This park is less than an hour from our house but right in the heart of Yamhill Valley wine country, so we figured it would serve as a good first trip for our new Tango and as a convenient home base as we tasted some wines in the area. This was our second trip here - last time we had our trusty Chalet which was dwarfed by the motor homes & big 5'ers so it was nice not to feel so outclassed this time! PDRV Park is built in the increasingly familiar "RV Park, 1-acre, Rectangle" pattern with a perimeter road serving back-in sites around the outside and interior roads with pull-thru sites for the big rigs. (Someone must have created this design & sells it as a turn-key operation, or at least as a tried & true plan)

We headed down around noon on a Friday and I managed to get the rig situated on the pad without taking out the utility pedestal or lamp post (but it was close: this thing definitely requires a larger turning radius than a 16 footer!). The sun was shining after many months of rain & clouds so we took it as an omen things were right in the world - or at least our decision to move up to a larger trailer was valid!

We were like two kids in a candy store marveling at the bathroom, storage, & features of the new rig. Even flipped on the A/C although it was only about 72° outside - the people around us must have thought we were from Alaska - and generally enjoyed the hell out of the Tango! Even though the park has nice bathing facilities I had to try out the little shower - worked pretty well although I can see 6 gals of hot water doesn't go far! Good enough to flush off the camping fuzz though & will be greatly appreciated when dry camping I'm sure. Did I mention it had a bathroom?

We also chose this location for the ability to make a big loop down & back on a mixture of secondary roads and freeways to get a feel of how the trailer tows. The Eaz-Lift Lift hitch the dealer tossed in to sweeten the deal worked ok, but it's apparent some kind of sway control will be needed. Not so bad on the back roads but the trailer moved around quite a bit on I-5, especially around the big trucks. I was afraid of pushing it much faster than 55 which ain't gonna cut it around here - the semi's typically blow by around 65! I'm going to see if I can trade it in on a Reese DC.

This is one of those new "super campgrounds" (if campground can be used to describe it) commonly described as Resorts. Clearly many "campers" here are driving $250-500k motor coaches & using this place as a motel while they play golf. In fact, that's exactly what the manager told me their target market is! We came to Bend to visit Kris' sister & family from NY who owns a condo there and this place was nearby so I booked us for a few nights. I had no idea it was going to be so luxurious - we felt like paupers in our tiny 28' trailer among the giant MH & 5W's! In fact, I think we were the smallest rig in the park!

Despite our busy social schedule we managed to enjoy the resort a little, but were disappointed to discover the spa was closed for repairs and most of the other outdoor amenities closed for the off season. Seemed strange since it was sunny & high-70’s during the day; but it did drop below freezing each night so I guess it’s not quite summer in Bend yet! The manager recommended disconnecting the water line each night – they had frost-proof faucets wrapped in heat tape, but the hoses running to the rig were prone to freezing.

It was surreal as we relaxed outside under the awning & realized there wasn't a single other person doing the same as far as you could see! Apparently when you "camp" at this level the preferred method is to remain indoors in air-conditioned comfort! God forbid you might get some dirt or grass clippings on your shoes...

For some exercise we took a short hike up nearby Pilot Butte which offers a panoramic view of the city & surrounding mountains. It was a beautiful sunny day but the sky was somewhat hazy from the smoke of a fire in the vicinity. Looks like it's going to be a tough fire season in Central/Eastern Oregon this year as lots of grass has sprouted due to the wetter-than-normal winter. Later we hit the shops at the trendy Mill District shopping area and had a nice lunch on the patio at Anthony's Home Port restaurant..

For this trip I had swapped out the Eaz-Lift hitch for a Reese Dual-Cam model, with similarly-size 1,000 lb. round bars. The truck/trailer combination was much more stable with no noticable sway due to wind or passing big rigs. I'm really glad I made this change and will surely appreciate it more over time!

This is our third visit to CBRV (1st w/ Tango) over the past several years and the park has been remarkably consistent in upkeep & maintenance! I understand it was purchased & is now operated by the City of Cannon Beach about four years ago, but there are no signs the service has deteriorated other than a lack of new improvements.

Originally located in a sparsely-populated area just SE of downtown Cannon Beach; the park is now bordered on two sides by neighborhoods of homes which despite the large berm around the perimeter manage to impart a fair amount of suburban din! Unfortunately one of the nights during our last stay a nearby home was having a outdoor party/BBQ complete with bass-thumping music that lasted well into the evening. Next time I think we'll try a site farther into the park - we usually stay on the western perimeter because of the nice lawns & sunshine; but the sites along the eastern edge back up to a heavily-wooded green space & are probably quieter.

The two restroom facilities are very good, housed in unique Octagonal buildings at either end of the park. An indoor pool is a nice touch & the spa is gigantic - room for 20 of your best friends! The chlorine level was a bit high last time though. Always appreciated is the on-site store for those last minute supplies you probably left on the kitchen counter, and the onsite propane & gasoline/diesel fuel sales is handy. In fact, I filled up before leaving as the price was similar to the gas stations & the clearance around the pumps designed specifically for RV's

We had a free weekend & a hankerin' to go camping so I took a Friday off and drove up the Columbia Gorge to Ainsworth SP . It's only about 45 min from Portland so the gas impact is relatively low ($4.19/gal when I filled up for the trip) and is one of the few state parks left in Oregon that don't require reservations. Good thing I got there before noon because it was almost full then - I got the last decent site - and watched a steady stream of disappointed campers motor through all afternoon & evening. Kris joined me after work.

This is a pretty little campground right on the Historic Columbia River Highway and has been around for quite awhile – I’d say early 50’s. Many of the structures in and around the park look like they might have been built by CCC or WPA workers during the 1930's depression, which means this CG could have been part of the original highway plan. The sites are widely-spaced by today’s standards, however the back-in slots are pretty short so I’d go with a pull-thru if you have a rig of decent size. My 28’ Tango + 18’ truck fit nicely in one of the pull-thru’s in the lower-level B loop). I recommend these over the P-T on the upper A loop because you get look out at a nice lush forest scene rather than the utilities snaking out of the side of your neighbor’s rig!

But the 800-lb. gorilla lurking around this place is the noise – LOTS of noise! There is a major East-West railroad line just on the other side of the old highway – about 500 ft. to the North – and trains blast by at least once per hour all day & night. Adding to the din is the Interstate 84 highway about 500 ft. past that, plus the river traffic on the Columbia 500 ft. past that, plus the aircraft flight path overhead running down the gorge to PDX…well, you get the picture! It's literally planes, trains, & automobiles plus boats! But after a few glasses of wine the buzz somewhat melts into the background and you begin to hear the birds & rustling of the Birch trees. In fact, it’s almost pleasant…almost.

On Sat. we decided to take advantage of the location and hike up to a few of the many waterfalls in the area. There’s a spur trail right from the CG that connects to a trail system linking together no less than ten waterfalls including the well-known Multnomah Falls. We took in just three: Horsetail, Ponytail, & Oneonta in a pleasant 4-mile two-hour hike; then hit the old highway for a run up to the recently-restored Vista House at Crown Point.

(per www.vistahouse.com) Vista House was built in 1916-1918 as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and as a comfort station for those traveling on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The octagonal stone structure towers 733 feet above the Columbia River, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in the National Geographic Society’s 2001 “Save America’s Treasures” book. It was closed for four years while an extensive restoration was completed, and was reopened to the public in the summer of 2005. The fundraising goal of over $4 million was completed in 2003 by joint efforts of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon State Parks Trust and The Friends of Vista House.

The building sits atop a bluff overlooking the Columbia Gorge on a 180° bend in the old highway which gives you a sweeping panoramic view from the Coast Range to the west, North to Mt. Adams & Mt. Rainier, and East up the gorge towards the Blue Mountains. I remember visiting this place as a kid on my bike & later on a motorcycle and am glad someone took the time & effort to save this place!

The short drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway was pretty cool. It pretty much parallels I-84 (has been replaced by it in places) from The Dalles to Portland and has been slowly restored over the past decade or so. It offers some killer views and lots of historical structures such a bridges & guardrails built in the 30's from indigenous materials. Seems to be a favorite by motorcycle & sports car buffs because of the many curves & light traffic - we saw lot's of Harley's & Porsche's zipping by! From Ainsworth it connected several Falls & trailheads on the way to Crown Point.

This is our third trip to Ft. Stevens in as many years, but the first with the Tango. Some friends had an extra reservation & considering how hard it is to get a site during the summer at this very popular CG we jumped on it! We always enjoy coming here - not so much for the park but the many sights to see in the area. Astoria is experiencing a renaissance with lots of trendy new shops & restaurants, the Columbia Maritime Museum, Astor Column, and lots of other stuff. Fort Clatsop is just down the road (where Lewis & Clark hung out for a winter), and there’s always fishing for those so inclined.

The 3700 acre park has 12 campground loops with over half full-hookup and is open all year - we stayed in January once and it wasn't too bad! Kinda empty though - nice! It's fine as far as state parks go, but like most public facilities these days there's too much to do & not enough funds to go around. We saw a few loops that looked pretty tired & the bathrooms could use a makeover. On the other hand there were some new loops & restrooms that looked sharp so I guess it all works out in the end.

This was also the first trip with the 2008 Tundra, which pulled the trailer with ease (not surprising with 3,000 lbs. more towing capacity & 135 more HP!). But I was frankly surprised that it was not head & shoulders better than the 2002 Tundra for the most part - only in the hills & passing did you appreciate the extra power. Guess that older rig was doing a pretty good job towing right or slightly above at it's limit!

Fees include $6 reservation chg & $6 change chg (not typical - we changed the dates) to the ReserveAmerica Borg.

This park is well-located as a central point for touring the many vineyards in the Western Yakima valley. In fact, that's one of their marketing points - which is why it seems kind of strange to ban alcohol anywhere in the park - but since it's on an Indian reservation I guess they can do anything they want! There seems to be a newer section (where we stayed) of back-in sites equipped with cable & telephone; an older pull-thru section which is little more than stripes painted on a blacktop parking lot; and the original section with some tent sites & teepee's mixed in.

Our site was very deep - the 19' truck & 28' trailer fit easily with 6' to spare! Nice utilities. Lots of lawn between sites along the side we stayed on - in fact we were the last in a row so we looked out on a huge expanse of lush lawn. I'd recommend a site like ours where the rig is oriented along a NE axis so it provides afternoon shade on the curbside - we saw a lot of people broiling in the sun on their patio sides who weren't so lucky!

The only real downside is the noise...busy Hwy 97 is only a block away & construction was forcing much of the local traffic down the surface street running right past our site. Gets pretty noisy during the rush hour!

This campground is part of city-owned complex of recreational facilities along Lake Chelan on the Northern edge of town; which also includes a marina and the multifaceted Don Morse Park (featuring a killer Championship Putting Course with real greens, the Rally Alley go-kart track, RSI Sports vendor which rents watercraft, & a Skate Park complete with ramps, half pipes, quarter pipes, rails, etc. ).

The RV park is very nicely laid out with five loops in a lushly-landscaped setting. In fact, the open space in the center of the loops makes you think you're camping on the edge of a manicured park - you could easily play a pick-up football or soccer game in the space.

The sites along the edge nearest the lake are understandably treasured, but ours up near the top of loop E was fine. We were surrounded by a group of retired folks who apparently gather here often - their happy hour consisted of a roving band of 25+ "cotton-tops" who alternated gathering in big circles of lawn chairs at various sites during our stay. Who says the "older generation" can't party - they started at 4:00 and ran well into the evening - when do these people eat?

Restrooms located in each loop were modern & clean with pay showers; along with garbage cans, recycling, & newspaper/soda vending machines so you never had to walk too far. WiFi was unavailable at our site, so I bicycled over to a picnic table near the office when I felt the need to be connected.

After a short two-month postponement to deal with family heath issues we finally got over to Edgewater in Sweet Home, about 2 hours SE of Portland in the foothills of the Cascades. Unfortunately we were a week late - the previous weekend was sunny & low-80's, whereas this weekend was rainy & cool. Oh well, it's Oregon - whadda ya going to do?

The resort was literally brand-spanking new with its grand opening only five months earlier. Sites were first-class & nicely landscaped and generally roomy; although ours was pretty close to the neighbor on the living side (it looks like the spaces in the corners are packed a little tighter to fill up the radius). Lots of baby trees planted so it should be great once they gain some height & canopy.

According to the Edgewater master plan the site is being developed in stages - the RV park & some pricey condos first (gee, wonder how those are selling priced at $610k to $950k?) - to be followed by a marina & lodge. We liked the place well enough to sign up on the waiting list for next year's Oregon Jamboree. Not that we're such Country-Western fans, but it sounds like a pretty good time!

This weekend Sweet Home was holding it's annual Harvest Festival in Sankey Park (same location as the Jamboree - nice tie-in, eh?). Despite the threat of rain it was fun & steeped in Oregon Americana. The park has a neat covered bridge they restored about 20 years ago & they apparently use it as a shelter for events like this.

Sat. afternoon we drove East on Hwy. 20 to get a good look at Foster Lake & maybe Green Peter Lake beyond - both are reservoirs fed by the South Santiam River. On the way we came across Sunnyside County Park, a neat campground essentially on the river between the two lakes. Definitely will be added to our "to do" list!

We've stayed here a couple times before, typically when wine touring the Walla Walla area - the location of this park is perfect for that! Not a place I'd stay for long time as it seems more like a "commuter park" for people working on temporary assignments in the area. Located adjacent to Fort Walla Walla city park on Hwy 12.

This is our second trip to this "campground" (first with Tango) and as expected it still rates as one of the best we've seen. Located across the I-5 freeway from the Seven Feathers Casino & Conference Center it's tucked into a small valley above & behind their huge truck stop that shields most if not all of the traffic noise. It looks like a former gravel mine site judging from the sheer, scraped-clean rock walls but they've done an impressive landscaping job in the resort itself.

Only a few years old, the amenities are new, modern, & well-maintained. Sites are nicely landscaped with separating lawns and include a round metal outdoor table centered on a semi-circular concrete patio off the main pad. Utilities are top-notch with two sewer connections located at both ends of the pad and a central water/electric/CATV/phone pedestal. No fire pits or open fires permitted though...didn't have a chance to ask if our Coleman Road Trip elevated firepit is considered an open fire.

One of the reasons we took this trip was to attend the annual Greatest of the Grape event, sponsored by the Umpqua Valley Winegrowers Association. One of Oregon's oldest wine celebrations, this charity fundraiser teams member wineries with a regional restaurant to offer a special food & wine pairing. Very swanky and fun to do every few years - this was our 2nd time.

During the day we had a chance to do a little informal wine tasting so we headed for one of our favorites Abacela Winery and split a case of their excellent Albariño, a Spanish-varietal that produces a nice crisp summer white. Next we hit Spangler Vineyards where I bought a bottle each of their decent Claret & Syrah. Finally, we stopped at Melrose Vineyards and came away with few of their tasty no-Oak Pinot Gris, a really nice Baco Noir, and a Barrel Select Pinot Noir. (Since we live in the upper Willamette Valley region that argueably produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the country; it's really nice to try one from a different area) We also had lunch on their covered-deck overlooking the well-manicured grounds with vines in the distance.

Premier RV Resorts has been on a buying binge the past several years and added the former Oceanview RV Village to their fleet in Spring 2008. I understand they have been steadily upgrading & improving the park so we were anxious to see how they're coming along! After a two-month postponement (due to nasty colds for both of us) we finally got over to Lincoln City and even brought my Mom along as she doesn't get to camp much anymore and really enjoys the Oregon coast.

The park is somewhat unique as it's located on the East side of Hwy 101, but due to a fortunate rise in elevation about half the park can potentially enjoy an ocean view over the homes & business across the highway. After a pleasant 3-hour drive from Portland (we detoured down through Corvallis, across the Coast Range via Hwy. 20, and up Hwy. 101 from Newport) we arrived about 4 PM & checked in. Our paperwork was ready albeit with a slight misspelling & no credit card on file - probably due to my rescheduling. We were assigned site #66, which was one of the "Ocean view" spots along the East edge of the upper section, and were soon backing onto a pad that overlooked the office with the beautiful Pacific Ocean in the background!

While the view was certainly appreciated, we all soon recognized the site next door (#65) would be much better for our rig with no rear windows. Due to the layout of the road this site was perpendicular to ours so you could really enjoy the view from the side of trailer, plus it's farther away from the distraction of the office building roof & the noise of its various mechanical systems. It wasn't worth moving for this trip, but certainly something to remember for the next visit! Campground amenities include a game/meeting room, his & her restrooms, spa, laundry facilities, a dining room for the free Continental breakfast, library, and office/store all housed in a new building on the lower level. All very clean & modern!

That Friday night my Mom had bought us all tickets to see Roy Clark at the Chinook Winds Indian Casino in town so I broke out the BBQ & grilled some brats since the weather was much nicer than the expected rain (it made up for it the next two days). The show was good for the price - $15 per seat - but at almost 76 Roy is definitely slowing down...his singing voice was pretty weak but there's no doubt he can still play the guitar! His accompanying six-man band, dubbed "Roy's Toys" was first-rate & did a fine job helping him along when necessary!

While we were in the area we wanted to check out some other camping facilities for future visits so the next day we took a ride and motored through these:

• Sea & Sand RV Park is on the West side of 101 & terraces down towards the ocean. Some sites literally on a bluff overlooking the beach!
• Coyote Rock RV Resort & Marina is right on the Siletz River about 2 mi. from 101. Very quiet. Fisherman's paradise.
• Chinook Bend Resort & Marina is a little farther up the Siletz. Membership campground, but public welcome. Pretty rustic but lots of renovation going on.
• Devil's lake State Park is located within Lincoln City on the SW end of Devil's lake.

Afterwards we had some good clam chowder at the Sea Hag in Depoe Bay (about 10 mi South of LC) & of course had to pick up a bag of the requisite coastal treat at Ainslee's Salt Water Taffy.

This is our 2nd stay at this lovely campground (previous was the last trip in our little Chalet before we sold it - sniff!) and the first with the Tango. We actually drove down to attend the 5th annual Oregon Garden Brewfest in nearby Silverton and thought it would be convenient to stay here.

Silver Falls SP is a photographer's dream, encompassing no less than ten waterfalls ranging from 27 to 177 ft. in height. All are connected with an extensive trail system that even leads you behind four of the falls, offerring a rather unique perspective!

The campground consists of two loops - B loop has hookups & is primarily used by trailers & motorhomes - and A loop for tenters & those who prefer to dry camp. There's also a couple clusters of cabins for folks who prefer solid walls but don't have or want an RV. The trailer sites in B have some of the longest pads I've ever seen in an Oregon State Park...some top 84 ft! Both the ones we used were very level too. Utilities were passable for me: 20/30-amp electric and water, no sewer (but they have a nice dump station in the park), table & fire ring. Very clean: when the site next to us vacated it wasn't five min. before a volunteer zipped in on his golf cart, shoveled the ashes from the firepit into a metal can, & raked the site smooth!

Unfortunately, the last trip was never documented on my old Chalet site...guess I was too busy buying a new trailer! But fortunately I still have all the pictures taken then so I'm mixing those with some new shots for this review. I doubt things have changed that much!

We spent a rare Memorial Day weekend at Beaver (we almost never travel on 3-day holidays) and really enjoyed the experience! One of the best features of this NF campground is the proximity to Portland - a short 1½ hour drive East up the scenic Columbia Gorge and you're immersed in the forest! This was on the small side as campgrounds go with only 13 individual sites, 2 double-sized sites, & a group site - all reservable online. However the distance & foliage separating most of them gives you a great deal of privacy so even on a busy holiday weekend we never felt crowded!

The weather was almost ideal reaching the mid/upper 70's in the day and low 50's at night with zero rain in sight! The campground is sandwiched between the diminutive but swift Wind River and Wind River Road that runs North from Washington Hwy 14 through Carson and up to Swift Creek Reservoir. From there you can head West towards Cougar, WA on Lewis River Road or continue North to Randle, WA and eventually Mt. Rainier National Park.

During our stay we visited Carson Hot Springs , had lunch at the Big River Grill in Stevenson, WA and hiked along the Whistle Punk Trail #59.

We finally scored a reservation at this very busy state park & headed down on a early June Thursday. The drive over was uneventful & we arrived at this quite large campground located on the edge of the quaint little coastal town of Manzanita Oregon. If you look at a map you'll find the park encompasses most of the spit that separates Nehalem Bay from the Pacific Ocean, with the developed park towards the Northern end and open land for hiking & horse riding to the South.

After setting up camp we were relaxing with a cocktail under the awning before dinner when the wind suddenly picked up and blew most of the pollen off the heavily-laden pine trees in the park! It looked like a sandstorm & managed to coat everything with a thick coat of yellow dust! Later we heard there were very high winds & rain in Portland and the upper Willamette Valley at that time; which knocked down many trees & cut off electricity to several thousand people! There was even a tornado sighting which is very rare for this part of the country! Apparently the storm just missed us so all we got was the pollen bath...

On Friday we took a tour of the upper Oregon coast, heading down thru several small towns to Tillamook, the largest city in the area. Once there, we skipped the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory tour (been there, done that) for the more interesting Blue Heron French Cheese Company nearby, where we bought some delicious pepper brie. I also found a car wash to clean the pollen off the truck! On the way back we stopped at the Tillamook Country Smoker factory store to pick up a nice selection of different pepperoni sticks & other smoked meats. Driving through Barview, OR we decided to swing through Barview Jetty County Campground which was recommended by one of Kristi's colleagues who camps at the coast frequently. A little rustic, but many of the campsites where right against the back side of the berm (and out of the wind) separating the park from the beach.

That evening our friends Connie & Dick who have a family vacation home in Manzanita stopped by for a glass of wine. We had made prior arrangements to see them this trip so the next day (Sat) we headed out around noon to browse through the Antique Stores in Wheeler. Then, after a tasty lunch in the restaurant at the Old Wheeler Hotel, we stopped at Nehalem Bay Winery to pick up some wine for dinner. I grabbed a bottle each of their Bordeaux blend & merlot, while Dick stocked up with a full case (and even got three more free as part of the deal –sweet!). After cleaning up & naps we met up later at their place for an excellent steak dinner with all the trimmings & watched the sun set behind the clouds…doesn’t get much better than that at the beach! Thanks guys for a great meal & company!

We decided to beat the rush Sunday so broke camp early, hit the dump station, & were on the road home by 10:30. On a whim I decided to take Hwy 53 (Necanicum) which cuts off the NW corner of the trip through Cannon beach & down Hwy 101; but soon realized this route is more suited for a motorcycle or sports car! The road was in good enough shape & traffic was light, but most of many turns were 20-25 MPH hairpins so I actually took more time that the original route! Very pretty scenery however...you had lots of time to take it all in at that speed!

This was our 2nd stay at this Deschutes National Forest campground & 1st with the Tango. We headed over on Thursday prior to the 4th of July weekend because we knew it would be busy, and even though we arrived shortly after Noon all of the campgrounds closest to the desirable Camp Sherman Store were already full!

We actually planned to camp closer, but as we drove through each of the 11 campgrounds spaced along the Metolius River and found them all full (or with only the crappiest sites left) we ended up at the last stop and thankfully managed to snag a beautiful site right on the river! And within two hours of our arrival all the remaining sites in the CG were taken! Amazing how fast you switch from the hopeful looker to the smug site holder: as the endless parade of pour souls motored through the campground I couldn't help but think "keep moving, Joads, keep moving!" BTW, these are privately managed by Hoodoo Recreation Services and do NOT accept reservations.

Between this CG & Camp Sherman is the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, which is always fun to see. About a four mile bike ride from LBCG if you're inclined. About 20 miles East on Hwy 20 is the quaint little town of Sisters, Oregon. Beside the world-renowned fly fishing you can also enjoy white-water rafting on the Metolius. Be aware trees fall across the river occasionally...there was one down about a mile down from our campground & from the pictures looks like it would a rude awakening for some distracted boater!

The campground itself was small...only a dozen sites...and located next to Bridge 99 in a heavily-wooded area of Pine & Cedar trees. They provide potable water, a set of nice pit toilets, & garbage pickup. No site utilities other than a picnic table & firepit. Due to the shade from the trees there's no screening vegetation, but the sites are spaced a good distance apart so privacy isn't too much of a problem.

That said, a couple of guys in two rigs moved in shortly after we arrived & proceeded to be the camp neighbors from Hell! In addition to shouting out a running conversation between their sites they started pounding beers the minute feet hit the ground. To sweeten the deal the stereo was blasting pretty much all day until 10, which turned out to be token concession to quiet hours because it started up again around 11 PM until they quit (passed out?) around 3 AM. One guy had a contractor-style generator he had to keep running to keep the battery for the music charged, which apparently wasn't enough because he resorted to idling his diesel off & on during the day/night too. Nothing like the subtle scent of #2 fuel oil mixed with pine & cedar! Unfortunately this CG doesn't have a host so nobody was available to officially tell them to shut up. You could feel the tension in the whole campground though...lots of dirty looks & rolling eyes!

Funny thing was, the next day after they gathered up all the bottles the wives & kids showed up and the change was dramatic! Not a peep that night or the next...the girls must have figured out what happened or the guys were feeling guilty (definitely avoided eye contact the rest of their stay). Probably both. They did fire up that damn generator occasionally though - pretty much made up my mind between solar panels or a genny - if I gotta listen to someone's lawn mower motor I might as well have one too!

We were certainly NOT disappointed with this CG…in fact just the opposite! The facilities were clean & new or in good repair and the staff really seemed caring & professional. If this is indicative of Washington State Parks we'll be back for sure!

The proximity to the beach from your campsite is great: not too far of a walk over the berm but ample screening from the ocean roar & wind from the virtually private beach! The two sites we stayed in were both in the newer section which is laid out in an interesting pattern of circles - each containing about 10 sites - connected by roads & trails. Apparently this is a campsite layout being adopted by the WSP system as I noticed Grayland (trip planned in Aug) has the same pattern. The first night we had a basic non-hookup site which was quite roomy, then we moved to a full-hookup site for the second day of our trip. Not as big & less private, the deluxe site was still far better than offered in other state parks we've seen!

Another great advantage to this park is the location - it's literally adjacent to Ilwaco, WA and a short drive from other quaint little peninsula towns like Seaview and Long Beach. All offer recreational activities, shopping & dining...in fact we had an excellent dinner Sun night at 42nd Street Café just a few miles from the campground!

That morning we hiked to both lighthouses within the park boundaries; North Head Lighthouse and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. Both are still operational (automatic) and the latter is located near the very well done Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

From the website: "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."

Some history: "In 1788, while in search of the Columbia River, English Captain John Meares missed the passage over the river bar and named the nearby headland Cape Disappointment for his failure in finding the river. In 1792, American Captain Robert Gray successfully crossed the river bar and named the river "Columbia" after his ship, the Columbia Rediviva. Only a few years later, in 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at Cape Disappointment. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was constructed in 1856 to warn seamen of the treacherous river bar known by then as "the graveyard of the Pacific." This is the oldest functioning lighthouse on the West Coast. In 1862, Cape Disappointment was armed with smoothbore cannons to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from enemies. The installation was expanded to become Fort Canby in 1875. The fort was named after General Edward Canby, who was killed in the Modoc Indian War. The fort continued to be improved until the end of World War II. Gun batteries still sit uptop the park."

Note: the fees shown include (1) Basic site at $24 & (1) Full-hookup site at $33. Since we switched sites we also had (2) online reservation charges of $6 ea. plus a change fee of $8.50. TANSTAAFL!

We've visited this resort several times but this was the first time we camped there. It's quite popular during the summer and this weekend was no different - I noticed recently vacated spaces weren't empty long as newcomers moved in within an hour! Guess they really know how to turn over their limited supply of campsites!

As part of an original three-family group we booked #26, a moderately-long site in the woods (as opposed to along the river) up on the "plateau" where most of the campsites & cabins are located. We had water & electricity but no sewer - turns out only 17 of the 42 sites have a sewer connection. It was pretty tricky to back into because the driveway was literally a right-angle to the narrow one-lane road; compounded by several large trees located directly across which really limited the maneuvering room! After a few tries I managed to get in but not without drawing a crowd - apparently watching the new arrivals navigate into their spaces is a spectator sport here! Once we got squared away & my heart rate back to normal we noted how the fairly close spacing & the total lack of screening made you feel like you were looking right into your neighbors campsite (which you were)! Fortunately the other family in the group that made it had a sweet pull-thru with good privacy so we spent most of the time over there.

The next day we set out with our mountain bikes to ride down part of the McKenzie River Trail. On the way we stopped at Koosah & Sahalie Falls for some pictures; then picked up the trail at Olallie Campground which was about 5 miles NE of Belknap. The plan was to leave one vehicle there, ride downhill to the resort, & return with a 2nd vehicle to pick up the drop car. Unfortunately we had no idea the trail was as rugged as it turned out to be, with many high & narrow sections that dropped off sharply into the woods! For the sake of some (if not all) in our party we decided it was a bit too advanced for us & slunk back to our campsite. The good news is we did get in a few miles riding along the highway as it turns out the trail is actually on the opposite side of the McKenzie from Olallie, so we had to bike down & back to the nearest bridge.

In summary, Belknap is a busy dichotomy of camping options: you can A) opt for the hard-to-get sites down by the lodge that are literally within a few feet of the roaring McKenzie River, but offer zero landscaping & are packed in as tight as Sardines; B) reserve one of the more desirable sites along the upper ridges & get full hook-ups, but you have to do so years in advance; or C) grab what you can in the inner sites as we did and get limited utilities, but you’d better be good friends with your neighbors! We’ll probably not rush back unless we can get B!

Our friends have camped at Grayland several times & raved about how nice it is, so we jumped at the chance to make some reservations (months ago) for this popular state park. It's located just South of Westport on the central Washington coast & is about a 3½ hour drive from Portland. After settling in & exploring the campground we were stuck by how similar the layout was to Cape Disappointment SP where we stayed a month ago. More on this later.

The surrounding area is an odd combination of commercial/sport fishing towns, lumber shipping ports, & cranberry bogs...with a dose of Native American & early US history tossed in for flavor! We toured the Westport Maritime Museum and saw a complete first-order Fresnel lens up close & rotating, which was removed from Destruction Island in 1995 after being replaced by an automated light. The museum also maintains the nearby Grays Harbor Lighthouse (tallest on the Washington Coast) which we visited on the way, but opted not to climb the 135 steps to the top!

Lunch was at the One Eyed Crab in Westport, the Cod & chips was excellent but skip the chowder - cool, too thick, & over-spiced with Thyme. We washed that down at Westport Winery which supports a variety of local charities. The fruit is primarily sourced from Eastern WA & they offer several tasty varietals & blends. Owners are an ex-surfer/dive shop owner & his marine architect wife.

So, what about the campground? Why only a 5 when our friends raved about it? The answer is simple: Cape Disapointment State Park; which has a nearly identical campground, very similar beach, provides more trails & sightseeing activities, and is closer to Portland (75 mi & 1+ hour less)! The surrounding Long Beach/Illwaco/Astoria communities also offer better "non-camping" amenities IMHO. Frankly, if we hadn't stayed at Cape Disappt. just a month ago Grayland would rate much higher.

The missus & I have been going down to the Corvallis Rhapsody in the Vineyards event for a few years now. We met in this college town while attending Oregon State University & lived there five years so it's always fun to have an excuse to visit the ole Alma Mater. The wines tend to be small, unknown South Willamette Valley offerings & aren't particularly stellar (although we did like Vitis Ridge), but it is fun shopping in the various stores while sipping on a glass.

Regarding the campground, Benton Oaks had a nice local feel & was in a great location to take in the various Corvallis activities. Kind of a snafu with our camping reservation though - I called a month early & requested a full-hookup pull-thru since we'd be arriving fairly late & backing into a site in the dark is no fun! I was told the campground host would actually assign the sites, but since there were "no other reservations for that weekend so far it shouldn't be any problem". You can imagine my surprise when we drove in about 7:45PM, found a whiteboard at the host's site with the site assignments, and discovered we were lodged in an overflow area at the extreme edge of the park! WTF??? Since it was late & the host was apparently occupied elsewhere we backed into our site & set up for the night. We did see a few open full-hookup sites,but since the place was almost full we figured they were assigned to others who still haven't arrived (we did hear a few latecomers pull in that night...no sense compounding the situation by raining on their parade). After setting up we decided ours was fine - new electric & water, but no sewer (there is a dump station) & no CATV (we have a satellite dish for TV if wanted). Actually, the site turned out to be pretty good since it's isolated location helped keep the noise to a minimum (except for the oom-pah music from the beer tent) & it seemed longer than ones we saw in the trees. It was quite exposed though with no shade & the temps hit 92 that weekend - the A/C was all that saved us! The following Mon I wrote them a note and they apologized profusely & issued me a partial refund. Apparently their camp host was on the way out & the new one hadn't started yet so we were in limbo. No worries.

After getting squared away we headed over to Woodstock's Pizza, our favorite local parlor that was just getting started when we lived there. We had an excellent pie called the "Spicy Beav" (named after OSU's mascot) which was covered with Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Black Olives, Sausage & Spices that even Kris was purring over!

As luck would have it, the local home brewers association was holding their 2nd annual Septembeerfest that Saturday, a benefit brewfest for Northwest beer lovers! We couldn't fit that very conveniently-located event in, but we sure will next year if the planets align! It was nice to have live music while I was BBQ'ing dinner though...

UPDATE 9/20/09: A $10 refund check arrived in the mail yesterday, so I revised my rating. Nice to deal with honorable people!

We actually had reservations at this CG a couple years ago for the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival (which is held on port property right next door), but had to cancel. Probably a good thing too because things get pretty rowdy down by the marina that weekend! Since then Kristi's brother & wife stayed here & really liked it so we set up this trip for the weekend prior to the festival -much quieter!

This is a relatively new park that was constructed in a corner of the Port property near the marina & boat launch facilities. (There's been an older RV park down there for years which is now called the Annex and is much more "rustic" than its newer brother). Nicely laid out with planting beds between the sites & modern utilities - take note the location of the sewer connection at the midpoint of the pull-throughs (which are most of the inner sites). Probably better for a MH, but if your sewer outlet is at the rear like mine you'll need to spot your trailer towards the front of the pad & park the TV behind.

By far the best thing about this CG is the location, location, location! The port property is basically located on a large peninsula projecting into the bay from the South side adjacent to the beautiful Conde McCullough-designed Yaquina Bay Bridge that Hwy 101 uses to cross the mouth of the bay. As such it's surrounded by water on three sides and besides the port facilities is also home to the Hatfield Marine Science Center, part of the Oregon State University Sea Grant program (and our alma mater!) and the excellent Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Besides the birdwatching, surfing, beachcombing, beer swilling (Rogue Brewery is adjacent to the port property almost under the bridge!), whiskey-sipping (Rogue House of Spirits is even closer!) you could always check out the historic Newport Bay Front for some great seafood! We bought some killer baby shrimp & cracked crab for cocktails at the Fish Peddler's Market - still no smell after two full days in the fridge so you know it was fresh!

We spent one afternoon checking out the lighthouse & views from the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM) in the North end of town that includes the old Yaquina Head Lighthouse. There's a $7 day-use fee that's good for three days so take your time to explore this very large area! Farther South, just across the bay from the campground is the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse (now located within Yaquina Bay State Park). Pretty amazing to find two historic lighthouses in one small town!

• Fee paid reflects Good Sam discount.
• WiFi is provided by Meraki Networks for $5/day (this used to be free - shame on them!)

This is our 3rd stay in this park (See last trip) and again was in conjunction with attending the Oregon Garden Brewfest in nearby Silverton, Oregon. But this trip was unique because we had to stay in a tent site in A loop, a less-desirable option forced on us because all the trailer sites were booked for the weekend! Since that seemed unusual for Spring; I assumed it may have something to do with the state switching over to a new online reservation system this month (from a crappy system to I'm sure a similarly crappy system) as per this notice on their website:

"Attention Reservation Customers: As of April 14, Reservations Northwest (RNW) is accepting campsite reservations for arrivals May 1, 2010 and beyond. State park camping for the rest of April is first come, first served at all parks with the exception of existing reservations."

It sounded like RNW had just blocked out all the sites until the new system was available so we were hopeful there would be some open trailer sites available; but we arrived to find the place literally infested with lots of tiny trailers (Casita, Scamp, Trillium, etc.). Later, after talking to few people we discovered it was the Northern Oregon Gathering - Spring Event of the FGRV (FiberGlass RV) Owner's Group! It was a hoot to see these little guys dotting the campground and the owners we spoke to were quite friendly & very proud of their little capsules!

I was glad now we had made a reservation in the camping loop & managed (amazingly considering the sketchy info) to pick one of only a few sites deep enough to contain our combination. It actually wasn't bad as it backed up to the South Fork of Silver Creek, although the neighbor to the South was only about 10 feet away! The pad was off-level about 2" side-to-side & was heavily wooded...in fact we had to have a light on inside even during the day because of the shade!

The brewfest was a good time...lots of IPA's (not my favorite) & some special brews. We're actually starting to appreciate the live music as much as the beer: they clearly have a good booking agency or at least someone who recognizes decent talent. The acts playing during our time there was the always reliable Jim Mesi Band and a country act with a very talented front woman; Carrie Cunningham & the Six Shooters! And just as we were leaving three guys called Southern Cross took the stage and knocked out a dead-ringer version of the Doobie Brothers "Listen to the Music" ! But our age was showing as we bailed about 7:00 PM & noticed a huge line of twenty-something’s lining up to begin the night's festivities on the way out. Must have been a shift change from the graying & pudgy 50+ boomers to the XYZ generations. Ah, to be young again....

Cold Springs is a small, heavily-forested campground in the Deschutes NF only a few miles West of Sisters, Oregon on the McKenzie Hwy (242). We were actually over here to celebrate Kristi's parents 60th wedding anniversary who live nearby, so time in the campground was pretty limited this weekend. No real amenities other than pit toilets & a potable water spigot, but the large sites do have tables & fire pits. Once we actually found the place (see warning below) & licked our wounds from the unintended off-road experience it was most pleasant relaxing around the campfire!

However while there we noted most of the sites are well-separated but offer little screening vegetation - not sure if it's due to maintenance or the high-desert environment. Our gravel pull-thru was dead-level laterally but a little tight...had to take a couple stabs at it to clear the trees. The picnic table was probably one of the largest I've ever seen: 10-12' long & built from heavy 4x timbers! Fortunately some numbnuts has not yet desecrated it with a knife or tried to set it on fire... give 'em time!

This place is really a birder's paradise...our camping companions are avid amateur ornithologists & have stayed at this campground many times over the years. We went on a short walk with them & were amazed at the variety of feathered friends squawking, squeaking, & honking at us from the tree canopy! During the hike we also noted several boondocking sites worth returning to - as you may know you're allowed to camp anywhere in a NF not specifically prohibited - no fees, no rules! In fact, this weekend there were probabnly more people out in the woods surrounding the campground than inside it!

WARNING! Do NOT follow the directions calculated by a Garmin GPS using the coordinates provided on the campground website if you take the Cold Springs Cutoff (NF Road 1012) from Hwy 20!! It will lead you down a narrow mile-long Jeep trail that you won't be able to exit once you start and your vehicle will suffer the death of a thousand cuts... well, scratches anyway... from the sturdy shrubs that line the six-foot-wide road! (Don't ask me how I know!)

The GPS coordinates shown here (44.309008,-121.630596) are correct & will pinpoint the CG entrance on Hwy 242! We now return to our regularly-scheduled campground review...

Fort Worden is one of several decommissioned military facilities on the west coast constructed in the late 1800 - early 1900's to protect vital shipping ports and other assets. This particular fort is part of a trio (along with Fort Flagler & Fort Casey) that guarded the Admiralty Inlet off the Strait of Juan de Fuca leading to the Bremerton Naval Yard and cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. The fort was closed in 1953 and the property was purchased as a state park in 1955.

The park offers two distinctly different camping areas:

1. The "Beach" campground that borders the water along the East edge of the park. Here the sites here are widely-spaced with grass between & offer little to no screening vegetation. One side of the loop abuts a Aspen covered bluff (we stayed in one of these) which provides some protection from the prevailing winds, but is in shade most of the afternoon & therefore cooler than the more exposed sites on the other side of the loop. This area seems more isolated from the hustle & bustle of the Fort itself & seems more like a "regular state park".
2. The "Upper" campground is located in a heavily-forested area West of the NCO quarters & is much closer to the action of the Fort. Many sites have shrubs & trees that provide a measure of privacy. If you were attending a workshop or class at the Fort this would be the best place to camp as you avoid the fairly long, steep hike up from the beach CG. There are no sewer connections in this area but a dump station is available.

Many of the buildings in the fort have been leased out to 17 nonprofit, for profit businesses, and public institutions including:

• Port Townsend School of Woodworking (Bldg 315 - old Power House)
• Madrona MindBody Institute (Bldg 310 - old Post Exchange & Gym)
• Corvidae Press (Bldg 205 - old Band Barracks)
• Copper Canyon Press (Bldg 313 - old Blacksmith & Print Shop)

See more at The Fort Worden Collaborative.

Our first full day we visited the Coast Artillery Museum located in Bldg 201. Very interesting series of displays, videos, & scale models that give you a good idea of everyday life at the Fort "back in the day"!

The park literally butts up to Port Townsend, a quaint seaport village located on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula. Besides the obvious port facilities the town is well-known for a vast collection of Victorian homes and significant historical buildings. During our stay we discovered the "Taste of Port Townsend" (a fundraiser for the Main Street Program) was scheduled later in the week so we coughed up $70 for a couple tickets - a great way to sample several restaurants, cider & wine all in one night plus see quite a bit of the town!

Another day we drove down to Bainbridge Island (about 45 mi. SE) and toured the Blodel Reserve, a 150 acre nature preserve that's "a unique blend of natural woodlands and beautifully landscaped gardens, including a Japanese Garden, a Moss Garden, a Reflection Pool, and the Bloedel’s former estate home". Filled with native NW species, this place is spectacular even during the constant drizzle we endured during our visit. Highly recommended!

Our last day we finally were able to visit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center which was only open Fri-Sun at this time of the year. It's a small institution near our campground consisting of a “wet” Marine Exhibit out on a pier filled with touch tanks and a “dry” Natural History Exhibit on shore with various archeological displays. Very well done however & kids of all ages really enjoyed the touch pools!

Also that day was the Fort Worden Military Vehicle Collectors Show, sponsored by the West Sound Military Vehicle Preservation Club. Very interesting collection of WW11+ equipment, most of it beautifully restored! And the owners were in full regalia with a variety of weapons, tents, & other authentic supplies. This guy took some great pictures there & has many more of the PT area.

BTW, one thing we DIDN'T do & wish we had was buy a Fort Worden Passport to Fun and Adventure! According to the official blurb "This coupon book has $20 worth of entertainment value and includes admission to the Rothschild House, Port Townsend Marine Science Center touch tanks, Natural History Museum, Coast Artillery Museum and Commanding Officer's Quarters. It's also good for a 10% discount at the park's Guardhouse Gift Shop and free chips when a sandwich and soda are purchased from the Cablehouse Canteen. The passport costs $11 for adults and $6 for children ages 12 years and younger". We ending up spending that much for just a couple of those attractions so obviously this would be a great deal! I think you can buy them from the Park Office when you check in.

One last note: the Henery's Hardware store in Port Townsend is one of the best I've seen & I spend a lot of time in hardware stores! I stopped there at least three times picking little gizmos & widgets you don't normally find anywhere but a well-stocked store like this one! Three thumbs up!

This is Oregon's newest state park that opened in 2007 (first since 1972) located off Oregon Route 47 in the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range near the towns of Buxton & Vernonia about 31 miles west of Portland. Spreading over 1,600+ acres the park includes hiking & biking trails, horseback riding areas, RV camping areas (78 full hookup sites), tent camping areas (12 walk-in, 23 hike-in primitive), and cabins (12 one-room & 3 two-room), and a combined horse/camping area (14 full hookup sites with 4-stall corrals, 2 double-size full hookup sites with 6-stall corrals) among other features. There's also a nice day-use area available with a fenced off-leash pet section & meeting halls for rent in the Dairy Creek West Loop & Mountain Dale Cabin Village.

Running through the park is the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, an abandoned 21-mile railroad line that runs between these two small towns and has been paved almost the entire distance. We rode it about ten miles to Vernonia where we had lunch & a beer before retracing our path. It's really ideal for bicycling since the grades are fairly gentle (except for a few areas where it crosses the highway that is obviously not part of the old rail bed) and is well-shaded much of the way by the heavy tree canopy - a fact appreciated on the sunny mid-80's day we were there!

The park seemed fairly busy with few empty sites, but we noticed many RV's seemed abandoned with no sign of their owners? Only later did we realize you can actually use this park as your headquarters to explore Portland or the Oregon coast as it's located roughly midway between the two! There's even a Columbia County Rider Bus that stops at the park & will take you to the Tri-Met Willow Creek Transit Center if you prefer not to drive to town.

Since the place is only a few years old the facilities are like new. Hookups are modern & the sewer inlet is located midway on the site so bring a long hose if your outlet is at the rear of your RV. The sites themselves are huge with a large table, extra-high fire ring, and are dressed with 1/4" crushed gravel (contained by a concrete perimeter curb - nice touch!). We didn't notice any particular highway noise save the occasional log truck but you could hear chainsaws & logging equipment in the distance during the day as the park is surrounded by timber country. There was a fairly steady breeze though - I had to get up in the middle of the night to retract the flapping awning - not sure if that's normal or just a product of the season. It was nice to cool you off though...

After discussing it at length we gave this place a 9 rating - more to reserve the 10 for the really exceptional places. There's really not anything to complain about; in fact the only thing we could come up with is related solely to the young age of the park! All in all, a most enjoyable escape located very close to home that feels like a thousand miles away! We'll be back for sure!

Fee includes $8 reservation fee & $8 transaction fee. Don't get me started on the latter...wouldn't you think a transaction is inherent to a reservation? What's next...an internet search result fee? A charge to drive on the campground roads? A cost for using up airspace above the footprint of the site?