Long Beach has views, community and atmosphere
Views of the Pacific Ocean and a small-town lifestyle draw people to Washington’s Long Beach, whether they’re looking for a permanent or vacation home. This Pacific County area is usually busy with tourists stopping into locally owned shops and restaurants. Things get especially busy during Long Beach’s annual events, from the Washington State International Kite Festival to the Razor Clam Festival & Seafood Festival. The town’s location on the Long Beach peninsula also creates a sense of private island living.
Houses range from cottages to grand contemporary builds
Dan Russell is a Realtor and broker with Lighthouse Realty who works throughout the peninsula. He says Long Beach has many second homeowners who come from Portland and Seattle for the ocean views. “Compared to the Oregon coast, Long Beach is less expensive for a premium,” Russell says. “There are more permanent homeowners [than Ocean Park ], but there’s a strong mix.” Condo units and manufactured homes have sold for about $60,000 to the upper $200,000s. The condo buildings usually charge monthly HOA fees. Cottages, townhouse-style condos and simple Craftsman homes are common and sell in the upper $200,000s to the lower $500,000s. Detached single-family homes with ranch-style or Craftsman designs can go in the upper $500,000s to upper $700,000s, and a few grand homes have sold in the upper $900,000s to around $1 million due to their size. Pacific County as a whole has one of the lower property tax rates in the state, and Long Beach prices are slightly higher than nearby Ocean Park. Russell says Long Beach is a designated city, so residents who buy homes within city limits get access to public water and sewer.
How you can get out of the house and enjoy nature
Long Beach has access to one of the longest drivable beaches in the country. While most people don’t actually drive on the sand, many residents and visitors lounge and take in the views of the Pacific Ocean. “There's lots of wildlife,” Russell says. “People come out to spend time on the beach, but there’s more to do.” The north end of the peninsula has more outdoor destinations, like Pacific State Pines Park, Leadbetter Point State Park and Loomis Lake State Park. The Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail leads past art installations all the way to Ilwaco. For a change of pace, the Cranberry Museum is open to visitors who want to learn the history of cranberry production and even see harvesting in action during Cranberry Harvest Weekend in October.
Long Beach keeps tourists and locals busy with events
Residents from across the peninsula and beyond visit Long Beach for annual events throughout the year. There’s something to do almost every month, from the Long Beach Farmers Market to the Music in the Park concert series. The events that draw the biggest crowds are:
Rod Run to the End of the World, when people from all over bring classic cars for a parade and slow drag races.
- Razor Clam Festival & Seafood Festival, a celebration of clams, oysters, crabs and fish.
- Washington State International Kite Festival, when thousands of people fill the sky with kites.
Long Beach is also the place to go for Fourth of July fireworks. Whether you move to town for good or for a few months, there are plenty of ways to get out of the house.
Stopping into locally owned restaurants and shops in town
Russell says Long Beach is a tourist town because there are more restaurants and activities, like mini golf and an arcade. “I would say it is sort of culturally the center of our music scene,” Russel says. “We’re in the process to have a creative district identified by the state for bringing tourism in around music and the arts.” Being a tourist town, there are plenty of candy and souvenir shops, like Stormin’ Normans and Marsh's Free Museum, but the restaurants are hotspots. Some of the busiest are:
Benson's By The Beach
- Dylan’s Cottage Bakery
- Castaways Seafood Grille
- Drop Anchor Seafood & Grill
For groceries, people drive to Sid’s Market, but nearby Astoria, Oregon, has more options. “The state of Washington has no state income tax,” Russell says. “Oregon has no sales tax. Lots of people travel 15 miles to do any sort of shopping there. A lot of people live over here to get away from income tax."
Driving down the peninsula and short trips to nearby cafes
State Route 103 is the main thoroughfare that extends across the peninsula. It’s lined with bike lanes and sidewalks, but most residential streets are sidewalk-free. Even without sidewalks, people bike or walk to nearby cafes or the beach. It’s easy to drive up and down the peninsula. Leadbetter Point State Park is about 30 minutes away, about the same as the drive to Astoria. Pacific Transit buses also use Route 103, running up to Oysterville and down to Astoria.
Choosing Long Beach to be closer to schools
The area is part of the highly rated Ocean Beach School District. Long Beach Elementary School is within walking distance of some homes here. Some people move to Long Beach rather than areas like Ocean Beach to be closer to Ilwaco, which has Ilwaco Hilltop Middle School and Ilwaco High School.
