“What’s for breakfast?”

It was early, and we were all snuggled up in our cozy sleeping bags.

The coffee was yet to be brewed.

It was the first morning of our recent camping trip to Long Beach, WA. 

The boys are STARVING. 

Or, so they think…

I started to explain that we had breakfast links, eggs, and….uh-oh. 

It hit me.

I forgot the potatoes.

In the oven. Where I pre-baked them… 🤦‍♀️

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I figured we could just give them a quick chop, then fry them up to go with our eggs and links.

I had just been thinking we must finally be getting this camping thing down because we hadn’t forgotten anything. Famous last words…🤣

At least, I figured, everyone would be fueled up for the day with all that protein!

Cue G stating that he doesn’t like eggs (we know they aren’t his favorite, which is why I also planned links and potatoes). 🙄

Or breakfast links. Lovely. He’s liked them for years, but, apparently, it was time to change his mind…

father and son making breakfast at outdoor kitchen at The Lamp Camp
At least he’s willing to help make the eggs, even if he won’t eat them!

We most definitely didn’t screw up on the rest of the trip. We chose the right location, the right campground, and most definitely the right activities. Click the link to read all about what we did right on our recent Killer Camping Weekend at Long Beach.

But, for now, we want to highlight one of our favorite bike trails ever: The Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail.

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PNW Bike Trail: The Lewis & Clark Discovery Trail

As we were researching things to do in Long Beach, we came across several ideas. However, one idea stood out amongst the rest as our #1 choice. And, that was taking a bike ride on the Discovery Trail.

man's cream colored haro mountain bike leaning against archway that begins the Discovery Trail
The start of the trail.

The Discovery Trail: Where to Start

We started our ride from the Port of Ilwaco, where we parked our car in the lot near the waterfront. The trail begins from this location at the corner of Main Street and 2nd Ave SW…a little piece of information we had missed when we first looked, resulting in a bike tour of the town…oops!

If you have little kids, we recommend using a Discover Pass and parking in the parking lot at Cape Disappointment to begin your ride. Or, the alternative is to start the trail along any of the other entrances (behind Breakers on 26th St N, 15th St N, Boldstad, Sid Snyder Dr., 17th St S, 38th Pl. or 30th St.)

man wearing helmet and sunglasses taking selfie with woman in background pushing bike up the steep hill
There were several hills and even Mom had to walk a couple.

The Discovery Trail: Difficulty

The first section from the Port of Ilwaco to Cape Disappointment is definitely the most challenging. As we started the trail, I heard a chorus of groans and “Oh no’s” coming from the boys. Just up from the entrance, the trail begins with a steep uphill climb. Thankfully, almost the entire path is paved, but it still requires some serious leg power!

I’m pretty sure only John made it all the way without the need to walk. I was close but lost it towards the top. Someone had to make the boys feel better, right?!  😉

paved portion of the Discovery Trail
The trail was paved and not too difficult for most of the way.

Just after you make it to the top, an archway and trail map mark the beginning of the trail. Through the arch, you cross a wooden bridge, then follow a series of moderate hills. Most of them have a downhill before the climb, but we had to remind the kids to keep their speed for sure!

When you approach Cape Disappointment, you cross a wooden bridge and head through the parking area to continue on the trail. After the bridge, the path becomes a series of smooth rolling hills winding through the forest and along the coastline. This section is much easier for younger children – or, for those who wish for a more leisurely ride. No matter which starting point you choose, you will be rewarded with beautiful scenery!

boy pushing bike back up from beach along the Discovery Trail in Long Beach
Heading back to the paved trail after a beach detour.

The Discovery Trail: Distance

The Discovery Trail is 8.5 miles one way from Ilwaco to its end behind Breakers in Long Beach. So, you can choose to do just a couple of miles or go all the way up for a total of 17 miles round trip. We made it a total of 10 – not too shabby with 7 and 9-year-olds!

John and I would have loved to complete the entire trail. However, about 5 miles in that, we realized if we were going to be able to encourage the kids to make it all the way back to the car, we were going to need to fuel up and turn around before too long. All along the path are trails out to the beach, so we picked one and found a great spot to stop for a snack. We enjoyed our FBOMBs (that F stands for “fat”!) and MadeGood Granola Minis, and let the boys play for a bit before we headed back to the van.

As we approached the last bridge, I heard a whoop of excitement as T realized that he had climbed the last hill and it was all downhill from there. Both boys kept saying, “We made it!!” It was definitely a good lesson in pushing through the challenges for the reward. They both agree they would definitely do it again!

family smiling and posing on bikes at the end of the Discovery Trail in Long Beach
We did it!

Final Thoughts on The Discovery Trail (and The Rest of the Story)

Back to that breakfast story…

So, what do you do when you forget potatoes for breakfast, and you have a kid who apparently has decided he hates everything else you brought? 🙄

You improvise.

We ended up making G a “breakfast quesadilla” with leftover cheese and tortillas we had brought. He had to choose his protein (eggs or links) because even though he “hates” them, we knew he needed the fuel for the day.

He chose links. And started eating with minimal complaints. Great. Crisis averted!

I start splitting up what was left between the rest of us.

Suddenly, I hear a little voice…

“Mommy?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I have more links?” 🤷🏻‍♀️

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