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State Park

Morning Stroll Sandy Beach Ocean Shores WA

Ocean Shores is well-known for their beaches and network of lakes and lovely waterways.

Though the city is surrounded by water, there is more to do than just water based activities. There’s a ton do this fall. Read on for our list of Ocean Shores activities to enjoy this fall.

Check out Local Events in Ocean Shores

There are many local events to enjoy in Ocean Shores.

The Whale of a Quilt Show is a free event in mid-September at the Convention Center. You’ll be dazzled by the handmade quilts by the Sea-Pal Quilters of Ocean Shores. There is lots to see, do and sample with the various demonstrations, vendors and items for sale on site.

If you are a car enthusiast, don’t miss the Show N Shine at the Shores at Quinault Beach Resort & Casino. Enjoy fantastic cars and prizes, food and music. It’s sure to be a fun weekend. Check out these other 7 fun things at Quinault Casino.

Whatever you do, don’t miss the West Coast’s largest Irish music festival. The Celtic Music Feis takes place October 15 – October 21 on 10 different stages. Enjoy 30 bands and over 100 artists coming from all over the US, Canada, and Ireland.

This year is the 15th anniversary of this fest and is sure to be the best one yet.

Visit Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park

Enjoy a nature walk surrounded by low, grassy dunes. Bring your dog and enjoy the beach or the river. This park is often secluded and so is a wonderful spot for solitude.

Enjoy a day by the river and the beach at the same time! At Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park you can enjoy 8,316 feet of Pacific Ocean saltwater shores as well as 9,950 feet of freshwater shoreline on the edge of the Copalis River.

Visit Sharky’s

The famous shark in Ocean Shores lives at Sharky’s! Bring your gang to take a picture inside the jaws of a giant shark head. It’s a classic photo op that’s as much fun to take as it is to look at.

Sharky’s shop features shark versions of everything for youngsters such as books, DVDs, shirts and stuffies. They also offer a selection of beachwear for adults.

Ocean Beach Roasters

Now that the weather is getting chilly, enjoy an aromatic coffee at Ocean Beach Roasters & Bistro. Pair it with a freshly baked pastry or take a look at the breakfast or dinner menu.

Besides roasting coffee, this hot spot has a selection of wines and beers on tap. You can choose to sit on the outdoor patio or in the dining area inside.

Call to see about special events such as wine tasting and food pairing nights. There’s also live music each month.

Cloud Nine Inc

If you want to grab a few souvenirs during your stay in Ocean Shores, you can head over to Cloud Nine.

There’s a selection of trinkets you can bring home to family and friends as well as some wearable apparel such as sweaters that say Ocean Shores.

Check out an Art Gallery

Check out Fusion Gallery and feast your eyes on a variety of eclectic art by local artists.

There are a host of original works of art and one of a kind greeting cards. Pottery, ceramics, photography and beautiful jewelry is also on display.

No matter what kind of art you enjoy, visit Fusion Gallery in Ocean Shores. It’s unassuming from the outside but is packed with treasures inside.

Knowledgeable staff can give you information on the artists and their work. You won’t regret stopping by.

The Gallery of Ocean Shores is a an exhibition space for the North Beach Artists Guild. The guild works to educate and enrich the community of Ocean Shores with artwork. Stop in to learn a bit about the local art scene and support their efforts!

Enjoy a Local Restaurant

When it’s cold outside, find shelter and warmth in one of the many local restaurants that Ocean Shores offers.

Galway Bay Irish Pub may be the perfect match for a fall day along the Washington Coast! Their varied selection of beer, whiskey and cigars along with a full menu of traditional Irish food will have you considering a move to the peninsula.

Looking for some pizza? Dugan’s has been preparing pizza for the people of Ocean Shores for decades.

Have a hankering for some spice? Head over to Las Maracas for some steaming-hot Mexican fare. Reviews reveal that locals love the generous portions and the varied menu.

make sure to subscribe or check back as we review other restaurants in and around Ocean Shores!

Enjoy the Cool Nights in Ocean Shores WA

Enjoy a drive at sunset and take in the colorful leaves.

Fall is the perfect time to go horseback riding on or off the beach. Host a bonfire on the beach with your closest friends. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

Explore the Ocean Shores Waterways

Explore Ocean Shores from the water by hiring a boat from Ocean Shore Boat House.

Rent a Duffy Electric Boat, kayak or stand-up-paddle-boat. Also available are Hobie eclipse pedalboards and hydrobikes. Any of these will allow you to tour the 23 miles of the Ocean Shores Fresh Waterways.

Ocean Shores boasts some of the best kayaking, canoeing, boating and SUP experiences in Grays Harbor. Rookie paddlers will love the calm canals that are protected from the coastal winds.

See the many vacation and retirement homes along with wildlife as you paddle the canal.

There’s too much to do in one day. So talk to the staff at the Boat House to help you plan a route that is customized to how much time you have.

Playtime Family Fun

The playtime family fun has something for everyone. From virtual reality to bumper cars and go-karts. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the day here.

Enjoy ice cream, mini donuts or a soft pretzel at the peppermint parlor located right inside the Playtime Family Fun.

Pacific Paradise Family Fun

Another excellent outing for the whole family is Pacific Paradise. It features the largest mini-golf course on the Washington coast.

There are also bumper boats to enjoy. Inside you’ll find a 5000 square-foot arcade featuring a variety of classic and modern arcade games.

Visiting from out of town? Check out our list of hotels in Ocean Shores.

Watch The Game at Home Port!

Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at Home Port restaurant. Here, you can enjoy succulent razor clams all year long! On the weekends, this restaurant offers prime rib.

Home Port is a local hot-spot for watching the game, having a drink and enjoying a Sunday morning breakfast. Their lounge may take you back in time with it’s wood paneling and sunken bar.

Bottom Line on Ocean Shores Activities

There are so many Ocean Shores activities to try. We hope this list has given you some ideas to make the most of fall this year.

Make sure to check out our website frequently for local resources, and more Ocean Shores things to do.

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.

Finding Things to do in Bend and Beyond

If your finding it hard to find some things to do in Bend this weekend, consider checking out Smith Rock and its surrounding areas. It’s just a short drive away and hosts word-class rock climbing, along with some great spots to sample local craft beer, coffee and food.

Explore our page to find even more of the best things to do in Bend, Oregon and its surrounding areas!

Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park is one of the crown jewels of central Oregon. Situated less than 30 miles from ever-popular Bend, Smith Rock comes with a wide variety of attractions, from hiking to sport climbing. Whether you are vacationing with the family, looking for adventure with friends, or just have time for a quick stop on your way to Bend, there is something memorable here for everyone. Begin your trip at the Welcome Center yurt to learn about the history and geology of the park. Parking passes for day use are five dollars at the self-serve kiosk, or you can acquire an Oregon State Parks pass (get yours today) from the camp host on-site, which opens up all Oregon State Parks to you. Summer is high season at the park, and parking can be difficult, so plan to carpool if you are going with friends.

Smith Rock State Park is one of the crown jewels of Central Oregon.

Hiking Smith Rock

There are a multitude of options for hiking Smith Rock. For instant gratification, there are plenty of flat walking trails at the top of the canyon with photo-ops to be had everywhere you look. If you’re up for a more challenging expedition, head up Misery Ridge Trail, which begins just across the footbridge at the bottom of the canyon. At just 3/4 of a mile long, there is 1000 feet of elevation gain. Once you reach the top, however, all misery fades from your mind with gorgeous views of the Cascade range as well as an eagle-eye view of the entire park. If you continue on, you can make a loop of it by following Misery Ridge Loop to River Trail, then back out the way you came. This route takes 3-4 hours, depending on your fitness level, and goes down the back side of the rocks and along the river.

If you’re looking to spend most of the day hiking, and are ready for some steep gains, head the opposite way to Burma Road Trail, which brings you around the few giant Ponderosa Pines and around the irrigation canal that runs through the park. Burma Road Trail is also popular with mountain bikers and climbers.

Fun For Kids

Near the entrance to the park is a play area for children, featuring a scaled down version of Monkey Face Rock which kids can try their hands at climbing. There are also picnic benches and trees to spread out for lunch, or perhaps set up a slackline.

Finally, take a look at the maps before you head out, and feel free to spend the day piecing bits of each trail together for your own adventure.

Climbing The Area

Smith Rock is known as the birthplace of sport climbing. There are just under 2000 routes in place at Smith Rock. The variety and quality of routes attracts international climbers to the park during all seasons. Be sure to check out the Welcome Center for the park’s unique climbing history and to read about the big names in the sport that made their way through the park. If you’re a beginning climber or would like a guide, check out Smith Rock Climbing Guides, Inc., which offers instruction for all levels of climbers.

Highlining and Slacklining

Smith Rock is also becoming a known highlining spot. Gaze upward when you’re out and you might be lucky enough to spot what looks like a tightrope being walked by some daring human. Slacklining involves the use of climbing rope strung between two points. Many people will set up between a couple of trees, but the truly daring will post between two high points. Dubbed “highlining”, this is an entrancing activity just to watch even if you aren’t interested in partaking.

Local Wildlife

Smith Rock is home to many birds of prey, such as bald eagles which nest in the pines on the south end of the river trail. There are also golden eagles, prairie falcons, river otters, mule deer, and beaver that can be seen in the park. Bufflehead and mallard ducks as well as Canadian Geese are also common visitors. Bring your binoculars, and make sure to look up while you’re in the park to see the many different nests hanging onto the faces of the rock. Be aware that some climbing routes will close seasonally for nesting raptors, which are easily disturbed by human visitors.

Places to Stay

The Bivy campground at the park is five dollars per night. There are showers and restrooms facilities available for the use of guests. The campground fills quickly, especially in summer, and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For those that require more creature comforts, Eagle Crest Resort is 15 miles away in Redmond. The resort has all the amenities one could require, such as a sauna and spa. There are many vacation rentals available throughout Central Oregon, and Bend is a short 30 miles down the road with hotels, resorts, and rentals to suit a variety of needs.

Food & Drink

Just before the entrance of the park is Juniper Junction, a climbing supply store that also happens to sell huckleberry ice cream. For a true taste of Oregon flavor, this is a must-do, and is especially rewarding after a hot day of adventuring in the park. If you’re looking for a delicious meal, hit up the Terrebonne Depot. The Depot resides in a restored train station where trains pass by daily. They serve steak, seafood, burgers, and pasta, and use locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. If you’re looking for something more down-home, or perhaps are in need of a milkshake, the Sun Spot Cafe is just a little further from the park, and serves up daily breakfast specials in a tiny diner-like atmosphere. Need coffee? How about a beer? Redpoint Climbing Supply serves up locally roasted coffee inside their gear shop. They also have a rotating selection of beer on tap. Fill up a growler to take home, or just sit and plan out your day at Smith while enjoying a beverage. Right next door is a community studio with massage, yoga, and energy healing.

Grab a latte or iced coffee on your way out to Smith Rock. Proust Coffee in Redmond, OR is a local favorite.

Redmond Oregon – Big(ish) City Vibes

If you are staying in Redmond, there are several options for food and drink. Proust Coffee is located in downtown Redmond and features Belgian-style liege waffles along with specialty coffee. The ambiance in Proust is friendly and warm. Everything is house-made, right down to their syrups and chai!

Step right next door to the Vault Taphouse to try locally-brewed Kobold beer, or go for some award-winning tacos at Westside Taco Co.. West Side Taco Co. is a food truck that shares an outdoor patio with the Vault.

Pig and Pound Public House is a British-style pub just west of the downtown strip, featuring a simple menu and plenty of beer. Go for the bangers and mash if you want to be wowed.

Redmond is following in the steps of Bend and becoming a town well-known for its breweries and pubs.There is shopping available in the downtown corridor, as well as a locally-owned bookstore, Herringbone Books, which has an excellent selection of books as well as regularly scheduled author events.

Redmond has been doing a lot of work to update the downtown core in recent years.

Visit Central Oregon Today

Central Oregon is brimming with all the ingredients for an adventure-filled getaway. From awe-inspiring cliffs at Smith Rock to beer and coffee in town, Central Oregon has got you covered.