Valuable Campground Guides


(This blog is part travelogue, part advice on traveling with a dog, part discovery of what’s on the minds of Americans, Canadians and other nationalities, part commentary, and other musings.)

If you’re not a camper, you can skip this blog entry.

If you are a camper – anywhere in California, Oregon or Washington – I highly recommend you purchase these campground guides by Tom Stienstra: “California Camping” and “Pacific Northwest Camping.”

They are terrific guides. But if author Tom gives the campground a “7” or less, I would avoid that campground. One caveat, however: I did stay two nights at Tree of Heaven campground on the Klamath River, way up north in California not far from I-5 and the Oregon border, which had a “7” rating. And I loved the campground, particularly because it was almost empty. It was beautiful, although the campsites did not have much privacy. And there is a trail there that takes you along the river.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oil Rigs, James Dean & Redwoods

Image
(This blog is part travelogue, part advice on traveling with a dog, part discovery of what’s on the minds of Americans, Canadians and other nationalities, part commentary, and other musings.) ( Tip for campers/hikers with dogs: California state parks, as well as national parks, do not allow dogs on any of the hiking trails with a few exceptions. At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz, dogs are allowed on a couple of trails. But a hiker on one of the trails warned me of a ranger who told her she would get a $300 ticket if she didn’t leash her dog.) We are camped in a lovely forest of old-growth oak trees at the edge of a stunning redwood forest in Henry CowellRedwoods State Park near Santa Cruz, a funky beach town south of San Francisco. It’s hot. In the 90s. In late September. A local on horseback says it happens sometimes, but I can’t help but wonder about climate change. (Oops, hope we know we're heading north, not south) Lu
Read more

Super Dog Friendly Lodge - & More!

Image
(This blog is part travelogue, part advice on traveling with a dog, part discovery of what’s on the minds of Americans, Canadians and other nationalities, part commentary, and other musings.) First off, it’s difficult to describe the beauty and diversity of Coastal Oregon (along Highway 101), particularly north of Coos Bay. Just take my word for it, and look up more on the Internet if interested. Super Dog Friendly lodge:  Because of a rain forecast, I stayed in the charming, beach-themed  Deane’s Oceanfront Lodge  in  Yachats  (pronounced Ya-HOTS), right on Highway 101. Huge lawns flank front and back, but almost all rooms have views of the ocean, which is just beyond the expansive lawn and down a short wooden staircase. But for you dog lovers and owners, what really impressed me was how dog friendly Deane’s is. When I arrived, I was given a doggie bag with a bed, towel (to wipe off sandy paws), dog bowl and treats. Manager Chad told me he doesn’t hire anyone to work at Dea
Read more

Dramatic Change for Couple: From L.A. to Scenic Mendocino

Image
(This blog is part travelogue, part advice on traveling with a dog, part discovery of what’s on the minds of Americans, Canadians and other nationalities, part commentary, and other musings.) Dan Boyle and I are seated on a sprawling deck of the redwood house he and boyfriend Jason Ross own in the middle of a beautiful redwood forest in Mendocino, a charming village of homes that looks like it’s plucked from the coast of Maine. (Luca is contentedly resting at my feet.) (Dan Boyle and me on his Mendocino home's wonderful redwood deck)  Just over a year ago, he and Jason moved from L.A. to this stunningly scenic area of dense forest and rugged coastline – and it was a radical change. (The Mendocino coast) “We’d been coming up here for the past 10 years, like twice a year, and we loved it,” Dan says. Nevertheless, he resisted the move, knowing he’d be giving up the excitement of the big city, from films at the Arclight to nightlife and gay bars.
Read more