Adrift Hotel Review – My Long Beach, WA. Retreat

The Adrift Hotel was my first stop on a week-long road trip exploring the Pacific Northwest’s coastline and interior. Thanks to its many cosy amenities and beachside location, it quickly became a highlight of my entire trip and had me wishing I had planned a longer stay.

This is my Adrift Hotel review and why I think it’s one of the best hotels in Long Beach Wat. As you will find, it’s the perfect place to both explore from and escape to.

Where is the Adrift Hotel Located?

The Adrift Hotel is located in Long Beach, a coastal town on the southwestmost corner of Washington. If the name doesn’t give it away, it’s known for its long stretch of sand and all the fun activities that come with it. As such, the town is a tourist hub for those looking for a little sand and surf. The Adrift Hotel is located on the beach and next to the mile-long boardwalk that runs along it.

What Are the Adrift Guestrooms Like?

Everything about the Adrift Hotel screams west coast. There is a rustic and minimalist theme throughout with wood and iron accents that blend in with its rugged and sandy coastal surroundings. This theme stretches into the guest rooms.

Although visually basic, the rooms do feature modern comforts like a large flat-screen TV with streaming capabilities. Their shower products are also very good with the added bonus of being eco-friendly.

On my visit, I stayed in a king room which featured a large wooded bedframe and plenty of space to stretch out. I especially liked the minimalist lighting and wooded crates used to store towels and amenities. It was an incredibly cosy place to call home for the night and to relax in the following morning while I waited for the fog to lift.

I grabbed a complimentary yoga mat from the lobby and got a good stretch in, something appreciated given the amount time I was spending in my car that week. I then picked up a coffee from the lobby and relaxed in the corner seating area and caught up on a bit of work. It was a Saturday but had the feel of a lazy Sunday and I loved it.

What Amenities Does the Adrift Hotel Have?

The Adrift Hotel is somewhat of a rustic resort. Rooms are very affordable, especially when paired with the amenities offered on-site. Here are some of the highlights.

Sauna, Pool, and Spa

Arguably, the hotel’s highlight has to be its heated outdoor pool area. Aside from the saline pool, it features a great barrel sauna and outdoor fireplace to relax by. Next to that is a full-service spa with therapists on hand offering a variety of treatments.

Free Bikes, Coffee, and More

In the lobby of the Adrift Hotel, you will find plenty of action. Next to the friendly check-in desk, there is a ton of snack items available for purchase and jugs of infused water to top up your water bottles. There’s also a selection of teas and coffee made from the hotel’s own roasted beans. Both of these are free and available 24-7.

Also free for guests are cruiser bikes. These are great for getting around town and exploring the seaside bike trail. If it’s raining out, there are a collection of games like shuffleboard and foosball to keep you entertained.

Adrift Distillery

Coffee beans aren’t the only things made in-house at the Adrift Hotel. Next door there is a full distillery!

Best of all, guests of the Adrift Hotel get a free (and generous) tasting. This includes a choice of up to six spirits and liqueurs.

Their gins and whiskeys are good but the winners for me were the liqueurs. I went home with the cranberry holiday liqueur (think mulled wine) and their coffee liqueur. The latter was especially unique as the bartender had to make me a bottle from scratch. I finished my samples while watching him pour, cork, and label my bottle in front of me. Talk about hand-crafted. 

Parking

Parking is free and plentiful at the Adrift Hotel.

EV Chargers

Lastly, the Adrift Hotel has two J1772 electric vehicle charging stations. They are free for guests and, as I found on my EV road trip down the coast, easy to use. Card access is given upon check-in which is used to initiate the charging session.

Pickled Fish Restaurant and Lounge

The top floor of the Adrift Hotel features a great west coast eatery and bar. With ocean views, the Pickled Fish is a great place to have a cocktail or local beer at sundown. It has the same west coast decor as the rooms and a great menu featuring local ingredients and drinks.

From their extensive beer list, I settled on a Dunkel from Buoy Brewing in nearby Astoria. It was so good that I would later seek out the brewery to pick up some to go.

The last time I was in Long Beach I ran a 5K on the beach where they serve you clam chowder at the finish line. As such, I couldn’t return and not have chowder here. It was so good that I ended up ordering steamed clams as my main. No regrets.

What Is There To Do Near the Adrift Hotel?

Thanks to its many great amenities, the Adrift Hotel is a destination in itself. Still, for those looking to explore, there are plenty of sights and activities nearby. Here are my favourite activities and attractions near the Adrift Hotel Long Beach Wa.

Long Beach Boardwalk and Discovery Trail

Running just under a mile along the beach is a raised boardwalk and paved bike path. I took a stroll here through the fog and found it very peaceful. Along the way you will pass free art installations including the massive Grey Whale Sculpture.

Driving On the Beach

The beach at Long Beach is actually listed as a highway in the state of Washington. Visitors can cruise up and down the coast which is partially what drew me to the place. Those looking to get their “Goonies” on certainly can do so in Long Beach.

A few things to note though;

• Stick to packed areas;
• Pay attention to local tides – this can change quickly;
• Be aware of your surroundings, it is a public beach after all;
• The speed limit is set at 25 mph;
• Use at your own risk. Towing can be pricy if you get stuck;
• Be sure to wash the salt off after your ride. I rinsed off here.

The Kite Museum

Thanks to its breezy location, Long Beach is an excellent place to fly a kite. So much so that each August it hosts the Washington State International Kite Festival.

Those curious about this long-standing pastime can get educated at the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame which is conveniently located next door to the Adrift Hotel.

Marsh’s Free Museum

Long Beach is uniquely quirky and a big part of why is Marsh’s Free Musume. This jam-packed antique store features a ton of curios items and bizarre taxidermy. The highlight of odd has to be Jake the Alligator Man.

Aside from a museum of strange, Marsh’s is a great place to stock up on saltwater taffy for your road trip.

The Cranberry Museum

While sampling the cranberry liqueur at the Adrift Distillery, I foolishly asked if the cranberries were local. Turns out, the Long Beach Peninsula is one of the world’s busiest cranberry producers. There’s even a museum dedicated to the history of cranberry farming in the region.

I took a quick stroll, taking in the farming techniques used over the years before checking out the fields next door. I just missed harvest and would love to come back to see the fields when they are flooded and filled with red berries. This is typically mid-September until around mid-October so book your stay accordingly if that interests you!

Cape Disappointment State Park

Nearby Cape Disappointment State Park offers visitors a little more rugged coastline than the sandy shores of Long Beach. Along with that comes plenty of hiking trails with views vantage points of the coast and the lighthouses that line it.

And remember, the Adrift hotel is one of the best hotels near Cape Disappointment Wa. The barrel sauna is a great way to unwind after a hike!

Escape to Long Beach

As noted, I love Long Beach. It’s quirky and naturally beautiful with plenty of things to see and do. Thanks to hotels like the Adrift Hotel in Long Beach Wa, even in the winter storm season, this place has a cosy comfort to it. I could have happily spent a weekend splitting my time between relaxing at the hotel and exploring the nearby sights. There is something cleansing about sipping coffee while watching the fog roll in or out.

Sadly, my time was short in Long Beach which I regret. On the positive, my next stop is in Seaside and includes a stay at Adrift’s sister property, Ashore. If it’s anything like this great little hotel, I know I am in for a treat.

UPDATE: You can see my full review of the Ashore hotel here!

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