Surfside Park

Right on the edge of Ocean Park, this spot puts you about as close to the Washington coast as you can get without getting sand in your shoes. It’s the kind of place locals end up at after a beach walk when the kids need a break from the waves. The setting does a lot of the heavy lifting — that salty air and the sound of the Pacific nearby make even a simple afternoon feel like a proper outing. Worth a stop if you’re already cruising the Long Beach Peninsula.