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Lighthouse

It’s not hard to find great hotels in Ocean Shores. There are plenty of options across the peninsula. Depending on what kind of trip you are planning, check our list to find out which options might best suit your needs.

Ocean Shores, Washington is among the best kept coastal secrets in the country. With nice weather and miles coastal beaches, it’s been a destination for folks in the Northwest for years. Beyond the thousands of tourists who flock to the beaches, stores and other attractions, a lucky 6000 people call the area home.

Finding a good home base for your Ocean Shores activities is a great first step. There are so many options for lodging across the peninsula. Here is a small list. Make sure to subscribe to our blog as we explore the area to learn and write about more options in the future.

The Canterbury Inn

Canterbury Inn is located near the center of town with access to shopping, dining and of course the beach.

The Canterbury has been remodeling their rooms, and doing an amazing job! They go over-board for pets, and offer special welcome packages for canine-guests.

Each room is individually owned and decorated. This creates a unique experience. So much more than what you get with a standard hotel.

No matter your activity choice — from horseback riding to clamming and beyond — the Canterbury provides a great home base for all your beach activities. Their incredible concierge team is available to assist you every step of the way.

Best Western Lighthouse Suites Inn

One of the first Hotels available as you drive into Ocean Shores is the Best Western Lighthouse Suites Inn. A unique feature of this Hotel is its lighthouse themed lookout-tower on the roof. The tower has a 360-degree view of the area, and is available to those with a room key.

The Ocean Shores Best Western has the added benefit of being adjacent to a beach access road, which positions it much closer to the beach than many of the other hotels on the list. This allows you to ride bikes, or take your car directly from the parking lot to the Beach if you like.

Prices are okay for the area. You can expect all the standard amenities that Best Western is famous for. Free breakfast, decent service, and comfortable rooms. If you’re not already a member, consider joining the Best Western Rewards Program.

Judith Ann Inn

The stately Judith Ann Inn is located just off the main drag as you drive into in downtown Ocean Shores. Its aesthetic makes it one of the best wedding venues in Ocean Shores.

Upgrade your visit with one of their specialty packages. Get a massage in your personal suite or chocolate covered strawberries and champagne that can be delivered to your room before your arrival.

Moss Landing

At the tip of the Ocean Shores peninsula sits Moss Landing. This collection of log cabins offers a much different experience than many of the other hotels on this list.

The cabins are within walking distance of the Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area and Coastal Interpretive Center. This allows guests a varied coastal experience. From the waves of the coastal beaches to the protected waters of Grays harbor.

There are a variety of cabins with hot tubs, fire pits and cabin themed decor that appeal to the sensibilities of the Pacific Northwest.

If you’re looking for an Ocean Shores experience that’s a little outside the box of your typical coastal Hotel, give Moss Landing a good hard look.

Comfort Inn and Suites

Comfort Inn enthusiasts are in luck! There’s a Comfort Inn and Suites smack dab in the middle of Ocean Shores. It has excellent reviews and an easy walk to the beach.

Ocean Shores Comfort Inn and Suites sits in close proximity to the convention center. Making it a prime spot to stay if you’re attending an event like Ocean Shores’ Irish Music Festival.

Comfort Inn offers free breakfast, Wi-Fi and a pool that’s open 24 hours a day. Most notable in the reviews we’ve read are guests’ impression of a friendly staff, and comfortable atmosphere.

Quality Inn – Ocean Shores

Ocean Shores’ Quality Inn is a lower-priced option, that offers great value. s Complimentary hot breakfast is served in the lobby each morning. You have a choice between the indoor pool and hot-tub, or enjoying a hot-tub experience in one of Quality Inn’s deluxe rooms.

The lobby is warm and welcoming with a sitting area, computer kiosk and eating area. Vaulted ceilings allow for a large, costal mural to overlook the space. There is a covered drive-thru entryway, making loading and unloading your car a breeze.

Quality Inn features the often overlooked comfort of interior corridors. Stepping from your room into a protected hallway is a great consideration when visiting during seasons of rain or cold. It also makes late night trips to the ice-machine or morning breakfast runs a little more comfortable.

There is free-WiFi and free coffee available. Activities include an indoor pool, hot-tub and miniature-golf course. Pets, however, are not allowed.

The Collins Inn and Seaside Cottages

The Collins Inn and Seaside Cottages is one of the nicest places to stay in Ocean Shores.

So many wonderful things can be said about the gourmet breakfast, grand piano and copper ceilings. This local treasure has been featured on no less that two TV shows.

Collins Inn has both inn rooms and cottages. The inn rooms are adult only. Cottages are family-friendly and allow for pets, so feel free to bring Fido along.

This cozy bed and breakfast really impressed us with its aesthetic and crushingly kind staff.

The Polynesian Condominum Resort

Who’d have thought there might be a Polynesian resort on the Washington Coast?

The Polynesian offers guests amenities like a heated pool, sauna, and complimentary WiFi. Family friendly amenities include a fun game room and private outdoor park equipped with basketball and volleyball.

Located just steps from your room is Mariah’s Restaurant. Mariah’s offers a range of options from Dungeness & Snow Crab Artichoke Dip to Cocunut Prawns and Cajun Cod with Blackberry Bourbon Sauce.

Like many of the Hotels on our list, The Polynesian is just a short walk from the beach.

Some of The Best Hotels in Ocean Shores

We’re confident that when you book any of these recommendations, you’ll find an excellent value, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and an easy stroll to the beach.

Enjoy your stay and watch out for the seagulls… Those guys will swallow your romantic picnic in a heartbeat!

For more information on where to stay and what to do in Ocean Shores, check out more of our information on Clever Neighbor today! Do you know of a great spot not covered in this article? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Featured photo courtesy of Canterbury Inn, Ocean Shores, WA

Ocean Shores is one of Washington State’s top coastal destinations. This six-mile long peninsula, sits comfortably between Grays Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. It offers expansive, drivable beaches along with a series of fresh water canals that are fun to explore by boat.

There are plenty of shops and restaurants in town and even a Beachfront Casino Hotel. The next time you’re in the area, makes sure to stop into Ocean Shores and make some memories!

Experience the Beachlife

When summer is in full swing and you just want to spend a day at the beach, Ocean Shores is a perfect destination.

Ocean Shores is a refreshing beach experience. It lacks the intense heat and humidity you would find in Southern California or Florida, and isn’t as crowded. You really get to connect with nature and take it all in.

Once again, be aware of shifting tides and keep all children close at hand. While fun and beautiful, the waters off Ocean Shores can be dangerous if not respected.

Visit a Family Fun Center

Playtime Family Fun and Pacific Paradise are two great spots to take the whole family out and do something different. These fun centers offer go-karting, mini golf, and classic arcade games.

Pacific Paradise has bumper boats available on its man-made lake and Playtime has a slick track to race cars on plus a section for virtual reality section and a classic ice-cream parlor!

Go for a Boat Ride

It’s one thing to enjoy Ocean Shores from land, and it’s a completely different experience to out on the water.

Luckily you don’t have to brave the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Ocean Shores Boat House offers a wide selection of rentable watercraft. Tour the freshwater canals of Ocean Shores in style! From a standup paddle boards, kayaks and hydro bikes to 10 passenger electric boats.

If you’re up for a bit more adventure, hop aboard vessel out of Westport, and have a coastal fishing experience!

Check Out The Shops!

There is shopping available for all ages. Sharky’s is the quintessential Ocean Shores gift shop, welcoming guests with the open jaws of a giant shark! This is a great spot to pick up a souvenir and get a pic in the entrance.

If you are looking to shop and eat without going to far, check out the Galway Irish Pub and Gift shop as you come into town. This is one of our favorites spots in town, featuring a whiskey bar, cigar room and live music In October, Galway plays host to one of the largest Celtic Music Festivals on the west coast.

Ride a Horse

Have you ever imagined riding up and down the beach on horseback? Have you ever ridden a horse at all? Horseback riding on the beaches of Ocean Shores is a fun option!

These gentle creatures have a special way of connecting with their rider. Staff aim to pair riders with right horses allowing both experienced and rookie riders a pleasurable experience.

Being on horseback by the sea is unlike any other riding experience. This is your time to experience those postcards and Instagram posts you’ve seen.

Horses await you just beyond 2 access points to the shores, with the most popular being beside the Shilo Inn hotel. Drive or walk out onto the beach, and you’ll see the horses to your right, standing on the beach in a temporary corral. The cost is about $20 – $30 per hour, and you’ll ride down the beach for 30 minutes and back. All the while being kept by a watchful eye of 2 guides for your group. There is a weight limit, and you must check in at the beginning of the day because spaces get booked quickly, especially on weekends. You can’t call and make a reservation, they literally want to meet and see the physical abilities of every person who is planning to ride.

Explore Ocean City State Park

Just north of town is Ocean City State Park. This 170-acre park sits along the shore, and is a goldmine of activities for the young and old alike. Visitors are welcome for a day use or overnight camping.

It’s uniques location allows its guests access ocean beaches along with wetlands, treed hiking trails and more.

Ocean City State Park offers lake fishing and kayaking as well as snorkeling, diving, and clamming in the ocean. There is hiking along the beach and within the park, plus tons of sightseeing and prime photo-taking opportunities.

Ocean City is not too far from town, so stocking up on last minute provisions or dinner at a restaurant should not be a problem.

Take a Walk on North Jetty

North Jetty is a rocky part of the Ocean Shores beach. It’s not ideal for laying out and spending the whole day, but it’s the place to be if you want to explore tide pools and get in some awesome landscape photography.

When the water is rough the waves crash on the rocks in a beautiful dance. When the sea is calmer, it’s easier to walk from rock to rock and discover all the ocean life that sits on the shore. Either way, the experience is a real treat and well worth going a little further out on the beach.

Do use common sense however! The amazing power of the ocean is beautiful to watch, but is not to be taken lightly. Don’t get stuck as the tide comes in!

And if you’re looking for something a big calmer, check out Damon Point for sand, surfing (even in winter) and a great walk out over the dunes and down the peninsula.

Climb Washington’s Tallest Lighthouse

Across the channel from Ocean Shores and you’ll find yourself in Westport, A quaint, fishing village perched on a peninsula between Grays Harbor and the Pacific Ocean.

Westport Light State Park offers some of the same features as Ocean City park with one rather large difference. An historic lighthouse!

The Grays Harbor Lighthouse is over 100 years old and stands at 107 feet tall. It offers amazing views from top. On a clear day you can even see as far away east as Mt. Rainier in Washington’s Cascade Mountain Range.

Lighthouses are a special family-friendly experience, and are an iconic experience for folks who don’t live by the water. Every lighthouse has its own unique story worth discovering. Learn more about the lighthouse and the surrounding maritime culture at the Westport Maritime Museum.

Although Westport sits just across the channel from Ocean Shores, it takes a good hour to drive there. Thankfully local leaders are banding together to bring back ferry service between the two Coastal Cities.

Check Out the Local Art

Save some time in your schedule to discover a few of the galleries around town and check out art by local Ocean Shores artists and regional favorites:

Fusions Art Gallery

The Gallery of Ocean Shores

The works include paintings, photographs, and handmade goods. Walk around for a bit of extra inspiration for your own creative interests or take a few pieces home to really enjoy them.

Discover the Best Things to Do in Ocean Shores

It’s one thing to read about the best things to do in Ocean Shores and another to see what this cute little beach town is really like.

If you’re a Washington State resident, book a staycation here the next time you want to get away. If you’re coming to Washington to explore Seattle or get lost in the mountains for a few days, squeeze Ocean Shores into your itinerary.

For more Ocean Shores insights, click here for a guide to Ocean Shores.