#LongBeachWA: Bigger than the Peninsula

Apr 23, 2016 | Archive

William Shakespeare once asked, “What’s in a name?”

Fair question, old bard.

#LongBeachWA is a favorite hashtag here on the Peninsula, but with Shakespeare in mind, we have to ask: “What’s in that name?” Well, a lot more than sometimes meets the eye!

Let’s talk about a place #LongBeachWA locals call “north county”, home to historic towns like Raymond, South Bend and Tokeland. #LongBeachWA is known as the Pacific Northwest’s capital of coastal fun, and its north county hamlets host a number of summertime hoots!#LongBeachWA is bigger than a city or Peninsula – it’s the southwest corner of Washington, where exploration is a way of life and discovery is limited only by imagination.

Tokeland

The tiny town of Tokeland sits on a spit of land on Willapa Bay just across the water from Leadbetter Point State Park. Home to just 150 residents, Tokeland sees its weekend population swell each spring and summer with events like the Tokeland North Cove Studio Art Tour and the Tokeland Wood & Art Fest, where woodworkers and lumberjacks rule the day. The Studio Art Tour is April 16 and the Wood & Art Fest is July 23-24. A Parade and Old-Fashioned Family Picnicin Tokeland ushers in Independence Day on July 3.

Raymond

Down the road from Tokeland is Raymond, home of the Willapa Heritage Corridor along Highway 101 where a 2.8-mile walking tour meanders through town. Find walking tour guides at the Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce or the Pacific County Historical Society in South Bend. Raymond also hosts the annual Willapa Harbor Festival on Aug. 5-7, which features live music, a parade, food vendors and more.

Menlo

From Raymond, follow Highway 6 east to Menlo and catch one of Washington’s oldest county fairs. Now entering its 120^th year, the Pacific County Fair is Aug. 24-27 and will once again serve copious amounts of quintessential small-town fun! History is in the air at this wonderful event.

South Bend

South Bend, the county seat, is another summertime hotspot. Visit the Weekend Market on the Dock in South Bend on Saturdays and Sundays from May 28 to Sept. 5 to find fine jewelry, art and crafts and more. Come Play on Labor Dayfrom Sept. 2-5 makes the most of this celebrated three-day weekend. Parade, fireworks, a carnival and Tin Man Triathlon – this event offers a little bit of everything!

Remember when we mentioned discovery and exploration earlier – with so much to explore, where will you begin? Here’s a suggestion: How about in #LongBeachWA?

Explore more of what Pacific County has to offer.

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