to ramble …

If someone were to ask me where my favorite beach was my head would simply explode from the dizzying array of choices. Then my poor questioner would be no more enlightened and my brain would be splattered all over them. However, if the questioner were wise enough to allow me to list my favorite beaches for different regions then, well, I would regale them with some tales of beachy joy and my brain would remain unsplattered.Why this regional distinction in beach rankings? Well, first of all, there are too many wonderful beaches in this world to narrow it down to just one. That’s like asking a parent to pick one child or a dog to pick one tennis ball. Secondly, there is variation in the types of the beaches which lend themselves to different kinds of activities. And, thirdly, I really prefer to keep my brain intact in my skull and not splattered every which way.

Today I’d like to talk about my favorite beach of the Washington State’s South Coast.  Many of the beaches along the central coast are flat and firm sandy beaches. What is the importance of firmness? Well, it means you can DRIVE on it. Now, there is always the possibility of getting stuck in the sand if you drive in the wrong spot so it’s a bit of a rush. But this ability to drive on the beach means you don’t have to carry all that wood you brought for your beach burn very far. And one of the best things to do at a beach is to have fire. fire! Fire !FIRE! Not a wild, uncontrolled, pyromaniac blaze but a wild, barely controlled, pyromaniac bonfire.

The most popular of these beaches is around Ocean Shores, WA. You can either do it as a day trip from Seattle (2.5 – 3 hours each way), if you have road trip stamina, or there are many places to stay. For those traveling with their canine companions, I’ve found The Sands to be reasonably priced and have basic, but clean, rooms. Tito and I stayed there several time. If you are not traveling with your canine companion and wish to indulge yourself a bit, the Best Western Lighthouse Inn is really quite lovely and you get a great view of the ocean from many of the rooms.

Now the beaches adjacent to Ocean Shores are not my favorite beach of the central coast. For one thing, it can get crowded and the traffic can be heavy. For another, the soft can be trickily soft in spots leading to getting stuck. Yes, I’ve gotten stuck twice in the sand. One time I was driving, one time I was not. People are friendly and will help you get out. Whatever you do, don’t slam on your accelerator or you’ll dig yourself in deeper (I did not do this but I’ve seen it happen.)

Between Ocean Shores, WA and Pacific Beach, WA there are several beach entrances off of Hwy 109. About 15 miles north of Ocean Shores you will find MY favorite beach of the Central Washington Coast – Roosevelt Beach.

Roosevelt Beach Road is about 250 feet of paved road between Hwy 109 and the beach. On the right, as you drive in, there is a restroom (vault toilet). The convenience of this to the beach is a minor factor in elevating this beach to the best. Once the paved road ends, you drive another 100 feet to 200 feet and then take a left. You don’t want to take a right because there is a steam there and the sand is squishier but the sand to the left is pretty firm (firmer, for sure, than around Ocean Shores) and I’ve never seen anyone get stuck.

The east side of the beach (opposite the ocean edge) is buffeted by tall, eroding bluffs. It is a fine example of geology with the different layers of soil in a variety of colors. Atop the bluffs are many tall trees that are home to, what else, birds! (And I’m sure other woodland creatures.) It is rare that i have been there and not seen a bald eagle or two. There is a moderately narrow strip of sand dunes with dune grass between the bluffs and the flat part of the beach. A testament to the firmness of this beach is that you can park pretty close it.

There is a small scattering of large driftwood that are great for putting your beach towel over and leaning up against. Or, if you are a great digger like Tito, it is a great spot to dig a mighty large hole. There is one GIGANTIC piece of driftwood that is the root structure and trunk of a tree that washed up. It is a primo spot to get but is often already taken.

With the bluffs buffeting the beach from Hwy 109 and the beach being in between towns, it feels more remote from civilization than it actually is. It is this detachment from the rest of the world, along with the soothing sound of the ocean and the beautiful scenery, that brings me a serene, inner calmness.