Long Beach Peninsula

The Long Beach Peninsula is an arm of land in western Washington state. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the south by the Columbia River, and the east by Willapa Bay. Leadbetter Point State Park and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge are at the northern tip of the peninsula, Cape Disappointment State Park, formerly known as Fort Canby State Park is at the southern end, and in between is Pacific Pines State Park.

Cape Disappointment, part of the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks west of Ilwaco, was the westernmost terminus for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and a monument designed by Maya Lin as part of the Confluence Project [http://www.confluenceproject.org/] was dedicated there in 2005.

The Long Beach Peninsula is remarkable for its continuous sand beaches on the Pacific Ocean side, 28 miles in extent, claimed to be the longest beach in the United States and the world's largest drivable beach. Because of the fine beaches, it is a popular vacation destination for people from Seattle, Washington, 165 miles distant, and Portland, Oregon, 115 miles distant.

The peninsula is located entirely within Pacific County, Washington. In terms of both culture and tourism, however, the Long Beach Peninsula is sometimes thought of as a northward extension of the Oregon Coast region.

Economy

The principal industry of the Long Beach Peninsula has become tourism, though fishing, crabbing, oyster farming, and cranberry farming are also important components of the local economy. The Long Beach Peninsula is located on the west side of the Willapa Bay, considered the number one producer of farmed oysters in the United States and among the top five producers worldwide.

The Long Beach Peninsula has become one of the most popular tourism destinations in the State of Washington and has attracted visitors from all over North America. As one of the final destinations of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, several television specials have brought publicity to this area. A multitude of events and festivals are held throughout the year including the Washington State International Kite Fesitval [http://www.kitefestival.com] , the Sandsations sandcastle sculpting competition [http://funbeach.com/events/sandsations/index.html] , and the annual The Rod Run to the End of the World [http://funbeach.com/events/cars/slowdrag/index.html] which attracts thousands of visitors on the weekend following Labor Day.

Cities and towns

*Ilwaco
*Long Beach
*Nahcotta
*Ocean Park
*Oysterville
*Seaview

ee also

*Willapa Bay
*Steamboats of Willapa Bay
*Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company

External links

* [http://www.funbeach.com] Long Beach Peninsula Tourist Info Website
* [http://longbeachpeninsula.mobi/ LongBeachPeninsula.mobi - Mobile guide to Long Beach Peninsula]