 | CleverElsie (12)
11/15/2007 |  This mile-long beach on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, backed by rugged evergreen bluffs, is named for the pinkish sand that can sometimes be seen here, although ruby-red it certainly isn't. The daunting temperature (about 50 degrees Fahrenheit) and fearsome surf conspire to keep beachgoers out of the water, but the attraction at this beach is exploration, not water sports. Here you'll find dramatic basalt sea stacks towering over the beach in anthropomorphic shapes, gargantuan driftwood logs washed up from the nearby Hoh Rainforest, and tidal pools crawling with starfish, hermit crabs, mussels, and other darting creatures. Be cautious of the incoming breakers since some areas of the beach are cut off at high tide, and the driftwood trunks can act as floating battering rams. With respect for the forces of nature, though, families can have endless exploratory fun here. Parking and bathrooms are available, but this is a wild, remote beach, not a resort destination, and there are no lifeguards, ice cream stands, or beach umbrellas, just the Pacific Coast at its most inspiring.
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