Not my favorite place on the coast, but there are a couple of pretty terrific day trips possible.

1. Head north to Lake Quinault Lodge and do the loop drive (or numerous short walks) through the Quinault rain forest, stopping to see some of the biggest conifers in the world. Lake Quinault itself is beautiful, lunch in the old lodge is pretty cool. http://www.quinaultrainforest.com/index.html Continue north to Kalaloch and Ruby Beach, one of the incredible rocky beaches along the Pacific coastal strip of Olympic National Park. http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisi...ruby-beach.htm

You're looking at ca. 1 hour to Quinault, then Ruby Beach is another hour up US 101, so with stops at both you're looking at a pretty full (but terrific) day.

2. Head south (by east) to Ilwaco and Cape Disappointment State Park on the Washington side of the mouth of the Columbia River. There are lighthouses, rocky beaches, a great Lewis and Clark interpretive center, and the bridge over the Columbia to Astoria is downright jaw-dropping. Because you have to travel via Hoquiam and Aberdeen, this takes around 2 hours from Ocean Shores, so, again, a full day counting sightseeing, but VERY rewarding. http://capedisappointment.org/

Another hour past Cape Disappointment (via Astoria) is Ecola State Park, just outside the popular (and rather touristy) Cannon Beach. Ecola has beautiful rocky shoreline, usually some wildlife about (seals and such) and Cannon Beach has plenty of twee shops and decent cafes. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/inde...age&parkId=136