Take a Drive on the Beach

Originally posted as "Drive on the Beach at Least Once in Your Life " March 2nd, 2014

From the Long Beach City Website

How many states can boast that they have a state hwy that is not just on the beach but IS the beach! Washington is one such state that can make that claim. Driving on Long Beach is not as easy as it seems. Often the entrances have loose sand that cars with low clearance can easily get stuck in. Once you are past the soft sand at the entrance is is pretty easy to drive on the hard packed sand closer to the water. As mentioned above this is an official state highway and that mean troopers will write you a ticket for exceeding the 25 mph speed limit or any reckless driving. They are quite serious about it and the fine are HUGE so drive safe.

Driving on the beach. Circa 2006

There is much to do in Long Beach. Adults and children alike can enjoy this great coastal retreat. The best part about it is the ability to purchase your own home to live in or vacation at for a reasonably price.

You can check out this website info about the Long Beach Peninsula and driving on the beach here.

Beach Deals!

Long Beach, WA $149,900

Every now and again I like to find some great deals on beach property. I have invested a fair number of keystrokes on this blog in the idea that property on the Washington State coast may be the greatest value on the planet. Sure, like any coastal area with gorgeous scenery there will be million dollar mansions but the Long Beach peninsula offers a range of prices that allow even the more modest earners and opportunity to live or play at the beach.

I have two listings I found on the MLS that I think represent a great opportunity to own a coastal property. Neither of these listings are fancy by any measure, but they are very good deals. Imagine living within a five minute walk of the mighty Pacific Ocean. Every morning you get up crack the window and hear the thunderous sound of crashing waves. In most instances to own property in this environment is the stuff reserved for the likes or Gates or Buffett. But not these my friends these are within reach of the middle class and better yet they are within reach of the beach!

Long Beach, WA $176,000

The first property is listed at a mere $149,900. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside, this home has three bedrooms and one bath spread among 1632 square feet of space. The house lies the equivalent of six blocks to the beach. Six blocks! The home is located in Long beach and is close to the main hwy and all the fun activities and shopping as well as the famed Long Beach itself. The price includes two lots totaling 0.19 acres. it is in decent shape and can be lived in right away. It may be a bit dated but we are talking about six blocks to the ocean and less than $150k. That gets a big fat WOW!

The second property is even closer to the beach. This one is just a couple of blocks away. This is a townhouse unit with an HOA that is just $110 a month. It was built in 2006 so this is modern and frankly very nice. Here you get 1571 squares two bedrooms and two and half baths. From this property you can walk right down a path to the sea or go the other way and walk a couple blocks to play a round of golf at Peninsula Golf Course. All of this at an amazing price of just $176,000. I love the Washington Coast, I really do.

Clam Festival Time Again

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

It's Back! Yes the classic Razor Clam Festival is back in Long Beach. Clamming has long been a favorite past time on the beaches of the Pacific Northwest and the Long Beach Razor Clam Festival has roots dated back to the 1940s.

The community has teamed up with private sponsors and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to put on a great big festival April 18th and 19th. Check out the website for the event here.

The Southwest Washington Coast is a great place to visit and a fabulous place to live. I have spent many a word writing about the great value afforded to property in this Long beach Peninsula market and now could be an ideal time to buy your dream getaway home or retirement home in tax friendly Washington State.

Whatever you fancy, get out to the coast and check out the Razor Clam Festival starting on the 18th.

Fort Canby and Cape Disappointment State Park

Spring is almost here and that means fun trips to the coast. I love Fort Canby. I wrote a post last year extolling its virtues, take a look below. 

Originally posted March 11th, 2014

The Town of Ilwaco Washington sits at the very base of the Long Beach Peninsula. Right in the heart of the town is the former Fort Canby State park, now called Cape Disappointment State Park. This is a really nice park located on the north shore of the mouth of the Columbia River and the southern reaches of the Long Beach Peninsula.

The park features the Colbert House museum, In Ilwaco which is a restored Victorian era home listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center with an amazing perch overlooking the confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.

Two of the best known features are the lighthouses. Cape Disappointment Lighthouse first lit in 1856 and its companion the North Head Lighthouse added to cover the Norther approach and first lit in 1898. Of course the park has no shortage of great hiking trails and scenic wonders along with camping, picnic area and the usual assortment of State Park activities.

This park is part of the greater Lewis and Clark National Historical Park with state and national facilities in both Oregon and Washington.

History excerpted from Wikipedia:

In 1862, during the American Civil War, a camp called Post at Cape Disappointment was established and fortifications existed here from that date to protect the northern approaches to the mouth of the Columbia River from possible attacks by Confederate raiders or foreign fleets. It was garrisoned by Company A, U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment and Company A, 8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry in the District of Oregon. In 1863, its mate Fort Stevens was established on the south bank of the Columbia River. In 1864, the post was renamed Fort Cape Disappointment. Some Civil War-era fortifications still exist. They were called the Tower (or Right) Battery, Left Battery, and Center Battery.

Fort Cape Disappointment was renamed Fort Canby in 1875. Later Fort Canby became part of the three fort Columbia River harbor defenses as a subpost of Fort Stevens along with Fort Columbia.

This is a must visit when out at the coast and a great getaway spot for the locals as well.

Hiatus!

I will be away form the blog for a little bit, I'll catch up next time :) Meanwhile here are some fun Coastal Events you can check out! Check out more here.

There is much to see and do and this winter has been mild so far. Check out the crashing waves of the mighty Pacific and while your there check out some real estate.

I'll be back next time with some more great Coastal properties.

Look what I found today!

This is too juicy to pass up. I haven't seen the inside so it could be atrocious, but this home sits on a third of an acre on the bay side of Ocean Park. This does need work including repairs of a soft floor spot and likely allot more. But the bank will actually entertain carrying a note back for this one. Listed at... wait for it... $54,900.

This is a manufactured home, late model so it feels like a stick built not a trailer. This is a golden opportunity to own at the coast for what amounts to real estate chump change! No HOA. I will drive out there and show it myself. I love a great deal.

This is something even modest income people can afford as a second home or vacation home. Again as a cautionary note, it definitely needs work, but a nice chunk of dirt with a house on it for $55 large is work a peek don't you think? A little drive to the beach is in order methinks.

Holidays at the Beach

December is here and the holidays are here too. The coast can be a great deal of fun during the month of December. Sometimes you can even walk on a snow covered beach. If you are looking for a getaway this year take a trip to the Long Beach Peninsula and enjoy the winter with the awesome Pacific Ocean as your travel mate.

I am going to keep this blog post extra short and refer you to the Long Beach Visitors site for information on beach activities for December.

Holidays at the Beach

Happy Holidays to all of you and I'll be back again in the New year :)