You’ve heard it before “Life’s a beach.” I feel like that’s up for interpretation for each individual person. For me, that brings me back to Cape Lookout, Oregon and Tillamook. Yes, home of the best cheese and ice cream in the world! It takes me back to some of my favorite memories in my life and a time when things were so much simpler.
My brother Duncan and I at Cape Lookout in 2001.
Every other summer for my entire childhood and even through college, my family would go to the same campground on the Oregon Coast: Cape Lookout State Park. Campfires on the beach, the special camp meals that we’d only eat at that place, and endless time in the sand that we thought would never end. It would be the middle of July or August, and without a doubt it would be 55-65° and overcast every time. If the sun came out, cancel all plans for the day and go to the beach! One of my earliest memories of my life is watching my dad set up the tent in the headlights at night and the pouring down rain. I couldn’t have been more than 5 years old. If that isn’t what being a true family man is, then I don’t know what is. All the years of camp meals, beach fires, early morning walks down the beach to the end of the “cape,” hiking, going to the light house. The list goes on! There are pictures of so many family and friends over the years who have joined our family tradition. The list is easily over 100 people! I’m sitting on the beach during a bachelor party, less than 10 miles down the coast from where all these memories were made. A time of simplicity. Ease. Fun! No pressure. Just pack up the family and go! Summertime, no school, no responsibilities. All we had to do was pack our duffle bags as kids. Mom and dad packed all the food, drinks, utensils, anything you could imagine that we would need. We just made sure the sand toys, and later skim boards and mountain bikes, were packed.
The sand castles along the coast of the Pacific Ocean are now blue Rocky Mountains on a silver bullet can. But no matter what, this place will always hold a special place in my heart and hit close to home as one of my favorite traditions.
Trip to Cape Lookout as a family in 2020.
Best trips!