Go fly a kite, be humbled by the enormous power of a winter storm, build the world’s best sand castle, feel tiny on a vast beach, savor an ocean view right from your room.

With six miles of flat, wide and sandy ocean beach and 23 miles of interconnecting freshwater lakes and canals, Ocean Shores is a captivating place of sand and surf.  Started as a planned community in 1960 on a gorgeous peninsula that forms the north entrance to Gray’s Harbor, Ocean Shores now covers 6,000 acres and ranks as one of Washington’s favorite getaway, vacation and convention destinations.

There’s so much elbow and shorebird room here that Ocean Shores is seldom crowded. It just beckons with wide-open stretches of beach – a perfect place to build sand castles, dig for clams, take romantic strolls and go fly a kite. The prevailing fresh ocean breezes and gently sloping sand make this one of the most superb places for kites and the child in us all to take flight.

Every year the town has some big events planned. The Flag Day Parade features more than 50 parade entries.

The town’s annual Five Star Dealerships Sand and Sawdust Festival draws teams from all over the country to compete for more than $5,000 in cash prizes. Competitors engineer elaborate sculptures from sand, and there are even lessons for those unskilled in the ways of silica. The three-day event is held in conjunction with a gathering of Master Chainsaw Carvers from Europe, Japan, Australia and throughout the United States who come together to buzz-saw massive art from tree trunks at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Each evening, their creations are available for purchase.

Ocean Shores calls itself the “Razor Clam Capital of the World,” and the annual Razor Clam Festival in March, celebrates with a chowder contest, live music, activities for kids and, of course, a razor clam dig. (Pending final approval from WDFW) The first festival in 2007 was so successful that local restaurants ran out of chowder. Don’t worry; they’re ready this year!

The beach is easily reached by five access roads, and the lakes and canals are open to the public for canoeing and boating. The area around the Ocean Shores Marina is popular for surfing and kite surfing, and surfboards. Horsing around on the beach is also a popular pursuit, and local stables have horses to keep everybody tall in the saddle, beginners to experts.

The pancake flat sand and ebb and flow of the surf and tides call out for walking and beachcombing. North Jetty and Damon Point, right out on the tip of the peninsula with views of the shipping channel and Westport, are great places to wander and watch. This region is one of the premier bird watching sites in the Northwest. Damon Point State Park is a nature preserve and home to thousands of shorebirds and some rare and diverse feathered friends. Visit Protection Island for a chance to see the snowy plover, peregrine falcons and brown pelicans.

The Ocean Shores Interpretive Center is a great place to learn about area wildlife with educational, hands-on activities and video presentations. It’s open daily April through September, and weekends year round, and admission is free.

Remember that this coastal area of the Pacific Ocean is not safe for swimming because of its cold water, dangerous riptides, unpredictable currents and rogue waves. If you are going to wade into the water be sure not to go above your knees and children should only be allowed to go ankle deep and should always be closely supervised.

Put your boat in at North Bay Park and Chinook Park, or rent a boat. Deep-sea, surf and freshwater fishing are all close by, and Damon Point near the marina is a popular place to go crabbing. Flat roads, smooth beaches and stunning scenery beckon to bicyclists and the area has miles and miles of terrain to explore. Hikers can enjoy an invigorating walk in the woods on the Weatherwax trail.

The 6,152-yard championship Ocean Shores Golf Course offers a Scottish-links style front nine and a wooded back nine, challenging and fun for any golfer. The front nine is just 1000 feet from the Pacific Ocean, serenading golfers with pounding surf and brisk breezes. There’s also a driving range, pro shop and snack bar.

The town is home to some exceptional antique and collectible shops and art galleries showcasing local artists. There’s an antiques and collectibles show in February, a Photo and Fine Arts Show in April and an Arts and Crafts Festival in September.

From hot dogs to haute cuisine, Ocean Shores offers a delicious assortment of places to refuel. The Jazz at the Beach Festival gets in the groove in November, attracting bands from around the U.S. and Canada. The Quinault Beach Resort and Casino, two miles north of Ocean Shores, is a place to test your skill and try your luck.

There are plenty of activities to keep families happy, from playing mini golf to racing go karts, visiting a video arcade, bowling a game or two, riding bikes and digging in the sand. With accommodations to fit every budget, it’s affordable to stay and play. As Ocean Shores says, “More than ever, Ocean Shores!.”

Visit www.tourismoceanshores.com for more information.