The beachside community of Birch Bay feels like a trip back in time. Driving down Birch Bay Drive in the middle of summer, the breeze conjures up collective pop culture memories, like poodle skirts and classic cars cruising the strip. Birch Bay is home to both permanent residents and many, mainly Canadian, summer residents. Visitors come from far and wide for the sand and warm, shallow waters of the bay.
Year after year, out-of-towners return to enjoy walks along the beach and the variety of nostalgic restaurants and stores, including The C Shop, which is stocked with homemade chocolates, sweets, ice cream and other seasonal treats.
This community enjoys a long curving beachfront with a recently constructed berm and easy access to the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Located on the Pacific Flyway migratory bird route, Birch Bay is a birdwatching destination. Enthusiasts should pack binoculars so as to not miss any details while observing migratory species such as dunlin, brant and black-bellied plover from the panoramic view spot in Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve. This reserve features a fully accessible trail and 54 acres of forest. Follow the trail down the bluff to the beach overlooking the Strait of Georgia to catch a glimpse of resident great blue herons and bald eagles.
Roughly a mile and a half from the reserve is the 664-acre Birch Bay State Park, which offers campgrounds, a playground, picnic tables, boat launch, the Terrell Marsh Interpretive Trail, and BP Heron Center. The park is a great place for exploring tide pools in the summer. The beach is sandy and full of small wonders from tiny crabs and seashells, to floating waterfowl. The woods behind the beach are full of woodland critters, tall trees, soft moss and plenty of picnic shelters for when visitors get caught in the rain.
Along Birch Bay’s miles-long beach, explorers can discover tidal pools, go clamming and crabbing, or push out into the open water in a kayak or paddleboard.
A limestone pedestrian and biking path entices visitors to take a walk along the bay’s shoreline. The relatively new path was the result of a $15 million county project. A restored beachhead with a natural shoreline now protects the roadway from storm damage.
If the waterfront and trails are not the adventure visitors are looking for, they can visit the go-kart track and mini golf course at Station 49 or enjoy some waterpark fun at Birch Bay Waterslides.
In the summers Birch Bay comes alive through tourists and, of course, events and festivals. On July 26, the beach will be packed with amateur sandcastle architects for the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s annual Sand Sculpture Competition. Pop by for the Kite Festival on the weekend of June 21-22, 4th of July festivities, the Rollback Weekend Car Show on July 27 or National Night out on Tuesday, August 5.
On August 23, the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce hosts a Birch Bay Derby Day celebrating the local culture and history of Birch Bay. For more details on events, visit birchbaychamber.com.
In Birch Bay, the retro beach town atmosphere will make visitors feel like time is standing still. Escape the hustle and bustle this summer with a trip back in time at Birch Bay.
For more information, visit birchbaychamber.com or birchbaywa.org.
