All my life I have never been much of a “beach person.” If you were to ask me whether I prefer the beach or the mountains, my answer without hesitation has been and always will be the mountains. When I think about the beach I think of hot, overcrowded tourist spots filled with obnoxious humans who don’t understand the concept of personal space. There is however an exception to this rule, and that is a Pacific Northwest beach.
More specifically, a Washington beach.
A Washington beach has people, and they might even become overcrowded, but something about their rocky shores and cooler temperatures make them feel a bit less…overwhelming. When I think of a Washington beach I think of an overcast day with waves crashing dramatically onto giant beached logs or rocks. A Washington beach is enjoyable during all seasons, but I love the tranquility during the cooler months when less people come out to play.
I also adore bundling up with a jacket, a blanket, or another person.
I’ve been spending more time on the beach lately, and while initially I thought I wouldn’t enjoy spending a full day lying around doing mostly nothing, these beach days have become a highlight of my week. For the majority of my life I have struggled doing “nothing.” I always needed something to fill my time, and the busy “go, go, go” way of life was ingrained into my system.
These days I am much better at sitting with stillness and allowing myself to just be.
The fact of the matter is, when we think we are doing “nothing” we are doing more than we realize. On these beach days I am actively resting after a week of too much human interaction, substantial physical activity, and the inevitable stressors that come with being alive. Most beach days I do try to stay active for a few hours in the morning, but the remainder of the day is lounge city.
One of my favorite beach days last month was a trip to Fort Worden, an old military establishment with bunkers dating back to WWI.
If walking around old, dark military forts doesn’t tickle your fancy, there is a beautiful light house from 1913 at the tip of the beach. I can only imagine the stories this lighthouse holds. I don’t know what it is about lighthouses, but I find them oddly mysterious. Perhaps it’s because they are rare these days, and their origins often date back further than three of my lifetimes, or perhaps I have watched too many movies with old abandoned lighthouses.
Either way, I find them fascinating and my imagination runs wild with the possibilities.
One of the many things I love about Washington is the ease of accessibility to the coast in multiple directions. Each beach is similar for the reasons I listed above, yet slightly different from one another. With each beach you can expect to find a different view, a different type of sand, less or more beach glass, and better or worse hidden nooks to sprawl out while fighting with the sand fleas for a spot on the beach blanket.
As summer gets closer I look forward to beach days turning into beach nights with some camping adventures. Now if only I could figure out how to include my cat on these beach outings…
Q: Are you a beach person, or a mountain person?
Blissfulbritt 
35 thoughts on “Washington Beaches”
Maria Prosecuter
I love Washington in general.
Brittany
Meeee too!
Atheria
For some reason, tropical beaches don’t do much for me…but I do love OR, WA, and northern CA cold ones. LOL
Brittany
YES. That’s how I feel, the tropical beaches are “meh” for me.
Josh dV
Lovely reflection. Sounds to me like you appreciate the solitude, which we both know can be found in both places.
So perhaps we find it when we look for it?
I am a mountain person AND a beach person. I find I miss the sea and pine for it, but the thought of moving away from my high desert mountains is strictly unappealing.
Both can be lonely, pensive and dynamic and they have my heart. Though I prefer the warmer climates for each.
Good luck getting that cat out there!
Atheria
Hi Josh. The mountains are calling, and I must go. (I live in the high desert…Santa Fe, NM.)
Josh dV
I guess we’re neighbors, or pretty close. ABQ for me, but I try to get up there every now and then.
Brittany
I love this perspective, and I totally agree. I do however prefer the colder beaches. I don’t enjoy the solitude on the warm beaches as much. Can’t quite tell you why. Perhaps because I don’t really enjoy warm weather.
The SAD Creative
I’m the same: cold weather I can do, and do enjoy a lot, but I don’t enjoy warm weather. Or, you know, I enjoy being able to wear a dress and walk barefoot and sit outside without shivering, but I guess my idea of a nightmare holiday would be a week of sunbathing on a tropical beach.
Having grown up inland and far from the seaside, I love sitting by lakes, rivers, and tarns, but I do find the sea oddly fascinating (and frightening), but I end up spending most of my time looking for crabs, fossils, and climbing rocks at low tide. And don’t get me started on lighthouses… Have you read Moominpappa at Sea? It’s a wonderful children’s book by Tove Jansson that made me want to go live in a lighthouse, despite the lack of success in the story…
But a lighthouse on a mountain…! Yes, please. 😊
Brittany
I find the sea frightening too, yet oddly intriguing. The idea of being out on a boat in open water is so unnerving for me.
I’ve not heard of this book, but I will look for it!
Peg
Having lived 90 miles from the East Coast for the first 55 years of my life, you would think I’m a beach person. But since I moved to Washington, I have become a mountain person…mainly because I have yet to visit one of Washington’s beaches. A trip to Mount Rainier in 2005 is what made me want to move to this state in the first place. And we have made many trips to it in subsequent years. I agree with your assessment of beaches…usually way too many people for me!
Brittany
Washington is such a beautiful state! I can understand why Mount Rainier brought you here!
rootchopper
The beach literally sounds wonderful but give me a spot next to a lake the woods any day.
Brittany
Oh absolutely. How could I forget the lake. 😍
Amy
TOTALLY a beach person!! One of the many reasons I moved to SoCal… I can drive 20 minutes and be at the beach. It’s amazing! I’m not a fan of overcrowded and touristy beaches either though. My favorite ones down here are the ones that are super expansive and not good swimming beaches… aka the ones that attract far fewer humans and therefore feel peaceful and rejuvenating. 😉 Your Washington beaches sound perfect to me — they’re going on my bucket list for whenever I make it up there again!
Brittany
I loveee the expansive beaches. Good opportunity to find a personal nook!
samstarbucks
Totally with you: “mountain person” came shooting out my mouth without thinking. But you know why… kinda hard being a beach person in a landlocked country. But give me lakes and I’m as happy as can be as I grew up next to one. They are definitely calling to me. And if it’s a mountain lake – I’m in heaven.
Brittany
Ohh man. An alpine lake is game over. Yes, yes, yes!!!
Pam
In the woods with easy access to both mountains and water…..hence the 3,000 mile move to the PNW ❤️🌲🏔🌊 35-85 temps and I’m a Happy Girl 💃💃💃 Clean fresh air , quiet slow winding roads, less population yep I’m sold 👍🙋♀️😊
Brittany
I like your style. The air here is the best.
Shannon Thomas
I have been both a mountain person and a beach person. Originally from SLC, UT, the autumn colors are only the best in the Rocky’s, but I have grown to love the beach. Like you said, you learn to enjoy doing ‘nothing.’ It’s like the waves pull away all the commotion in our busy lives, and throw it out amongst the waves, so that you can sit, quietly, content, decompressed. While touristy, St. Augustine, FL has a pretty great light house. Its supposedly haunted (if you believe in that sort of thing).
Brittany
I love that analogy of the waves pulling away the commotion!
gpavants
Hi Brittney,
Love them both, but probably more mountains for me, especially for solitude. Have a great week.
Gary
Brittany
Agreed!!
Allie Zottola
Yay for enjoying beach days and stillness and the beautiful PNW. I need to visit!
Brittany
You’d love it here. ❤️
chaosaftermath
I’m from New Jersey. When I go to the beach, I hope the sharp object I step on isn’t a used needle.
Brittany
Omg. 😂 This is an awful reality. I hope for your sake that’s always the case.
magzilla44
Mountains all the way! I loved this post until you mentioned the fleas….yikes. Gorgeous pics. Thank you
Brittany
Bahaha, try dealing with the sand fleas in person! Such a nuisance.
magzilla44
I can just imagine. We had regular ones years ago in our house from wildlife. Took us months to get rid of them.
kristyrgutierrez
Loving this post! I’m definitely more of a beach person and my kids love escaping the waves! No matter how much we tell them in winter, “we’re just here to walk the beach, don’t get wet”, it never fails. Shoes, boots, you name it, soaked. We’ve learned and begun bringing towels and bags for Sandy wet things to be stored. It’s inevitable! We also love exploring the sea life and shells along the shore. You must live close to go every weekend – lucky!!
Brittany
Ohhh to be young and so carefree!
clararidings
Nice pictures and post! I’m also more of a mountains person, and not too interested in a tropical beach (though I’ve never been to one, so that could change). The only time I’ve been to the beach was a Texas beach in February. Cold, but fun! I’ve been to the mountains in Texas and New Mexico. Both are great!
P.S. I love the “stalk my past” on archives. That is exactly what I do on all my favorite blogs 😀
Brittany
There’s just something about the mountains I tell ya!
I’m a big fan of reading older blogs from people too! 😂