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Old 11-17-2009, 12:48 PM   #1
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Our family has just purchased a 16 ft Scamp and would like some suggestions for interesting camping locations in the Pacific NW and Northern CA areas. We have a medium sized dog, so any pet friendly ideas would be most appreciated, says the wife.

Thanks, in advance!

M. Griffith
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Old 11-17-2009, 12:57 PM   #2
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Welcome to the group. We in land locked US envy you.

Pull out of your driveway, go any direction and set up your camp. You have so many wonderful options.

Of course you will be joining the many gatherings out in the Northwest to meet others to get good ideas.

Happy camping.

Nancy

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Old 11-17-2009, 01:27 PM   #3
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Why limit yourself?
Do like a lot of us and visit this great continent coast to coast and top to bottom.
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Old 11-17-2009, 03:33 PM   #4
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Fort Casey State Park on Whidbey Island. The camping is right down on the water, where you can watch the ferries, and the park has an old fort that is a lot of fun to explore, plus a lighthouse. (I don't believe the park itself is dog-friendly anymore but the camping is, and nearby is Greenbank farm with hiking trails for people and dogs, also a trail up near Fort Ebey a bit further north that is dog-friendly.
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Old 11-17-2009, 11:55 PM   #5
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Here are some places we enjoyed.

We have stayed at Birch Bay State Park twice over the years, used it as a base for going to Victoria, Canada. Once on the way out of Canada, once before going into it. It is a 194-acre camping park with 8,255 feet of saltwater shoreline on Birch Bay and 14,923 feet of freshwater shoreline on Terrell Creek. The park is rich in archeological significance and offers panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains and Canadian Gulf Islands. Very nice park, neat views, neat seafood in the area.

We enjoyed a short stay at Sequim Bay State Park, a year-round, 92-acre marine camping park with 4,909 feet of saltwater coast in the Sequim "rainshadow," just inside Puget Sound on the Olympic Peninsula. The bay is calm, the air is dry and interpretive opportunities await visitors.

To get to Sequim from Birch Bay, we did take a ferry to Port Townsend. Can't remember route at this time. We also took a ferry from an island, which we drove to from Sequim, to Seattle. Bough some fresh pawns at a small country stop & shop and some smoked salmon from some guys selling it from their van along the way. Go some crab boil at a Super Market in Sequim. Oh, was it a feast! We went to the Aquarium in Seattle and rode a tram to close to the Space Needle.

Anyone of these PARKS must be neat, they are along the coast no less, what could be wrong?

After staying a few days at Sequim Bay, we spent a night at the Olympic National Park Campgroud at a Rain Forest site, can not remember the name, etc. instead of finding one along the coast. It seems the Rain Forest area by on the Pacific side of the Park.

But before leaving Washington, we stopped at Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly Fort Canby State Park) is a 1,882-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula, fronted by the Pacific Ocean. The park offers 27 miles of ocean beach, two lighthouses, an interpretive center and hiking trails. Visitors enjoy beachcombing and exploring the area's rich natural and cultural history. The nearby coastal towns of Ilwaco and Long Beach feature special events and festivals spring through fall. It was very nice. Some sites are on the beach or very near it.

In Oregon
We found a nice campground around the Oregon Dunes NRA which extends for 40 miles along the Oregon Coast, but can't remember the name. The dunes were Very neat to hike into, but we found the campground was to far from the beach. This was in the lower part of the state. I believe it was a National Park campground, along the 101 with dune drifting down into it. We saw a deer, an owl, the kids played in the sand.

Like the Washington state parks, there are Oregon State Parks all along the coast. They are all good for both a short stay or longer. Good spots for a one-nighter while covering the miles and Good places to stay for several days and deeply relax in a quiet, beautiful, interesting spot. We stayed a 2 I believe. One was Beverly Beach State Park, very nice, near New Port.
Bullards Beach State Park might be the other one, or one close to it might be it. We may have walk to this one along the beach from where we were.

List of Parks

Fort Clatsop a Lewis and Clark National Historical Park was neat to see, our young kids loved it. It is near Astoria. No camping there.

The bridge over the Columbia River is neat to cross at Astoria as well. We stayed a couple of nights at a state park located just outside Ilwaco at the very southwesternmost corner of Washington. Camping facilities include 190 standard campsites, 60 RV sites and 4 primitive campsites. It was called Fort Canby State Park when we were there, but is now: Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly Fort Canby State Park) is a 1,882-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula, fronted by the Pacific Ocean. The park offers 27 miles of ocean beach, two lighthouses, an interpretive center and hiking trails. Visitors enjoy beachcombing and exploring the area's rich natural and cultural history. The nearby coastal towns of Ilwaco and Long Beach feature special events and festivals spring through fall.

The campground was Walking distance to Cape Disappointment Lighthouse which began operating in 1856, and is now the oldest lighthouse still in use on the West Coast.

Links to info & trip reports of California to Vancover BC via Coast and other areas.

This one I'd like to see in N. California. http://www.casitaclub.com/forums/ind...howtopic=13502

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was neat to see. Mt.St.
Park

Portland Waterfalls.
Nice drive up the Columbia River from Portland. We stopped at one falls on the drive, not sure of the name now. But is away from the coast.

On one trip, we went inland for a side excursion to see Crater Lake in OR. CraterLake and Shasta Lake in CA. Shasta
Camping

We traveled mainly on 101, except for the trip to San Simeon to Big Sur to Monterey and over to Half Moon Bay. And of course to Crater Lake and Shasta.

There were several lighthouses alone the way which were neat to see & photo and great views of the Pacific.

If you go up towards Half Moon Bay, there is a neat lighthouse to see at the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. Half Moon Bay has a nice state beach with camping as well. PARKS
PARKS 2
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Old 11-18-2009, 10:40 AM   #6
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One of the great hings about the Portland area is there are so many different kinds of places to go on a tank of gas, and it makes a lot of sense to stay close to home for your first couple of trips while you figure things out. There are camping placesat the beach. There are camping places in the mountains. There are camping places 30 miles down the road. This being Winter you'll want to stay below the snow line . . . Some of the place we (or at least I) remember fondly are Silver Falls and Champoeg State Parks, which are due south, and Cannon Beach, all of which you can get to and from on a single tank of gas.

Further afield and once summer gets here, Crater Lake, campsites on Mt Hood and in the Gorge, Canon Beach in June, when the puffins have hatched at Haystack Rock and are starting to get their own food, Bandon, Seaside . . . . gosh I could go on for quite a while at the beach . . . . Lava Tubes National Recreation Area in Northern California, Mt. Ranier.
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Old 11-18-2009, 07:21 PM   #7
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Wow! Thanks for the warm welcome and all of the wonderful travel ideas. My wife is already planning a weekend adventure, as well as researching decor modification ideas for our Scamp. I didn't realize our new camper would become our next home project. I better go hide my wallet!

Thank you everyone!

Mark
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Old 11-20-2009, 08:35 PM   #8
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Along the Molalla River: Note, I'm just a wannabe trailer owner, but a great place to get away--quick, cheap (free!) and dirty--is along the Molalla River. You might want to wait until elk season's closed, since it's a popular area to hunt, but there are TONS of hidden places to camp up on the logging roads. Follow this link for info and directions to the area. Figure about 2 hours total driving time, taking it slow, to get to the coordinates that follow. Be sure to stop along the way to see some cool geological features in the river.

http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/res/Education_...recreation.html

Fishing's decent (usually smaller trout, catch and release on artificial lures only) wildlife abounds and the scenery's beautiful. Nearby are trailheads to Table Rock; you can follow at least one of the roads and pop out by Bagby Hot Springs.

Here's a great, easily accessible turnout where we camped, right along the river: 44°58'50.10"N 122°23'19.51"W. There are a couple fire rings already set up, ground's levelOnly problem I had was that people who'd camped before didn't know how to poop in the woods. I've found some smaller spots, but unfortunately I don't have the coordinates handy...will try and post later.

Coast:
Another fun place to go, though let's face it, it's hardly posh, is the Jetty Fishery near Rockaway Beach. You'll want to check with them regarding pets, but whenever we go to the coast we stop for steamed crabs, clams and oysters, and hang out by their fire. Friendly folks, funky atmosphere, Once when we were there, we got to experience the drama of a sea rescue...
http://www.jettyfishery.com/ I have no idea what their RV spots rent for, but...hey, it's got character, and it's a place to bookmark if every other coastal destination is full.

SW Washington State:
Check out south coast locations like Oysterville and Longbeach. Here's a directory of RV parks in the area. http://www.funbeach.com/lodging/rvparks.html. Friends of mine (Portland artsy-geeky peeps) who have been out that way LOVE it

Have fun!
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Old 11-21-2009, 05:36 PM   #9
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Um,for those trips that are further north,come up to BC.Victoria,Tofino(winter and summer),Haida Gwaii north of Vancouver Island,the Okanagan Valley(great wines and food,bicycling opportunities),right here on the Sunshine Coast(lots of hiking,fishing,prawns aplenty in season,GREAT mushrooming in the fall(a personal favorite,and,no,not the magic ones!).
As to dog friendly,my wife and I operate aB&B that caters to dog owners(dogs stay free,kids cost extra!)and we hear of lots of places that will take you and the pooch.Most parks will,but keep in mind that they would prefer a socialised dog,that doesn't bark at every noise.And,most would like them on leash,unles good control is exercised.With miles of Forest Service roads all over the province,you can get the pup truly worn out.And,around us anyway,lots of lakes,most without power boats,so fun to go swimming with your furfriend.
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Old 11-21-2009, 06:17 PM   #10
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Our family has just purchased a 16 ft Scamp and would like some suggestions for interesting camping locations in the Pacific NW
Yeah, here's a some:
Northern Oregon Gathering - Spring Event 2010, April 22-25, 2010
Washington Gathering - At Taidnapum Park, June 4-7, 2010
Northern Oregon Gathering - Fall Event 2010, October 8-10, 2010

Okay, that was a not-so-hidden plug, but you'd have a great time and meet some great people
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