[ PROS ]

• Each site comes with a fire pit w/ grill and picnic table
• Campsites have good privacy. Lots of lush greenery and bushes to separate them. Also, good shade to shield from the sun.
• Great campsite for kids and family. There is a fantastic playground and the Rangers hold Junior Ranger activities twice a day.
• Firewood is only $5 a bundle! The hours for purchase is limited but just make sure you pick them up from the camp host before 8pm
• Harris Beach is so beautiful! There are a couple great trails to the beach and during low tide, you can explore the tide pools. We saw hundreds of hermit crabs, anemone, starfish, sculpin, and more. Sunsets are also phenomenal.
• There are lots of cool rock formations, including the Arch Rock and Goat Island, that is really cool to check out. You can also hike up to the butte along the trail back to the campgrounds and there is a magical lookout.
• The restroom and shower facilities are probably the best I’ve ever seen. Super new, well maintained, clean, and spacious. The Rangers do such a good job of cleaning them daily.
• Only 2 miles from Downtown Brookings where it’s really convenient to pick up supplies or dine out. There is a large Fred Meyers nearby that is convenient. There is also a Saturday Market by the port and a Saturday Farmer’s Market in Harbor. Both are fun to check out.
• Near the California and Oregon state lines. You can visit the state border and be in two states at once! Also, near Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park where you can see Redwoods (tallest trees on the planet). It doesn’t get any cooler than that.

[ CONS ]

• Most campsites are rather small and can barely fit 2 tents
• Careful of wild blackberry bushes everywhere! Lots of children and adults were scraped up by thorns when exploring the terrain.
• Like most beach campgrounds, TONS of RVs. There are 65 full hookup sites + 29 sites with electrical compared to the 54 tent sites available. Be prepared to listen to generators and have large RVs block your view of nature.
• There is a large lumber processing mill nearby so you hear loud noises (mechanical beeping and lumber falling) all hours of the night and day, 6 days a week (off Sundays). They start at 5am and end around midnight.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - this weekend I tested out products from Ethnotek. Before I get into the specific products, I just have to say that I am a huge fan of the company’s values and mission. I love that the brand celebrates diversity and is supporting art and culture from around the world. The beautiful prints are inspired from different regions and honor the origins. They source the fabric and labor from villages in Ghana, India. Guatemala, Vietnam, and Indonesia, and each product comes a tag that tells you who made it. My bag was made by Vankar Shamji and his family in India! So happy to be part of the tribe!

Cross Body Bag - I chose the India inspired print  and I love the design. The fabric is beautiful and well made. It’s a good size for traveling and holding the essentials, but don’t expect to fit too much in. It’s perfect for passports, wallets, sunglasses, headphones, and other small items. I found it particularly useful at the airport. I love all the little compartments which makes it really easy to organize when you’re on the go. Even though it’s a small sling, the main roll up compartment surprisingly can be adjusted to hold a little more. I love the small document compartment that is great for holding brochures and travel guides that you don’t want bent. My favorite part are the two hidden zipper pockets! One has a small storage pocket, and the other one allows you to reach into the main compartment without having to unroll the top -- really clever and convenient design! Another great feature is the padded air mesh panel in the back of the sling. It helps ventilate and provide some airflow so you don’t get too hot when the sling is on your back. The padded mesh panel is also another compartment where you can stow away valuable items such as wallet, keys, etc. My one gripe about the bag is the nylon seatbelt strap because it loosens and slides. I have to constantly adjust the straps so it hangs at the right height that I want. After about 20 minutes of walking, it slowly slides out of place and I have to readjust the straps. Not a huge issue, just a little annoying.

Padu Zipper Pouch - I got this pouch in the same print and it fits perfectly inside the cross body bag and provides a little more organization. The zipper is high quality and works with easy. The inside of the has a good lining that makes it easy to see the contents of the pouch and clean. It’s surprisingly spacious and I was able to fit all my makeup inside. The pouch is really just a great additional accessory to the cross body sling and I love it!