Are you trying to decide which Washington beach to visit with your kids?
Ocean Shores is a small town on the Pacific coast that’s kid-friendly, easy to reach, and makes for a perfect 2-3 day getaway for families.
I recently visited Ocean Shores with my three kids and my parents. My kids loved playing on the beach and as a parent, I appreciated how easy it was to spend a couple of days here.
Let’s take a look at:
- If Ocean Shores is a good choice for your family
- When you should visit
- What to do in Ocean Shores with kids
- Where to stay and where to eat
- What to pack for a family trip to Ocean Shores
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Ocean Shores with Kids – Yay or Nay?
Reasons to visit Ocean Shores with your family:
- Ocean Shores has a huge, sandy beach with driftwood, crabs, and shallow water.
- There are plenty of kid-friendly places in town – mini golf, go-karts, kite shops, bike rental shops, etc.
- Many restaurants close early, which means you need to eat early (and it’s easier to wrap the day up early and get everyone into bed).
- There’s a good selection of restaurants in town.
Reasons you should skip Ocean Shores:
- Ocean Shores allows cars on the beach.
- There aren’t any sidewalks along the main road.
- You’re looking for luxury or chic accommodations.
- You want to have a pedestrian center to walk around. Ocean Shores is very spread out, so it requires a lot of walking to get to different shops/restaurants, or you need to drive.
When to Visit Ocean Shores with Kids
The best time to visit Ocean Shores is in the summer, when the temperatures rise and playing/swimming in the chilly water is bearable! Still, even in the summer, temperatures can be chilly. We visited in early August and days were cloudy with highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s.
Summer months are also the most lively in the town – and restaurants, shops, and activities will be open.
Helpful Tip: No matter what time of year you visit, make sure you pack warm clothes for the possibility of chilly, windy weather at the beach!
What to Do in Ocean Shores with Kids
Go to the Beach – My boys loved the enormous, sandy beach in Ocean Shores. There’s plenty of space to play, run around, and dig in the sand. They found driftwood, crabs, and sand dollars and splashed in the shallow, chilly water.
Play Mini Golf – Pacific Paradise complex has mini golf, bumper boats, gemstone sluicing, and an arcade. My boys chose mini golf (18 holes, but you can also choose 36) and we had a blast. It took 1.5 hours for 6 of us to complete the round. There are combo packages if you want to do more than one activity.
Walk Into the Shark’s Mouth – One of the souvenir shops has a shark’s mouth surrounding the door. It’s a great photo op and fun for kids of all ages!
Eat Saltwater Taffy – Saltwater taffy reminds me so much of my childhood, so I was excited for my boys to try some. We bought ours at Murphy’s Candy & Ice Cream (large selection) and enjoyed it at Ocean Shores and back home.
Fly a Kite – The sky is full of kites in Ocean Shores, and if you didn’t bring one with you, you can pick one up at the kite shop in town (Ocean Shores Kites). It has kites for all ability levels.
Ride the Go-Karts (Playtime Family Fun) – My boys were excited to ride the go-karts in town (and had almost as much fun just watching them). Heads up that there are height restrictions – check the website before you go so you’re not setting your kids up for disappointment.
Visit a Playground – Yes, the beach is probably enough playground for your kids, but if you’re missing swings and see-saws, head to one of the area’s playgrounds. We liked the Ken Peterson playground the best, but there’s also the Oyhut Bay playground (just to the north of Ocean Shores) and the Lion’s Club playground in the town center.
Walk a Trail – Trade your flip-flops for sneakers and go for a walk on the Weatherwax Trail or the Damon Point Trail.
Helpful Tip: Think twice about letting your kids walk on the large stone jetty at the southern part of town. ‘Sneaker waves’ have swept people off the jetty into the sea.
Where to Stay in Ocean Shores with Kids
If possible, book a hotel along the water so it’s easy to walk to beach – just walk out of your hotel and down the sandy path.
Grey Gull – We stayed in a 1-bedroom apartment with sofa bed (sleeps 6). Other amenities at the Grey Gull include kitchens, swimming pool and hot tub, grassy area for kids to play, and BBQ area. You can walk down a sandy path to the beach in 7 minutes (not stroller friendly). The beach in front of the Grey Gull doesn’t have cars on it, but you can see the cars down the beach on either side. Grey Gull – more info and rates.
Where to Eat in Ocean Shores with Your Family
You’ve got plenty of options in town, whether you’re craving seafood or less-beachy fare.
Pizza Factory – Easy pizza option with kids, and you can also get take-out and eat it at your hotel (that’s what we did one evening). Gluten-free options as well.
Thian’s Thai Fusion – Another good take-out or eat-in option, if you’re craving Thai.
Aft Galley Hot Dogs – Take-out stand for hot dogs, burgers, and fries.
Taqueria Los Tres Figgies – Quick Mexican (take-out or eat-in), indoor and outdoor seating (but the outdoor seating is close to the road so I’d avoid with small kids).
Peppermint Parlor – The spot for ice cream in town, next door to the go-karts.
Family Packing List for Ocean Shores
Don’t forget to bring:
- Beach toys, including buckets and shovels
- Jackets or fleeces (even in the summer)
- Sneakers (if you plan on walking around town)
- Swimsuits
- Cards, board games, or movies for early evenings
- Bottled water (if you’re picky about water taste… I didn’t like the taste of the water here)
- Sunscreen
- Towels and sheets for the beach
- A ball (for the beach or the grassy area at your hotel)
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