#309 Historic Coast Guard Station

Stay 6 days before May 23 at just $75 per day!

Keeper — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:59:01 +0000

Vacation rentals offer amenities that motels often can't, such as wide open grassy areas and fire pits.

Can you spare six consecutive days in May for some fun at the beach? If so, we have a great special for you on the Long Beach Peninsula! You can stay at half price with no cleaning fee or other fees in either our upstairs unit, which sleeps six, or our downstairs unit, which sleeps four. Total would be $450 plus tax. We have dates available from now through May 23. Memorial Day weekend, however, is completely booked. Email us if you’d like to take advantage of this offer, or if you have questions.

No. 309 Historic Coast Guard Station is located on the grounds of the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station, just south of Ocean Park.

Coming up: Two great weeks to visit the Long Beach Peninsula!

Keeper — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:40:31 +0000

For those who enjoy the quietness of the Long Beach Peninsula Peninsula, the next two weeks are great times for visiting. There aren’t any major events planned that draw crowds of tourists, but many seasonal activities, such as the Ilwaco Saturday Market at the Port, have now begun. With a great forecast for an upcoming week of sunshine, why not plan an impromptu vacation?

If you can spare an entire week, we still have two weeks of seriously discounted “homeschool vacations” left at the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station. These are available for seniors, families with young children not yet in school, and of course, homeschool families! The first week runs from May 11-17, and the second from May 18-24. We have room for two families at a time. Email us if you’d like more information on the discount.

If you can get away only for a weekend, we’ll eliminate the cleaning fee for this coming weekend. Email us for availability information. If you’re interested in how to plan a cheap vacation to the Long Beach Peninsula, click here for an article on how to do just that!

How to plan a cheap beach vacation on the Washington coast

Keeper — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:50:26 +0000

Money’s tight for most families this year, but with some careful planning, it is possible to have the best ever vacation on a small budget–especially on the Long Beach Peninsula. Why the Peninsula, you ask? Because there are so many wonderful things to do that are absolutely free or low cost. There’s also an incredible variety of lodging options that can save you money, with careful planning. The good news this year is that because of the economy, many of the best options are still available, even if you’ve waited until today to plan.

Lodging savings: If you’re traveling with a family, don’t necessarily look for the cheapest hotel room available if you’re planning to stay for more than one night. That can cost you, in the long run. Try to find a vacation rental that makes even cooking fun. (Yes–we know you may not have anticipated doing that on this perfect vacation!) Some rentals, for not much more cost than hotel rooms–have new full-sized kitchens, decorated in a nautical theme. Some have outdoor grills, and some have fire pits and picnic tables. Some provide crock pots, so you can come in to a hot meal after sightseeing all day. Click here to read the rest of ‘Savings!’

Unexpected bad weather can also bust a family’s budget when they try to compensate by finding indoor entertainment options. Don’t let that happen to you! When selecting a vacation rental, find one with plenty of free movies, books, games and puzzles. You may also want to choose one with plenty of space and outdoor games such as croquet, horseshoes, etc. Some vacation rentals provide everything you need, from binoculars for bird watching to rain boots and jackets for unexpected weather situations.

One way to save on the actual cost of the vacation rental is to look for those with special discounts, sometimes even stackable. Find one that fits your situation. Often, if you can find another family to come along with you, the second rental is greatly discounted. And don’t forget that you can often stay an entire week for just a little more than staying a weekend. If you find a place you’d really like to stay, but don’t find the discount you want, don’t be afraid to ask. Many owners are willing to negotiate when it comes to longer stays.

Food savings: The best way is to bring your own food, of course. The Long Beach Peninsula has three grocery stores, two of which you can access online and check ahead of time for their weekly specials: Jack’s Country Store and Okie’s Thriftway, both in Ocean Park. It’s difficult to find a cheap way to feed a family when relying on local restaurants, but there is a new site that attempts to help. Check out PeninsulaReview.com. On Monday and Thursday nights, a local organization, His Supper Table, provides free hot meals. For those who can afford to pay, there’s a donation jar. If you’re celebrating a special occasion and want to dine at one of the Long Beach Peninsula’s better restaurants, you’ll be happy to know that gift certificates to The Depot Restaurant can be purchased for a fraction of their value on Restaurant.com. The Depot is one of the highest rated restaurants among locals and guests alike.

Entertainment savings: So many things here are free! You can hike to the North Head or Cape Disappointment lighthouses, go bird watching at Leadbetter Point, visit the Cranberry Museum and fields, tour historic Oysterville, browse Ilwaco’s Saturday market, go beachcombing, check out the bunkers at Fort Columbia, stroll the Long Beach boardwalk, visit the Nahcotta Interpretive Center, attend the twice-monthly free Waikiki Beach Concert Series, and visit Jake the Alligator Man at Marsh’s Free Museum.

You can also plan your visit around free weekly events, such as Wednesday’s free movie at the theater, Thursday’s free entrance day at Ilwaco’s Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum and the weekend’s horse and buggy rides and other entertainment in Long Beach. Monthly free events include the Ilwaco Art Walk (3rd Saturdays). Yearly festivals are also usually free. An upcoming one next week is Sandsations, which provides lots of family entertainment at little to no cost.

Shopping savings: If you can’t afford to buy expensive souvenirs, try collecting sand dollars, shells or driftwood to make ornaments or other crafts. There’s also a large thrift store on the Peninsula, His Supper Table, that often gets donations of new merchandise, some of which would make nice souvenirs.

It is possible to have a great vacation without spending that much more than you would have spent at home. It just requires planning around free events and selecting the perfect lodging arrangement for your family.

It’s a great weekend coming up! Here’s a last-minute special!

Keeper — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:25:34 +0000

This is the last weekend for the exhibit, "Shipwrecks of Washington's Coast." Crews from the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station were involved in numerous rescues in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

We’ve seen more sun than clouds so far today, and it’s only supposed to get better as we head toward Sunday. We have one unit still available for the weekend, so email us if you’re interested in an impromptu beach vacation! Stay at least two nights, and pay no cleaning fee this weekend (April 2-29). Our downstairs unit, which sleeps four and has a wood-burning fireplace, is available.

What’s going on this weekend? Kids will love the annual fishing derby in Ilwaco! It’s also the last weekend to see the special exhibit “Shipwrecks of Washington’s Coast” at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, also in Ilwaco. You can also head over the bridge to Astoria’s annual Seafood and Wine Festival–a major event that many Long Beach Peninsula artists and merchants participate in.

Have questions? Email us for information!

Five discount senior weeks or homeschool vacations left

Keeper — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:10:33 +0000

We only have 5 weeks left for half-price senior weeks & homeschool vacations: Apr 27-May 3; May 4-10; May 11-17; May 18-24; & June 1-7. Military families are also eligible for these weeks. The weeks, which run from 4pm on Fridays until noon on Thursdays, are available at $450 per unit plus tax. Our upstairs unit sleeps six, and the downstairs four. When renting both units for a week, the priced of the second unit is reduced. Email us if you’re interested in one of these weeks.

Weekends are also available during those dates, at $150 per night plus tax and a $75 cleaning fee (eliminated with stays of three days or more).

New “family album” section for our guests!

Keeper — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:05:47 +0000

This past weekend, the Burggraaf family enjoyed horseback riding on the beach.

We love when guests to #309 Historic Coast Guard Station share their vacation photos with us, and we’ve now made it possible for them to share with everyone! Check out our new “Guest Albums” page. If you’re a previous guest to the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station, and would like us to create an album for you, just email your photos of the Long Beach Peninsula or surrounding areas.

Titanic anniversary specials on the Long Beach Peninsula

Keeper — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:10:51 +0000

The Klipsan Beach Life Station furnishes its vacation rentals with books, movies & games about the Titanic & other shipwrecks.

This weekend marks the 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Titanic. Visitors to the Long Beach Peninsula have the opportunity to learn more about the ship and its maiden voyage that ended in disaster, while taking advantage of some lodging and dining specials.

The vacation rentals at #309 Historic Coast Guard Station are supplied with an array of books and movies about the Titanic, as well as a Titanic board game that’s become the favorite of a frequent young guest. This weekend, guests can also take advantage of one of three discounts: stay two nights and pay no cleaning fee; stay two nights and get a third night free, or stay the entire week (six nights) at half price ($450 plus tax). The latter is a great option for homeschool families looking for educational vacations. The upstairs unit sleeps six, and the downstairs sleeps four. The rentals, located on the grounds of the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station in Ocean Park, are filled with numerous books and movies about shipwrecks and rescues. Email us if you’d like more information.

The Shelburne Restaurant is also featuring a special tea and dinner on April 15, in commemoration of the tragic sinking. Click here for menu and reservation information.

Easter weekend on the Long Beach Peninsula

Keeper — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:44:47 +0000

Our vacation rentals are full for this weekend, but it’s a great time to visit the Long Beach Peninsula. If you’re still looking for a place to stay, call the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau for lodging vacancies at 1-800-451-2542. For a listing of Easter events, from Ocean Park to Ilwaco, as well as razor clam digging information, visit Peninsula Review. You’ll also find reviews and daily specials for local restaurants. Whatever your plans, we hope you have a great Easter!

Oregon Spring Break Special: Stay 4, get 2 free! Mar 23-31

Keeper — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:20:35 +0000

Spring Break for students in Oregon and Idaho is almost here. The Long Beach Peninsula is a great place to spend that week! Consider stretching your resources by staying in a vacation rental where you have full kitchens, fire pits and more. No. 309 Historic Coast Guard Station’s Oregon & Idaho spring break special is: stay four nights, and get two additional ones free. No cleaning fee, either! This special is valid March 23-31. A bonus is that March 24 & 25 are razor clam dig dates! There are two units available. One sleeps six, the other sleeps four. Rates are $150 per night for the first unit; if you’re renting both, the second unit is only $100 per night.

The vacation rentals are located on the historic grounds of the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station, just south of Ocean Park. Former guests of Sunset View Resort, now closed, may want to consider this new option, located at the Klipsan Beach approach. Email us with questions.

Wondering where to eat on the Long Beach Peninsula?

Keeper — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:57:58 +0000

Click here for Long Beach Peninsula restaurant specials, discounts and reviews.

While the Long Beach Peninsula has many wonderful restaurants, not every one is the perfect fit for every family. How can you know which one fits your budget and family’s tastes? Check out Peninsula Review, a site where locals and visitors share their experiences at different restaurants. There are pages for each restaurant, with links to websites, facebook pages, twitter accounts and internet restaurant review sites. Wondering what the specials are for a particular day? You can visit Peninsula Review’s Facebook page where daily specials are posted by various restaurants. If you “like” the page, you’ll receive Facebook updates with daily specials and discount offers.

If your family prefers saving money by preparing their own food, check out what’s available in our vacation rental kitchens here.

Email us for available dates.