Memorial weekend at Long Beach, WA

 We spent a rainy memorial weekend in Long Beach, WA.  We stayed at The Eagles Nest Resort in Ilwaco.  We booked only about a month ago, so campgrounds were slim pickings.  This resort was nice, it was private and wooded in certain sections.  We had to change campsites 3 times due to mud and uneven sites.  There were also so many mosquitoes!

We got there Friday afternoon so we were able to spend some time checking out the campground and enjoying a fire.  The kids spent lots of time in the hammocks.

Saturday was a very rainy day.  We are true Washingtonians and went out adventuring anyway!  We first checked out the Saturday market in Ilwaco along the marina.  It would have been a beautiful setting if the weather was nicer!  Cape Disappointment State Park was very close to our campground, so we drove there and did some exploring.  We did some short hikes to see the lighthouses.  The North Head lighthouse was gorgeous!

We also ventured to Fort Canby, and saw the other gun batteries and structures during our walk.

The campground had a pool and large hot tub.  This was the first time we've stayed at a campground with a pool.  It was fun!  Although the pool wasn't quite warm enough for the kids.

We had some bubble tea in downtown Long Beach at a place called Bubble Beach.  It was SO good!  We spent some time shopping in the little museums and gift shops, and of course had to buy some salt water taffy!

Sunday was partly sunny with only a few drizzles, so we spent more time at Long Beach.  We walked the beach boardwalk and went go karting.  

There were so many kites- some of them were amazing to watch!  Coulee loved being on the beach as well.  We parked farther down the beach so she could be off leash and roam around.  She was in heaven.

We ate dinner at the Salt Hotel and Pub in Ilwaco one night.  The seafood was great and the drinks were fun and refreshing.  It was such a cute place!

All in all another great weekend in the woods!  Can't wait for the next adventure!

Fort Stevens State Park

 

We visited Fort Stevens last weekend for the first time.  We had heard so many great things about it we couldn't wait to check it out for ourselves.  We got there late Thursday night after Carson's baseball game, so we pretty much went straight to bed.  Friday morning we got up and couldn't wait to explore everything.  There are miles of paved walking paths around the park.  We started out by walking to the beach to check out the Peter Iredale shipwreck.  (Well, Lance and I walked, the kids rode their electric scooter and bike.)  The shipwreck was really cool, it ran ashore in 1906.  The kids loved climbing on it and trying to avoid the waves.

Next we walked over to Battery Russell.  The kids loved exploring the battery and learning about the history.  Carson is fascinated by anything military.

Later in the day we drove over to the historic area and did a scavenger hunt.  It was fun exploring all the batteries and seeing the old military weapons.  

We saw so much wildlife.  When we arrived Thursday night there were 2 raccoons on the tree right by our trailer.  The next day there were deer on our walk, and elk in the meadow on our way back to camp.  We also saw lots of birds, squirrels and even a woodpecker.

It was cold and rainy on and off, but its always fun at the beach!  And you have to be barefoot no matter what.  😆

Saturday morning Lance and I walked around Coffenbury Lake (about a 2 mile walk).  There were lots of people fishing, but not much catching.

Saturday afternoon was a little rainy so we decided to drive into Astoria.  The trolley happened to pass by, so we jumped on!  We rode it to the end, turned around and then got off at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

  

The kids were so mesmerized by everything there.  The loved seeing all the old ships and learning about the coast guard.

After the museum we went over to the Sea Crab restaurant for a shrimp and crab boil.  Carson enjoyed cracking the crab, and Rylee like shelling the shrimp.  It was delicious!

Another fun and adventurous camping weekend in the books!  Fort Stevens was great, we will definitely be back!  ⛺

Pacific Beach State Park

 

Our first camping trip of the season is in the books!  We went to Pacific Beach State Park last weekend.  It was rainy and windy on Friday night, but Saturday turned out to be beautiful.  It was sunny and warm for most of the day, perfect for the beach!  The campground was small with no privacy, but it was right on the beach.  We had a great view until the camper arrived in the spot across from us!

The kids loved playing on the beach.  They explored, flew a kite, and played in the sand.  Coulee enjoyed the grass area at our campsite.

Coulee absolutely loved running around on the beach.  Her arthritis seemed to disappear when she walked on the beach.  She even got to chase some sticks in the water.

We walked to "town" to explore.  There was a grocery store, antique shop, gift shop, espresso stand, and a "wacky warehouse."

Always a great time at the beach!