Long Beach

* Two Days on the Discovery Trail * The Discovery Trail * Two World Class Museums * A Bike-Friendly Place to Stay *

* Introduction * Wheels in the Garden * Wheels Outside the Garden * Garden Trails *

Long Beach is, well--long. It is 28 miles of uninterrupted sand beach,

hard-packed and smooth enough to drive a car on, or ride a trike on,

or walk on,

or ride a horse on,

or, of course, fly a kite on.

Readying the kite

Hovering patiently, waiting to fly

Picnic shelters on the beach give a clue why the International Kite Festival is held on Long Beach.

Everything suddenly changes on the Coast at Cape Disappointment, at the southern end of this arm of land. Sea conditions change here as you approach one of the most dangerous parts of the Graveyard of thePacific, where the Columbia River current meets the opposing ocean swell and prevailing winds. The bar out from Ilwaco has been the final resting place for more than 2000 shipwrecks.