While staying in Washington for the summer, we decided to do some of the touristy things we never made time for when we were still housebound. One of those trips was to tour the Ballard Locks in Ballard, Washington. The Ballard Locks, officially known as Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, are the busiest lock system in the United States, composed of two locks, one big and one small. Exploring the locks
The last two weeks, we talked about the day-use side of Dash Point State Park, and then the trails and campground. This week, we’ll break down workamping for Dash Point State Park. Available Positions and Responsibilities Many workamping gigs are typically “camp host” positions; their responsibilities are: When we applied to work at the state park, the only position they had available was as a “Maintenance Host.” The maintenance host
We spent a whole season at Dash Point State Park, giving us the ability to explore almost every inch of this sprawling bit of wild space. The park is one side day-use and, across the street, a campground. We already covered the day-use facilities, so this week we’ll talk about the campground and trail systems. Dash Point State Park: Camping Side The campground at Dash Point State Park is located
We spent a whole season workamping for a very unique destination: Dash Point State Park, nestled in downtown Federal Way, Washington. This park is one side day-use and, across the street, a campground. It has beach access, forested trails, and is minutes from amenities. Today we’ll be covering just the day-use side. The day-use side of Dash Point State Park is located north of SW Dash Point Road/State Route 509.
Our final stop before arriving at our “summer home, Margaret McKenny Campground in the Capitol State Forest, is part of a large network of “free” campgrounds peppered around Washington state. What Do I Mean by “Free”? Washington state, like many states, has a state park pass program. They go by different names in different states, but in Washington, it’s called the Discover Pass. As of writing, they cost $50 for
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