Best Things to Do in Ocean Shores, WA With Kids
Ocean Shores's best family activities are open beach walking and beachcombing (this is a cool, often overcast Pacific coast, not a warm swim beach), a rainy-day go-kart and mini golf fun center, the small free Coastal Interpretive Center, and a full-day trip inland to the Quinault rainforest. Damon Point, historically a top birding and hiking spot here, is currently closed to public access due to erosion; check current status before planning around it.
Want a resort shortlist for your Ocean Shores trip too?
60-second match. Free. No email required to see picks.
1Area photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Ocean Shores Beach & Beachcombing
Miles of flat, open beach with legal sand driving on the main approach roads, and genuinely good beachcombing for agates, sand dollars, and driftwood. It's free entertainment that fills as much time as your family wants to give it.
Watch out: Be honest with yourself about the weather here: this Pacific coast is cool and often overcast or foggy even in summer, and this is not a warm swim beach. The water is cold year-round with real riptide risk, so plan on wading, not swimming, and bring layers regardless of the season.
2Area photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Damon Point Birding & Hiking (check current access)
Historically the area's best spot for birding (a snowy plover nesting site) and quiet hiking on a natural sand spit, with good tide pooling and views of Mount Rainier and the Olympics on clear days.
Watch out: Damon Point has been closed to public access since early 2025 due to severe erosion and safety concerns, and it remains closed at time of writing. Check the current status with the City of Ocean Shores before planning a visit; if it's still closed, the main Ocean Shores beach and jetty area are the practical alternative for birding and beachcombing.
3Area photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Ocean Shores Go-Kart & Mini Golf Fun Center
The reliable rainy-day backup in a town where the weather is genuinely unpredictable. Go-karts, mini golf, and bumper boats give kids something active when the beach is too cold or too foggy to enjoy.
Watch out: Go-kart height and age minimums (typically a driver height requirement, with younger kids riding as a passenger only) lock out the youngest kids. Prices add up fast across multiple activities. Off-peak hours can be shorter than the marketing suggests, so check before you go.
4Area photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Lake Quinault & Quinault Rainforest Day Trip
Real temperate rainforest scenery, moss-draped big-leaf maples and some of the largest spruce trees in the world, with easy, short loop trails near Lake Quinault Lodge suitable for families. A genuine change of scenery from the beach.
Watch out: This takes most of a day once you add the drive. Trails can be muddy and buggy in wetter months, which is most of the year on this coast. Cell service is spotty along the way, so download directions ahead of time.
5Area photo: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Coastal Interpretive Center
A small, free/donation-based museum covering local Native history, shipwrecks, and marine life, with a hands-on touch table for younger kids. A solid indoor option for the region's very likely rainy or foggy afternoon.
Watch out: It's genuinely small; this is a short stop, not a half-day plan. Hours are limited, so check before driving over. The gift shop is the main extra cost.
Frequently asked
Is the water in Ocean Shores warm enough to swim in?
No. It's cold year-round with real riptide risk, so plan on wading rather than swimming, no matter the season.
What's the weather really like in Ocean Shores?
Cool and often overcast or foggy, even in summer. Bring layers regardless of the forecast; sun is a bonus here, not the norm.
Is Damon Point open right now?
It has been closed to public access since early 2025 due to severe erosion and safety issues, and it's still closed. Check the City of Ocean Shores site for the current status before planning around it.
What are the best rainy-day backup activities?
The go-kart and mini golf fun center and the Coastal Interpretive Center are both reliable indoor or covered options when the beach weather doesn't cooperate.
Is the Quinault rainforest day trip worth the drive?
Yes, but plan on it taking most of a day once you add the roughly 1-1.25 hour drive each way plus trail time.
Same destination, where to stay
Booking these activities? Pick the right resort first.
Activity days work best when your resort is the right launch pad. Our Ocean Shores family-resort guide ranks the whole-family-experience winners.
Best Family Resorts in Ocean Shores →Things to do in similar destinations
Same family-activity angle, different destination.
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Cancun
Xel-Há All-Inclusive Eco Park · Xcaret Park (Plus Pass) · Chichen Itza + Cenote + Valladolid Day-Trip
Things to do in Cancun →
FL, United States
Orlando
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Day · Gatorland — Florida's Original Attraction · Discovery Cove (Reserved-Day, All-Inclusive)
Things to do in Orlando →
Plan a full Ocean Shores family trip
Tell the Advisor your kids' ages, your budget, and your travel window. We'll match a resort, an activity stack, and the booking-window math that beats peak pricing.