Haleigh See at 360-4843878. Other Saturday “sports events” — the Wife Carry and Boot Toss — have registration on the day of the event. Saturday, July 26, is the main day of the festival and starts with a pannukakku (Finnish pancake) breakfast. The main opening ceremony is at 10 a.m. The Cultural Programming Series, including Finnish language classes, the
Peninsula Arts Association Summer and Winter 2014 June 6 NW Garlic Poster Reveal Ocean Park
Finn history, food and culture are star attractions at the FinnAmerican Folk Festival, held every other year in Finn stronghold Naselle in southeastern Pacific County. It is July 25 to 27 this summer. — OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
performances, exhibits, marketplace and food venders continue all day. Saturday additions include food demonstrations, arts and crafts demonstrations, music and genealogy workshops, a salmon dinner, a raffle and a dance in the evening to the music of the Smiling Scandinavians band. All are invited to celebrate with the Finns in this “little village with the big heart,” whose logo is “Love and Unity.” Visitors will be warmly welcomed and are sure to return home with many wonderful memories.
July 4 Old Fashioned 4th Parade Ocean Park July 5 Starving Artist Sale Ocean Park Library October 10 to 13 44th Fall Art Show Long Beach Train Depot November 28 & 29 PAA Studio Tour Peninsula Wide
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The Appelo Archives Center in Naselle offers historic logging displays and photographs. Also displays on local Finnish history.
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14 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
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DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 15
OCEAN PARK THE HEART OF THE PENINSULA
F
or a trip that bypasses crowded highways and returns your soul to a safer, more leisurely time, follow U.S. Highway 101 toward Washington state’s southern-most peninsula. Once there, head north on State Route 103 toward Ocean Park — a visitor-friendly area located at the “heart” of Washington’s most famous beach. If you are looking for a weekend or longer close to nature, activities that the entire family will never forget, festivals or events nearly every weekend of the year, beautiful scenery, historic landmarks, walking trails and seafood Ocean Park’s that can’t get any Old-Fashioned fresher, Fourth of July then treat to Parade is famous yourself the Ocean in these parts as Park area. Please a source of visit the O c e a n hometown Park Area patriotism. Chamber of Commerce website “Directory” page and look under “All Members” for web page listings for each of many friendly local businesses. The address is http://opwa.com. On the way north on State Route 103, you’ll pass by many areas worth exploring: Loomis Lake State Park; Loomis Lake fishing area; and the Klipsan Beach approach with its historic Coast Guard Life Saving Station, are some examples. A red flashing light marks the center of Ocean Park. Everything here is located “from the light.” In fact, they have only recently started using house numbers. Don’t worry about getting lost. There are plenty of places to get information. The Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce Office is two blocks east from “the light” on Bay Avenue and every business will gladly provide directions to points of interest. Scout out the many businesses that dot the road from Long Beach to Ocean Park and on to Oysterville. The variety is surprising. Ocean Park is home to two of the largest
grocery stores on the Peninsula, a hardware store and a pharmacy. There are galleries, gift shops, a bookstore, restaurants and lodging choices that include motels, cabins, historic bed and breakfasts, vacation rental homes, RV spaces and camping. You will find an opportunity to relax in Ocean Park. Have an espresso or lunch at the beach approach. Relax with a glass of wine and a sunset. Enjoy walking around town visiting artists, jewelers and crafters in their studios and shops. There are gift stores and a used bookstore carrying current and nostalgic items to browse. Tame your hunger at ice cream parlors, restaurants and watering holes. Jack’s Country Store is one of the prime places to get lost in. Tom or any employee of Jack’s store will help you find your way. One of the many reasons to linger in these businesses is that some of the better storytellers can be found in them. The main attraction, and the reason most people come here, is the shore. The ocean is just a short walk west of “the light.” Here you are in the center of a grand beach that stretches more than 10 miles in each direction. Walk along the broad expanse of sand and stop to create a driftwood sculpture or build a sandcastle. Fly a kite or fish for surfperch. Watch a flock of sea birds in synchronous flight or spy a hawk in search of prey. The beach is designated a state highway and automobiles can be driven on it. If you have a disabled friend or an aging relative, this is one of the few opportunities where they can be transported to the ocean’s edge for a real seashore experience. Couples and families enjoy the various events that Peninsula communities host. The Garlic Festival, held the third weekend in June, rejoices in the cloves that form the foundation for oodles of good food and good fun. The Old Fashioned Fourth of July Parade provides a rollicking family event that harkens back to family picnics and memorable experiences. See Ocean Park, page 18
16 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
Ocean Park's Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Parade is a charming exploration of small-town life, including Okie Thriftway's choreographed shopping carts.— MADDIE DICKERSON PHOTO
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DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 17
Ocean Park:
Continued From Page 16
The weekend after Labor Day hums and roars with activity. The whole Peninsula is filled with custom cars participating in the Rod Run to the End of the World. The event begins with early registration on Friday afternoon, a slow drag on Friday night and climaxes with the car show on Saturday. Over 1,000 classic cars are on display. Throngs of visitors pore over the fit and finish of every one. There is, of course, ample time to exchange stories about your favorite car from an earlier time. The Peninsula is rich in history. The Chinook people, who were skillful traders and excellent seamen, first occupied the whole Peninsula area. After European seafarers discovered the area, a fur trade arose. Later, pioneers arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River and by the 1830s an oyster trade began in the Willapa Bay. Settlers soon followed. By 1850 there were permanent settlements around the bay. Oysterville soon dominated the area. The raucous nature of the town and its vicinity convinced some that more uplifting environs would be desirable. Ocean Park was conceived as a summer camp for religious meetings. Currently open to the public, Ocean Park Resort started as a Methodist Church campground in 1906 and celebrated a century of operation three years
The Ocean Park community hosts a classic end-ofsummer bonfire on the beach approach on Labor Day Weekend. — DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
ago. By the 1890s the land of Ocean Park was platted and sold. The Camping Association eventually moved to an 80-acre plat, 25 blocks north of “the light.” It is now known as the Ocean Park Retreat Center and United Methodist Camp. There are many older residences that date back to the late 1800s in Ocean Park. Much of the lumber, in fact entire buildings, were barged over from South Bend and the smaller villages on the east side of the bay and Long Island. Others were built from shipwrecks and their cargoes that washed up on the beach. A brochure for a walking tour of these homes is available on the Internet (www.opwa.com) and at the Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce office.
Surf fishing for perch is one of the many outdoors activities in Ocean Park. — DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
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18 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
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DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 19
WORLD FAMOUS
SALT-WATER FISHING Nothing compares to the exhilaration of boating over waters where the Columbia River, having reached journey’s end, rushes into the Pacific Ocean. Add the thrill of catching large game fish and the experience will be imprinted in memory forever. Fortunately, these excursions are available to anyone, thanks to charter boats berthed at the Port of Ilwaco. Charters provide outings ranging from sightseeing to bottomand deep-sea fishing. Everything is provided except personal clothing and favorite refreshments. Many anglers also fish from private boats, a great option if you’re prepared for the conditions. The view of the land from the seaward side — lighthouses, Astoria, Saddle Mountain and Tillamook Head — is often breathtaking. Crossing the bar, where river and ocean meet, is an exciting time as the skipper skillfully maneuvers the boat through often-turbulent waters to reach open sea. Sea lions bask on jetty rocks. Seals’ heads pop out of the water here and there, and seagulls fly overhead hoping for a handout. How can you catch a trophysized salmon if you don’t have a boat? Simple, head for the south jetty at Cape Disappointment or east of the Chinook tunnel and get ready for a fun day of sports fishing on a budget. You will need a stout 9- or 10foot rod and a spinning reel large and strong enough to crank up at least 200 yards of 40-pound test line. A sliding swivel that can accommodate six to 16 ounces of pyramid sinker goes above the Dacron leader and a 2/0 or 3/0 hook is placed at the end of your gear. Bait of choice seems to be sand shrimp, but anchovy or smelt or anything else a scavenging sturgeon will engulf will do the trick. Cast toward Astoria, sit back to enjoy the comfort of your own rock, and wait for a bite. But be careful when you rear back to set the hook, jetty rocks can be slippery. If you fish east of the Chinook tunnel, the highway is only inches from your back and trucks, cars, and RVs zip past at 50 miles per hour.
WHALE WATCHING
In recent years, an unprecedented number of blue whales — the largest animals to ever live — were sighted grazing above the deep Guide Canyon west of Long Beach Peninsula’s northern tip. A pod of orcas — killer whales — makes an annual visit to the Columbia River region. And gray whale sightings are routine in during spring and fall migrations. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Cape Disappointment State Park is a nice place to look for whale spouts. Although whale watching from the vantage of the interpretive center doesn’t reward the whale watcher with close-up encounters,
FRESH WATER FISHING Steelhead and trout are abundant in Pacific County. While ocean fishing at the beach is nationally known, many forget there are numerous rivers, streams and lakes perfect for family outings. Between Ilwaco and Seaview lies Black Lake, for which offers trout fishing to all ages. Island Lake is a little more isolated and farther north on the Peninsula, but is perfect for canoeing and fishing. Another popular fishing hole is Loomis Lake. Traveling from the Peninsula, in addition to trout fishing, salmon fishing is allowed in several areas of the Naselle River in season. The same is true on the Willapa River near Raymond and South Bend and the Nemah on the east side of Willapa Bay. Turn near Naselle Youth Camp to get to Radar Lakes.
20 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
it is satisfying nonetheless. Just knowing those huge creatures are passing by the mouth of the Columbia River is inspiring. The sheer quantity is what most impresses — one day 178 whales were spotted in less than four hours! To maximize your own chances of seeing a whale, choose a day when the ocean is calm and winds are light. Early morning is best. If you watch from area beaches or jetties, don’t forget foul-weather clothing and mud-worthy hiking boots, bottled water, binoculars and a camera. For more information, visit www.whalespoken.org.
NAHCOTTA
A MUST VISIT FOR OYSTER LOVERS
Your first stop for Homes & Land on the Long Beach Peninsula Search all area listings www.pacreal.com New listings every day! Port of Peninsula in Nahcotta offers splendid views of Willapa Bay, a close-up look at the oyster industry and a small but fascinating interpretive center. — OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
N
ahcotta is a great place to experience the traditions of Willapa Bay, centered on oysters, clamming and other pure and healthy “fishy” business. A stroll around Nahcotta, looking at the boats and oyster processing equipment, is a great appetizer before sampling some fresh local seafood. Wandering around Nahcotta these days, one finds a tiny village rich in tradition and history, but little evidence of the battles that nearly tore the community in half more than a century ago. If the birth of Nahcotta came about with its platting and the struggle surrounding it in 1889, its conception may have taken place decades before when bands of Chinook Indians — among them Chief Nahcati, for whom the village was named — lived along the western shore of what was then Shoalwater Bay. Nahcati’s camp was said to have been nestled near Paul’s Slough just south of the present Nahcotta mooring basin. Here the Indians found an abundance of fresh water, dry land, ample clams, oysters and salmon from the Shoalwater, and wild game in the forests. The settlements were well out of reach of the cold winter winds off the Pacific and far from the noise of pounding surf. By 1888, the first five miles of narrow-gauge railroad was laid northward from the docks at Ilwaco,
and by 1889 it reached Nahcotta. Here the tracks turned directly east and shot out over the bayshore on pilings to the deep Shoalwater channel, separating the community north from south. Ilwaco cannery owner B.A. Seaborg platted the town of Sealand on the north side of the tracks, while raiload owner Lewis Loomis took ownership of the Nahcotta townsite to the south. Both worked hard to reach their goals. The Sealand Hotel and the first post office rose on the north side, a general store and another hotel on the south. In fact, the town had almost two of everything — two hotels, two saloons, two meat markets — and only Loomis and Seaborg seemed to care. Despite the dispute between the two men, the community as a whole prospered. Oysters and other seafood was loaded on trains for shipment to Ilwaco, from where it was forwarded to San Francisco and other points to the south. Loomis won an eventual lawsuit, but the town’s luck was about to run out — for a few decades at least. In 1915, a chimney fire got out of hand and a strong southeast wind quickly spread the blaze throughout the business district. From that point on, the center of business on the Peninsula’s north end shifted largely to Ocean Park, Nahcotta’s other sister village to the west.
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DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 21
OYSTERVILLE
THE PENINSULA’S LOVELY HISTORIC DISTRICT
T
he fictional Shangri-La is an idyllic mountain valley where life is frozen in time and protected from the rough changes occurring elsewhere in the world. Real-life Oysterville may not be so lucky as to completely escape the ravages of time and politics, but strolling around it will restore your faith that a kind of immortal grace is possible. The 80-acre Oysterville National Historic District and the areas immediately adjacent to it are the heart of Oysterville. With Willapa Bay as its backdrop, the historic district feels like a movie back lot version of a 19th century coastal community. In fact, some structures actually are from the 19th century. Eight houses, a church, the Oysterville cannery and a one-room schoolhouse are on the National Register of Historic Places. Though Oysterville is a ghost town, it has life. Oysterville’s post office is the oldest continuously operating post office in Washington state. The Oysterville Store sells groceries, souvenirs and gifts and is open year round. Oysterville Sea Farms sells seafood from its farms and other items as well. The Oysterville Church is open every day of the year. The Oysterville cannery and all eight of the houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places create almost constant activity as they are maintained and repaired by their private owners. Similar efforts are made by nonprofit organizations to maintain and repair the church and one-room schoolhouse. The Oysterville Church Summer
We’re looking out for you!
Vespers are presented at 3 p.m. every Sunday from Father’s Day through Labor Day. The services are open to everyone. The Water Music Festival’s most popular concerts are the Oysterville church concerts, held in late October. Old for a West Coast town, Oysterville is brand new in geographic terms. Oysterville could be the only place in the United States that has always had human occupants. Native American people probably settled Oysterville as soon as it was created. Chinook peoples came to the area that is Oysterville at seasonal intervals for untold centuries to harvest its bountiful oyster beds. Oysterville was first settled in 1841 by John Douglas, who married a local Chinook woman. It was the California Gold Rush of 1849 that drew significant numbers of settlers of European descent to Oysterville. Gold miners loved to spend their gold on Willapa Bay oysters. Settlers and Chinook Peoples gladly filled schooners with oysters to be shipped to San Francisco. By 1854, a community of several hundred, called Oyster Beach, existed here. On April 12, 1854, I.A. Clark filed a 161-acre land claim that encompassed all of what is now the Oysterville National Historic District. It was on Aug. 5, 1854, that community leaders decided that Oysterville was a better name than Oyster Beach or Shell Beach to represent their town, which grew to a population was about 800. Like all extraction businesses, the native oyster business came to
an end. Hotels, saloons and a college all disappeared as people left. Eventually, even the county seat was removed to South Bend on the east side of the bay. Oysterville exists primarily as a state of mind. A walk through Oysterville can reveal the supremacy of
nature; evoking connections to generations goneby, while subtly forecasting the folly of generations present and future. Visitors often find themselves seeking sanctuary in the peace and insight they discovered here, long after they have left Oysterville.
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Oysterman Dan Driscoll and Willapa Bay as seen through a window at Oysterville Sea Farms. Willapa Bay is one of the nation’s primary sources of oysters, and there’s no better places to try them than in Peninsula restaurants. — DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
1711 Pacific Ave So., Long Beach, WA 98631
22 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
Wholesale and Retail Sales Located at 306 Dike Road on the Palix River in Bay Center
• • • • • • •
OPEN MON.-FRI. 10-4
Fresh Willapa Bay Oysters Farm-raised Steamer Clams Local Crab & Fish in Season Special Topless Party Oysters Free Samples Custom Orders Welcomed Pickled Salmon
360-875-5519
Toll-free 888-905-9079
Visit our online store www.baycenterfarms.com seafood@willapabay.org
We ship fresh seafood anytime
CRANBERRIES MANY ACRES OF BOGS ON THE PENINSULA
Cranberry harvest time on the Peninsula. — DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
A tiny red berry is big time from Seaview and Ilwaco, east to Chinook and north to the Ocean Park area. It’s a cranberry. The little berry is so big that the annual Cranberrian Fair is held in its honor. Cranberries make up a big part of the Peninsula’s personality, so much so that it’s impossible to imagine our home without its distinctive and colorful cranberry fields. Grayland, which straddles the Pacific-Grays Harbor county line, is also a major producing area. Other West Coast bogs are near Ocean Shores; in Bandon, Ore.; and in British Columbia. A celebration of local harvest including all things cranberry will take place on the Long Beach Peninsula, centered around the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco, on Oct. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Foods, crafters, bog tours, and more will showcase the area’s rich heritage during the 94th Annual Cranberrian Fair. Collectible Cranberrian Fair but-
tons are $5 each and cover admission to all events at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum. The Cranberry Museum is free. As part of Cranberrian Fair activities, the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco will host a variety of vendors, offering handmade items such as pottery, jewelry, hand-turned wooden bowls, paintings, cranberry vine baskets, homemade peach/cranberry pies, and more. Fair entrance includes full admission to the museum’s extensive exhibitions and the 1889 narrow gauge passenger car Nahcotta. From the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, the Cranberry Trolley will whisk visitors to the Pacific Coast Cranberry Research Foundation and Cranberry Museum. The museum’s gift shop is stocked with cranberry goodies. Watch the red berry harvest as part of the fair. For more information call 6423446 or visit columbiapacificheritagemuseum.org
ROD RUN
BEACH BARONS ANNUAL REV-UP
Slow Drag at the Port of Ilwaco leading up to Rod Run in September has vroomed into being one of late summer's most popular events. — DAMIAN MULINIX/dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
September is synonymous with the Rod Run and the 2014 edition promises to be better than ever as more than 800 vintage automobiles will again congregate at Wilson Field east of Ocean Park for the car show the Beach Barons started three decades ago. Registration begins Friday, Sept. 5 at 8 a.m., and continues throughout the weekend for cars 1984 and earlier. Gates open at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 for the general public to view the show and shine. This will be the 31st year of this great event. On Friday, Sept. 5, plan to attend the fun Slow Drags at the Port of Ilwaco, which run from 4 p.m. till dark. The Beach Barons will again be selling Rod Run T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats to the sounds of DJ music from the 1950s and ‘60s. Saturday will feature a musical performance by the Bobby Sox and the Juke Box and Rhonda Goldsmith and the 50-50 Dance Team. In addition there will be an auto swap meet, the Show and
JOIN THE FUN
Shine and more. At 4 p.m., show participants will cruise north to Oysterville, over to Surfside and then south toward Long Beach. Be sure to plan your personal driving needs around sharing the road with the vintage vehicles Saturday afternoon and evening. On Sunday, Sept. 7, gates will open at 8 a.m. DJs will be spinning great tunes, and trophy presentations and awards will be at 2 p.m. Spectator gate fees are $5 per person. Active duty service members with proper ID are admitted for no charge. Parking will be available at a few properties nearby. No pets are allowed on the grounds, and there will be bins at various locations for canned food donations for the local food banks. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Beach Barons and the Rod Run is available on the club’s website: www.beachbarons.com, or by calling 665-3565.
IN
LONG BEACH
volunteer • watch • participate • enjoy! B E A C H VA C AT I O N P L A N N E R
Pick up your FREE info Packet at the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau
(intersection of Hwys 101 & 103) t GVOCFBDI DPN
2013
Events
www.funbeach.com
Beach Vacation Planner 2013
EVENTS BEACH DISCOVERY CALENDAR PLANNER TRAIL MAP
Windless Kite Festival......................................Jan 17-19, 2014
Sandsations..........................................................Jul 16-20, 2014
Asian New Year Celebration................................Feb 1-2, 2014
Long Beach Rodeo..............................................JuI 26-27, 2014
Loyalty Days...........................................................May 3-4, 2014
Jake the Alligator Man’s Birthday.....................Aug 1-2, 2014
Summerfest......................................weekends, all summer long!
WA State Int’l Kite Festival.............................Aug 18-24, 2014
Columbia-Pacific Farmers Market Fridays, 4-7 pm, Jun - Sept
Discovery Trail Half Marathon............................Sept 13, 2014
Beach to Chowder Walk/Run................................Jun 14, 2014
One Sky, One World Kite Fly.............................Oct 11-12,2014
Doggie Olympic Games ...................................Jun 27-28, 2014
Holidays at the Beach......................................Nov 28-30, 2014
longbeachmerchants.com DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 23
CARRIAGE MUSEUM CLASSIC VEHICLE SHOWCASE This north Pacific County town may be small, but it is home to a BIG TIME museum! That’s what being said about the Northwest Carriage Museum in Raymond. This remarkable museum houses one of the finest collections of 19th century horse drawn vehicles in the entire country. A must see for any traveler visiting Southwest Washington, this unique museum with its gleaming pine floors, elegant lighting and unique gift shop is home to several original carriages used by the movie industry in the 1940s. Come see Belle Watling’s “Gone with the Wind” carriage, Shirley Temple’s C-Spring Victoria from “Little Princess” or pose in front of the carved-panel hearse used in Errol Flynn’s “Gentleman Jim.” A variety of other vehicles are also on display including an 1895 Studebaker buggy, the common man’s form of transportation in its day and the elegant Hansom Cab, used as a taxi in New York City in the 1890s. Children will also enjoy dressing in period clothing, having their picture taken while sitting on top of the museum’s “Three Spring Democrat Wagon” and ringing the school bell on their visit to a singleroom schoolhouse. Visitors a bit mechanically inclined will thoroughly enjoy the wheelwright and blacksmith displays. Everybody is welcome at the Northwest Carriage Museum and group tours for all ages are a specialty. RV clubs, schools, service groups can call for special group discounts. The museum is along the shores of the pristine Willapa River at 314 Alder St., in historic Raymond. You can read more at www.nwcar-
The Northwest Carriage Museum in Raymond includes a remarkable cross-section of early vehicles, including this 19th century produce wagon. — OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
riagemuseum.org or call 360-942-4150. Come get carried away at the Northwest Carriage Museum!
Dr. J. Stephen Bell walk-ins welcome 360.642.2662 117 Spruce Street
Ilwaco Urgent Care May Thru Sept: Wed–Sat 10-4 Sun–Tues 12-4 Winter Hours: Wed–Sat 10-4 Sunday 12-4
• FUN INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS • SCHOOL & GROUP TOURS AVAILABLE
30
magnificently restored, horse-drawn carriages & more! circa 1890-1910
314 Alder St. - at the corner of State Rt 6 and Hwy 101 Raymond, WA 98577 (360) 942-4150 • nwcarriagemuseum.org
Bring in this ad for $1.00 off Admission to the Northwest Carriage Museum
24 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
Enjoy great food at The Cove Restaurant in our new clubhouse! • Burgers • Reuben’s • Salads • Beer & Wine
9-Hole Public Course • Power Carts • Club Rentals • Dog Friendly
9604 Pacific Way (One mile north of downtown Long Beach)
360-642-2828 www.peninsulagolfcourse.com
MARSH’S FREE MUSEUM FASCINATING, QUIRKY AND FUN When locals advise out-of-town guests about what to do, Marsh’s Free Museum inevitably is on the list. Some folks claim Jake the Alligator Man was a valet in a New Orleans brothel. Others say Jake the Alligator Man was a sideshow freak who smoked cigars and could nod yes or no to simple questions. A retired couple who drive from Kelso every summer to see Jake the Alligator man claim they remember him, alive and nodding, in a Texas carnival. For all the curiosities at Marsh’s Free Museum, 409 S. Pacific Avenue (State Route 103), in Long Beach, the boffo attraction is Jake the Alligator Man. Jake appears to be an ossified dwarf whose skin has turned a putrid black. From the waist down, Jake is an alligator, with scales and tail. For all the two-headed cows and Siamese-twin lambs, the worldclass shell collection and nickel peep shows at Marsh’s Free Museum, the star remains Jake the Alligator Man. He perches in a glass case with a sign that reads “We have very little history on Jake.” And yet, history abounds at Marsh’s Free Museum, a citadel of wholesome hokum that is the best sort of attraction. It doesn’t cost anything to see Theda Bara’s headband or the Civil War leg irons or the spittoon from the Silver Dollar Saloon in Alder Gulch, Nev.
JAKE THE ALLIGATOR MAN
Jake the Alligator Man, a favorite of Marsh's Free Museum in Long Beach, occasionally makes forays away from his home to celebrate his birthday with his fans. — SUBMITTED PHOTO
On the main drag in Long Beach, Marsh’s Free Museum is the collection of Wellington Marsh Sr., who died in 1977, and his son Wellington Marsh Jr., who passed away in 1995. You can buy two bubble shells for a nickel. Where can you buy anything for 5 cents nowadays, let alone two for a nickel? Every customer receives a free seashell affixed to a small card. Marsh’s gives away 130,000 shells a year. Tourists think the shells come from Long Beach, glistening just out the back door, but they are actually from Mexico and the Philippines; the local surf pounds shells to
pieces. Tourists remember places that give something for nothing, and they never forget Jake the Alligator Man. Long Beach antiques dealer Ray Pryor bought Jake at an auction when Whitney’s Museum in San Francisco, a similar palace of palaver, closed in 1965. Wellington Marsh Jr. “didn’t want to pay $750 for Jake but I talked him into it,” said his wife, Marian. “If Grandpa and Dad walked in today, they would like this place,” David Marsh said. “See, they loved being entertained, they loved the old razzmatazz. They were showmen and businessmen.”
LONG BEACH — Lucky local Jake the Alligator Man celebrates his birthday in style in downtown Long Beach with a plethora of outrageous “sideshow-style” activities during the first weekend in August. These generally include a burlesque show, a rousing bachelor party and a Bride of Jake Pinup Contest to choose his latest blushing bride. Each year, many women compete for the coveted title of Jake's Bride. These include such wild characters as Catlin the Lobster Girl, born with lobster claws and thus abandoned on the banks of the Chehalis River; Marie Love’Bow, a voodoo gypsy from Louisiana; and Jessica the Bearded Lady, who was abandoned by her parents at the circus. One recent contestant, Betty Blue, self-described as a “day younger than spring” said that she’s always had a crush on Jake. And while the competition was stiff, she says, “I know Jake only has an eye for me.” But unfortunately for Betty, Jake’s scaly hand in marriage went to another hopeful, local girl Monica Midnight, aka Monica Morley, who has competed for a number of years and finally took home the prize. This year, she was a tad green from a love potion gone wrong that she made last year to try to win Jake’s heart. The title of bridesmaid went to another local, Katy Kosmic.
MARSH’S FREE MUSEUM Seeing Is Believing!
Call for Reservations
Check out our New Exhibits for 2014!
(360) 642-2009
6409 Sandridge Road - Only 1 mile from the beach
WEEKEND VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME! Indoor Stalls, Outdoor Paddocks, Indoor & Outdoor Arenas
Riding lessons & schooling horses
Open 7 Days, Ample Parking, Downtown Long Beach, WA
www.marshsfreemuseum.com
360-642-2188
DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 25
THE DISCOVERY TRAIL WALK THE PATH OF ADVENTURE Following the general path taken by Capt. William Clark and his men during their initial 1805 visit to the beach, our amazing Discovery Trail links the towns of Long Beach, Seaview and Ilwaco. The trail connects all the way from the northern city limits of Long Beach to Beards Hollow in Cape Disappointment State Park. From Beards Hollow, a short unpaved portion of the trail goes uphill to a spectacular overlook above the ocean. Again paved, it winds its way through the forest to Ilwaco. You’ll experience your inner Dan’l Boone. This is the best ocean-bordering biking and hiking path on the West Coast. A recent round trip of almost eight miles took about an hour and 15 minutes with a generous stop at Lewis and Clark’s tree in north Long Beach. A sculpture of a whale skeleton similar to the one Lewis and Clark found more than 200 years ago, a monolith with an ex-
plorer standing nearby, and dozens of informative signs add interest to the trail. A small wooden bridge, numerous twists and turns and the gently rolling dunes make for an interesting and comfortable ride. One suggestion is to head into the wind to start your trip and let the breeze push you along on the return trip. If eight miles and riding for over an hour is not in your plans, you may begin at either the Seaview or Long Beach approaches and cut your ride in half or in a third. The unpaved portion of the trail, from Beards Hollow to Ilwaco, includes some steep hills but is otherwise fine for fit walkers or mountain bikers. A wooden causeway leads over a pristine marsh just as the trail leaves the hollow. No motor vehicles are allowed on Discovery Trail. A mid-week ride on an amazing pathway, with sun and surf to the west and having the experience almost exclusively to yourself, just can’t be topped.
LONG ISLAND NATURE WONDERLAND
Long Island is a 4,700-acre nature wonderland. Home to an abundance of wild birds and animals, it contains one of the last remaining reproducing climax forests, a unique, 274-acre stand of cedars that first sprouted during a dramatic West Coast climate change some 4,000 years ago. The cedars average five to seven feet in diameter, although some are 11 feet wide. They average 150 to 160 feet in height. In 2005, a trail to the grove was dedicated to former Washington Congressman Don Bonker, who led
efforts to preserve the cedar grove and Long Island for future generations. The grove is just one small part of the island, managed by the Wildlife Service. Visitors to the island must provide their own boat to traverse an approximate 100-yard-wide channel from the boat launch at the refuge headquarters on U.S. 101, or launch at the Nahcotta Boat Basin for a crossing of approximately one mile. Other refuge units around the Peninsula offer their own unique attractions.
INFORMATION: Phone the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge headquarters at 360-484-3482. Also check out the Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge at www.willapabay.org/~fwnwr/ or write to the Friends at P.O. Box 1130, Ocean Park, WA 98640.
Let us do the driving!
PASSES AVAILABLE for daily or monthly rides.
Ride the Bus and See Pacific County with Us! Nanci Main and Jimella Lucas were owner/chefs of the nationally acclaimed Ark Restaurant in Nahcotta, Wa. for 22 years. They originally started the Café in Klipsan Beach as a seafood market in 2006 but loyal Ark customers demanded the delicious cuisine for which the pair were famous. Nanci and Jimella’s Cafe and Cocktails is now a full time dinner house offering regional specialties with innovative flair. Guests can enjoy light fare or a full dining experience prepared by chef Katie Witherbee in the charming and inviting dining room.
Seasonal hours/ Reservations appreciated
360-665-4847 • 21712 Pacific Way eat@jimellaandnancis.com • jimellaandnancis.com
26 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
• Pacific County Courthouse • Centennial Murals • Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center • Fine Museums • The Peninsula’s 28 miles of Beach • Many Fine Restaurants and Shops • The Canneries • Cranberry Bogs • State & County Parks Pacific Transit system routes pass directly by or within easy access of all the fun & historic places of interest . . . NO SERVICE ON THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS: • Memorial Day • 4th of July • Labor Day • Thanksgiving • Christmas • New Year’s Day
For information & schedules, please call
360-642-9418 • 360-875-9418 www.pacifictransit.org
LEADBETTER POINT ACCESSIBLE WILDERNESS
SOUTH PACIFIC COUNTY
WILDLIFE An osprey dines on some unfortunate smaller creature in a coastal tree. Along with bald eagles, hawks and falcons, these sea eagles are a frequent sight in Pacific County. DAMIAN MULINIX dmulinix@chinookobserver.com
Located at the northern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, Leadbetter Point State Park is an amazing place. Adjacent to the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge this park features several hiking trails that either lead to the Pacific Ocean or along the Willapa Bay. The tip of the peninsula is an excellent birding location as many shorebirds rest and eat here. The forest is pristine and yet quite new in geologic
terms. Wander through the forest carpeted by kinnikinnick and coastal strawberry plants. Stop and admire the diversity of mushroom species found here in the fall. Bring boots or waders in the winter as trails frequently flood. Stroll the bay-side trails for a respite from the ocean’s winds or away from the summer’s mosquitoes. This park is one of those few special places where nature rules.
When it comes to watching wildlife, the Discovery Coast is the place to be, with more bald eagles than anywhere south of Alaska, and more pelagic and coastal seabirds than anywhere else on the West Coast. Seals and otters, huge herds of deer and elk, migrating and resident songbirds and waterfowl all can be observed in numbers that will amaze the whole family. It’s time to discover just where these beauties can be seen! EAGLES, HAWKS AND FALCONS: Peregrine falcons are frequently observed swooping down from tree top perches as they intercept prey in Leadbetter Point State Park. Bald eagles and other birds of prey are often spotted anywhere in the vicinity of Willapa Bay and the Columbia River. They are particularly obvious along U.S. Highway 101 between the Astoria Bridge and Ilwaco. HERONS: Living here on the Discovery Coast we are fortunate indeed to have a very large and healthy population of great blue herons. They are quite common around the margins of Willapa Bay. PELICANS: Pelicans, cormorants, Caspian terns, kingfishers and other bird species all gather in great numbers along the Columbia River estuary east of Ilwaco, through Chinook and on past the Dismal Nitch unit of Lewis and Clark National Park. SWANS: Trumpeter and tundra swans can often be observed in Peninsula lakes, especially Black Lake near Ilwaco and Brisco Lake north of Long Beach. ELK: For something a bit larger, how about some elk watching? A short drive out to the Bear River area at the south end of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge situated on the east side of the bay is a good place to start. Elk also can often be spotted near the Naselle River. BLACK-TAILED DEER: Deer are almost too common to notice on the Peninsula and the mainland, chomping rosebushes wherever they go. GEESE AND DUCKS: Waterfowl in a myriad of colors can also be seen near the refuge headquarters. Casual sightings of dozens of species of ducks are quite common. Wood ducks are a particular favorite among area residents, many of whom build nesting boxes for them. RIVER OTTERS: If it’s something altogether different you’re looking for, how about putting the binocs to some river otters? They can often be seen swimming and frolicking in the canals and lakes in the center of the community of Surfside just west of Oysterville, or even in Black Lake or small creeks around Ilwaco. DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 27
STAYING SAFE ON THE PENINSULA ADVICE FROM PACIFIC CO. FIRE DISTRICT The Peninsula is a wonderful place to visit. Pacific County Fire District 1 wants your stay to be an enjoyable one. Staying safe makes your visit so much nicer. It is sincerely hoped that you will never be faced with any emergencies, but in case you are, here is some information that will be useful. The Peninsula shoreline is designated as a state highway. All drivers and vehicles must be licensed and insured just as on any other state highway. The speed limit is 25 mph, with extra caution to be taken for other vehicles, pedestrians and beach debris. The beach is patrolled frequently and all laws are strictly enforced. Recreational beach fires are permitted 100 feet west (that’s towards the ocean) of the dune grass. Be aware of wind direction and be sure to completely extinguish the fire before leaving the area. Recreational and outdoor cooking fires are to be no more than 2 feet x 2 feet with seasoned wood or charcoal. If your fire gets out of control, you may be held personally responsible! If you have a vacation home on the Peninsula and are here to do some cleanup projects, be advised that there are designated “No Burn” areas on the Peninsula. Residential
yard debris burning is permitted at various times and under certain conditions in other areas with a burning permit. Burn permits may be obtained free of charge at Jack’s Country Store in Ocean Park, Pioneer Market in Long Beach, Seaview One Stop in Seaview, Fire District No. 1, Station 1 in Ocean Park and Station 2 in Seaview. For a recorded message on burn conditions, call 665-3508. Tsunami evacuation signs have been posted up and down the Peninsula in an effort to make people aware of evacuation routes. There may or may not be much warning time in such an emergency, so the best policy is to make your way to high ground as soon as possible. If you are on the beach and unable to get to high ground go inland as far as you can and pay close attention to emergency personnel. In the event of a sudden earthquake, be prepared to move to higher ground immediately, keeping clear of buildings, trees and power lines. Also be careful of damaged roads with gaps in the pavement. Do not call 911 and do not attempt to evacuate the Peninsula, there will not be enough time or access roads to accommodate an evacuation.
All emergency services can be reached by calling 911. As a visitor it is very important that you are aware of your surroundings and know your address if you are staying in a vacation rental. If emergency service personnel can’t find you, they can’t help you.
ANN POWELL
BROKER/REALTOR
Direct 360-244-0698 Fax 360-665-6949 web: www.lighthouseproperty.com email: ann@topteamsold.com
U.S. COAST GUARD At the southern-most point of the Peninsula lies one of the oldest and busiest Coast Guard stations on the West Coast: Cape Disappointment and the U.S. Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat School. Because it guards what has been called the world’s most dangerous waters, the station is often called to aid foundering vessels and their crews. The river itself is dangerous, but when coupled with a strong outflowing (or ebb) tide, the clash between the outgoing current and the incoming ocean waves can be downright deadly. Numerous fishing and commercial vessels have fallen victim to the Columbia’s power combined with the dangerous offshore waters of the Pacific Ocean, with the area nicknamed “Graveyard of the Pacific” because of the number of vessels lost there at sea. Vessels stationed at the Cape include the 47-foot motor lifeboat, which was put through its initial sea trials at the Cape. Cape Disappointment is also home to the only motor lifeboat school in the United States. Originally established to serve the Coast Guard’s District 13, the school now accepts students from marine services worldwide. There are 36 students in each class. To get to the station from Ilwaco, follow the signs to Cape Disappointment and the station. Phone 642-2382 for more information.
AHAB OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEM During a routine TEST of the system, the siren will play the Westminster Chimes followed by a voice message. Upon issuance of a TSUNAMI WARNING the siren will play a wail sound and a voice message will follow advising a tsunami warning has been issued.
The AHAB outdoor warning system is tested on the first Monday of every month at noon.
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency REALTY Ocean Park Office 25810 Vernon Avenue P.O. Box 431 • Ocean Park, WA 98640
28 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
360-875-9340 • 360-642-9340 PO Box 101 • 300 Memorial Drive South Bend, WA 98586 http://www.co.pacific.wa.us/pcema
‘Bouquet ‘ - monotype, lithography and collage
Timeless. Invigorating. Delicious.
marie
POWELL shoalwater cove gallery
ORIGINAL FINE ART
funbeach.com t
on the waterfront • port of ilwaco marie-powell.com • 360.244.0800
DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 29
Long Beach Peninsula
PACIF PACIFIC
WAHKIAKUM WAHKI as W h.
Region in detail
Go to discoverourcoast.com to explore hundreds more attractions, restaurants, merchants and places to stay on Our Coast. Click on a map button to find contact info and links for that location, plus our recommendations for a day trip with nearby dining, lodging and things to do.
1. Leadbetter Point State Park — Ocean Park, Wash., 19 miles north of Seaview 2. Discovery Trail — Ilwaco to north end of Long Beach, Wash. 3. Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum — 115 Lake St. S.E., Ilwaco, Wash. 4. Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center — Cape Disappointment State Park, two miles southwest of Ilwaco, Wash. 5. Port of Ilwaco — 165 Howerton Ave., Ilwaco, Wash. TILLAMOOK 6. Cranberry Museum — 2907 Pioneer Road, Long Beach, Wash. 7. Fort Columbia State Park — U.S. Highway 101, two miles west of the Astoria Bridge in Chinook, Wash. 8. Cape Disappointment State Park — two miles southwest of Ilwaco, Wash. 9. North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse — within Cape Disappointment State Park 10. World Kite Museum — 303 S.W. Sid Snyder Drive, Long Beach, Wash. 11. Willapa Interpretive Art Trail — near Refuge Headquarters in Willapa National Wildlife Refuge 12. Knappton Cove Heritage Center — two miles past the rest stop north of the Astoria Bridge on Washington state Route 401 13. Appelo Archive Center — 1056 state Route 4, Naselle, Wash.
P ac if ic O ce an
CLATSOP
Bicyclists on the Discovery Trail path in Long Beach
30 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com
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DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com • 31
Ocean Park Area SW Washington’s Beach & Bay Charles Nelson Guest House
www.charlesnelsonbandb.com 1-(888)862-9756
Ocean Park Resort
If you are looking for a weekend close to nature, activities that the entire family will never forget, festivals or events nearly every weekend of the year, beautiful scenery, historic landmarks, walking trails and seafood that can’t get any fresher, then treat yourself to SW Washington’s Ocean Park Area. Discover the history, festivals, food, and wildlife that made the region where the Columbia River meets the Pacific famous. Head to the coast! The Ocean Park Area Awaits!
Taft Plumbing & Septic
2014 Local Events
www.portofpeninsula.org/oysterhouse (360) 665-4547
www.opresort.com/html/app2.html 1-(800)835-4634
Westgate Cabins and RV Park
www.vacationwestgate.com (360)665-4211
Bank of the Pacific
*PAA Annual Spring Art Show - Apr 25 - 27
*Jazz & Oysters - Aug 17
*World’ s Longest Garage Sale - May 23-26
*Labor Day Book Sale - Aug 30-Sep 2
*Annual NW Garlic Festival - Jun 14 & 15
*Community Bonfire Beach Approach - Aug 30
*Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade - Jul 4
*Rod Run to the End of the World - Sep 6 & 7
*Art in the Park - Jul 4
*PAA Annual Fall Art Show - October 10 - 13
*PAA Starving Artist’ s Sale - Jul 5
*Water Music Festival - October 10 & 11
*Music in the Gardens - Jul 19
*PAA Studio Art Tour - November 29 & 30
Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce
www.taftplumbinginc.com (360) 665-4775
Willapa Bay Interpretive Center
George Johnson House B&B
www.georgejohnsonhouse.com (360) 665-6993
Okie’s Thriftway
Learn more about us at www.opwa.com/html/app2.html or call us toll free (888) 751-9354
www.bankofthepacific.com (360) 665-5255
Forgotten Treasures Antiques & Collectibles
& 1910 Bay Ave., Ocean Park (360)244-3393
If you would like to go to our website, send us an email, call us, or get driving directions to the Ocean Park Area without typing, please go to your smart phones App store and download a free QR Code reader. Then scan this QR Code with it. We recommend I-nigma.
www.okiesthriftway.com (360) 665-5222
Surfside Inn
Gary McGrew, Broker Lighthouse Realty
Surfside Golf Course
www.worldmarktheclub.com/ resorts/ss/ (360) 665-2000
www.McGrewCrew.com (360) 783-2831
www.surfsidegolfcourse.com (360) 665-4148
32 • DISCOVERY COAST 2014 • www.chinookobserver.com