Before I begin this is going to be VERY wordy so please....no worries...if you feel the need to skim on through and just browse the photos. The words are just for me and my memories.
Day 1, Saturday: (Mount Vernon, WA to Port Orchard, WA - miles 121.47)
We started out the trip by heading to Port Orchard, WA to visit my grandma and grandpa Mandeville. We usually only see them once a year at our family reunion but since we missed it this year we decided to make this the beginning marker of our trip.
This was Bryan's first time visiting their house and he was impressed with the view of the bay from their house.
Day 2, Sunday: (Port Orchard, WA to Ilwaco, WA - 141.75miles)
Grandma and Grandpa put hooked us up with a hotel for the night and Emily was SO impressed with the sandy beach right outside our hotel door. She dragged Auntie Jenny down there at 7am!
Then we said our good-byes to my grandparents and Auntie Jenny and we headed on down the Washington coast. Even with the Tulle we were packed in the Expedition like sardines.
Our first campground was Cape Disappointment State Park in Washington State. Setting up camp took a little longer than we anticipated but once it was all set up we thought it looked pretty good.
While I finished setting up camp and making our first meal Emily got out her buckets and shovels and got to work digging in the dirt. She was so incredibly DIRTY but what's camping without some fun in the dirt.
Mmmmm...Mac and cheese for the kids and hamburgers for Bryan and I.
After dinner we decided to take a walk down to the ocean. Our campsite was only about 200 feet from the beach so it was a quick walk.
And this is why I will never live away from the coast.
It was a little bit chilly as the sun began to set but nothing was going to stop Emily from playing at the beach.
Here's a clip of Emily finding some burried treasure. I tried to repeat as much as possible because the wind really muffled the sound...
The North Head light house was just to the right of us on the bluff.
The salty ocean air finally got to Jack and it was starting to get really cold so we headed back to camp.
Day 3, Monday: Exploring Cape Disappointment
This was Bryan's first time visiting their house and he was impressed with the view of the bay from their house.
Day 2, Sunday: (Port Orchard, WA to Ilwaco, WA - 141.75miles)Grandma and Grandpa put hooked us up with a hotel for the night and Emily was SO impressed with the sandy beach right outside our hotel door. She dragged Auntie Jenny down there at 7am!
Then we said our good-byes to my grandparents and Auntie Jenny and we headed on down the Washington coast. Even with the Tulle we were packed in the Expedition like sardines.
Our first campground was Cape Disappointment State Park in Washington State. Setting up camp took a little longer than we anticipated but once it was all set up we thought it looked pretty good.
While I finished setting up camp and making our first meal Emily got out her buckets and shovels and got to work digging in the dirt. She was so incredibly DIRTY but what's camping without some fun in the dirt.
Mmmmm...Mac and cheese for the kids and hamburgers for Bryan and I.
After dinner we decided to take a walk down to the ocean. Our campsite was only about 200 feet from the beach so it was a quick walk.
And this is why I will never live away from the coast.
It was a little bit chilly as the sun began to set but nothing was going to stop Emily from playing at the beach.
Here's a clip of Emily finding some burried treasure. I tried to repeat as much as possible because the wind really muffled the sound...The North Head light house was just to the right of us on the bluff.
The salty ocean air finally got to Jack and it was starting to get really cold so we headed back to camp.
The next morning the kids woke up early to some shocking weather. It was 46 degrees outside and that was without the wind chill. I packed some warm clothes for the kids but I definitely didn't prepare us for this kind of weather. I bundled up the kids and we stayed inside the tent and played in the "play area" for as long as possible.
By about 9am we were ready to get out of the tent so we headed off on our destinations for the day. The first stop was in our campground. This is marker marks the location of Lewis and Clarks campsite.
Next we went to see Beard's Hollow.
By this time it was only about 10am but poor Bryan came down with a terrible migraine. I took Byran and Jack back to the tent so that they could sleep for a few hours and Emily and I attempted to play on the beach in the freezing rain and wind. I found a great spot tucked behind a big rock that seemed to block some of the weather.
We decided to head into Long Beach for some lunch later that afternoon. Emily was starting to get very sleepy while eating her corn dog...
but a little soda pop perked her up! (Just in case you are wondering...soda is ONLY a special treat for occasions like camping.)
We decided to go back to camp for Emily's nap and Jack's second nap but they didn't last too long...
so we packed up the kids and decided to venture on with our adventures for the day. We were really excited to hike up to the lighthouse and for some reason that side of the ocean (where it meets the Columbia) was clear and sunny.
When we finally reached the top...it was much more of a hike than we anticipated... the view was spectacular. Two coast guards were on duty at the time.
Here is the view of the Lewis and Clark Observatory from the lighthouse.
Day 4, Tuesday: Exploring more of Cape Disappointment then off to Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon - (19.36 miles)We got up early the next morning and headed off to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
It is built on top of Fort Canby.
And here they are...
This was Emily's first time inside a real museum and she had mixed feelings. She liked the fun stuff to do but didn't like the idea of being quiet.
Then we were off to see Clark's Tree. This is the most northern point that Lewis and Clark explored along the coast. Clark wrote in the tree to mark his arrival.
We needed some fun at this point in our trip and this little trip to Clark's Tree did the trick. It was one of our favorite memories of the trip.
Then we packed back in the car and headed to Oregon. These next two pictures were taken on the kids as we were crossing the bridge into Oregon.
Our new camp ground was at Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon. This is a place where I visited often as a kid. We set up our camp, took showers (YAY!) but silly me forgot to take any pictures of it. If it helps...a couple of ladies walked by and told Bryan that our set up looked like something out of Better Homes and Gardens. This just made my day!Day 5, Wednesday: Camping and exploring surrounding areas in Oregon
We got up early in the morning and headed into Cannon Beach for the day.
Emily bought a lollipop and also used a public restroom for the first time ever! She walked out saying, "That was SO DISGUSTING. Don't touch anything!" That's my girl!
Haystack Rock...if you are a GOONIES fanatic like me this says it all! As a kid I explored every aspect of this rock searching for the pirate ship.
Then we headed back to camp to play on the beach. The beach here is beautiful and the old ship wreck has always been one of my favorite things to see. Emily ran as fast as she could through the sand...
and Jack was not too far behind.
Jack went C.R.A.Z.Y. playing in the sand...We did some sand writing...
and Emily did her very own E...
We played until they dropped and they fell asleep on the way back to our campsite.Day 6, Thursday: Fort Stevens and exploring Fort Clatsop and Seaside...
We started the morning but running into Warrenton to purchase a canopy to put over the picnic table. It was warmer here but rainy and we needed a dry area to eat. Then we headed to Fort Clatsop for some exploring. Lucky us it was craft day! Emily made a bent wood box and a canoe for Grandpa Jim to go fishing in.
Jack and I thought we looked a little more comfortable than Sacajawea...
Then we explored the replicated forts that L&C stayed in...
The trees here were enormous! This picture really does not do it any justice.
Emily is fascinated with bridges. She was stomping and yelling, "Wake up grumpy old troll!"
This is a burned out type of canoe that L&C used. The Native Americans later showed them how to make a much more durable one out of cedar.
After a full day of learning at Fort Clatsop we headed into Seaside for some fun! Emily loved this train ride!
But the carousal horses were her favorite!
Next we went to the little aquarium right on the beach and fed the sea lions.
Emily was fascinated with the exhibits.
She was a little leary of the touch tank at first...
but soon found she loved it!
Day 7, Friday: SeasideSo....we had so much fun on Thursday and the sun FINALLY came out that we just couldn't imagine going home yet! Our camp ground was full but that really was not our excuse...we just wanted ONE night in a hotel. We decided that we are definitely campers and not hotelers but spending the last night of a camping adventure in a hotel makes everything so much easier! We packed up on Friday night (a two hour process) and then went to Seaside. We found a beautiful hotel and stayed just one more day. We did everything we had done the day before and more...
And a pool for the day was fabulous!
After swimming Emily came back, showered and nestled down in the comfy bed. They were both out by 6 pm...
Day 8: Seaside to Mount Vernon - 252.01 milesThe next morning we packed the kids in and headed all the way home.
I am already sad just thinking about this time passing but happy to know that we will have so many more adventures together traveling with our children. I am so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing family!Some additional information: John and Kate Plus 8 have our same tent! Hmmm...I think they might have a few more bodies to fit in theirs. We fit two queen size mattresses in ours and they only take up half of the space. The other side is organized into a play area, a clothing area, a supply area and the potty! Yes a potty! After this trip Emily is now totally and completely potty trained! YAY!
What an amazing adventure! Looked like so much fun :)
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