Group Retreats & Weddings
Celebrations come wrapped in many shapes and sizes. We prefer ours small and intimate. China Beach Retreat is the perfect location for a very memorable, intimate occasion. A strong sense of serenity pervades here. The vast, seasonally changing landscape, formed when bay, river and ocean merge, has a mesmerizing effect on the viewer, while it provides a gathering place for wildlife and waterfowl.
Your wedding should not be a hassle. It should be a moment of tranquility and commitment. That is what we would like to provide for you, and we believe we can, at China Beach.
Joy finds expression in many ways. We can interpret yours with elegant food, fine Northwest wines, flowers, and amenities. Our staff is friendly, and the property speaks for itself. The front yard is a haven for wildfowl, hawks and eagles. A family of otter lives in the slough that snakes across the estuary, just a stone’s throw from the craftsman-style house. The morning sun rises over the Columbia River and the vista is alive with rays of yellow, gold and quicksilver. From either of our two upstairs rooms or the honeymoon suite, a couple can contemplate the dance of light, the lunar swing of tides, a circus of rich color, and the phases of the moon.
The Main House at China Beach houses three couples, and the Audubon Cottage will accomodate one couple. If you are planning a larger event please visit the Shelburne Inn website where we can accomodate a larger group. The Shelburne Restaurant has a long standing tradition of serving fresh local ingredients innovative and elegant preparations. The Shelburne Restaurant can cater your intimate gathering at China Beach or a larger gathering located at the Shelburne Inn. For over 35 years owners David Campiche and Laurie Anderson have hosted many wedding celebrations and will assist you in orchestrating your own unforgettable event.
Group and Business Retreats - An Opportunity to Bond
Discounted group and business rates are available for lodging and dining at China Beach. The lovely craftsman house can accommodate small retreats of up to twenty persons. Larger space is available at our sister property, The Shelburne Inn. Between the two establishments we can sleep up to 36. A Pacific Northwest power lunch can be catered during your meeting. The environment and quiet are invigorating, the service, efficient and low-key. Services include bottomless cups of coffee or tea and cookies at snack time. Office and AV equipment is available for a fee. Call soon to schedule your much-needed retreat at China Beach. Meetings & Retreats also at the Shelburne Restaurant.
Click HERE to check out our special pricing for whole house rentals.
Extended Stays
No matter what you do for a living, a fun and relaxing get-away with friends or family can do wonders to revive your spirits and freshen your outlook on life. China Beach Retreat is the perfect venue for accomplishing just that. Relax, read, or watch the tide go in and out. Become a part of the natural rhythms from which our modern world tends to distance us. When it comes time to dine, choose from a variety of excellent restaurants, all just a short drive away. Immerse yourself in the rich and colorful history of this area by visiting some of our local museums. Get out and experience the great outdoors—hike where Lewis & Clark first spotted the ocean, take a long walk on sandy beaches and smell the salty breeze; feel it course through your hair. Expose yourself to art through the talents of local artists featured in the many galleries and shops between here and Astoria, Oregon. To fully appreciate and discover this region requires time. Why not plan an extended stay at China Beach Retreat? You shouldn’t have to rush when on vacation. From October through May, as an incentive, we offer mid-week and extended stay packages when you rent the whole house. Complimentary with every room is a gourmet, full country breakfast served at The Shelburne Inn daily from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Also available is free wireless internet in every room and access to free coffee and tea.
For pricing, check out this link.
Extended Off-Season Stays
January, February, March, April, May, November and December Midweek (excluding all holidays) Sunday through Thursday, the following pricing is available when you rent the entire main house at China Beach Retreat.
- Main House including Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea upstairs rooms and the downstairs Kuan Yin Suite: $585.00, including tax
- Add the Audubon Cottage to the above: $856.00, including tax
June, July, September and October (excluding August) Midweek (excludes holidays)
Sunday through Thursday, the following discounted pricing is available when you rent the entire house at China Beach Retreat: $690.00 including tax
Add the Audubon Cottage to the above: $1007.00 including tax
The Innkeepers
Meet Laurie & David
David Campiche and Laurie Anderson have owned and operated the Shelburne Inn since 1977. They purchased China Beach Retreat in the Spring of 1998. The couple entered innkeeping due to their love of old buildings, antiques, history, gardens, great food (both its preparation and consumption), great wine, meeting people and under the mistaken assumption that they would have plenty of time to pursue their artistic inclinations on the side.
David is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College, having majored in Fine Art and Laurie is a graduate of Linfield College. Her major was Liberal Studies. David grew up on The Long Beach Peninsula, and as a result, is a storehouse of local information and history. Laurie was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and traveled widely until she became stuck in the sand on The Long Beach Peninsula, which is how she met David (he pulled her vehicle out). David is a potter and Laurie is a tapestry weaver. They have three sons.
Testimonials
“Imagine waking to views of the very spot where Lewis and Clark first reached the Pacific Ocean in 1805 from safe inside this charming Craftsman cottage, set on its own in a secluded cove. China Beach Retreat is a very special place, lovingly transformed by David and Laurie into an intimate three-bedroom hideaway. Hardwood floors, low ceilings, stained and leaded glass, and eclectic collections of antique furniture characterize the cozy downstairs: sophisticated yet informal, elegant yet rustic.”
-Karen Brown’s Guides ~ Charming Places to Stay: Pacific Northwest
“China Beach…a look-out?…a retreat?….a castle? The place is magical. The view is at your feet and all around, pleasant and pastoral in daytime, mysterious and spellbinding at night”
-Don and Monique Taylor, Olympia, Washington
“I told Howard, ‘I’m not leaving this place…I’m staying here forever!’ He just laughed. What a wonderful haven you’ve created here, in this beautiful setting. We thank you for all your hard work, dedication, creativity and attention to every detail and most of all, thank you for sharing it with us. We will be back for a longer stay.”
-Visitors from Massachusetts
-Tom Colligan for Portland Monthly. “The Hidden Coast” 5/08
“The quiet…oh the blessed quiet and the views both from the living room area and our bedroom are soothing to the soul.”
-Clint & Judy Williams, Edgewood, WA
“But the main reason to visit the China Beach is its seclusion and nearness to the sea. We found that three days there soothed and refreshed us as though it had been a much longer vacation. You can’t ask more of a getaway than that.”
-The Seattle Times
Gift Certificates
Gifts often come in colored paper, with glitter and expectations. Ours is a simple gift certificate drawn with a steady hand and a promise to serve you, our guest, our raison d’etre. What more special gift can you find for a loved one or business associate in need of a reward than a relaxed stay in one of Washington State’s most serene locations at the end of the Lewis & Clark trail?
A gift certificate for China Beach Retreat and Shelburne Restaurant offers a cozy room with period antiques, genuine hospitality, a sublime breakfast, and the availability to one of the finest meals in the Northwest. Our neighborhood is full of seasonal coastal changes. Twenty-eight miles of beach, ocean, lighthouses, and ancient forests call your name.
Call toll-free: (800) INN 1896 and we will facilitate your purchase.
Remember us this holiday, for a birthday present or a special occasion.