I remember the time my family camped in the Olympic National Park and we saw a black bear on the High Divide trail. What a thrill to be amongst beautiful alpine meadows with their multi-colored wildflowers and see one of nature's infamous predators grazing on berries at the same time. Such delights await you on your camping vacation in Washington this summer. With choices ranging from temperate rainforests to lush valleys and towering volcanoes, one need not run out of places to explore with the family.
A great place to start planning that camping vacation is at Washington state park's Web site at www.parks.wa.gov. This user-friendly site gives descriptions of the many state parks Washington has to offer, as well as directions and reservation contact information. Reservations for many of the state parks can be made through ReserveAmerica.com.
Another helpful resource is the national park service Web site, www.nps.gov, where you can click on ‘Washington State' and get information on campsites in the state's national parks including fees and reservations and fun facts about the places to visit. For example, did you know that Mt. Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states? Although campsites are available on a first come, first serve basis, you can reserve sites by going to the National Recreation Reservation Service Web site, www.recreation.gov.
Privately owned campgrounds are another option and Washington has many. Often times fees can be low and the scenery, spectacular. For those who like to RV camping, private campgrounds can be the way to go. There are great discounts for RV owners that participate in an RV club, and many campgrounds cater to the RV crowd, offering swimming pools, cafes, laundry facilities, phone hookups, Internet, and cable TV. A thorough website that has already done the research is at http://camping.about.com/cs/campgrounds/a/washington.htm. Featuring a comprehensive list of private campgrounds in Western Washington, just click on a listing that looks intriguing and get a description of the campground, operating hours and fees, as well as any discounts the proprietor may be offering.
Try one of the following campgrounds for that failsafe family experience!
Cougar Rock
Where: Mount Rainier National Park
Cost: $15 entrance fee to park; $12-$15 fee per site/night
Reservations: Campsites are available first come, first served, but reservations can be made at the National Recreation Reservation Service website, or call (877) 444-6777.
Note: If you plan to camp at Cougar Rock between late June and early September, reservations are strongly recommended.
Special features: convenient to the famous Paradise area, amphitheatre and extensive hiking trails.
Fort Flagler State Park
Where: Hadlock, Wash. in the Olympic Peninsula
Cost: $21 for a standard campsite/night
Reservations: https://secure.camis.com/WA/FortFlaglerStatePark.
Special features: Guided heritage tours and small museum, lots of trails with kids' bikes allowed.
Moran State Park
Where: Orcas Island, San Juan Islands
Cost: $21 for a standard campsite/night
Reservations: https://secure.camis.com/WA/FortFlaglerStatePark
Special features: 30 miles of trails, five lakes, several waterfalls and an old-growth forest.