Battery Russell was one of the most fascinating stops we made while exploring the Oregon Coast. If…read moreyou enjoy history, old military sites, or simply exploring places that feel a little mysterious, this is definitely worth visiting. The massive concrete structures are incredibly interesting to walk through. You can explore the old rooms, passageways, stairs, and gun emplacements while imagining what this place must have been like when soldiers were stationed here protecting the mouth of the Columbia River. What made the experience especially memorable for us was learning about Battery Russell's connection to World War II. In June 1942, a Japanese submarine surfaced offshore and fired shells toward Fort Stevens. Knowing that history while standing among these old military structures gave our visit an entirely different perspective. I also appreciated being able to explore at our own pace. There are plenty of opportunities for photos, and the weathered concrete and surrounding forest make the area incredibly atmospheric. Battery Russell is a great addition to a visit to Fort Stevens State Park, especially if you're already road-tripping along the northern Oregon Coast. I highly recommend taking some time to stop, walk around, read about the history, and explore. It's an unusual and memorable piece of Oregon history that I'm really glad we didn't skip!

Clean park with great hiking trails. Fairly clean restrooms. Drove down to the beach and took the…read moredogs to see the Peter irondale. This camping trip they had a free concert on the lawn by the battery. I love that the golf carts drive by to bring you firewood for a standard $7 fee. Terrible reception and cellular in the park. Overall great trip with lots of sunshine.

I have mixed feelings how eligible some state parks are in Washington. Some are absolutely stellar,…read moreout of this world, highly memorable and beautiful and some that are simply underwhelming or disappointing even. Well that's not the case at all with Cape Disappointment State Park. It is truly an amazing place. You get to see two lighthouses, beautiful views, the ocean and if you're lucky maybe even a whale. Which is exactly what we did see. We saw a Gray Whale lazing about in the water with it's fin treading water before quietly disappearing into the water. Of course taking in nature walks and hikes are a good option here too if it suits your fancy. I can definitely recommend very highly in regards to visiting this lovely park. It's truly a great one for the state!

This is a must! It is so beautiful, well maintained. Weather wasn't the best but could drive around…read moremost of the park. Took the wrong road and didn't get to the ocean side. Dog didn't enjoy the road on the bay side, to many turns and up and down.

Love this little park, which was walking distance from our Vrbo rental house. I had to burn some…read moreenergy off of my two year old son, before our long drive to PDX. And I found this park on Yelp. I used my nav & the walk was only seven minutes one-way. When we arrived, nobody was around, maybe it was because it was only 7:45AM, lol. My son had a blast with the swings & slides. So elated to have discovered this fun park.

Great park! Big playground. Public bathrooms. Picnic tables (covered). Small boat launch. Good spot…read morefor an outdoor music event. Also got an adjacent bumpy bike area to ride and jump bikes. Kids loved it!

I loved this park. I took my 79 yo mother and 4 small dogs. It was a reasonable walk for my mother…read morewho uses a walker. We were able to park at the trailhead and we had the park to ourselves for the duration of our visit. The path is rock/gravel and there is a wooden staircase and a wooden bridge, both with hand railings. When we went it would have been impossible to approach the bottom of the falls without wading through the river, but nonetheless we had a lovely perch on a fallen log. The pictures I've seen of the falls online did not do it justice at all! It is a tall falls and quite relaxing and beautiful. There was a rocky portion next to the river where the dogs could wade into the water and explore, and some trails leading up to the highway. We heard very little traffic from the nearby highway. We will definitely return. This is a perfect trail for less physically active persons and also for children. Regarding the bathroom, there is one 3 miles south on 202 at the elk reserve (marked public restrooms at the turnoff). This is accessible. Beautiful picnic and outting!

Not far from highway 26, this is a nice detour if you want some quick waterfall action. Ample…read moreparking but not much of a park itself. There's a short, simple trail that will take you to the waterfall. It's a nice, rumbly gushy waterfall. I'd you're looking for more of a hike, I suggest elsewhere. This is a nice pitstop though or a place to meditate as the waterfall drowns out all the road noise.

Fort Clatsop was one of the most memorable historical sites we visited on our Oregon Coast road…read moretrip. Even if you're not a huge history buff, this place does an incredible job of bringing the Lewis and Clark Expedition to life. Walking through the reconstructed fort made it easy to imagine what life was like for the Corps of Discovery as they spent the winter of 1805-1806 preparing for the long journey home. The visitor center is well done, with informative exhibits, friendly park rangers, and plenty of historical information that adds context before you explore the fort. The reconstruction itself is impressive, and the surrounding forest helps create an authentic atmosphere. It's amazing to think that after traveling more than 4,000 miles, Lewis and Clark and their team called this place home for 106 days. The walking trails around the fort are peaceful and beautifully maintained, making it easy to spend a couple of hours exploring the area. We appreciated how clean the park was and how passionate the staff were about sharing the site's history. Whether you're interested in American history, the Oregon Coast, or simply looking for a unique stop near Astoria, Fort Clatsop is well worth visiting. It's educational without feeling overwhelming, family-friendly, and offers a deeper appreciation for one of the greatest expeditions in American history. I would absolutely recommend adding it to your itinerary. Check out our video on our socials @reessroots

Fort Clatsop is part of this area. The museum and movies were excellent. I did not realize how…read morelittle I really knew about the Lewis and Clark expedition until I saw all the history in the exhibits. If you have your National Park pass make sure to take it for free admission.

2 years later and we went back and guess what? It's still fun? I actually think it is one of my…read morefavorite places to visit. I really like the beach area. Unfortunately, it rained the majority of the time we were there, but since we had a travel trailer, we just played games inside all day. The great part was that we knew the rain was coming so on day one, we went to the beach and enjoyed every minute in the warm water. The water is seems clean, the waves are great. Even though it's a river, I did not worry about floating away. I still enjoy watching the ships. One of my nieghbors showed me an app that gives you info on the ships that pass. I still recommend this place. Unlike lasdt time, no barking dogs nor car alarms. Even my neighbor had dogs and they were so well behaved. Great time! Definitely visit if you have a chance. This time we parked down by the restrooms (near tents). Okay, little kids don't know better and kept running through our spot, but when their parents saw them, they corrected them.

I. own the 503-acre tree farm bordering the park. The park is underutilized which is ok lol but it…read morehas really nice beach which you can enjoy often with no or litlte company. There are tennis courts - campsites. Its really undiscovered as is SW Washington. In a couple of years I will have to sell my farm but meanwhile its a great place to go. Photo is from my land overlooking the river. The area is perfect- not totally empty but not full of tourists either. I

Les Shirley Park is located just off of highway 101 in the small town of Cannon Beach, Oregon…read more This is a small quite park that only locals know about . It's "OUR "little secret! The park has a fairly large parking lot, picnic areas, restrooms, educational material, bus stop, and access to the beach. Even-though it may take you an extra 15 minutes to walk to Haystack Rock from here , you wont have to deal with all the tourist crowds. Remember ! It's our little secret! As I sit here writing this review over looking the vast Pacific Ocean in Newport , I can see Yaquina Head Lighthouse far in the distance to my right and it makes me realize how blessed I really am. Enjoy !

Nice little park right outside of the beach. A few picnic tables and pretty clean. Some grass area…read moreif you want to picnic on the ground and pet friendly. Restroom on the other side and parking lot in the middle. Quite windy but a nice little spot.

Don't get me wrong about Lewis and Bark! My dog Bailey loves her groomer however, my wallet doesn't…read morelike their new fees and price increases! During a time where inflation has finally slowed down, Lewis and Bark instituted a 4% credit card fee and also raised toenail clipping $5.00! For the last few years, I was spending $100 every 3 months. Now, we are looking for a less greedy local groomer!

I honestly don't understand how this establishment has a 5 star rating. Both times I've taken my…read moredog there, it's been a terrible experience. The first cut was ridiculous. Half the fur on her head was one length while the other side was about an inch longer. I thought maybe we were unlucky and just got a novice groomer and decided to give them another go. I just picked her up from the 2nd visit and she looks...awful. They cut her face into a freaking square! She could double as Spongebob Squarepants, but she's now Spongebob SquareFace! No gradation, no styling according to her facial features and shape. Just blunt shaving that needs repair. And they charged $70 for this, WITHOUT A BATH/BLOWOUT. She was bathed before taking her in. I'm sorry, but I feel scammed. I know I'm not in the popular opinion here, but there needs to be a balance of experiences to reflect the total picture. Perhaps I am just used to higher standards than what they provide. If you have high standards, look elsewhere.