The Fab Four, Loggers Playday and more more more!

With so much going on this weekend we here at GoGo wanted to wrap up the upcoming events into a nice little package and stick a bow on top to make planning your weekend of fun stress free.

Even though we are back to school and there is a tiny chill in the air, it is in fact still summer and there are many summer festivals to be enjoyed this upcoming weekend.

Speaking of festivals, Pacific Beach is soaring things into high gear this weekend with the Up Your Wind Kite Festival.  Sponsored by Hi-Flyers kite shop, this kite festival is family friendly and full of fun.  Up Your Wind is happening both the 8th and the 9th at the Pacific Beach State Park. 

Cosmopolis is also hosting a festival that will once again be hosted at the Cosmopolis Elementary School.  The Cosi Festival in the Park has operated out of the school for the past three years due to park closure when the Mill Creek Dam broke.  However, the show must go on and so will the festival this year on Sunday the 9th!

Did we mention that it is Logger's Playday weekend?  Officially starting with the Rotary Clubs pancake feed and including the Elks Lodge grand parade, Loggers Playday offers something for every history buff in town.  The Loggers Playday loggers show is a must see, along with fireworks and booths that will have you working up a logger's sized appetite.  Hoquiam hosts Loggers Playday and the festivities begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday the 8th!

If Music is more your thing then you should definitely be in Westport this weekend for the Dock of the Bay Blues Festival.  Running from Friday to Sunday the Dock of the Bay Blues Festival is the beaches answer to Loggers Playday.  Live music and food and booths to make every music lover smile.  Head to Westport this weekend for Blues music and fun.


When you are looking for live entertainment, the D&R Theater never dissapoints.  This weekend the D&R is throwing a concert that you must simply see to believe.  The Fab Four tribute band that is so much more than a tribute band will be performing on Sunday the 9th.  These musicians attention to detail makes this show a can't miss performance.  Make sure the D&R Theater is on your list for this weekend.  A perfect way to finish off the weekend!

Not to mention Hoquiam's First Thursday on the 6th of this week, the Jack Reynvaan Memorial Run at the Hoquiam track on Saturday the 8th, the Brady Clean Water Oyster feed on Saturday the 8th, the Seabrook Saturday Market on Saturday the 8th, and the AAOS Arts and Crafts festival in Ocean Shores the 7th-9th.

It is a Kite flying, Park festival, Blues playing, Loggers Playday this weekend and you must simply get out and enjoy!

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!

The Saturday Shopper: Blind Dog Books in Seabrook

Owned by Patty Whitney, Established 11/11/11

21 Laurel Lane

Pacific Beach, WA in Seabrook

206-920-0559 

www.blinddogbookswa.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blind-Dog-Books/246984488699627

           

Hours: M,T,Th,Fr 12-5; Sat, Sun 10-5     

      

All About The Business: Located in the first floor of BlueSpa, we are an independent bookstore that focuses on a unique selection of best sellers, local area interests, mysteries, kids books/activities, kites and gifts.          

What Makes Your Business Unique: Every book is hand-selected by Blind Dog Books staff. Come on in and talk to us to find out more about our books recommendations.  Or schedule your next book club event at the store for your private event.                 

Advice for First Time Customers: Come on in and talk to us!  We love to share our love of reading and our passion for books!

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.

Say Hello to our Brighter Summer Businesses

We are so excited for what is to come this summer. We are working on creating what we think will be the BEST booth at the summer festivals this year! Trust me, you'll want to come out and find us... so here's where we'll be:

Aberdeen Art Walk on July 28th

Hoquiam First Thursday (next to Gray's General Store) on August 2nd

The Kelpers Day Parade in Pacific Beach
-Want to be in the parade with us? We'd like to take our Bicycle Revolution to Pacific Beach! Email us for details. gogograysharbor@gmail.com

Logger's Playday

The Pacific Beach Sand Sculpture Competition
-We have a big announcement about this one too. Check back soon!


So, we want to introduce you to our lovely summer sponsors. You'll be hearing more from them as we have some fun this summer. We encourage you to go pay a visit to their fantastic establishments and tell them thanks for sponsoring this project of ours!

Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill

It's Saturday morning and you had a little too much fun at the bar last night - why not go grab a Bloody Mary from Half Moon Bay and enjoy the view of the Westport Marina? They also have great food, friendly service and live entertainment!

Vacations By The Sea

After a day of yummy seafood and fresh ocean air, you'll probably want to stay at the beach forever! Well, at the very least you can make a weekend of it and rent a condo right on the beach. The good people at Vacations By The Sea will help you plan the trip of your dreams!

Gray's General Store

If you're having trouble trying to find that perfect beach tote bag, why not make it yourself?! Gray's General Store in downtown Hoquiam has all of the supplies you need, and the knowledgeable staff, to get your summer crafty projects going. They also carry a wide selection of cute and quirky gifts for everyone on your list - many of which are locally made. And grab a cup of hot coffee or tea and stay a while on those foggy days while you wait for the sun to break through.

Lunch

If you want the freshest food in town, head over to Lunch in Aberdeen. Their selection of sandwiches, salads, and soups are drool worthy (I know I'm addicted - I eat there at least once a week!) and they also serve up espresso drinks and a yummy lemonade. Order at the counter and have a seat in their warm and inviting dining area. You can also find their sandwiches available at a variety of coffee shops across Grays Harbor! And make sure you like their page on Facebook to see what specials Chef Erin is cooking up this week!

Bergey Voice Studio

I'm sure you've been getting a lot of time singing in the car while you're on your summer road trip and maybe you've wondered "if I had a little training, I could probably be famous." Well, we think you're right so why not grab a lesson or two from Kelsey at Bergey Voice Studio located in downtown Aberdeen? Pick your favorite song and Kelsey will help you perfect it so you can start playing all of those open mic nights you've been dreaming about.

Pacific Beach Inn

Looking to get out of town, but want to keep it low key and somewhat local? We suggest you head up to Pacific Beach Inn. This is as close to the beach as it gets with ocean views and close proximity to a beach that isn't overloaded with vehicles. You are walking distance to all that Pacific Beach has to offer and the Inn Keepers Jen and John are very friendly and take pride in their recently renovated and clean rooms. Our blog team is even looking forward to a "corporate retreat" out there this summer!

Pure Clothing

We Grays Harborites love our jeans and t-shirts and we love getting them at Pure Clothing in Downtown Hoquiam! This little shop is filled to the rafters with unique, high quality used clothing. It's the perfect place to find a new outfit for relaxing this summer and for you music fans, you could probably spend hours in here looking for your favorite band t-shirt!

Queen B Quilts

If you find you've collected a few too many t-shirts over time, why not turn them into a quilt?! Queen B Quilts is a Hoquiam business that will turn your t-shirt collection into a cozy quilt. They make great graduation or Christmas gifts (might as well get a jump start on the holidays, right?) and they will work with you to create a memorable quilt that you can take to all of your beach bonfires and summer picnics this year.

The Salty Dog

For all the love your dogs give you, don't you think they deserve a little spoiling every once in a while? If you're looking for the cutest treats and toys for your pup, head up to The Salty Dog in Seabrook. Their shop is full of great gifts for dogs and those who love them. And many of them are perfect for beach lovers too! I saw the cutest knit sweater with a crab on it last time I stopped in and a crab toy made of rope to go with it!

So there you have it folks! Go say hello and thanks these Brighter Summer Businesses for their support! And visit us at all our summer festivals this year!