The West's best affordable beach retreats

By Staff

updated 1:58 p.m. ET Aug. 31, 2006

1. Olympic National Park, WA
KALALOCH LODGE

Picture a cluster of weathered gray cabins perched on a grassy bluff above a wind- and rain-swept beach, and you've got the drift of Kalaloch Lodge. A step above basic, the cabins have knotty-pine paneling, wood stoves, compact kitchens, and, most important, big picture windows opening onto views of the Pacific. Steps lead down to the beach, strewn with huge piles of driftwood and massive tree trunks. Nab a window table in the lodge dining room for the excellent cedar-plank wild king salmon. 44 cabins from $169; http://www.visitkalaloch.com/ or 866/525-2562. –Kim Brown Seely

2. Ocean Park, WA
BLACKWOOD BEACH COTTAGES

These barn-red, white-trimmed cottages recall the 1940s — a time when grassy dunes, kite flying, and beach hikes kept visitors busy for days. Outside, the cottages are retro, but inside, the style is quilty and plush, with gas fireplaces and full kitchens. Take a short dune trail to surf, sand, and some of Washington's best birding, then at day's end, stroll the herb garden, check the pond for wood ducks, and enjoy something from Blackwood's wine room while the sun paints the evening sky. 10 units from $115; http://www.blackwoodbeachcottages.com/ or 888/376-6356. –Jim McCausland

3. Oregon Coast
STATE PARK YURTS

Somewhere between a hotel room and a tent stands the yurt — cute, round, and real snug. Nearly 170 of them are scattered among 14 of Oregon's coastal state parks, and they're quite a deal. You cook outside, but with heat, lights, and beds for five (BYO sleeping bag), you're hardly roughing it. Our top pick? The pair of rustic yurts at little Beachside State Park on the central coast. You can't see the beach from your bunk, but you can hear it all night — and walk to it in one minute flat. Yurts start at $27; http://www.oregonstateparks.org/ or 800/452-5687. –Bonnie Henderson

4. Newport, OR
SYLVIA BEACH HOTEL

It's known as a hotel for book lovers. And for lovers. And others just seeking a little eccentricity-by-the-sea. Each room at this hotel on the bluff at Nye Beach, a neighborhood of shingled beach shacks, is decorated in the spirit and style of a favorite author, from Colette to Dr. Seuss. 20 rooms from $68; http://www.sylviabeachhotel.com/ or 888/795-8422. –B.H.

5. Half Moon Bay, CA
COSTANOA

An hour south of San Francisco, a gathering of cheery white tent bungalows dot the rolling bluffs like so many covered wagons crossing the tallgrass prairie. The mood here's breezy and wholesome — kids riding bikes, communal cook-it-yourself barbecues, and ocean-watching from Adirondack chairs perched on the bluff. Inside, simplicity reigns, with cute plaid comforters and comfy metal camp beds. A bonus for garden lovers: The resort's idea-filled landscaping features whimsical driftwood sculptures and native plants. 131 units from $115; http://www.costanoa.com/ or 650/879-1100. –Abigail Peterson

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