While making our way up the west coast to our summer spot, we elected to take the more scenic road along the 101. While the views were amazing, when the fog cleared, the public land was few and far between. This meant that we stayed at more than a few casinos, and even a welcoming cheese monger along the way. Shoal Water Bay Casino was in the former category, and
I’ve been looking through posts on various RV and camping forums and have come across a lot of pretty mean-spirited comments calling out people for not camping the “right” way. We’re a pretty inclusive family by nature and feel the only “wrong” way to camp is to do so unsustainably. In our travels, we’ve met nomads who regularly cross the nation and live out of an SUV. We’ve known families
While trundling up the 101, we had the opportunity to stay at more than one unique boondocking spot. We’re no strangers to casino stays. A little less common is when boutique businesses open up their lots to travelers. Blue Heron Cheese Company is one such business. It’s an adorable delicatessen and cheese shop with a huge parking lot welcoming travelers. What to Expect at Blue Heron French Cheese Company When
While rolling up the west coast, we had the opportunity to visit one of the best aquarium experiences we’ve seen: the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon. Oregon Coast Aquarium: Conservation First The first thing we noticed was the aquarium’s dedication to conservation. The grounds had commissioned sculptures of sea creatures throughout. These sculptures were made from flotsam, mostly beach trash, and were a very non-invasive way of showing humankind’s
While running up the Pacific Coast Highway, we found a distinct lack of public lands to stay at. While we’re no strangers to paying for a stay, we try to avoid it, unless it opens up opportunities for us. South Beach State Park, while a little expensive, allowed us to empty our tanks, top up the water, and even visit an amazing aquarium! Amenities at South Beach State Park South
Sturdivent Park in Coquil, Oregon, of all the places we’ve stayed, was kinda weird. We’re no strangers to staying at state parks and campgrounds. This, however, was probably the first time we stayed at a park that was primarily a day-use facility, but allowed cheap dry camping. Facilities Sturdivent Park is primarily a day-use park and fishing staging area. The area has several porta-potties, play fields, and trash cans throughout.
Skull Creek Campground was one of those rare treats: a free 14-day BLM campground with facilities! The campground is pretty easy to get to, but taller rigs should be careful, as both entrance roads have low branches overhanging the road. Our bus, at just under 12’ tall, barely passed under the branches. Amenities at Skull Creek Campground I don’t mean to oversell it. By facilities, all I mean is a
By now, we’ve stayed at our fair share of campgrounds, boondocking spots, and even casinos. We think we have a pretty good idea about what makes a good one and what makes a bad one. Wolf Creek Park in Wolf Creek, Oregon, definitely fits in the latter category. One thing we learned as we traveled up the west coast was that with the lack of public lands came a lack
We’ve been crisscrossing the nation, ticking off as many national parks as possible, and Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has always been on the list. Unfortunately, a park named for a massive, deep blue lake isn’t always about lakeside strolls, especially in early spring! We spent a day at Crater Lake, and what a day it was. When we pulled in, the roads were clear, but the snow was
We had an opportunity to visit the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and needed a place to stay. While looking up locations on Freecampsites.net, Buck Divide Road caught our eye. While it wasn’t great, it was a free place to park. Buck Divide Road: Not Great for Large Rigs Buck Divide Road can be roughly split into two sections: the woods and the staging area. When we arrived in mid-spring, we were