Cedars Ocean View Inn

Book your hotel/accommodation a year in advance!

by joiwatani

I didn't realize that Washington State has a Long Beach until my co-worker mentioned about the Kite Festival through an email. She even sent the website. I asked her how far Long Beach was and she said about a three-hour drive from Seattle, Washington. I googled the site and found out the history of the Kite Festival. The history was very interesting and the site was spectacular!

With only a week of planning, we decided to go but unfortunately, we can't book a hotel. Most of the hotels in Long Beach are all booked! Since the town is a small town and they only have few hotels, some people brought their tents and camped at a nearby KOA. (I found out this later that there is a place where you can camp close to the Kite Festival place). Anyway, when you are planning to go to the Kite Festival, it is better to spend the night over there because not only they have fireworks at night, they have a lot of activities over the weekend.

Make sure to book your accommodation a year early! My children have so much fun sandbuilding and just playing on the beach. They also made their own kites and flew them!

Just laying out on the beach was all good and watching the different kites flying up high!

Make a fun weekend getaway

by joiwatani

Driving to Long Beach for the Kite Festival on the last week of August is a fun getaway. It's not really that expensive if your family like mine is on a budget crunch! Just make sure that when you travel to Long Beach, you packed everything that your family needs for the weekend.

It doesn't really entail a lot of money to have a family fun! If you have enough money for gas, that's all you need! Pack your tent and your food and you are ready to enjoy your whole weekend in Long Beach!

I packed a whole ice chest. I put a lot of drinks (water and bottled juices). I also brought all the condiments for sandwiches and pre-cut all the things I needed: cold turkey cuts and italian beef sandwiches; sliced tomatoes, ketchup, mayonnaise, onions, lettuce, etc. I also packed some fruits like apples, oranges, and grapes.

For snacks, I also packed some peanuts and cheetos for the kids.'

We also packed mats, bathtowels and extra clothings for the children. They had bathing suits, sunglasses, slippers, suntan lotion...

It is really fun to stay on the beach and watch the kites flying. So, it is really nice to have a big mat and some shades...

A weekend in Long Beach is very relaxing and the drive down there is nice because the views on the way are extremely beautiful and exhilarating! My children having fun watching the kites and walking on the board walk. My youngest one learned how to make and fly her own kite!

Grey Whale Skeleton Monument on the Beach

by glabah

The title says it all: there is a Grey Whale skeleton that has been turned into a monument on the beach here in Long Beach.

Considering how far this skeleton is from the actual water, it must have been quite a storm that put it here (assuming of course that human hands didn't put it here - which obviously is the case! - otherwise it wouldn't have interpretive signs and a monument walkway and a chain around it).

Three signs are provided. Two provide information about the Grey Whales that are seen off the coast of Washington.

This skeleton is jealously guarded by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which owns the whale skeleton. Touching the Whale Skeleton may cause a fine of up to $10,000 as stated on the warning signs near the skeleton.

So, you can look, but please don't touch! Unless you either gain permission from NOAA or have some very deep pockets.....

The longest beach in the world!

by joiwatani

"Attend the Kite Festival in Long Beach"

Long Beach? Where? There are many "Long Beach" name of cities in the United States. But, I am referring to the Long Beach in Washington State. It is about a three-hour and a half drive from Seattle, Washington.

The city is located close to Astoria, Oregon and it is an elongated beach-which may be the reason why the people claimed it as the "Longest Beach in the world"!

The Long Beach is an old town with many antique stores and lots of places to buy kites. There are many gift shops, too. Inside the town, there is also a Go-cart racing place and a Merry-go-round for children.

The town invites kite lovers and kite flyers all over the world and they come and compete. There is even a kite fight, multi-kite flying contests.

The Kite Festival is well-organized: There are many booths for arts and crafts, gift items and food. There are several life guard touring around in a vehicle, Medic One staff available in case there are emergencies involved. There are many local residents who volunteer for the success of the kite festival. They are very helpful and accommodating. There is no problem for parking for visitors. Several portable potties were also set up close to the beach for comfort of the visitors!

Older residents volunteer for the visitors for tourist information, and they set up a booth to have the children build their own kites!

The beach is nice for children to go and play on the sand but residents caution that the water has strong current.

The Kite Festival in Long Beach is something to go to every year. The wind in Long Beach is really god for kite flying. For newer enthusiasts like me, it is something to go to every year!

DATE OF NEXT YEAR'S KITE FESTIVAL IS SCHEDULED AUGUST 19-24, 2009

"Fly your own Kite in Long Beach"

You can make your own kite. There are several volunteer workers in booths close to the board walk in Long Beach where you can learn how to make a kite. They also teach you aerodynamics and history of kite flying!

"Enjoy flying your own kite that you made!"

Even my husband Erik has fun flying my daughter's kite that they made. The kite was made of plastic and two bamboo round sticks. The materials were provided by the Kite Festival organizers. The provide the plastic, paste materials, bamboo round sticks and the string!

Where I Live.....Sorta

by shikokuzen

"LOOONNNGGG Beach"

When I say long beach I mean long beach...28 miles of drivable beach is supposed to be the longest such in the world......to tell the truth I don't drive on the beach and wish no one did but this place I live says it is OK....and the environment does not seem to be adversely affected.....yet!!

"Thai Culinary Specialist"

she operates the best restaurant in the area....the Long Beach Thai Cuisine....it works as she is from Thailand and is a terrific chef