Long Beach, Washington
by Zia ~ September 4th, 2006. Filed under: Travel.“Can you think of a reason to come back to Long Beach?” asked Steve. We were hurtling down the 28-mile long peninsula back to the mainland.
“No.”
And that pretty much summed up our weekend jaunt. It wasn’t a bad little vacation, per se, but it was disappointing . The thing about Long Beach is that it’s just as far as driving to Oregon–and even though the peninsula boasts it has the longest beach in America, you can’t get in the water because of the dangerous riptides. It’s a strange combination of touristy towns, a complete lack of zoning (and the subsequent building monstrosities), and, well, not much to do. The best part was going to the very tip of the peninsula and hiking through the snowy plover reserve.
A large part of the disappointment was our hotel. We stayed at the Moby Dick Hotel and Oyster Farm. It was highly recommended by neighbors because of its eclectic charm, the stellar food, and the sauna that overlooks the bay. Unfortunately, the chef has gone on to different things, so the widely-advertised breakfasts were indifferent and the proprietress couldn’t get the sauna going. And let’s face it: eclectic charm quickly gives way to cheap furnishings and really bad art when one is faced with not enough hot water, a hostess who lacks the most basic of people skills, cramped quarters, and tacky little envelopes that read, “Hi, my name is Alma, and I have prepared this room specially for you.” They may as well have said, “Tip me! I’m an illegal worker who isn’t being paid a living wage.”
Even checking out was a hassle. I waited by the front desk; one of the owners was standing there talking about politics with a couple who was also leaving. After about five minutes, she asked if she could help me. I said we needed to check out. “Okay,” she said, and returned to her conversation. When I waited (patiently, I thought, but maybe not), she turned to me again and asked if I was in a rush.
I have a distinct feeling that the place is resting on its laurels, and that once upon a time, it was a fab place to vacation. And I will say that there were some very interesting, very congenial folks there.