July 21-Aug 4, 2019
We knew that we wanted to spend a little more time on the Oregon Coast this year but instead of staying at one of the places we have stayed before, we decided to try a new location. So we chose Seaside RV Resort in Seaside, Oregon for two weeks. While I didn't love the campground itself, it was part of our campground membership, it was pretty close to the beach and the overall location to other areas to explore was great.
It was about two miles from our site to the actual waterfront so it definitely required a drive to get there but there was a nice parking lot that we could always find a spot in. The beach water was too cold for us but the kids had fun wading in the water, catching crabs and the hundreds of “giant bugs”. We learned that these bugs are Pacific Mole Crabs and that they do not have pincers but it was just one other reason that I would not get near the water! There were so many of them in the sand just waiting to tickle your feet!
We also had a couple of meet-ups on the beach. One night we had a campfire with five other families. One in particular, we met during our second year and I think we run into them every year. Jordan and their daughter enjoy spending time together. Two of the families were new to us.
On another night, we met for dinner at the beach and let the kids play.
And the kids finally tried out Pickleball after having taking tennis lessons while in Austin. Jacob is hooked for sure and the whole family had a fun time playing.
In Seaside, we visited the Seaside Aquarium. The seals were just adorable and reminded us of puppies. One in particular would watch and wait for you to throw some fish and if you didn't (s)he would splash you with water! It was too funny!
The aquarium also had some great other displays, including sharks and octopuses. It wasn't a big place but definitely worth a visit.
During our stroll, we also visited the Lewis & Clark Salt Works (again). This is where several men spent 7 weeks boiling ocean water to gather salt. They boiled water 24 hours a day so that in the end they had 28 gallons of salt to be used on their return trip home. This area gave them plenty of wood for the fire, elk to hunt and sea water that was not diluted by the Columbia River.
On another day, the kids and I spent a morning at Fort Clatsop. I have been before and debated whether I should go again but I LOVE learning about the Lewis & Clark Expedition and we could go for free with our NP pass, so we went! I am so glad that I did. I always learn something new and this time there were more demonstrations taking place.
This is where (as far as all records indicate) the expedition group spent their last winter before heading back east. They started construction of the fort around December 7th and the last of them moved in around Christmas (I can't remember the dates exactly). And I'm sure their structure was more crude than this one but that seems so fast knowing that they did it in cold, rainy weather and had to chop down the trees to even start. Interestingly, all the trees that they needed were brought down in only a couple of days.
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| (Lewis & Clark's room) |
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| (Lewis & Clark's room) |
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| (Sacagawea's Room) |
When I go on a camping trip, I plan A LOT but I just cannot fathom the planning and foresight that was put into this trip! I am truly amazed. This time I learned about a lead container created by Lewis and a plumber for storing gunpowder. They designed it so that it was watertight and would keep the powder dry but also it was made of lead so that if it fell overboard along the river, it would sink (rather than float away) for easier retrieval and then once the gunpowder was used up, the canisters could be melted down to make ammunition or other items. So awesome! Maybe I never think like that because I can't MAKE anything!
We watched a gun demonstration, talked to one of the docents awhile and checked out the fort.
Also interesting was that when the Oregon Historical Society acquired this site in 1900, all of the trees here had been removed by the potato farmer that had Homesteaded here. So all of the trees that are here now have just grown in the past 119 years. Obviously, the conditions here are really good for growing!
We visited Ecola State Park again, as well. This time we hiked the trail to Crescent Beach. It was a big reminder that we need to get back into hiking shape! The beach seemed so close but we went up and down and back and forth for 45 minutes. But it was so worth it. The tide was out and we were able to explore pools and caves! We saw tiny fish, crab, sea stars and anemones galore! And on a side note, Lewis & Clark traveled here as well searching for a beached whale that natives had told them about.
And in the background, you can see Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach. This is same rock from the opening beach scene in The Goonies!
We also made a couple of day trips. The first was to Portland, where we had never been. I've often heard that it is like Austin. Well either I have a very different view of Austin or we were just in the wrong parts of Portland. I think the latter is probably correct but I have no strong desire to return.
Our first stop in Portland was Powell's City of Books. I must say this place was really amazing. It is the largest independent book store in the world! It occupies a whole city block and has 65,000 sq ft of retail space! They carry new and used books and it is divided into different color rooms on multiple levels. I could easily spend a couple hours there.
After that, we had lunch at Great Notion Brewery. Greg LOVED his beer and food. It was just ok for the rest of us.
Then we rode the sky tram for the view of the area (it was much shorter than I anticipated) and then we walked across one of the bridges.
We stopped by Keller Fountain on our walk to VooDoo donuts. The fountain was pretty, but the walk got really gross and felt very sketchy and then sadly, the line to VooDoo donuts was way too long for us.
After that, we decided to leave Portland and drove to Multnomah Falls. We attempted to stop at the falls two years ago when we came through but we were towing the RV and had no place to park.
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| (view from the bridge) |
It's a pretty short walk to see the falls and it was so pretty! I challenged everyone to guess which was taller, Niagara or Multnomah? It's deceptive because Niagara is so massive but it is much shorter than Multnomah! Multnomah has two drops with the first being 542 feet and the second being 69 feet, while Niagara is only 167 feet tall! The only falls taller than Multnomah in the US is Yosemite Falls.
Our other day trip out of Seaside was to Astoria. Yes, the same Astoria where The Goonies was filmed and based! What could be better than Goonies AND Lewis and Clark?! But this time, we did not do anything related to either of those. Ha ha
The first stop was to Bowpicker's for Fish and Chips. I hate seafood but this place has GREAT fish and chips. It opens at 11ish and the line forms before then. We got there about 11:30 and waited in line at least 30 minutes. But it is so worth it!
Then Greg took a tour of Fort George Brewery while the kids and I strolled around town browsing though a toy shop and then the Astoria Sunday Market.
That pretty much sums up our Seaside trip! I am not sure we will be back soon but it is on the list for sure!
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