Camp The Harbor!

Memorial Day weekend is coming up and you know what that means: it's stylish to wear white pants again! Oh, and it's the official kick off of the camping season.  If you haven't yet pulled out your trusty blue tarp do so now and start packing your camping gear because true to tradition, the weather for this weekend is looking iffy at best. Actually, if you haven't already made reservations to camp at a formal campground by now, you're most likely going to be camping in your backyard - everyone it seems, is heading out to the Harbor's best campgrounds this Friday to celebrate the unofficial start to summer.

But even if you end up spending Memorial Day weekend "camping" in your backyard, there's still an entire summer ahead of you to enjoy all the close-to-home camping opportunities. Have you camped locally before? The great thing about Grays Harbor is that our terrain is so versatile you can camp nearby and feel worlds away- beaches, lakes, rivers and forests all offer you the chance to reconnect with nature without ever really leaving home. Here are some options for you to consider; go ahead and mark a weekend on the calendar now and make your reservation ahead of time (yes, camping is so in-demand these days that reservations are needed at most places):

If you love falling asleep to the soothing sound of waves and waking up to the salty sea air, try the following beach campgrounds:

Pacific Beach Campground: On the northern end of Grays Harbor's shores, this campground is open year-round for those willing to brave the cooler months. You can even have fires on the beach!

Ocean City Campground: Just north of Ocean Shores, this campground is also year round and offers not only your typical beach activities, but is also a great place to view migratory shorebirds.

Twin Harbors Campground: On the Westport end of our shores, this park is open in its entirety from June 16- October 31. 

If you're looking for a really quick trip that still gets you in touch with nature, try one of the following two very local parks:

Lake Sylvia

Lake Sylvia State Park: Located in Montesano, this is a great place for a one-night stay if that's all you have time for. The camping is still excellent despite its proximity to the city and there's plenty of hiking, fishing and outdoor activity to keep you occupied.

Schafer State Park:  Ok, just outside of Grays Harbor, Schafer is technically in Mason County. But it's such a great camping location along the Satsop river, it has to be mentioned. It's also a very close camping option for those living in East County.

If you'd rather enjoy the Olympic National Forest and all its versatility, try the following:

Lake Quinault Area

The Pacific Ranger District of the Olympia National Forest maintains four campgrounds around Lake Quinault that allow you to take in the rain forest at its finest. All are first-come, first-served campgrounds.

Coho Campground at Wynoochee Lake: My personal favorite campground locally. I remember visiting this campground frequently growing up. I even blue-tarp camped there with a group of friends like a true Washingtonian on the 4th of July weekend in 2008, 7 months pregnant and all! This campground is a bit tricky - it's a long (bumpy) drive to get out there and its still your traditional first-come, first-served campground so head out on a Thursday just to be safe!

Some things to keep in mind when planning your camping experience:

-Reservations really are recommended whenever possible. You don't want to disappoint your family by getting all the way out there and seeing "Reserved" notes on every spot that is sitting empty. I've been there- and slept in the car, in a parking lot, as a result. All State Parks are reserved on their website. Olympic National Forest campgrounds are, unfortunately, still first-come, first-served.

-You will need a Discover Pass if you are visiting any State Park this summer. It's $30, and you can get it here or at any place that sells hunting/fishing licenses.

-Bring a blue tarp! You know how the weather can be.

-Respect burn bans and campfire rules. Some campgrounds, like the beaches, may only allow campfires on the beach and not at the campsite. Other times, a burn ban may be in effect because the weather's just been too nice for too long (it happens!).

-Have fun, enjoy nature, run wild! Just remember to keep all your trash to yourself so that those after you can enjoy the beauty too. Take pride in the fact that these beautiful, scenic areas are in our community and people come from all over the northwest to enjoy them!

We've all been there. Living in the NW, there's no way to avoid it.

Lake Quinault Lodge: The Rest Comes Easy

Truer words may have never been spoken.

Earlier this week my husband, Sal, and I took a quick overnight getaway to the Lake Quinault Lodge in the Olympic National Forest. We wanted to kick our new year off with some time alone, and, well, my Groupon that I purchased for our anniversary last April (and never used) was about to expire. Have you ever been? If not you must go; it's absolutely astounding! I still can't believe such a beautiful location is right here in our own backyard; we should be so proud that a piece of the Olympic National Forest resides in Grays Harbor County.

My husband and I had a wonderful time exploring the Lodge, the Lake and the Forest in the wet rainy weather that we all know to expect during this time of year. The Lodge itself is worth time out of your planned schedule to explore- built in 1926, it is full of architectural and historical touches. Old photographs line the halls, the ceiling beams are painted with native detailing and the cozy main lobby beckons for you to relax in a plush leather couch by the fire. The hotel rooms in the main lodge are quaint and modest. There are also 8 rooms in the Boat house, and then another 36 in the Lakeside complex, which is newer.

The Lobby



Our Room - Main Lodge

Oh No Technology?!
The most astounding thing about the Lodge is that there are no telephones in the rooms, almost no rooms with televisions, and very little cell service. In short, technology quickly becomes an afterthought. It took me all the way through lunch trying to get Facebook to load on my phone before I gave in and tossed it into my purse. After a short bout of cellphone-withdrawals, I acclimated. Without our typical technological crutches my husband and I were forced to- gasp- talk to each other, socialize with one another and entertain each other!

After spending time exploring the Lodge, we found the game room and played a few games of pool (2-him, 1-me); we skipped the ping pong and video games, but they are all a part of the game room as well. We also opted out of the pool & sauna, although both looked very enticing. The part of our stay I enjoyed the most was our after-dinner time in the lobby. The lobby was packed! Guests occupied every couch and conversed, relaxed, played games. It was a warm and welcoming scene even though none of us knew each other. Sal and I sat down at an oversized chess board and, after he gave me a quick chess tutorial, we set into a rousing game of chess (he kicked my butt). After that intense game needed our alone time, and he settled in with a book while I contributed to a community puzzle that was laid out on a nearby table.

Getting Out
Even though it was raining, Sal and I ventured out on the trails (the short ones) to get our outdoor fix. There seems to be an infinite amount of choices for every degree of hiker & time frame. We explored the shore trail behind the Lodge and also ventured out to the Worlds Largest Sitka Spruce (did you know this was in Grays Harbor?!). There are multiple trail guides available for the Olympic National Forest and the Lake Quinault area at the Park Ranger Station located next to the Lodge. There's nothing like getting outside in this area. Even in the rain, it is such a peaceful feeling to walk along the quiet lakeshore and clear your head or have a quiet conversation.

My favorite part of getting outside is the potential for seeing wildlife. While we were really hoping to see elk (and it is very common), we didn't get as lucky. However, we did see two different eagles. I can never get over how big they are! I was so giddy over spotting the second one, that I leaped out of the car and into the rain trying to snap a good picture. Ultimately I'm no photographer, but you can see the Eagles below:

Eat Well
The resort is under contract to Aramark, which is a national food service company that runs stadium concessions, cafeterias and hospitality food venues. As such, I didn't expect the onsite restaurant, The Roosevelt Room, to serve anything spectacular. I was pleasantly surprised! The breakfast and lunch menus are full of simple but tasty classics with a PNW twist- omelets or pancakes for breakfast and sandwiches or salads for lunch. But the dinner menu is diverse and slightly larger. I had sesame-crusted Ahi Tuna and Sal had Buffalo Meatloaf. Both were delectable. There is a serious lack of food venues in this area, so this is nearly your only choice except The Salmon House, which posts daily if they are going to be open for Dinner only. I'd show you a picture of our food...but I was never patient enough to take one!

Overall, the brief experience my husband and I had at Lake Quinault Lodge was serene. The calming ambiance of a quiet Lodge on a peaceful lake is refreshing and rejuvenating. I found myself feeling settled and stress free looking out on the lake while I sipped my Chamomile tea. If I had more time I would have spent it there, and I intend to make a return visit (maybe during summer next time). If you would like to explore the Lake Quinault area for a day trip or an overnight stay, visit the website for more information: www.olympicnationalparks.com.