Seaside, Oregon

We left Thousand Trails Long Beach in Seaview, Washington at about 10:45 am in the morning after a short two day stay. It took us just under an hour to drive the 32 miles to Thousand Trails Seaside in Seaside, Oregon. This was the first Thousand Trails that was very strict, down to the minute, on the check-in at noon.

Trip Info & Stats

Departure Time: 10:42 AM
Arrival Time: 11:40 PM
Duration (h:mm): 0:58
Total Miles: 47
Number of Stops: 0
Weather: Overcast

Accessibility Challenges

We had several challenges finding both free accessible parking and even more issues with finding that for beach access. Outside of the main towns (Seaside and Cannon Beach), there were lots of Oregon State Park access to beaches, but most of them where not beach wagon friendly with very very limited handicap parking.

Wednesday, July, 10th 2024

Hug Point State Recreation Site

We tried to visit Hug Point State Recreation Site that is about 14 miles (25 min or so) drive South from the our Campground. Hug Ponit was recommended to us by a friend while we wintered at Glen Ayr Resort. The point also has historical significance. Pioneers would “hug the point” at low tide with their wagons to travel south along the cost. To this day, there are wheel ruts in the rock from the wagon wheels.

Sadly, there was no parking within walking distance of the only ‘accessible’ trail head to the beach. Access has been one of our biggest challenges for including Richard in educational and recreational activities.

Cannon Beach and Haystack Tide Pools

We ended up at Cannon Beach just a few minutes north on the Oregon Beach. We parked at Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site. This parking lot is just off Highway 101 and has both an ADA accessible restrooms and ramp to the beach.

Saturday, July, 13th 2024

This campground has been one of the best for having activities we have been at. There were three activities we attended on Saturday. They had a craft/handmade goods sale. Several of the teenage kids that were either annuals (their family had a permanent site) and a couple regulars had a nice verity of items ranging from goods, seashells and some beautiful handmade jewelry.

There was bubble party that not only did the boys enjoy the party but mama also enjoyed the fun more then the boys.

We ended the day at the beach for a fire hosted by campground. The boys got to stay up late. Sidney got to play bocce ball with the teens and mama even made a couple friends.

Sunday, July, 14th 2024

Mama slept in very late, so we ended up just doing some afternoon beach time back at Cannon Beach. Richard is now actually playing off the mat in the sand.

We rounded the off the night with Dinner at Mo’s Restaurant that is right next to the Parking lot at Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site. Mo’s is a local Oregon Coast seafood chain restaurant that has a few locations up and down the Oregon Cost.

We stopped by Fort Clatsop to explore. Fort Clatsop is the main unit for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Parks and where the expedition wintered after reaching the Pacific Ocean and the mouth of the Columbia River.

We started out walking some of the accessible trails to look at different plant species as part of Sidney’s Jr. Ranger book. We all had a lot of fun and enjoyed the walk and wildlife.

We then explored the visitor’s center and museum. There was lots of information. Papa really enjoyed talking with one of the Interpretive Rangers, who was beyond helpful and gave us the draft version of the Jr. Ranger book for Kindergarten and Pre-school age kids. The Lewis and Clark National Historical Parks have one of the more robust Jr. Ranger Programs that we have seen with 3 different, age appropriate versions of their Jr. Ranger book.

After exploring inside, we went outside to where they had replica of the Fort that the expedition stayed in that winter. We also listen to a talk by a very passionate Interpretive Ranger about the Fort and why they picked this area to winter in. He was a little hard to understand but went to great detail. We then explored the Fort more and Sidney finished his Jr. Ranger Book.

We finished up the with a visit to the Gift Shop and then getting Sidney sworn in as a Jr. Ranger for this park.

We really enjoyed the life around the campground. We ran into several other Full-Time RV families that we had bumped into earlier in the summer so there was several kids that Sidney know. There was also lots of family activities to enjoy.

A milestone

One of the more exciting facts, although we did not realize it, is that here at Seaside Richard started his transformation to a walking kid. More to come about that in later Blog Posts