GETAWAY SERIES: Weekend on the Coast

At the start of 2021, Andrew and I planned a Valentine’s Weekend getaway. We settled on Long Beach, WA, a nice coastal town that seemed like the perfect place for a little rest and relaxation. We knew that we could be secluded and safe, so we booked a stay at the Adrift Hotel, right next to the beach. What we did not expect was for snowpocalypse to hit Seattle and force us to extend our stay an extra day. Nothing like some unexpected excitement!

Andrew and I braved the beginning of the snowfall for our three and a half hour drive, pleasantly surprised to find Long Beach sans-snow. We were met with some pretty cold rain though, which for us felt very manageable. We grabbed some dinner from the hotel restaurant, Pickled Fish, then settled in for a cozy evening listening to the wind howl and the waves crash against the beach. Around 1:00am, the power went out and we fell asleep, hoping the power would be back on when we woke up (which it did, around 3:00am).

On Saturday, our full day in Long Beach, we decided to spend some time out and about, seeing the quaint town. We first ventured over to the beach, enjoying the wind and spray of the ocean waves. We followed the beach boardwalk to the main drag of town and wandered the quiet streets. We even snuck in some time to check out Cape Disappointment! It felt a little odd to be at the coastal town that’s not quite a winter destination and that has surely been hit hard by the pandemic, but Long Beach was giving us what we wanted: quiet, relaxation, and a slower pace.

We wanted to enjoy some of the hotel’s amenities, so we spent some time at the heated semi-indoor pool. The pool was surrounded by three walls, with a little outdoor lounge space, and was perfect for the cold weather. We ended the evening with local takeout and Daniel Craig James Bond films.

On Sunday morning, I woke up unsure if we were going to be able to make it home. I had been in contact with family throughout the weekend and knew that snow was still falling. Andrew and I made the early call to extend our stay, hoping that the extra time would allow for some of the snow to melt and ensure that we would be able to make it home safely. So for Sunday, for Valentine’s Day, we spent the day in our hotel room, reading, watching movies, and enjoying some yummy food. It turned out to be an unexpected, but still romantic getaway.

When Monday rolled around, we had a relaxing morning before we finally headed out, finally able to safely make it home.