Razor Clamming on President Day Weekend at Long Beach

Description
Presidents’ Day weekend at Long Beach feels like stepping into a moment that the Pacific has been saving just for you. Before the sun is even up, the whole coast is washed in that dreamy pre-dawn blue—soft, quiet, and full of promise. The air is cool enough to wake you gently, not bite you, carrying that clean, salty scent of tidal flats opening up for the day.
As you walk onto the vast, flat stretch of sand—Long Beach always looks a little endless—you’ll see it: headlamps bobbing like floating fireflies across the shoreline, families and seasoned diggers already tracing the receding tide. The ocean is whispering instead of roaring; the waves feel calmer during these winter minus tides, leaving the sand glossy and smooth like polished stone.
Then the magic moment:
You spot a subtle “show”—that little dimple or donut in the sand—and adrenaline sparks. One quick plunge of the clam gun, a twist, a pull, and from the cold packed sand emerges a gleaming razor clam, its shell catching the light like brushed bronze. It’s strangely thrilling every single time—half treasure hunt, half coastal ritual.
The deeper the tide goes out, the more the whole beach transforms. The sky brightens into soft pink, then gold, and the entire landscape becomes a watercolor of ocean mist, wide-open beach, and silhouettes of people laughing over their buckets. You feel part of a shared winter tradition—quiet, simple, comforting, yet full of little bursts of triumph with every successful dig.
When the tide turns, you head back to town with your bucket clinking, fingers chilled but spirit warm. Maybe you grab chowder at a local cafe, steam rising from your bowl while you watch the surf beyond the windows. Or you head back to your rental to clean the clams and plan a crispy pan-fry feast that tastes impossibly fresh because you earned it yourself.
By afternoon, the coast shifts again—stormy clouds breaking open to reveal sudden beams of sunlight on the water, or sea fog rolling in like a silvery curtain. Long Beach in February always feels alive, unpredictable, cinematic.
There’s no holiday weekend quite like this one: crisp winter air, dramatic coastal beauty, and the simple, satisfying joy of pulling your own dinner straight from the sand. It’s peaceful, energizing, and just wild enough that you feel like you’ve escaped the rest of the world for a while.

Airbnb spots and costs
We have 1 airbnb split between 6 people. It'll be $150 each person for a spot. Everyone is responsible for figuring out their own bedding arrangements. If you want to guarantee not sharing a bed then you'll need to bring your own sleeping bag. The spots will be first come/pay first serve. Deadline for full refund is Jan 21st. After that only $100 is refunded if you can find a last minute replacement from the waitlist and no refund if there is no replacement. This is necessary because last minute drops impacts lots of people on the trip. Clam closure is not a valid reason for a refund

No cancellations for clam closure
There is a chance of razor clam closure. There is NO REFUND for that. Instead we will find alternative things to do near our airbnb.

Payment methods:
Make sure payment is for friends/family

• Zelle
• Paypal
• Venmo
• CashApp

Gas and Food Costs and Sharing
Gas costs is negotiated within each car group ahead of the drive. Everyone should bring food and split costs for additional food bought. I encourage people to share part of each of our shellfish harvest as part of our communal experience.

Equipment to bring

1. Headlamp
2. License
3. Gloves for warmth before and after harvesting
4. Water
5. Change of Clothes
6. Cooking ingredients
7. Buckets/containers
8. Food to share
9. Razor clam gun or shovels
10. Things you want to bring to airbnb

Itinerary

1. Friday Night: Drive to Airbnb
2. Saturday Morning: Leadbetter point state park
3. Saturday Morning: Oysterville and Oysterville Church Museum
4. Saturday Afternoon: Fort Canby
5. Saturday Afternoon: Deadman cove
6. Saturday 4-6pm: Razor Clam Harvest
7. Saturday Evening: Eat Razor Clams
8. Sunday Morning: Cranberry Museum
9. Sunday Noon: World Kite Museum
10. Sunday Afternoon: Marsh Free Museum
11. Sunday 4-6pm: Razor Clam Harvest
12. Sunday Evening: Eat Razor Clams
13. Monday morning: Go home

License
You will need to buy an annual shellfish license or a temporary combination license.

Regulations

1. Razor Clams

Signup Form
This form is required

Communication
We will communicate through whatsapp. I will only provide the link to people who have paid to confirm a spot.

Carpool and Location
We will arrange carpools and airbnb in the whatsapp chat. You are responsible for figuring out your own carpools and airbnb arrangements. Unsatisfactory arrangements is not an excuse for a last minute drop. I will post airbnb address the week before we go.