Go fly a kite

There are lots of things to do on the Washington and Oregon Coasts. My favorite activities are biking, crabbing, searching the beach for treasures, flying kites, and building sandcastles.

Recently, I had the opportunity to try crabbing for the first time. Walking the swells during low tide while trying not to fill your boots with water is not an easy task; hip waders would have been a smart idea. Netting crab on the Washington coast can be hit or miss. One weekend, you can net your limit in thirty minutes; the next, you only get females, which are illegal to keep. We did net a few flounders.

You can get 20,000 steps in one day crabbing and searching for treasures like unbroken sand dollars while enjoying the coastal experience.

Flying kites at the beach can be enjoyable, especially If you have one that can fly in high or low wind. Mastering tricks with a two-handed kite is also pretty entertaining. Having spare parts is a must for those of us who crash the kite before perfecting trick techniques.

Another new experience for us was seeing elk in various places on the Oregon Coast. While biking around a state park, elk crossed our paths or made us wait as they grazed on the trail. Elk crossed in front of us while driving to the beach, and the sight of a big elk knocking down apples with his antlers was entertaining.

The coastal weather was pleasant, with temperatures in the mid-60s to mid-70s, compared to the 90s and 100s at home.

When the tide is too high to crab, or the elk won't get off the path, go fly a kite!