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>> from the beach to an active volcano
From the town of Westport to the southern tip of Cape Disappointment, the Washington Coast region offers a mix of authentic beach life and rugged wildness.
Life’s a beach? Towns like Long Beach are your go-to destination for kite shops, mini golf, saltwater taffy stands, and go karts.
Like nature? Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Leadbetter Point attract birdwatchers from all over the country for shorebird migration, and hikers and yurt-campers will love Cape Disappointment State Park.
Further inland, this region is home to Washington state’s only active volcano. Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument is one of the wonders of the world and the star attraction of Southwest Washington. Though it’s been thirty years since its major eruption on May 18, 1980, that is just a blip in the geologic timescale, and the scars and alterations of its landscape still appear quite fresh. Visitors to the volcano should make a stop to a few of the interpretive visitor’s centers-each tells a different part of the volcano’s unique story. Hikers of all abilities will find many miles of trails to enjoy, and a stop to explore the incredible ape cave is a must; its the longest intact lava tube in the continental United States. Visitors will be delighted by the many great B&Bs, resorts and rustic lodges to choose from as a base for exploring the Monument.
