Coastal Comforts: A WorldMark Adventure in Long Beach, WA

Thursday kicked off with a mission: After 2 ½ hours of travel we stopped at Mo’s in Astoria. We went there for their legendary clam chowder base. It’s the essential ingredient for weekend culinary adventures! We secured our treasure.

We zipped across the iconic Astoria-Megler Bridge. We left the bustling port behind. We headed for the tranquil stretch of the peninsula. Our destination: the expansive shores of Long Beach, WA, and our cozy haven at Worldmark.

We rolled in around 7 PM. It was a perfect evening. The temperature was 60 degrees and the entire scene was bathed in golden sunlight. There wasn’t a whisper of wind.

Our accessible ground-floor unit was ready and waiting. It promised a relaxing three-day escape. Even though the protective dune meant we’d trade direct ocean views, we had easy access and comfortable digs.

Friday Fun on Wheels! Leesa kicked off our day. She rented a sweet ride from Beachin’ Bike Rentals. It was just a stone’s throw from the resort.

We quickly headed to the beach access lot right beside us and hopped onto the Discovery Trail, heading south. This trail was a dream – perfectly paved with gentle, rolling hills that meandered through the stunning coastal grassland.

I was cruising in my Rio Mobility Firefly. We kept a comfortable pace between 6 and 9 mph. This was the first time we ever went on a stroll together at this speed. Every other time Leesa was on foot. It was really cool trying to keep up with her. The Firefly has a top speed of 12 mph. I’ve only ever gone that fast on a straight, flat surface. It’s a little too fast for a wheelchair!

We soaked in the views. Our adventure took us to the next beach access point. Still, a quick look at that path told us it was too ambitious for our leisurely pace. We smartly turned back towards the resort. Seriously, the weather was absolutely perfect: a glorious 65 degrees, sunny skies, and not a breath of wind. All in all, our morning spin was about 4 miles of pure enjoyment.

Saturday dawned with the familiar ache of yesterday’s adventures. Despite the soreness, Leesa, our fearless donut-runner, pedaled into town to procure those essential sugary circles. Fueled by our sweet haul, we hit the bike path. This time we took the route north.

The sky was a canvas of overcast grey. A brisk, insistent wind bit at our cheeks. The wind made the ride exhilaratingly cold. We pushed on to the path’s end before circling back to the resort through the charming streets of town. With a bittersweet farewell, we returned the bike to its temporary home.

We took a quick drive to Warrenton for a gas station pit stop. This paved the way for our culinary quest. We planned to have succulent pink shrimp and tender scallops from Bell Buoy in Seaside for dinner later. A stop at the Loose Kaboose gave us perfectly crispy fish and chips. We shared these back at the resort for a satisfyingly casual lunch.

And then came Sunday. The weekend’s villain, a cold, rainy curmudgeon, arrived and promptly squashed any lingering thoughts of a coastal cruise. We made a swift, strategic retreat homeward. The weather tried its best to dampen our spirits. Yet, it was a genuinely fantastic getaway. It was a place that always feels like coming home.