Community Forums

lazybyrd · 08-17-2022, 05:28 PM

I hope I am going about this correctly. If not feel free to correct me. Thinking about spending next summer in a cooler clime. Dw and I would like to spend 8-10 weeks in the pacific nw. We love the Oregon and Washington coast. Hope to set up camp for a couple weeks and explore the area with the toad then move to a new area. I would appreciate any input from fellow rvers on cg’s that might fit the bill.
Thanks
Steve

Cousin Ed · 08-18-2022, 06:58 AM

Check out Pacific Shores in Newport, OR. It's not cheap but it's a great place and Newport and the area can keep you busy. Also in Newport are Beverly Beach and South Beach State Parks; we used both with a 41' DP.

twogypsies · 08-18-2022, 11:02 AM

I'd highly recommend any of the state parks along the Oregon coast. We love them! I'd suggest staying at one in the south; one midway and one on the north coast. Then you can easily tour the whole area.

With our 40' motorhome we've stayed at Beverly Beach, Bullards Beach, Cape Blanco (a favorite), Carl Washburne (we gave the Heceta Head Lighthouse tours), Harris Beach, Fort Stevens

Continue on 101 up the OR coast and the WA coast.

Then cross the Astoria bridge into Washington and stay at Cape Disappointment State Park. A Kite Festival is held there & it's something to see.

Work your way up 101, tour the western part of Olympic Nat'l Park - the rain forest side (Salt Creek campground makes a nice touring base) and then move over to the drier side of Olympic Nat'l Park at Port Townsend, WA for another great touring base. Stay at Fort Worden State Park. The beachfront sites are very nice and they also have a forested campground.

From Port Townsend you can easily spend a day at Hurricane Ridge of Olympic Nat'l Park.

You could take the ferry from Port Angeles over to Vancouver Island. Pick up the city bus which will take you to Butchart Gardens. Return to the waterfront and have a late lunch/dinner and take the ferry back. It's a nice day trip.

You could put your vehicle (or even your RV) on the nearby Coupeville ferry to do a day trip or overnight of touring up the WA coast above Seattle.

You could do a short drive south from Port Townsend to Bainbridge Island; park your car and take the ferry over to the Seattle waterfront. Right there is the Aquarium and Pikes Market (save the market for last). You can then get on the tram whisking you away across the city to the Olympic Space Needle, ride to the top, perhaps have lunch then take the tram back to Pikes Market area, pick up some goodies and board the ferry for your return. It makes a nice day.

There is so much to see and do from Port Townsend. The small towns always have something going on. We volunteered at a local concert venue and there are many concerts in the area in the summer, including at Fort Worden. There's a neat sand sculpture festival in the area, the Lavender Festival, awesome farmer's markets, etc.

lazybyrd · 08-18-2022, 04:33 PM

Great feedback Cousin and Gypsies. Sure appreciate your response.

profdan · 08-18-2022, 05:46 PM

We enjoyed Nehalem Bay State Park -- right on the beach. Very dark clear skies, which is unusual for a busy coastal area. This photo was taken from the beach near our campsite -- there was a quarter moon but the Milky Way was still easily visible:

Click For Full-Size Image.

Donskiman · 08-19-2022, 09:34 AM

Hopefully it will be cooler next summer. The past two years the Pacific NW has experienced record high temps.

lazybyrd · 08-19-2022, 11:10 AM

Understood. Have to be better than SE Texas. And seems every year is a bit more unbearable.

Cousin Ed · 08-19-2022, 12:10 PM

My son in Newport, OR told me it was really hot the other day 68!

lazybyrd · 08-19-2022, 12:13 PM

The great regulator, the Pacific Ocean, has a way of keeping the temps bearable. We have spent some time there and would like to spend more. Just have not done so in the coach.

IAlreadyGot1 · 08-19-2022, 12:24 PM

The Northwest Alpine Coach Association has a website, NoWaca.com, where you can access information about past rallies, view the future rally schedule and read the news letters. There’s a great deal of information available about RV parks and activities throughout Oregon and Washington.

lazybyrd · 08-19-2022, 12:26 PM

I will check it out.
Thanks

twogypsies · 08-19-2022, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donskiman

Hopefully it will be cooler next summer. The past two years the Pacific NW has experienced record high temps.

Along the ocean? 101?

HighDesert · 08-19-2022, 01:28 PM

Take a look at Winchester Bay RV resort, also, in Winchester Bay, just below Reedsport, and 50 miles north of Bandon (which has a nice state park (Bullards Beach). There is also Cape Blanco to consider too. We just spent a week there last week and came back to high 90's here in Central Oregon.

Bill Gail · 08-19-2022, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

I'd highly recommend any of the state parks along the Oregon coast. We love them! I'd suggest staying at one in the south; one midway and one on the north coast. Then you can easily tour the whole area.

With our 40' motorhome we've stayed at Beverly Beach, Bullards Beach, Cape Blanco (a favorite), Carl Washburne (we gave the Heceta Head Lighthouse tours), Harris Beach, Fort Stevens

Continue on 101 up the OR coast and the WA coast.

Then cross the Astoria bridge into Washington and stay at Cape Disappointment State Park. A Kite Festival is held there & it's something to see.

Work your way up 101, tour the western part of Olympic Nat'l Park - the rain forest side (Salt Creek campground makes a nice touring base) and then move over to the drier side of Olympic Nat'l Park at Port Townsend, WA for another great touring base. Stay at Fort Worden State Park. The beachfront sites are very nice and they also have a forested campground.

From Port Townsend you can easily spend a day at Hurricane Ridge of Olympic Nat'l Park.

You could take the ferry from Port Angeles over to Vancouver Island. Pick up the city bus which will take you to Butchart Gardens. Return to the waterfront and have a late lunch/dinner and take the ferry back. It's a nice day trip.

You could put your vehicle (or even your RV) on the nearby Coupeville ferry to do a day trip or overnight of touring up the WA coast above Seattle.

You could do a short drive south from Port Townsend to Bainbridge Island; park your car and take the ferry over to the Seattle waterfront. Right there is the Aquarium and Pikes Market (save the market for last). You can then get on the tram whisking you away across the city to the Olympic Space Needle, ride to the top, perhaps have lunch then take the tram back to Pikes Market area, pick up some goodies and board the ferry for your return. It makes a nice day.

There is so much to see and do from Port Townsend. The small towns always have something going on. We volunteered at a local concert venue and there are many concerts in the area in the summer, including at Fort Worden. There's a neat sand sculpture festival in the area, the Lavender Festival, awesome farmer's markets, etc.

In addition to the above while in Washington State .....

Take the Anacortes ferry to the San Juan Islands for a few days and explore the islands . Absolutely amazing ! Rent kayaks , take a Whale watching tour boat , fishing charters , numerous shops , restaurants with FRESH seafood , waterfront State Parks , bicycle rentals , or just find a grassy waterfront hill and sit back and enjoy the views .

From Anacortes , go East on Rt.20 over the North Cascades Highway .You'll see why it's called the American Alps. On Rt.20 the trip over to Winthrop , an old cowboy town in the Methow Valley will take about 2 hrs. which will allow time for stopping at the overlooks , Diablo Dam , and a snowball fight as late as August .