The coastal waters along the entrance of the Columbia River are infamous for the numbers of ships that have disappeared there. Indeed, the shores of the Long Beach peninsula have been nicknamed the â€Graveyard of the Pacificâ€. Now this watery burial ground at the base of Washington State is a popular tourist stop with plenty of things to see and do. Because of the huge number of shipwrecks in the area, lighthouses were built to help guide ships into the Columbia River. As early as 1848 a government survey recommended the building of the first lighthouse at Cape Disappointment, at the south end of the peninsula. Ironically, the ship carrying the materials to build it met an untimely end not far from its destination. Due to this delay the lighthouse was not completed until 1856. But ships continued to sink along the peninsula, for southbound navigators were unable to see the Cape Disappointment lighthouse. The decision was made to add a second lighthouse along the peninsula’s north-west shore, to help guide ships around the point and away from danger. Both the Cape Disappointment and North Head lighthouses are still run by the US coast guard and tours of the North Head lighthouse are available for a small fee. While visiting Cape Disappointment State Park, be sure to stop in at the Lewis and Clarke Interpretive Centre. Here you can rediscover the 1804-1806 trip of Lewis and Clarke as they explored the route westward across the nation. After visiting the North Head lighthouse, head east to make a stop in Ilwaco, home of the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum. Here you can learn about the history of Native Americans and Pioneers. Other attractions include a working scale model of the Columbia Estuary that teaches about the workings of the river and bay, an exhibit detailing the story of Gerald D'Aboville who traveled 134 days in a solo kayak voyage across the Pacific ending at Ilwaco, and a scale model of the peninsula as it was in the 1920s. In Long Beach itself you will find several other interesting attractions. If you have a taste for the weird and unusual you will not want to miss Marsh’s Free Museum. Home of Jake the Alligator Man, this museum of oddities is filled with antique amusements, freaks of nature, and much more. The World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame holds a collection of over 1500 kites that explore the 2500-year-long history of kites. The museum not only has plenty of exhibits to explore, but also supports several kite-flying events including the Washington State International Kite Festival, held in late August. Another place worth stopping is the Cranberry Museum. This museum offers a self-guided farm tour that displays the history of cranberry farming. Planting occurs late April to early May, and the harvest is brought in around the first or second weekend in October. For those who enjoy a swim, there are public beaches along the western shoreline. If you continue northward to Nahcotta take the time to stop in at the Willapa Bay Interpretive Center. This replica of an oyster station house leads visitors through the 150 year history of oyster growing at Willapa Bay. A stairwell descends from the center, leading to one of the few public accesses to the Willapa Bay shoreline. At the far north end of Long Beach Peninsula is the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. It is located in the Leadbetter Point State Park. Take a walk down the Salmon Art Interpretive Trail to learn about the restored salmon stream near the refuge headquarters. Long Beach Peninsula is an excellent place to go scuba diving. With the numerous wrecks along the shore it is a popular destination for diving enthusiasts. Likewise the fishing along the coast is fantastic. Several fishing derbies are held throughout the season for fishers of all ages. Other attractions include a summer concert series at Waikiki Beach, free Summerfest activities for kids in Long Island, and much more. Be sure to look up the Long Beach Peninsula website at www.funbeach.com for coupons and information about local festivals and events. You should also make a stop at the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors’ Bureau in Seaview (where hwy 101 meets Pacific Highway 103) to obtain more information about local businesses and accommodations.
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