Ocean City beach

One thing we really enjoyed about staying at Thousand Trails Oceana RV & Camping Resort in Ocean City, Washington was the proximity to the beach; a five minute walk (and unlike Thousand Trails Whalers Rest in South Beach, no need to cross highway 101). We went for daily walks along the beach.

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Further down the beach, vehicles were more common, but they mostly didn’t make it down this far:

Ocean City beach

Lots of interesting shells:

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Including crab shells:

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

And crab guts:

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

We took a bag on our walks, collecting garbage:

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Ocean City beach

Pacific coast food

For most of my life, I’ve disliked and avoided seafood. But as part of our traveling lifestyle, we’ve been stretching our comfort zones. For myself, one of those efforts is to try new foods, and especially to eat more seafood.

While we traveled up the Pacific coast this year, I took the opportunity to sample several seafood options, and especially a lot of clam chowder.

Due West Tavern in Olema, California:

Due West in Olema, California

Due West in Olema, California

Due West in Olema, California

Menu:

Menu

Menu

The first time I ordered clam chowder; fortunately, it was a very good one:

Clam chowder

Jenn’s fish and chips:

Jenn's fish and chips

My burger and fries (sticking with a more safe option at this stage):

My burger and fries


Chart Room, Crescent City, California:

Chart Room, Crescent City, California

Crab pots snowmen:

Crab pots snowmen

Chart Room

Sea lions:

Sea lions

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Jenn:

Jenn

Jenn’s clam chowder:

Jenn's clam chowder

My salad:

My salad

Jenn’s clam strips, coleslaw, fries:

Jenn's clam strips, coleslaw, fries

My clam chowder bread bowl; based on the previous success, I decided to dive in:

My clam chowder bread bowl


The Boat House, Coos Bay, Oregon, a travel day stop:

The Boat House, Coos Bay, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Clam chowder appetizers:

Clam chowder

My burger and fries (playing safe on a travel day):

My burger and fries

Jenn’s fish and shrimp:

Jenn's fish and shrimp


Mo’s in Florence, Oregon:

Mo's in Florence, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Mo's in Florence, Oregon

Jenn’s shrimp noodles:

Jenn's shrimp noodles

My clam chowder bread bowl:

My clam chowder bread bowl

My clam chowder bread bowl

Pressed penny:

Pressed penny


Griff’s on the Bay, Reedsport, Oregon:

Griff's on the Bay, Reedsport, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Menu

My clam chowder bread bowl (I liked the toasted edge):

My clam chowder bread bowl


Clearwater, Newport, Oregon; we went there for my birthday:

Clearwater, Newport, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Bridge view:

Bridge view

David and beverage:

David and beverage

Clam chowder:

Clam chowder

Fancy deviled eggs:

Fancy deviled eggs

Beverages:

Beverages

Jenn’s thing:

Jenn's thing

My steak:

My steak

Seagulls and sea lion:

Seagulls and sea lion

Seagulls and sea lion

Seagulls

Dessert menu:

Dessert menu

Waffles:

Waffles

Brownie:

Brownie


Mo’s in Newport, Oregon:

Mo's in Newport, Oregon

Mo's in Newport, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Clam chowder:

Clam chowder

My clam strips and mashed spuds:

My clam strips and mashed spuds

Jenn’s clam chowder bread bowl:

Jenn's clam chowder bread bowl


Mo’s in Otter Rock, Oregon:

Mo's in Otter Rock, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Mo's in Otter Rock, Oregon

Different kinds of fish and chips:

Different kinds of fish and chips


Lakeside Hideaway in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, another travel day stop:

Lakeside Hideaway in Rockaway Beach, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Clam chowder:

Clam chowder

Club sandwiches and tots:

Club sandwiches and tots


Mo’s in Seaside, Oregon:

Mo's in Seaside, Oregon

Mo's in Seaside, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Menu

Clam chowder:

Clam chowder

Fish, clam strips, shrimp:

Fish, clam strips, shrimp

Platter with a view


Pig’n Pancake in Seaside, Oregon:

Pig'n Pancake in Seaside, Oregon

Menu:

Menu

Clam chowder:

Clam chowder

Jenn’s breakfast:

Breakfast

My baked spud and razor clams:

My baked spud, razor clams


Grizzly Tuna in Seaside, Oregon:

Grizzly Tuna in Seaside, Oregon

Grizzly Tuna in Seaside, Oregon

Tuna and chips:

Tuna and chips

That’s it for the coast, but I’ve had seafood several times since then too. So, it’s probably fair to say that it’s now a regular part of my diet. Mission accomplished!

Redwood State and National Parks

The Redwood National and State Parks is interesting, in that it is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the state of California. Their headquarters are in Crescent City, with a small book store (not a gift store, thank you):

Redwood National and State Parks Headquarters

Redwood National and State Parks Headquarters

We visited several of the component parks, starting with the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which includes a fun scenic drive through the redwoods:

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

As part of this park, we did a hike to the Grove of Titans:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

A fun tunnel of fallen trees:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

It’s a big tree:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Video of ambient sounds:

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Grove of Titans

Continuing the drive through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park:

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Tunnel:

Tunnel

We headed into Oregon for a side-trip:

Oregon welcomes you

To the Illinois Valley Visitor Center of Oregon Caves National Monument:

Oregon Caves Visitor Center

Oregon Caves Visitor Center

Oregon Caves Visitor Center

Then back into California:

Welcome to California

Though the agricultural inspection station:

Inspection

Hiouchi Visitor Center:

Hiouchi Visitor Center

Hiouchi Visitor Center

Hiouchi Visitor Center

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Since we’d been to the Redwoods National Park, it was time to add its sticker to our coach:

Adding National Park sticker

Adding National Park sticker

Another day, heading down the coast:

Coast

To Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park:

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

A strange historical artifact:

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

360 video hyperlapse of a drive from that visitor center:

Elk on the side of the road:

Elk

Elk

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center:

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center

Lady Bird Johnson Grove hike:

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Video hyperlapse of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove hike:

Coastal drive:

Coastal drive

Coastal drive

A bear on the side of the road:

Bear on the side of the road

Bear on the side of the road

Avenue of the Giants, Humboldt Redwoods State Park

We enjoyed a couple of drives along the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Firstly heading north from Meyers Flat:

Redwoods

Redwoods

We stopped at the visitor center, with quite a character volunteer, super-fascinated by Jenn’s passport stamp book:

Visitor center

Visitor center

A wooden log RV:

Visitor center

Visitor center

Visitor center

Visitor center

Visitor center

A nice walk through the Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail:

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Gould Grove Nature Loop Trail

Bridge in Rio Dell:

Bridge in Rio Dell

We had lunch at Scotia Lodge in Rio Dell:

Scotia Lodge for lunch

Scotia Lodge

Scotia Lodge

Scotia Lodge


The next morning we went to the local coffee shop, The Daily Grind… a cute shop, but unfortunately undrinkably bitter coffee:

The Daily Grind

The Daily Grind

The Daily Grind

The Daily Grind

Then a drive south along the Avenue of the Giants:

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants

Avenue of the Giants