Old Fashioned Valentine's Weekend Ilwaco Sweetheart Market, romantic flicks at the Neptune Theatres, and more. Make your room reservations early. Huge winter swells, craggy cliff faces, and high tides combine in exuberant exhibitions of the ocean's might. Depending on population counts, the gastronomically treasured razor clams can often be dug into February. These quieter months are a time when shopkeepers have more time to chat, reservations may not be required at a favorite restaurant, and the best rooms just might be available at a favorite inn or bed and breakfast.
Winter is also a romantic time on the coast.
Couples take long veritably private walks on the boardwalk or the seemingly endless stretch of beach. Short days give way to long nights perfect for curling up with a good book or a leisurely candlelit dinner of hearty seafood stew, crusty bread, and fine wine, followed by warming fruit crisp and, perhaps, an equally warming nightcap. For those who know Long Beach in the summer, winter will be familiar, friendly and a fairly different yet refreshing experience. Pack up the waterproof clothing, a camera and a good novel and spend a few days or, with the benefit of off-season rates, several days longer. The entire town was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.