11.3 miles SW of Tillamook, OR, on a large sand spit off of Netarts Bay, lies Cape Lookout State Park. One of my favorite camping destinations as a child. A place worth sharing and enjoying with my family now. My two girls have reached the ages where the memories they make now will be the memories they carry with them for the rest of their lives. Being a older mom now, I want to fill their heads with endearing family time adventures.
In my family, it is a unspoken rule that when you visit Tillamook you must stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. https://www.tillamook.com/cheese-factory/index.html
My beloved grandfather Vernon Hoge, was a true ice cream connoisseur and every time I eat ice cream, a smile appears on my face, at the shear memory of him. How many times did he argue with my grandma Betty or my folks, "no, no, she needs three scoops, not one or two."
The factory can become quite busy during the summer months and the ice cream line had both my husbands and my eyes rolling to the back of our heads. Not wanting to disappoint two adorable faces, my brain sparked an idea and we headed back to the refrigeration area of the factory grocery store to a small freezer filled with their new "Super Premium frozen treats", Farm Style Gelatos, Custards and Extra Creamy Ice Creams. In nice 16 ounce sizes, we decided upon California Peach Cobbler, Oregon Marionberry Cheesecake and for my pistachio lover husband, California Pistachio. With no line in the grocery checkout and spoons with the napkins, we were outside, sitting in the sun and indulging in pure decadence. Only a few bites and your sweet tooth is appeased.
It had been over ten years since my last visit to Cape Lookout and I was surprised by the ocean erosion and the changes to the camping and day use areas due to it. The area that comprised the park camp host sites when I was young was gone, replaced with a small beach grass sand dune. Our long a go favorite family camping spot in loop C, now contained a yurt. The huge tangled and snarly hollowed raccoon stump was now engulfed in salal and huckleberry bushes.
We found our reserved site in loop D and as I stepped out of the van the smells of memory fell upon my senses. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the witty camp set up banter with my husband, Joe and the smiles of exploration on my girls' faces as they enjoyed the new surroundings.
Spending much time playing at the beach and scary campfire stories at night. Three days of fun well spent. Cape Lookout State Park
