Well, yesterday was a rarity. We had an 80 degree, early April day. How often does that happen in the Pacific Northwest? Hardly! And what better place to celebrate the first heatwave of the year? Why, the ocean beach! I headed over to Westport and settled in at Westhaven State Park, which is located in the marina district part of town. This park has some of the nicest beach front areas around! There are spectacular views from the sandy bluffs to take in the ocean and harbor views along with a breathtaking view of the Olympic mountains. Scramble on down to the beach to play in the surf, bask in the sun, or fly a kite. There were lots of surfers trying to catch a big wave this day.

After spending some time at the beach park, I spent some time perusing the oceanfront boutiques and souvenir stores, where one can find the usual goodies, such as fudge and saltwater taffy, seafood eateries, etc. There are also plenty of charter boat companies along the strip, if you want to dabble in some deep-sea fishing.  Oh, and don’t forget the Maritime Museum.

Next, I headed on over to the Grays Harbor Lighthouse, which is the tallest lighthouse in Washington State. You can climb 135 steps up to the top for a small fee, but check first to see which days it is open to the public for tours. The lighthouse is located on Ocean Rd. Turn left at the one and only traffic light coming into town. There is a small parking area on the right side of the road a few blocks down.

Grays Harbor Lighthouse

If you continue to the end of Ocean Rd, you will arrive at the beach, again. There is a paved walkway that leads all the way up to Westhaven State Park. I also noticed a small brewery and a marine shell museum on this same road—more places to check out next time!