Mardi Gras Night in Ocean Shores

When you hear of a Mardi Gras Night you know you are in for a treat and a fun-filled party.  Mardi Gras has a rich history that some say began in the US when the French explorers celebrated the holiday in New Orleans in 1699.  

If you do not own a time traveling machine, and cannot go back to this first Mardi Gras, there is an alternative. 

Saturday night, October 20 at 5:30, travel out to the Ocean Shores Convention Center to celebrate Mardi Gras Night.  Hosted by the Ocean Shores/North Beach Chamber of Commerce, Mardi Gras Night has all the trimmings of a celebration not to be missed. 

Tickets are on sale at the Chamber main office for $35, and all proceeds are going to help support the chamber and the work it does for our beach communities. 

Included in the evening festivities will be a live auction with local radio personality Luceman and weekend travel packages will also be available for bidding.

Enjoy delicious Creole and Cajun food including jalapeno corn bread, blackened salmon, and sweet potato souffle, while you dance with the Ocean Shores Pirates to Zydeco music from Charlie Baer's collection.  At the conclusion of the evening, the Business of the Year award will be bestowed on one of the monthly winners throughout the year.

A Weekend in Pacific Beach

One of the best parts about living in Grays Harbor, in my humble opinion, is our close proximity to beautiful natural wonders like the ocean, the rainforest and dive bar karaoke.

Earlier this month I took a little weekend trip up to Pacific Beach to enjoy some of these uniquely Northwest activities. It seems to me that Pacific Beach and the surrounding area has gone mostly undiscovered by Harborites and I'm not sure why... maybe you just really prefer your beaches to be covered in mopeds. For me, I like the solitude of the beach and the opportunity to relax on the sand and spend some time contemplating life. And while I was in PB I got in some quality relaxation time.

I stayed at the Pacific Beach Inn, one of our lovely sponsors. Their rooms are cute and beachy, with an ocean view and very spacious. Nice, cozy rooms should be high on your priority list when planning your beach vacation because you might end up spending a decent amount of time inside since the weather is sometimes rainy. I love a good rainy day at the beach because then I can sip my coffee and take in the views while staying nice and comfy inside. 

Luckily, the weather was pretty good while I was in Pacific Beach. From the Pacific Beach Inn, it is just a short walk to get onto the beach. I spent some time walking along the shoreline and building a sand castle before the marine fog rolled in for the evening.

The Pacific Beach Inn is also a great home base for the traveler looking to see some of those natural wonders I mentioned before. The beach is just steps away, but the forest is also incredibly close. Drive just a few minutes North or South and you'll find plenty of wooded areas to hike around. And after a long day of hiking, you'll probably need to let loose with some local karaoke and a drink. The Seagate is  close by and will provide you with a nice sobering walk back to the Inn after the night is done.

"BUT DO THEY SERVE ESPRESSO?" you're probably asking... yes! In fact, I counted four locations serving up the good stuff within three blocks of the Inn. You'll also find a few gift shops and restaurants very close by.

So, what are you waiting for? Make your reservations today! Or check it out while you're up in Pacific Beach for the End of Summer Sand Fest!