Thanks for the Summer!

Am I the only one who blinked, looked at the calendar, and realized it was October? I mean. Yesterday. The air in my neighborhood is flooded with the smell of wood burning stoves and I can no longer take the dog out in the morning without a coat. There are less kites flying on the beach and there are whispers of clam digs to come. Autumn is getting into the swing of things and I'm getting excited for family dinners, new yarn for cozy crochet projects and planning a family of Halloween costumes. Summer was been really busy and really gratifying, but I'm excited to watch the seasons change into something new.

In the beginning of the summer, here at Go Go Grays Harbor we sent out an open calling to small, local businesses in Grays Harbor County for our Brighter Summer Business opportunity. We had big goals to immerse ourselves in as many festivals and events as possible, bring along our Green Screen, hand out sunglasses and have a lot of fun. We were met with tremendous support and these few adventurous companies gave us the opportunity to prove what we already knew was true: Grays Harbor County has so much to offer, you only need to get out and explore it.

These businesses also sponsored our first event: End of Summer Sand Fest! We had a blast hosting and we're pretty sure everyone that came out enjoyed the sun with us! We're excited for next year and can't wait to grow this event into something even more fun.

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!

Cleaning Up Our Act

When my husband and I took over as innkeepers at the Pacific Beach Inn, one of our biggest goals was to build up a business we could be proud to offer. It wasn't long before we realized how wasteful the hotel industry can really feel. Between single-use toiletries and plastic-wrapped cups, those tiny trash cans fill up pretty fast. We want the Pacific Beach Inn to feel different. We are making small choices to make big differences in the future of our environment. We know people don't just come out here to visit us. Mocrocks beach is beautiful and the forests and waterways leading up to the coast are world renown. It just makes good business sense to be stewards here.

Linus loves clean rooms.

The changes start in the rooms. Disposable dishware is convenient but it was one of the largest sources of our room waste. With each room hosting 3 to 6 people for 3 meals a day, plastic place settings add up fast. Real dishes do need to get washed, but offering our guests the opportunity to enjoy their morning overlooking the ocean, drinking coffee from a ceramic mug is completely worth it.

Some things just can not be reused. Like soap. We have upgraded our soap to a certified organic product in a recycled paper packaging. Many of our repeat customers have already noticed the difference. We all spent a lot of time washing our hands leading up to our final choice, but it's nice to provide a soap I enjoy using myself!

Most of the biggest changes we have made here happen after check-out time. We now clean practically everything with microfiber cloths. That means no more need for paper towels for windows and microfiber holds up well in the wash.

Nola loves a clean beach.

 My most favorite change is definitely the change in our cleaning supplies. After test driving many spray bottles, we have made the switch to all botanically based, biodegradable cleaning supplies. Our new disinfectant is formulated with thyme oil and leaves the rooms smelling clean and fresh. I'm a stickler for cleaning our rooms, and was heart broken when a few of our guests complained about a lingering bleach smell. Never again! We are now able to ensure our rooms are spotless without leaving behind nasty chemicals for our guests and their pets.

Hank loves a clean beach, too!

We have been thrilled with the opportunity to put our own mark on beach living and are already hearing a lot of really great feedback about the changes we have made. We're not done yet, and cannot wait to roll up our sleeves for the next list of "To Do's" for later this year. If you're near the ocean, stop in for a tour! We love sharing our changes with anyone who will listen and giving dog treats for our furry guests!

Pacific Beach Inn
360-276-4433
located in Pacific Beach, Washington at
12 First Street South, just steps off Main Street and minutes to Mocrocks beach and Pacific Beach State Park.