If you are looking for the ultimate beach experience with your family and/or friends, you can head over to Washington DC.
With over 160 miles of coastline, which excludes lagoons, bays, and inlets, Washington is known to be home to some of the most exotic beaches in the country.
These beaches are quite spectacular and will offer you a wide range of fun recreational activities like jumping into the tide pools, boating, fishing, enjoying a bonfire, paddleboarding, kayaking, and whale watching.
In this article, we will talk about some of the best beaches in Washington.
Article Contents
What Are Some Of The Best Beaches In Washington DC?
Some of the best beaches in Washington DC include:
1. Alki Beach
If you are visiting Seattle, it is recommended that you head over to Alki beach. This beach is known to be one of the top beaches in Washington today.
The Alki Beach has redefined summers and hosts a wide range of visitors and families during the summer season.
Here, you will find a wide range of activities taking place daily. You can engage yourself with a game or two of beach volleyball or enjoy your time laying on a blanket and getting a tan.
If you want to enjoy the nighttime, you can even enjoy a bonfire session on the beach.
When you take a look at Alki beach, you will see that the background is surrounded by the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. You will also see fleets of boats and ferries on the water.
The nearby pavement is considered a popular route for strollers, bicyclists, and joggers. If you are looking for photo opportunities, you can head over to the Alki Point Lighthouse for a guided tour.
2. Ruby Beach
When you look beyond the Olympic National Park, you will see the Ruby Beach in full display. This beach is located eight miles of Kalaloch Lodge, which looks like driftwood straight out of a postcard. The area looks very beautiful, which is the reason why it is so popular.
From the parking area, you need to walk down the paved and steep path that will keep revealing the ocean view with every turn you take.
The shoreline here is quite rocky, which makes it better for hiking rather than sun tanning. In fact, you will find one of the top hiking trails at Ruby Beach.
At Ruby Beach, you will find a lot of aquatic life, particularly if you opt for scuba diving. Apart from the amazing tide pools, you will see many other breath-taking sights, like nesting bird colonies, etc.
Additionally, the Kalaloch Lodging area also consists of other rugged beaches, like the Kalaloch Beach and the South Beach.
3. Long Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is located on the southwest side of Washington DC. This beach measures 28-miles and is one of the most uncrowded and quiet beaches here.
Apart from providing an opportunity to enjoy this beach alone, you also have access to six state park units. The best unit is the Cape Disappointment on the southern side of the beach.
If you are looking for a better view of the ocean, it is suggested that you head over to the Long beach Broadwalk, which is roughly half-mile from the main city outskirts.
Here, you can visit the Washington State International Kite Festival that takes place every August. If you want to explore more, you can head over to the Discovery Trail from Long Beach and keep walking along the coast.
4. Pacific Beach State Park, Pacific Beach
The Pacific Beach covers a small part of Grays Harbor County, which is located on the central Washington coast.
This beach is considered one of the most vibrant locations in Washington and is not too far from Olympia. If you are looking for the nearest attraction, you can visit Pacific Beach State Park.
Overall, this park covers approximately 17-acres and the shoreline measures roughly 2,300 feet. Here, you have the wonderful opportunity to park your RVs or pitch tents and spend the night.
You can spend most of your daytime exploring what the beach has to offer. You can also opt for a small bonfire session near the surf with other visitors in the evening.
The Pacific Beach State Park is considered one of the most visited places for people who want to witness migrating whales along the coast.
The best time is January but you can also visit anytime between March and May. To get the best view of these majestic animals, you need to get some binoculars.
One of the many reasons why this beach is so popular is the state park. For additional exploration, you can visit the Moclips community in the north and the Griffiths-Priday State Park, and Copalis Beach in the south.
5. Fort Worden Beach
Many years ago, Fort Worden Beach had a military advantage – it housed the famous Fort Worden, which was a strategic military base and also home to soldiers who were tasked with the protection of Puget Sound.
While this military installation does not serve the purpose it was made for, it now stands as a historical monument on the Olympic Peninsula.
Additionally, you also have the choice to visit the inviting saltwater shoreline, which measures roughly two miles.
The best way to utilize the beach is to simply sit back and leisurely enjoy the sun. The sound of the lapping waves is very relaxing and you can relax with the view of the North Cascades.
There is also a 120-foot dock if you want to engage with some fishing activities. There are a lot of kayaks and other types of water vessel rentals available.
Once you are done with the beach, you can also explore the other features of the park. For instance, you can tour the remnants of the military fort and the barricades. On the northern end of the beach, you can visit the Point Wilson Lighthouse.
6. Rosario Beach
Rosario Beach is one of the most-visited beaches in Washington, with more than two million visitors each year.
This state park connects the Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands in Puget Sound via the Deception Pass Bridge. As you visit the northern part of the park, you can see the amazing Rosaria Beach.
You will see the Rosaria Beach on both sides of the Rosario Head; both the sections have a curved coastline and are filled with a rocky landscape.
You will see great tide pooling here. You can also opt for a hike if you want a better look at the Deception Pass Bridge and/or the Puget Sound.
7. Seabrook Beach
Seabrook is a small coastal town located on the Washington coast. This town is a great choice for a weekend trip. You will see that most of the homes here are colonial-styled. You can also rent these houses if you are on a vacation.
Most of the vacation rental at Seabrook is very affordable and is not too far from Seattle. All these factors make Seabrook a perfect place to spend your summer vacations.
Another attractive aspect of this place is Seabrook Beach. You can access the beach via the steps below the Seabrook community.
Once you reach the shore, you will see an open beach where you can spend the entire day getting a tan or surfing the waves.
Final Thoughts
The above-mentioned locations are considered the best beaches in Washington DC today.
If you ever want to spend time with your family and/or friends, you can always visit these places and have the time of your life.
