| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Oregon SP Vacation
I like your idea of spending a lot of time on the coast. You may also want to consider making five stops over three weeks instead of three. Here is my take on my favorite Oregon State Parks on the coast from north to south.
Ft Stevens--outstanding area, nice camping. Great biking, beaches, and history. Nearby Astoria is well worth a visit.
Nehalem Bay--nice spots on the other side of a huge dune from an isolated beach. Not a lot of privacy between spots, but the location is beautiful. Not a lot to do in the nearby town but Cannon Beach is only about 20 miles away.
Cape Lookout--off 101 on the Three Capes Loop south of Tillamook. This is perhaps my favorite SP on the coast. Beautiful beach, tons of great spots either in the meadows near the beach or in heavily wooded loops to the back. The neighboring SP's offer lots more to visit and do.
Beverly Beach--great for exploring the central coast. Hard to beat the location. Sites are in a wooded valley on the other side of 101 from the beach. Pass under the huge arched bridge and you will be on a beautiful beach.
Honeyman--Great for exploring the dunes. A ways from the beach, but lots of fresh water lakes and beautiful rhodies. A special place.
Sunset Bay--another great park on a beautiful protected cove. The neighboring garden at Shore Acres SP is a knockout.
Harris--always a favorite. Nice spots, some with views of the ocean. Only a mile out of Brookings, but you wouldn't know it.
So--if you made me pick three, I would probably have to say for location I would go with Harris, Beverly, and Ft Stevens.
But I would consider moving a little bit more. I think a Harris/Sunset Bay/Beverly/Cape Lookout/Ft Stevens trip would be hard to beat.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
09/04/08 12:10am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Seattle Campground
Camping real near Seattle is overpriced and underwhelming. Most people recommend Lake Pleasant for close in parks to see the city from. The nearby state parks to the south are not bad, but can be full of rowdy young folks on weekends. If you are game, you may want to look at Fay Bainbridge or Scenic Beach on the Kitsap Peninsula. Both are very close and you can drive to the ferry in your toad and spend days in the city. For downtown days you can even just walk on the ferry.
Now the real question is where are you going to visit in the Pacific Northwest while you are here?
|
tiptoe tommy
|
09/03/08 11:42pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Recommendation for campground at Yellowstone
We just returned from five days in Yellowstone and two more in the beautiful Grand Tetons just to the south. Fishing Bridge may have hookups, but it is little more than a parking lot in the woods. We stayed at Canyon and Grant Village because they were centrally located and are the only ones that take reservations besides FB. Both are huge campgrounds very close to important sights. Personally, I think kids like the larger campgrounds because it increases the chances of meeting other kids. I will post reviews of these camps soon.
We didn't really need the reservations because camping traffic was way down this year at Yellowstone I think because of gas. But they were still nice to have. I agree that Madison and Bridge Bay are beautiful. Grant has some very nice spots near the lake. Canyon is pretty heavily wooded, but many of the spots are very gracious.
If you have the time, take your tow vehicle and spend a day driving the Beartooth Highway out the NE corner. You won't regret this day. This is easily one of the top ten drives in America.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
09/03/08 11:23pm |
Family Camping
|
|
RE: US 97--Oregon--Madras/Bend Campgrounds???
Depends on what you like and how long you are staying. Lots to see and do in the area. Cove Palisades is great. Two camprounds there. One is up above on a bluff overlooking the canyon and the the other is right down in the canyon.
Tumalo and La Pine are both great state parks on the Deschutes River. Other great camping in the area includes the fabulous Metolius River camps, Elk Lake near Mt. Batchelor, and the CG's in the Newberry Caldera.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
08/08/08 12:56am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Oregon in September
If you have time and are at Crater, you really should drop down to the Bend/Sisters area. Hard to beat for great things to see and do in an area--great volcanics, beautiful alpine country, great fishing, and more.
The coast has been covered here plenty including by me, but I would be remiss if I didn't tell you to visit Silver Falls SP if you have a chance. Eleven waterfalls in a beautiful, lush canyon. About 30 miles east of Salem.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
08/05/08 12:58am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Yellowstone trip
Ten days is more than enough in Yellowstone. You should also try to spend some time in the Tetons. If you can nab a spot for the last two days at Colter Bay you may want to consider that.
We are going to Yellowstone in two weeks! Make sure you spend a day driving and hiking along the Beartooth Highway. Break the two loops of Yellowstone into modest daily excursions and you will have a blast. Get an early start each day to beat the crowds and see more wildlife.
We will be at Grant Village Aug 24-27--look for the Sea Pine!
|
tiptoe tommy
|
08/03/08 01:21am |
Folding Trailers
|
|
RE: McKenzie Bridge, OR Area Campground
Haven't stayed at Patio but drove by. Looked to be very pleasant simple park by the river with lots of shade trees.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/20/08 02:31am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Tofino BC. Canada
We love Tofino and Bella Pacifica too. You can make a really nice week by taking the ferry to Nanaimo and staying at Living Forest for a few days and then heading to Tofino.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/18/08 02:07am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Crater Lake
Mazama is a typical, very nice national park campground with no frills just below the rim of Crater Lake. We loved Diamond Lake on the north side as a jumping off place. Not the RV park, but the Diamond Lake campground on the lake. Here is my post on that spot:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20230023.cfm
I would urge you to go down 138 along the Umpqua River instead of 58. 58 is pleasant but mostly unremarkable. But the Umpqua River drive is one of Oregon's most scenic. As for the Portland area and points north--if you have time visit Silver Falls SP about 30 miles east of Salem for great hikes and amazing waterfalls. And convenient to checking out the area south and west of Portland is beautiful Champoeg SP.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/18/08 02:03am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Deception pass
Not good at all unless you are coming midweek. It is a big campground so if you want to hang around all morning you might grab a cancellation, but I wouldn't advise it.
Try nearby Bayview SP. Near a great nature center, beach, and bike trail this nice state park is only about 20 minutes away. A spot here might be easier to find.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/18/08 01:28am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Route to Cannon Beach OR
That is always our preferred route. There is a long hill right after you cross into Oregon. In addition to the view mentioned above, check out Bradley State Wayside further along near the summit. The road is great until about 10 miles before Astoria when it becomes windy and congested. Just slow down and relax and you will get through it in no time.
Astoria is great. The Maritime Museum is wonderful and flying cheap balsa planes you can buy from the Astoria Column is very cool. Many people skip through because they want to get to the beach, but Astoria is a neat town to spend at least a few hours in. Nearby Fort Stevens SP is also worthy of a day trip for its beaches, bike trails, and WWII forts.
Have a great time. We spend a lot of time down there, especially in the spring and fall.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/17/08 12:58am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: Reservations needed Glacier NP?
Have to agree with sparker1--the east side is the best. Fish Creek and the west side of Glacier are nice but fairly typical Western forest and mountains. The really special stuff is on the east side and on the Going to the Sun road. It only takes a couple of hours to drive to the east side. I would recommend staying in St. Mary's, unhooking the camper, and then taking day trips to Going to the Sun, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier. Waterton is beautiful for a second camping stop.
We will be at St. Mary's CG in mid-August--we will look for Lance!
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/16/08 01:27am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Port Angeles Washington
Both of the Clallam County campgrounds at Dungeness Spit and Salt Creek are exceptional.
http://www.clallam.net/CountyParks/html/parks_overnight.htm
Dungeness Spit is a lovely campground up on a bluff overlooking the strait. After a short trail through dense forest you reach the spit which reaches about seven miles out into the strait. A great beach hike and a special place.
Salt Creek may be even better. It is about 15-20 miles west of Port Angeles on Hwy 112 to Neah Bay. Great tidepools and waves. Beautiful views of the strait. A nice beach and tons of access paths through the campground to the rocky shores. Nice new hookup spots.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/12/08 12:04am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Campgrounds or attactions in Northeast Oregon
A few places spring to mind near I-84. If you have the time follow OR Biker's advice and head down 97 to the Bend/Sisters area. But there is plenty to see along I-84. Check out Emigrant Springs SP for good camping in the Blue Mountains and interesting Oregon Trail hikes. Anthony Lakes CG just northwest of Baker City is great alpine camping, but you have limited options with a big rig since it was laid out before the advent of the larger RV's. Baker City is a nice town. To the west there is good camping in Sumpter and to the east is both the excellent Oregon Trail Interprative Center and further down Hwy 84 past Halfway, Oregon is Hells Canyon. Great camping at several Idaho Power CG's on the river. We liked Copperfield CG the best.
http://www.idahopower.com/riversrec/parksrec/
A side trip to Enterprise and Joesph is also a great idea. Wallowa Lake SP is outstanding.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/02/08 01:25pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
Broken Coleman Step Door
Last weekend things got a little crazy as my son and I were packing for a camping trip for a baseball tournament he was playing in. And I failed to check to see if the door which becomes a step on my 1999 Coleman Sea Pine was up. As I pulled out to get around a car a half block away from home I heard a loud crash. As I hopped out I realized we had left the door open and it had hit a parked car. Luckily I just punctured his tire and didn't do any structural damage to the trailer itself. But the door is twisted and must be replaced. Dang, I felt (feel) dumb.
I have ordered a new door but we are camping this weekend with friends so I will have to put a piece of plywood over the opening to get us down the road. I talked to the guy who usually does repair and he said that I can take the old door off by drilling through the pop rivets that hold the door and then using a pop riveter to attach a new one and I can save myself some money on labor.
My questions are:
--has anyone replaced a similar door?
--how difficult is it? I am generally handy at a some small things, but new repairs often intimidate me.
--what are the risks in drilling and how hard is it to use a pop riveter?
Any tips anyone has would be helpful.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/02/08 12:41am |
Folding Trailers
|
|
RE: Southern Oregon, 3 kids, and a class C rental
With that age of kids, I would have to agree that the beach is better. In a few years I think your kids would love Crater Lake and especially the Bend/Sisters area. Emigrant Lake could be a great stop for an overnight on the way back. The new RV park the county opened is much nicer than the dusty old tent CG. But there is also an inexpensive, moderate-sized water park their that is perfect for that age group.
As for the coast, you first should look to the Oregon State Parks which are exceptional. Harris SP in Brookings, Sunset Bay SP in Coos Bay, and Honeyman SP in Florence are all great parks in the southern half. Beverly Beach SP, Cape Lookout SP and Ft. Stevens are some favorites in the northern half. There is plenty of information on these forums about camping on the Oregon Coast.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/01/08 01:13am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Lassen Park fires?
Call the park if you have questions. Lassen is a beautiful and pretty compact park. Our kids loved climbing Lassen Peak and standing on top of a volcano. Bumpass Hell where the main geothermal stuff is, is a easy day hike. There is great mountain hiking and Manzanita Lake is a nice campground near a beautiful lake with a great view of the mountain. You can have a blast at Lassen in two days.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
07/01/08 12:14am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Oregon & Washington - Places to visit?
Others have posted some great suggestions. You don't say how you are planning to get to the NW from Colorado. If you are coming in on I-84 some good spots along the way are McCall in Idaho, Hells Canyon--check out Idaho Power campgrounds, and the Columbia River gorge is beautiful--make sure to use your toad on the old road to see the waterfalls. Portland is a nice city. Light rail and the streetcar make getting around easy and it is a city of great little neighborhoods.
Most of the rest of the major sights in Oregon are arranged in two corridors--Hwy 101 along the coast and Hwy 97 on the east side of the Cascades so a loop that takes them in isn't a bad idea. The I-5 corridor is a good place to move through the state but there isn't much to see but crops until you get near California where the mountains appear.
The Oregon Coast itself is outstanding and well worth at least a week. Some people drive the length, others visit either the north or south part. Generally the coast gets wilder and the towns smaller from the north to the south as you get away from urban areas. From Portland I like to head to the Astoria/Cannon Beach/Seaside area. Lots to see and do there. Heading south we really like Cape Lookout State Park south of Tillamook. Almost all Oregon State Parks are pretty much exceptional in my opinion, especially those on the coast, you really can't go wrong. Beverly Beach, Honeyman near the dunes, Sunset Bay near Coos Bay, and Harris SP near Brookings are all outstanding state parks. Cape Perpetua is outstanding--if you can fit--only a few spots for your size.
If you haven't been to the redwoods in Northern California consider a side trip just over the border to a ton of great places. Hwy 199 is a good highway that goes through redwoods to the Oregon Caves area. A side trip to Ashland is good if you are into theater. It is also a beautiful town with good camping nearby at Emigrant Lake. Crater Lake NP is outstanding. We like to stay at Diamond Lake on the north side. The RV park is okay, but if you can live without the hook here stay right on the lake at the Diamond Lake NF campground in beautiful spacious spots. North of Crater Lake on Hwy 97 is the Bend/Sisters area. If you look on a map there is a sideways figure-eight to the west formed by Hwys 20, 242, and 126. You can only drive 242 in your toad, but it is worth it. This area has fantastic camping in the Metolius and at Belknap on the west side. Then if you drive north towards Washington try to visit Silver Falls State Park for its amazing waterfalls and trails.
Heading north into Washington Mt St. Helens and Mt Rainier are both great national parks near the I-5 corridor. Then you can head around the Olympic Peninsula on 101 in a loop. The northern part along the Strait of Juan De Fuca is packed with great towns, sights, and camping.
Seattle is a great city, but the camping nearby is underwhelming and expensive for the most part. North of Seattle within 75 miles of I-5 are Deception Pass and Whidbey Island, great inland camping in the Cascades, North Cascades NP, and even Vancouver and Vancouver Island if you are so inclined.
Spokane to the east is my hometown and is a great place. We recently stayed along the river at Riverside State Park right in town and had a blast. If you head back to or from Washington from the east through Idaho and Montana you will enjoy the park downtown there and other sights. And nearby Northern Idaho is full of great lakes to camp nearby.
You are smart to take 4-5 weeks. Two weeks in each state gives you the time to explore some great places. Good luck.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
06/21/08 01:08am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
|
RE: Silverwood camp ground???
Costco is selling discount passes to Silverwood in the Northwest for 20% off.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
06/20/08 01:10am |
Family Camping
|
|
RE: Travel All Summer - Where to take Wife and Daughter?
Being in Texas you can swing either way. While the East offers more history and much beauty, it also offers humidity for much of the summer. And there are more people, so more cars.
But the West on the other hand offers the chance to visit some of America's most diverse and stunning national parks and other sights.
Here is the trip I would take if I wanted to explore the West from Texas:
--Drive to Big Bend NP
--Drive to Carlsbad NP, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos in NM
--Drive to the amazing area around Four Corners to visit several National Parks--Mesa Verde, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Canyon De Chelly and much more.
--Drive to Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, then Glacier in Montana and Wyoming.
--Drive within a 100 miles of the Canadian Border all the way to Puget Sound in Washington on fast routes or slow. Pause in the Idaho Panhandle, the North Cascades NP.
--Consider a side trip to Canada. Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria are well worth a stay as is Vancouver.
--Explore Mt. Baker, the Skagit Valley, Whidbey Island and Deception Pass north of Seattle. Then visit Seattle.
--If you have the time and I really hope you do, drive around the Olympic Peninsula and visit the wild beaches, mountains, and rainforests of Olympic NP.
--As you drive south, Mt. Rainier is a very special place with outstanding hiking. Mt. St. Helens is awesome as well.
--As you enter Oregon you can spend a few days in Portland and the Gorge if you want city time. Then I would head to the northern coast of the state. Head down from Astoria as far as you wish, then swing inland. Try to visit Silver Falls SP near Salem then drive to the Sisters/Bend area for amazing camping amidst volcanic displays and beautiful rivers and mountains.
--Visit Crater Lake NP and the surrounding area then cut over to Ashland to watch a Shakespearean Play under the stars.
--Drive down California Coast through Redwood NP to the Bay Area. Either hug the Mendocino coast or drive 101 through Napa to San Francisco. Spend time in San Francisco.
--Drive to Yosemite NP for at least 3-4 days. Then either follow the mountains down through Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's or return to the California coast.
--Take the kid to the wonders of Southern California--Big Sur, great beaches, Disney/Sea World/etc. Visit LA and San Diego. Go to Joshua Tree NP.
After that it would be up to you...Return to Texas or say, no, I liked NM/Colorado/Montana/Washington/Oregon/California--I think I will move there.
Just one person's list, but you couldn't go too far wrong with this big circle tour of the West.
|
tiptoe tommy
|
06/15/08 01:40am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
|
