What to Expect

To give you an idea of what the reunion will be like, here are Ronnie's recollections about the Manzanita reunion in 2007:

Manzanita is a charming little town just off the 101. Laneda Avenue, the main street, runs from 101 to the beach and is where most commerce is centered. There are restaurants, cafes, and a nice variety of shops.

Frank and I arrived at our beachfront motel in the evening. Before the car was fully parked, we had exchanged greetings with half a dozen Maiers. We walked into the office grinning and said, "Reservation for Maier." The clerk was not amused; she had about 12 of those.

After settling in a bit, we made the short drive over to the park. Finding the meeting room was easy, and there were more people to greet in that parking lot. Then we went inside and found the real party.

The meeting room is about the size of a hamburger joint. It has several long tables (seating for dozens) and a corner food prep area with two long counters, a big sink, and electrical outlets. One wall opens wide onto an outdoor area with more tables, a firepit, and wooded paths where the kids had lots of fun climbing trees and (evidently) rolling in the dirt.

Bathrooms are off a separate hallway in the meeting room buiding.

From the meeting room, it's a short walk through the campground to the dunes. Up over the dunes, and you're on the beautiful sand beach. There, you can build sand castles, comb for shells and driftwood, get some exercise, or just stroll along enjoying the views of Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain. You can even swim if you're well insulated.

The campground is pretty, with a bit of shrub screening between the sites. The bathrooms are large and clean. I think the showers are individual stalls rather than an all-in-one room setup, but someone who camped should confirm that.

Meals were relaxed and fun. Everybody contributed dishes and conversation, and there was a delicious variety of both. Food was available throughout the day. (Mia's favorite was the big tub of Red Vines, so whoever brought that should give serious thought to repeating the gesture!) It seemed like breakfast was the most organized, orchestrated meal. I think a couple of people had brought electric griddles and people took turns manning them.

Between meals, we all did as we pleased. Some of us went into town on shopping expeditions or visited local wineries. Others played cards, played on the beach, went exploring, or took advantage of the recreational activities available nearby. As with any Maier gathering, the kids provided focus, motivation, and tons of enjoyment. And throughout the weekend, there was lots of talking and reminiscing, laughter and fun.

Have anything to add? Please leave a comment!

Lodging Ideas

Camping
Mary has reserved a block of campsites at the park, first come, first served. Contact her for more information.

Click here for information about contacting the park directly.

There are other campgrounds in the area. Click here for more info.

Hotels
Use your favorite method for locating a hotel. Here are a couple to get you started:

Google's list
Neahkahnie.net

The place many of us stayed in 2007 was the Sunset Surf Motel, but I believe they are filling up fast.

Cottages
Many cottages require a one-week stay. Try these sites:
Vacation Rentals by Owner
Ribbon Vacation Rentals

Other ideas?
If you have good resources that should be added to this list, please leave a comment on this post.

Things We Need

Some meal and supply requests are listed below.

Important! If you want to bring food or items not listed here, do not hesitate! These lists are simply a starting point. Also, if you don't sign up for anything, don't hesitate to bring something anyway. We love variety and surprises.

To sign up to bring something: Send e-mail.

Beverages
Everyone should bring their own coolers and their own beverages.

Correction of previously posted information: Alcoholic beverages are allowed. Moderation is requested.

Snack Foods
We need basic snack foods for sharing throughout the day (fruits, vegetables, crackers, cookies, nuts, Red Vines, etc.).
[from Edie: cookies, Rice Krispie Treats]
[from Tom & Deb: some heart-healthy snacks]
[from Helen: cookies]
[from Linda: banana or zucchini bread]
[from Bill: s'mores fixings, watermelon]
[from Morrie & Jorene: 2 lg. cans mixed nuts, 2 tubs of black and red vines]
[from Becky: dehydrated cherries]
[from Joe & Ang: fruit, chips]
[from Ferd: box each of peaches and apples, several canteloupe]

Thursday Dinner: SOUP NIGHT
People will be arriving at all different times, so we need waves of food.

Soups [1 each from Sonya, Edie, Becky, Bill & Sheila]
Chili
Rolls [some from Bruce]
Salads [1 from Ronnie]
Side dishes [potatoes from Frank]
Saltine crackers [1 box from Bill & Sheila]
Desserts [1 or 2 from Linda]

Breakfasts (we'll figure out at the park how to distribute this stuff)
Pancakes [some from Sonya, Edie]
Scrambled eggs [2 dozen from Bill & Sheila for Fri., 4 doz. from Sharon for Sat.]
Breakfast meats [bacon from Sonya and Joe for Friday, sausages and bacon from Sharon for Sat.]
Oatmeal [John]
Cereals [2 boxes from Bruce]
Granola [some from Bruce]
Coffee [small tin decaf and a bag of SBC from Loretta]
Tea [several varieties from Frank, some from Joe]
Syrup [some from Edie, some peach from Becky, Costco bottle from Bill & Sheila]
Fruit [bananas from Bruce]
Donuts [2 doz. from Frank]
Sweet rolls
Muffins [some mini-muffins from Mary]
Bagels [Becky]
Cream cheese
Milk [one gal. 1% from Bruce, two cans canned from Loretta, some from Joe]

Lunches (we'll figure out at the park how to distribute this stuff)
Sandwich fixings [muffuletta fixings from New Orleans; tuna from Bruce; 1 pkg. cheese slices from Bill; sliced turkey from Frank; shredded pork, lunch meat, and some cheese from Joe]
Bread [some from Mary, Becky]
Fruit & veggies [some from Tom & Deb, lettuce & 6 tomatoes from Bill]
Chips [2 Costco bags from Bill & Sheila; Doritos, BBQ, pretzels from Bruce]

Friday Dinner: MEAT NIGHT (general potluck)
Roasts [2 pot roasts from Sonya]
Ham [1 from Linda; 1 from Bill; 1 from Mary, or a roast, if needed]
Turkey [1 small one from Linda]
Fish
Vegetarian offerings [cheesy pasta from Frank]
Red beans and rice [Judy]
Sauerkraut and brats [from Linda]
Potatoes [some from Linda, spicy potates and corn from Judy]
Veggies [some plus humus from Sharon, green beans from Becky, some from Joe]
Salads [fruit salad from John, pea salad from Bruce, one from Sharon]
Other side dishes [2 bags corn on the cob from Morrie]
Rolls [some from Mary, 2 doz. from Loretta]
Desserts [red velvet and/or German chocolate cake from Lori, one from Edie & Michelle, one from Loretta, 1 from Becky, tres leches from Sonya]

Saturday Breakfast
Same as Friday, hopefully different volunteers.

Saturday Lunch
Same as Friday (plus leftovers from Friday dinner), hopefully different volunteers.

Saturday Dinner: TACO AND BURRITO NIGHT
Taco meat [10 lbs. buffalo from Grace, 7 lbs. beef from Bill, some vegetarian meat from Bruce]
Taco shells [some from Joe]
Tortillas [40 flour from Bill, some from Joe]
Shredded lettuce
Grated cheese [4 lbs. from Frank]
Tomatoes
Refried beans [Bob & Deb, Becky]
Sliced olives [Bob & Deb, Becky]
Peppers [jar of jalapenos from Becky]
Salsa [verde from Becky]
Sour cream [large tub from Loretta]
Guacamole and chips [John]
Fruit [mandarin oranges from Becky]
Veggies [some from Linda, Walla Walla sweets from Linda, hominy from Becky]
Salads [one each from Linda, Loretta]
Desserts [one each from Linda, Edie & Michelle, Loretta, Joe & Ang]

Sunday Breakfast
Same as other days, but with a smaller crowd.

Staples
salt, pepper [lg. can salt from Bruce]
seasoning salt [Tony's from Frank]
butter [Costco tub from Edie]
mayo
ketchup, mustard, relish [from Grace: One Costco pack of ketchup, mustard, relish]
Tabasco [Frank]
coffee [from Grace: one large can Folgers]
cocoa [from Grace: four 16-serving cans (one sugar free); some from Joe]
creamer [from Helen: packets of French Vanilla non-dairy creamer]
sweeteners [100 packets Splenda from Bruce]

Supplies

• camp stoves [one from Becky]
• standalone burner and deep pot [Becky]
• griddles [one each from Mary, Edie, Tom & Deb, Sheila]
• crock pots [two from Sonya, one each from Mary, Deb, Sharon, Sheila, Loretta, Kim, Linda, Joe]
• turkey roaster [one from Mary, if needed]
• Dutch ovens [two from Sonya]
• electric fry pans [one each from Loretta, Kim, Joe, Sharon]
• meat slicer [Edie]
• coffee pots [one 30c pot from Grace]
• surge protectors [2 from Frank]
• extension cords [2 from Tom & Deb, 1 from Frank]
• picnic and paper goods (plates, napkins, cups, utensils, and paper towels)
  [Grace: the 'starter set' of picnic goods: 200 paper plates, 100 cups, 200 pieces of plastic utensils, 200 napkins, 2 plastic oblong tablecloths. We will need more than this.]
  [Mary: 25 paper plates, 25 dessert plates, 100 cups, 300 spoons]
  [Bruce: package of bowls]
  [Frank: 500 paper plates]
  [Loretta: 100 paper plates, 100 utensil sets, some napkins]
  [Becky: 200 forks]
• cleaning supplies (dish soap, hand soap, dish towels, drying towels, tabletop cleaner/disinfectant) [Sharon]
• beach toys
• full sized shovels [one from Becky]
• firewood [some from Becky]