It’s amazing how you can literally feel like you are in the middle of the woods in Oregon when, in fact, you are literally two miles from a small town, a gorgeous beach, and Highway 101!

This year, my family and I returned to our favorite little spot along the Oregon Coast, the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park Campground at Lake Marie.

Chipmunks. Racoons. Squirrels. Blue Jays galore. I even heard an owl one night. All of the little critters were seen, or at least heard. The fishing was unbelievable, too! My kids caught seventeen fish the last night there. One yellow perch, the rest Rainbow Trout.

The campsites are cozy. This year we opted for a yurt again, and minus finding a black widow, all was good. Well, not so much for my arachnophobic daughter, who slept the last two nights in the SUV after finding said spider. But, in the end, we had a great time.

It really is a magical little spot along the coast. If you ever get a chance, the lighthouse is beautiful at night when lit up with its white, amber, and gold light dancing on the trees in the evening.

The beach is just a two- to three-minute trip down the road by car, and Winchester Bay is perfect for crabbing. If you ever get a chance, give it a shot; you won’t be let down; we never are…

Talk soon and God bless,

David.

Featured image by: David