![]() The lake itself offers plenty of activities such as fishing, boating and swimming, while upstream both the north and south branches of the Quinault River harbor a couple of important transpark trails. Clustered around the deep-blue glacial waters of Lake Quinault lie forested peaks, a historic lodge and some of the oldest (and tallest) Sitka spruce, Douglas fir and western red cedar trees in the world. Not all of Washington's beaches are on the Pacific Coast, or dotting the lakes and sounds that bound the Seattle metro area. The enchanting Quinault River Valley is one of Olympic National Park's least crowded corners. Getty Images/iStockphoto 13. Lake Quinault Lake Quinault is a lake on the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington state. To streamline your day out, make like a local and opt to catch the West Seattle Water Taxi from its dock near the Seattle Ferry Terminal in downtown so you don't have to fuss with parking. There are good tide pools further west around the lighthouse, too. The main part of West Seattle's favorite beach is sandy – ideal for sandcastle building and all of those other age-old seaside pleasures. There are plenty of nearby breweries and eateries with views of the water. ![]() When the sun's out, Alki Beach and its adjacent promenade become Seattle's communal backyard and a fabulous spot to hunker down with a beer and enjoy people-watching. Stretching from Duwamish Head to the Alki Point Lighthouse, a 2.5-mile paved span parallel to the beach is a magnet for rollerbladers, cyclists, and skateboarders. For a certain type of Seattleite, West Seattle beckons like a proverbial Coney Island, and Alki Beach is the fair. Slowing down the rhythm a couple of notches on a weekend summer's afternoon on Alki Beach. West Seattle Alki Point Lighthouse © SEASTOCK/Getty Images 9. Cars and trucks aren't allowed on these busy beaches in summer, but the beach north of Bolstad Ave to Ocean Park is open to vehicles year-round. In Seaview, take 38th Place, just south of Highway 101. Primary beach access points in Long Beach are off 10th St SW and Bolstad Ave a 0.25-mile boardwalk links the two entryways. ![]() The towns along the peninsula are classic seaside settlements Long Beach and Seaview blur together to form the main commercial zone, with amusement arcades, cheap motels and trinket shops along Highway 103, while adorable Oysterville and Nahcotta stretch further north and Ilwaco hugs the water north of Cape Disappointment, with its hiking trails and scenic lighthouses. It invites long leisurely strolls and kite flying, especially on a sunny day, even if you'll have to share the sand with cars and trucks (motorists are allowed to drive on Washington beaches). Note that surf swimming here is dangerous due to strong waves and quickly changing tides. The name's hardly original, but of the half-dozen or so Long Beaches in the US, the Washington version – a 28-mile-long sand spit that lies directly north of the Columbia River estuary – is the longest. Carving of a Grey Whale located along the waterfront Discovery Trail in the tourist town of Long Beach.
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