It's PUMPKIN Patch time and we have some great ones in the Northwest!

Growing up as a child in Los Angeles, California, pumpkin patches and farms were make believe places I saw on TV or in the movies.  Even after moving to Washington in my teens, my parents stuck with the usual store purchased pumpkin and didn't properly introduce me to any farms. 

Now with children of my own I have finally spent the last few years enjoying the TRUE holiday of Halloween and all it's activities of a Pumpkin Patch.  I had no clue that some have rides, mazes, petting zoos and so much more to offer than just pumpkins. 

Olympia, WA has a several great pumpkin patches just in this area.  I've heard of many throughout the Puget Sound are wonderful and if you have any travel plans to be in the Northwest in October, you won't be disappointed if you make a pit stop at the Pumpkin Patch! Ask a local where their favorite farm is to visit and you're likely to be given a decent location. 

I will admit it can get a little pricey at the more popular locations, so we spend a little money on a couple rides and the hay maze and actually just get one or two very small pumpkins the kids can carry on their own and save our money for the large pumpkins to be purchased at the grocery store. 

This year we chose to visit Hunter's Pumpkin Patch here in Olympia with some friends.  I had been visiting Schilter's Family Farm the last couple years with my daughters school groups.  We had a great time with the girls running through a maze as we watched them get lost from above.  I watched my son take his first Pony ride while my daughter took a scream down the slide and a fun ride on a ATV and Haunted train.  The activities are fun and if you get lucky (as we did this year) to get some sunny Northwest October weather, it makes for an even better day at the farm.

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Mossyrock Park Camping - Tacoma Power

Just an hour and twenty minutes South East of Olympia you can find four different camping grounds owned and maintained by Tacoma Power.  These parks are reserved on the State park website, but in my opinion are far superior to state campgrounds.  Maybe not so much privacy on the sites, but very well kept and full of activities.

We booked our second trip to Mossyrock Park (the last trip several years ago) and it was just as nice as I recalled.  We arrived and easily found our space #161 on the upper camping level.  This was by far the largest campsite we've ever reserved, although part of it was technically the "horse shoe" play area, but no one ever came to use it.  It had a great peak-a-boo view of the lake and just a short walk away was a playground for the kids.  My daughter noticed it the moment we pulled in and immediately dragged me over to play, which worked out well for letting my husband set up camp. 

We were actually surprised by the warm weather we received and I was a little hot because I had packed for rain and cold.  If your family has a boat or enjoys water activities, this is the place to be! Riffe Lake is vast and many people come with a boat or jet skies in tow. 

Don't want to get in the water? Take a 15min drive East towards the City of Morton and stop at the Mossyrock Dam for an amazing site!  This Dam is Washington State's tallest and very impressive to say the least.  If you've got some time, continue on to the small but charming town of Morton to hit the local grocery store to stock up on camping supplies or anything you may have left from home.  Although Mossyrock does have a small convienence store in town if there is anything you need to get right away while camping, as well as a small one inside the campground.

Overall this was a great camping trip for our family.  I know camping is about hiking and activities and things you don't normally do at home, but the playground was the biggest entertainment for my kids, second to riding bikes. 

Vist any one of the four Tacoma Power Campgrounds and I am sure you won't be disappointed.  It's not the "nature lover's" campgrounds, but there's plenty to see and do in and around the lake.

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Crossing the Canadian Border with Kids

Getting there and...Waiting

If your planning a trip North to visit our good neighbors, the Canadians, be sure you're ready to cross the border.  If your crossing to Canada via I-5 in Western Washington you have two options for crossing - the Peace Arch or the Pacific Highway crossing also know as the "Truck Crossing", but don't let the name fool you, cars and other vehicles are welcome to use this crossing as well.  You will come up to an electronic display sign as you near your options.  Hopefully it will give you an accurate reading of the wait times at each crossing for you to choose which one to use.  When we arrived it stated 45min Peace Arch and 20min Pacific Highway crossing time.  We chose Pacific Hwy and it was probably more like a 30 minute wait, but still not too bad for a Saturday afternoon.  Many people have complained that the accuracy of the sign is off and a 90min wait can realistically lead to a 3hr wait, so just be prepared.

A typical border crossing can take an hour up to several hours depending on traffic and if you have any delays in having the pleasant opportunity of a random search.

Crossing with Kids
If your traveling with children, use this time for maybe a fun lesson on borders and the differences of Canada and the U.S.A and why we must stop to provide identification.  After stopping for the border my daughter quickly set up a lesson of her own asking many questions about Canada and why we had to go through security, etc.  So you may want to brush up on your Canadian/U.S. knowledge before taking the trip, your kids may put you on the spot as a History teacher!

Also take this time to explain that crossing is a serious time and once you get to the booth (or "policeman" as we described to our 6yr old) that being loud or saying anything without being asked is not appropriate.  I once crossed the border into Mexico with a group of teens and after one "jokingly" said he was from Mexico as we were entering back into the U.S, it quickly prompted a couple hour delay in our crossing.

Items you will need to Cross:

• First and most importantly: Everyone's PASSPORT!  This is a new requirement within the last couple of years that you must have a Passport to cross to Canada, no matter how you get there.
• If your a single parent, divorced or just crossing solo with the kids, get written permission from the other parent of your child to make crossing easier.
• If your taking children that are not your own, you will definitely need written permission from the child's parents to cross. 
• If your bringing your "other child" the family pet you will need signed and dated certificates from a veterinarian verifying that they have been vaccinated against rabies within the last three years
• Knowledge of where your headed, why your headed there and how long you will be staying.  As the travel planner of the family I have to remind my husband before we pull up to the line what hotel we are staying at and how long.

Packing some Extra
Whether your expecting a long border crossing wait or not, consider your travel time and whether you could be held up during lunch or dinner time.  If lines are hours long you will be asked to turn off your vehicle while you wait, so pack some games or a lunch/dinner and get out of the car if it's nice.  Stay near by so once the line moves you can move along with it.  There is plenty of grassy area and bathrooms for your use while you wait. 

For more technical crossing information you can visit http://www.blainechamber.com/border.html ShareThis

Spokane's Riverfront Park and the World's largest Red Wagon

We spent an afternoon at the Riverfront Park in Spokane, WA and it was absolutely beautiful!  The summer flowers were in bloom and it just so happened to be "kids day" at the park with bounce houses and fun games for the kids.

The park has plenty of entertainment year-round including an IMAX theatre, Carousel, train ride, amusement rides, ice skating rink (oct-march), Spokane Falls skyride and the infamous world's largest Red Wagon slide! 

Just walking around watching the ducks in the water and seeing all the sites kept us busy for a few hours and unfortunately we were on a time schedule that day and didn't get to stay and see everything. 

Downtown Spokane is beautiful and clean.  For some reason I had imagined it to be so different than what it was.  I had been told stories of it being old and not very nice, but even with half the downtown being historical property, it's all very well kept and preserved. So many things to see and do around Spokane and we just didn't have the time in our short weekend.  

If you enjoy riding bikes, this is definitely a bike friendly city with nice riding trails all over and along the river.

My daughter enjoyed the World's largest Red Flyer Wagon, even though the metal slide did get a little hot in the summer sun.

Riding the Spokane Falls Skyride over the River was fun and about the right price.  The temperature was about 80 degrees at the time we got on and just a warning, it's about 10 degrees hotter inside the Gondola. So if it's in the 90's, expect to sit in a 100 degree ride for 15-20 minutes.

Where to stay while you in Spokane? See our Riverside Campsite, beautiful state park!

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Riverside State Park - Pitcher and Bowl - Spokane and Nine Mile Falls, WA

Our time at Riverside State Park wasn't nearly long enough.  We arrived Friday evening after a long haul over from Western Washington and spent the weekend exploring Spokane and Idaho.  Rarely have we visited a State park and wanted to spend more time IN the park rather than out and about. 

The camping spots along the river are not exactly private, but being there are only several in a row on a dead end road, you have little to no traffic and no one camping in front of or behind you.  We were in space #3, which was a nice location and just a short ways from the great Riverfront walking trails.

On a morning walk my daughter and I saw huge bird nests in the trees as well as several bird species in the river.  The mornings were just right with the sun shining and a cool breeze of fresh air.  The summer evenings were warm and we stayed out to play until late at night. 

Be sure to take a walk over to the swinging bridge or stop in the parking lot near the entrance of the park to go the quicker route.  We went with the kids one morning and they didn't want to leave the bridge.  It was fun listening to the river rush by and toss pebbles into the water below. 

As with any camping near water, the bugs were plenty at night.  Be sure to keep your camper or tent doors shut at all times.  Otherwise you'll find yourself sleeping with the moths and creepy crawlers we found in our trailer.  Unfortunately, teaching two young kids to keep the doors closed is a task all in itself!

My family and I loved this campsite and are already discussing our next trip over to spend more time at Riverside State Park. 

IMPORTANT TIP for trailer campers: We had our own directions but decided to follow the FREEWAY suggestion of taking the next exit.  We were lost after just minutes of not finding another sign to follow.  Print your directions and stick with them.  The actual campground name is called "Pitcher and Bowl" which I hadn't seen anywhere on the state reservations form.

Then we were a little confused when we arrived to the Park entrance road and the sign only had a picture of tents with an arrow.  Typically there is a pic of a camper, but yes, this is the camper/trailer park area.  Don't turn RIGHT off of Riffle Road, this will only take you to the day park area and there is no where to turn around with your trailer.  Follow the tent arrow to the LEFT.

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Hyatt Regency - Bellevue, WA

This past weekend I enjoyed retreat with my mom for the first time.  I had won two nights for any Hyatt Hotel on the Traveling Mamas website a couple months ago. Having already stayed at a few wonderful Hyatt Hotels I knew that any destination I chose would be great. 

Promotional Stays and Gold Passport Points

I called Hyatt to plan my weekend in Seattle only to realize that using promotional nights with your Hyatt Gold Card is different than booking a room at a regular rate.  Each hotel has an alloted amount of rooms they can provide while using Gold Points or any promotional free nights.  All the Hyatt hotels in Seattle were unavailable for an entire month with my free nights, so I decided to look into Bellevue. Finally - a weekend we were able to book a room came up.

Hyatt Regency Bellevue

A beautiful, luxury hotel located in Bellevue Place, attached to the popular shopping destination of Bellevue Square.  The rooms were very clean, comfortable and filled with modern decor.  Shopping is just a step away with the sky bridge access to the Square.

Where are all the Ammenities?

You Pay more, you get more, right?

At a typical rate of $160-$250 for a standard room, the extra ammenities were few.  Normally my search for the complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi and free parking would of been priority, but while booking a free stay I failed to look into these necessities.  

There was no free Wi-fi and no complimentary breakfast to be found.  In fact, finding a moderate priced breakfast was a difficult task.  With many gourmet restaurants in the Bellevue Square, most were open for lunch and dinner only.  We did however find the "needs LID" cafe on the second floor that had a decent menu, but on our second morning (Sunday) they were closed.  The formal dining in the hotel does have a nice breakfast menu, but at $12-$15 a plate to start, we decided to pass.  If you have a sweet tooth, you can also find pastries at the first floor Tully's Coffee shop and if you get there early enough, there are a few breakfast sandwiches. 

Fortunately dinner was an easy task and a hard decision out of all the wonderful restaurants available.  From P.F. Changs, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boom Noodle, The Cheesecake Factory, Ristorante Luciano and so many more.  As much as I wanted to try something new I went with my old time favorite, P.F. Changs and it was delicious. 

I was hoping to relax in a hot tub after our long days of walking the Bellevue Square, but the Hyatt failed to have one of those either.  A nice gym and lap pool was provided for fitness purposes, but the relaxing was left to our plush beds in the room.

Parking was free for the weekend and we were lucky to skip that extra cost during our stay.  If you plan a weekday stay (Sunday-Thursday night), you won't have this luxury and it will cost you $16 per day .

Hyatt knows Technology

One thing I love about Hyatt, besides that they always provide clean, beautiful hotels is that they are keeping up with technology.  Our hotel had in-room guest services on the TV and we were able to view any hotel charges and check-out of our room without speaking to any one. 

New Online check-in and check-out are also available for a more speedy process if needed.  I stuck with the old fashioned desk check-in, but on a business trip it's probably nice to have that option.  

My next stay with Hyatt is in Vancouver, B.C. and I've already used the online concierege they provide to request a crib and roll away bed for my children.  You can also used this service to book dining, spa services and any other service each hotel provides.   

Hyatt Regency Bellevue is a beautiful hotel and for those looking for luxury, style and have a little money to spend, bring it here!

Upated Tip from @TripStyler via Twitter:
Tully's in the lobby has free wifi

This would have been good to know while I was there since I got my coffee there each morning. Although it's still not as convienent as laying in bed to catch up online at night

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Cedarbrook Lodge - The Perfect Conference Venue

All you wonderful Conference planners take a look! I have found a great venue for your next 2011 or 2012 Conferences. 

I was recently invited to stay at the Cedarbrook Lodge, where I found a prior owned, Washington Mutual (bank) training center, turned into a blissful Lodge retreat!  Just around the corner from Seattle/Tacoma International airport and the Link Lite Rail to Seattle, this massive conference center has it all. 

With 104 guest rooms and 18,000sf of conference space - that is just the beginning.  My room was comfortable, spacious and up to date with all the free Wi-Fi and Starbucks coffee a writer needs to stay up at night.  There are two buildings for the guests, each with it's own "Living room" space - a great area for conference attendees to converse in the evening while enjoying some of the nice 24-hour snacks Cedarbrook provides, including oranges, whoppers of different flavors, yogurt, string cheese and Haagen-Dazs ice cream!

The outdoor space will provide a quiet and relaxing atmosphere for the sometimes chaotic sessions at a conference.  Walking trails surround the property on it's 18 acre site and a complimentary shuttle will take you directly to the Lite Rail train for a day trip to anywhere in Seattle. 

Your attendees can also forget the worries of a rental car by taking the complimentary shuttle to and from the airport to Cedarbrook.

Cedarbrooks Conference rooms vary in size and capacity, holding from 8-300 guests. These conference rooms also boast some High-tech gadgetry for providing great presentations on the multiple drop screens and generating Dolby Digital surround sound.

The Lodge also provides in-house catering as well as it's Gourmet Copperleaf restaurant. Serving the best Farm to Table food I've ever eaten! It was worthy enough of it's own article I wrote last week.

Breakfast is complimentary, serving some basic, healthy and delicious food. Oatmeal, cereals, and pastries from the local bakery are just to name a few.

From a large fitness center to the Copperleaf bar and more, this Lodge has everything you'll need for your conference.  After my weekend stay I'd say that I'd love to be staying at Cedarbrook for an upcoming blogger conference!  Amazing venue!

*Disclosure: Cedarbrook provided my weekend stay. All opinions expressed are that of my own.

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Pike Place Market - A site to see! - Seattle, WA

I'll admit I'm not a lover of crowds, but I can tollerate much more than my husband can.  We took a trip up to Seattle, via the Lite Rail and had a great time. Despite having been to the Pike Place market in years past we made the stop anyways.  At first glance my husband would of rather just walked by and skipped the over crowded market, but once we got in and out of the main entrance it wasn't so overwhelming.  The smell of fresh fish isn't exactly my cup of tea, but the beautiful flowers, fruit, vegetables and unique products made this worth the stroll. 

KIDS at the Pike Place

My thought on Pike Place with children is that it's a tough walk with a stroller. Heck, it's a tough walk sometimes without the kids, and if you have a child (like my son) who likes to run off when not contained, you may want to bring an umbrella or small stroller to strap them down.  Keep the kids close at all times! They can quickly become misplaced behind another person walking by or swept away with the crowd.  There are lots of great bakeries and food stands to delight the kids or yourself with a yummy snack.

HOURS: Unlike many other smaller farmers markets, Pike Place is open 7 days a week, 362 days a year, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.  Typical hours are from 10am-5pm, but follow this Link for specific Market Hours information.

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A Devine 5 course meal at the Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge

I was invited by the Culinary Director, Roy Breiman and Chef Mark Bodinet for a fabulous dinner during my stay at Cedarbrook Lodge.  The Copperleaf Restaurant provides an intimate dining experience with first class gourmet food.

The Chef had a created a tasting menu for us, but the actual menu itself was full of wonderful dishes that would most likely fit anyone's taste.  Prices were in the range of $12-$30 per dish, depending on what you prefer, but well worth it!  I asked for a children's menu even though we had left the kiddo's home for this relaxing trip, and they had a great selection of noodles, meats, sandwiches and the kids favorite...mac n' cheese!  All for a nice price of around $6 per meal.

Farm to Table Food

One of my favorite things about this restaurant and Lodge is that they are dedicated to being sustainable.  At the Cooperleaf restaurant you'll find simple, flavorful ingredients brought to the table from local farmers and even vegetables from their own garden at the lodge.

We began our dinner with something to "open our palate" (yes this was a fancy restaurant) then jumped into the Yakima Valley Asparagus Salad.  The mixture in this salad was amazing. Somehow mixing the cherries and asparagus made my taste buds tingle! At this point I realized I should be taking pictures because this meal was going to be worth sharing.

Next was Kodiak Island Halibut. I have to admit I cringed when I saw fish on the tasting menu, I don't normally eat it.  But my first bite into this and I was in Halibut heaven. It was my first time having Halibut and I hope it tastes this good everywhere because I've been missing out!

After cleansing our palates again we had Snake River Farm Pork Belly.  A little too fatty for my taste, but my husband ate his up and the rest of what I left on my plate as well.  I'm the kind of person who picks off any fat I see on my meat.

Grilled Painted Hills Strip Loin...that's all I have to say! Mmmmm, it was delicious!  I've never had a Morels Mushroom, but they are salty and good if eaten sparingly.

And if I wasn't already stuffed to the brim after tasting all those wonderful dishes we were spoiled with the most wonderful Fromage Blanc Ice Cream (ice cream made with cream cheese) and the CHOCOLATEIST (if that's a word) Theo's Hot Chocolate I've ever had in my life.  Even the cup was the size of an espresso shot because it was so Rich!

Tip: If you plan to dine at this wonderful restaurant, make a reservation! With the small intimate dining it can get full fast. Earlier dining is more likely to get you a seat

*Disclosure: My meal was provided by the Copperleaf restaurant, but I guarantee did not affect my opinion of this article, the food speaks for itself!

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Be a Tourist in your City - From a NEW view!

I have taken a couple of helicopter tours during my travels and they never cease to amaze me - but never did I consider what the amazing view above my own City might be.  My husband bugged me to go up for a ride a few months ago and he finally convinced me to go.  He booked me a ride with Hammer Helicopters in Olympia, and the day I went up turned out to be a beautiful Spring day. 

I was a tourist in my own City, viewing sites many locals have probably never seen.  I felt like a bird as we flew over the local shopping centers, my children's school and even my own house.  The pilot was great to take me where ever I desired and we were able to see everything I wanted in a half hour flight.

If you live in a City with a small airport then you're more than likely to find a company willing to take you up for a site seeing tour. Helicopter flights are not known for being the cheapest way to travel, but I have always found them to be worth the ride.  Be sure to bring a camera, tell your pilot where you'd like to go and in many cases you can even request the doors off if your daring enough, and it's better for photos.

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Governor Hotel - Olympia, WA - Disappointment near home

I love to explore away from home and see new places I've never been. But I had never really thought about what was available to tourist in my own city.  I thought my town was at least worthy of a weekend trip, but had doubts after a recent hotel stay.
My parents had planned a night out but were unable to make it at the last minute.  So my Mom offered the trip to my husband and I, and she would stay with the kids. Woohoo! We set off to Olympia for what I had hoped would be a romantic, fun night for two.  The hotel sounded very nice from what my Dad had been told and was right in downtown.

A Hidden Gem...I think NOT!
I knew of the Governor Hotel and had passed it many times.  As with many downtown cities, the older buildings often hold a hidden treasure inside, but not in this case.  When we walked into the lobby it was very small, in need of updating, but fairly clean.  I wasn't impressed and had hoped our room was where the goods were.  We went out for dinner first and when we got back to our room I was very disappointed.  A one star at it's best, it was in desperate need of updating, cleaning and even a large leak in the ceiling was needing repair.  About the only good thing was that it was a large room with a separate seating area.  The view from our room was a small park and the downtown streets of Olympia, which wasn't bad, but even a direct view of the Capitol wouldn't of made this any nicer of a Hotel.

Dirty plates anyone?
After getting a few hours of sleep on the not so comfortable bed, we headed down for the complimentary "Breakfast Buffet".  I figured we could grab a bite before headed back home.  I wasn't expecting much since I had yet to be impressed, but I was completely grossed out!  One word: DIRTY plates! And a greasy looking employee that came out to refill the food while we glanced at what they called a "buffet".  I think there were eggs and sausage in the buffet, and a loaf of bread sitting on a table still in the grocery bag with a home toaster to toast it with.  Wow! My husband and I just looked at each other and walked out to the Starbucks across the street to grab a quick coffee and pastry for the road. 

Before this one night adventure I had never considered whether or not my own City was tourist worthy and I'm scared to say that accommodations seem slim.  I plan to take another look at Olympia and hope to find some great places for tourist to stay while they visit this beautiful City.  Aside from this horrible hotel, Olympia has some great attractions and beautiful sites to see.  Stayed tuned for some nice hotel recommendations in Olympia, I know they are out there!

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5 Fun Things to do in Ocean Shores, WA

This small City boarding the ocean in Washington State is among one of the favorite beaches for many Northwest Families.  If you drive along Hwy 101 through Aberdeen you'll run into Ocean Shores.  You won't notice much there but take a better look and you'll find plenty of fun family activities for a long weekend at the shore!

The Beach
On the beaches of Washington State you won't see many swimmers or surfers unless they are in wet suites;  but bundle up and bring out the kids for some fun Kite flying, sand castle building, beach combing, and clam digging. You can drive onto the shore and find your own special spot to hang out.     

Horse Back Riding

In the late spring and summer seasons you can take a ride along the beach for $20 per hour per person.  What a great deal and a fun adventure!  We asked one vendor who's age limit was 6yrs old (although my daughter was still too small at 6yrs) and they didn't allow double riders, but later that day I saw another group taking a small child on a solo walk with the horse and trainer by it's side.  Check along the beach if your interested in children's rides, they all have different policies and services to offer.

 Pacific Paradise Family Fun Center

This fun activity is on a road located behind the McDonald's and the city Convention Center in the middle of town (Minard Ave NW).  Here you'll find miniature Golf, bumper boats and a small arcade for big and little kids alike.  Games inside range from $0.25-$0.50 and can keep kids entertained for a little while, depending on how fast they can burn through that $5 bill you give them.  My daughter and I rode the bumper boats for $6 to share and they were generous on our time in the water.  Golfing is fun for the whole family and they even have tiny little clubs for the toddlers. 

BJ's Family Fun Center
There is another family Center on the main road of Ocean Shores that has bumper cars inside and a go-kart race track on the outside.  It's been a few years since we've done the go-karts but they can get spendy if you have a large family and the kids want to double up and also beg to rid the bumper cars.  I personally can't stand the smell inside the bumper car area, but everyone has their "thing".

Bowling
One of my favorite pass times in small towns.  Our entire family enjoys bowling and it's bound to take up a couple hours at the least.  Ocean Shores Bowl is located across from the Convention Center & McDonalds.

There are plenty of other activities in Ocean Shores if you search for them, but these are just my 5 favorite things to do when we head up for the weekend with the kids.  We try to head for the Ocean during nice weather but when it's raining and cold outside you can do many of these activities rain or shine!  Need a place to camp? See my blog on Ocean City State Park ShareThis

Ocean City State Park - Ocean Shores, WA

Ocean Shores is one of the most popular beaches in Washington State.  Many families go there for kite flying, sand castle building and many other activities.  You won't find any large stores or shopping malls in Ocean Shores but this small town has been a favorite in our family for years.  For us it's a quick drive and if you are lucky enough to get good weather, the beach can be fun!

We spent the weekend at the Ocean City State Park, located in Ocean Shores.  This is a nice state park and has private spaces for camping in your tent or with a camper in tow.  We of course have our trailer and landed in spot #144 which was a great spot.  It wasn't very large but the privacy was great and our kids had fun climbing the trees over looking the fire pit.  The beach was a quick walk from our campground, or as we prefer, a quick drive onto the beach.  We like to drive the truck so we can pack toys, snacks, etc and take a break inside it if the weather is windy (which is normally is). 

The kids had a great time riding their bikes in the park as well as on the beach.  The ranger in the park was nice and gave the kids stickers and a Junior Ranger pack for my older daughter.  If you forget firewood, you can purchase it on the spot for $5 a bundle.  Showers are available in the bathrooms if your in a tent and there were a few nice looking Group camps for larger groups.

This was a very nice and great State park and I recommend it to anyone headed to Ocean Shores.  There is also another State park in the City (Pacific Beach) which is right on the water, but you loose all privacy and park in stalls lined up on concrete.  So in my opinion the privacy is worth the short walk to the beach. ShareThis

Our First Family Camping Trip - Grayland Beach State Park, WA

We finally took our first family camping trip and we chose to stay somewhat close to home and head for the Ocean.  Rather than our typical stay in Ocean Shores we decided to check out Grayland and Westport, Washington. 

True Camping...DVD's and all

When we arrived it was pouring rain outside, normal spring weather on the shores of Washington, but not what we had hoped for.  We set-up camp as best we could and stayed inside the trailer.  We did what I assume the people in the tarp covered tent next door were doing - we popped in a DVD and watched one of our favorite Disney movies "Open Season"!  I was worried at first that our 6 and 2yr old would quickly tire of being in such a small space, but with a few toys and a movie they did well.  Soon it was time for bed and my daughter happily climbed into her bunk and my son went to bed just as well.  A huge sigh of relief, as we have had some difficult times in the past with getting him to sleep anywhere besides his crib at home.

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