It was a drive that took all day, made even longer as we got a little lost along the way. We did, however, see many adorable seaside towns in our effort: Ocean Shores, Westport, Long Beach. We arrived late and set up camp in the rain, but the nice thing about car camping is the amount of blankets you can bring. We had our nest setup and a fire going in no time.
Camping in the winter is not for the faint of heart because it is cold and it is often raining. Although, if you have good gear and are prepared, it is some of the best camping. The main reason is this: you practically get the entire campground to yourself. No searching through overcrowded campsites, no obnoxious generators setup next to your tiny tent, and peacefully quiet. The other reason why we decided to camp in January is that winter storms generate awesome waves, and what better place to see them than crashing against Washington coast sea stacks. Cape Disappointment is perfect for this as high winds kick up massive waves that break magnificently against the headland. It is stunning and mesmerizing to watch.
We spent a day wandering the 8 miles of hiking trails around the bluffs exploring the remnants of an old military base, reading about the completion of Lewis and Clark's adventure across the U.S., and taking in the sights from a lighthouse lookout point. With hardly anyone around it was a lovely walk with occasional sun breaks and the sound of waves crashing.
After another night huddled around the fire and snuggled in my pile of blankets in the tent, we decided to travel a little further south to Cannon Beach, Oregon. In the summertime, this is a popular destination and is generally full of people browsing the many shops or crowded along the beach. Visiting this area in January is a lot different. The beach is deserted and most of the town is shut down. While it was a little more difficult to find a lunch spot, we were able to take a nice long walk along the beach. It was a sunny day, and our walk was stunning. The waves are not as aggressive here, but the beach is long with a few iconic sea stacks as a great backdrop.
A morning spent at Cannon Beach, and it was time to head back north. Another long drive, and we've made it home. We are already thinking about our next adventure and the multitude of places to go hiking and camping in our gorgeous home.