Pacific NW Roadtrip 2023: An Overview

In July of 2023, we packed up the truck and camper and set out on a 3 week journey, covering over 4000 miles from Colorado to San Juan Island in Washington and returning via the North Cascades. We will describe in detail each stop along the way in subsequent posts.

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Embarking on this picturesque odyssey from Colorado to the San Juan Islands is like tracing a storybook of America's natural wonders. We escaped the summer heat, heading north by west. The start of our venture was marred by traffic delays and re-routing all before even exiting Colorado! But we pushed on, turning an 8 hour haul into 10 before being comforted by a late-night stay at a Harvest Host in Cokesville, Wyoming.

From there we headed towards Stanley, Idaho, with a quick stop at the cutsie roadside tourist-trap of Lava Springs. We stayed several nights in the Stanley area. At Redfish Lake, the towering mountains stand as silent sentinels, reflecting in the pristine water like nature's own mirror. This is one of favorite spots in America.

Bend, Oregon, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, weaves its charm with cascading waterfalls and the adventurous spirit of the Deschutes River. We are blessed to have friends who own Root Down Acres. https://www.rootdownacresbend.com. Here we camped on their back lot. The kids collected chicken eggs, learned the art of bee-keeping, picked fresh vegetables, and life slowed down a bit. We love Bend and the access to water--spending lots of tubing, swimming, and kayaking time.

Venturing further, the coastal allure of Newport, Oregon, unveils a maritime symphony - rugged cliffs meeting the relentless Pacific, a dance of waves under the coastal sun. We camped along the beach at South Beach State Park, which was not our favorite campground but the surrounding scenery made up for it. The drive up the Oregon Coast is one of the best in the states. We reached Astoria, staying at a KOA which was surprisingly amazing. (We aren't your typical KOA campers). It was right across from the rugged beachfront of Fort Stevens State Park. The area's Victorian architecture and maritime history, added a touch of nostalgia...especially when seeing "The Goonies" house.

Next, we crossed into Washington, skipping the bustle of Seattle and finding our way to Anacortes, meeting up with old friends, Seth and Nora and their daughter before catching the evening fairy to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. We spent almost a week on the island, losing reality for a bit, pampering ourselves with fine meals and drinks, spending our time on my sister's deck overlooking the sea. We were spoiled.

Heading homeward through the North Cascades, we traversed a landscape of jagged peaks and alpine meadows which is nearly impossible to describe. Each curve of the road reveals a new panorama, a testament to the raw beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Please check back as we dissect in detail each stop along our journey.