Seaport RV Resort & Campground, Old Mystic, Connecticut

      Not having any 'free' campgrounds in Connecticut that would fit our coach, we opted for a "Good Neighbor Park" These parks give Coast to Coast members a discount on camping fees.  Seaport gave a discount from $68 per night to $51 but required us to stay two nights.  The campground was nice with lots of grass and large camping sites.  However, it did lack septic at the campsites.  I understand that they provide a free pump out after three nights.  The facilities were nice and well maintained.  My biggest issue with the campground was that they wouldn't let us choose the site so we wound up facing the sun with no shade trees while there were plenty of nicer sites left empty.  

      While we were there we decided to drive to Gillette Castle.  It was the former home of William Gillette, now a Connecticut State Park.  Gillette was an early 20th-century playwright and actor who is most famous for his role as Sherlock Holmes.  He designed and had a castle built to live in.  From the outside it looks like an old stone European castle, however, on the inside, it was the coolest home I have ever been in.  The most impressive thing was the woodwork, especially the doors.  My description or even photos wouldn't do it justice.  It cost just six dollars to do a walkthrough.  Once inside there are park rangers to explain and tell the history of every room and of Gillette.  The castle sits on a hill overlooking the Connecticut River.  We were fortunate enough to have taken the ferry across the river, so our first view of the castle was from the water.  We would have missed it, if not for our love of taking ferries.  

      We also took some time to explore the town of Mystic.  We took photos of the Mystic Pizza parlor but didn't go in because we had already eaten lunch.  From what we were told at the park, the town has quite a maritime museum and with our gate pass, we could get 50% off admission.  We didn't have time, so we missed it.

Type: GNP - Good Neighbor Park

Good Sam Rating: 9/10*/9

Address: 
45 Campground Rd
Old Mystic, CT 06372

Phone: (248) 234-6027

Reservations Phone: (248) 234-6027

Resort Information: Seaport Campground is close to everything you love about Mystic and the Connecticut shoreline. Located in the phenomenal vacation destination of Old Mystic, CT, Seaport offers an East Coast retreat that you won’t soon forget. It’s no wonder families bring their RVs to Seaport – this resort is a camper’s paradise with large sites, fantastic amenities and a great variety of local attractions.

Directions: From Jct of I-95 & Allyn St/Cow Hill Rd (Ex 89): N 1.3 mi on Allyn St/Cow Hill Rd to Gold Star Rd/SR 184, turn E (R), park on L in 1.5 mi.

Web Site: sunrvresorts.com

Partial Sites: 102

Pull-through Sites: 25

Dry Sites: 12

Check-In/Check-Out Times: 2:00 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.

Rental Types: Economy RV Site, 4675 Points  

RV Site Minimum Stay: 2 nights (with our membership discount)

Rental Unit Minimum Stay: 1 night

Open: Apr 15 to Oct 14

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 45 feet

Elevation: 0

Amenities: Game room, mini golf, fitness center, laser tag, group activities, pavilion, heated outdoor pool, playground, horseshoes, cable TV, dump station, firewood, ice available, picnic tables, fishing available, laundry, fire rings, grocery, propane, hot showers, honeywagon.

RV Notes: Special discount rate for Coast members. Site includes water, electric, no sewer. Additional charges: 50 amp $3/night, $20 early check-in and late check-out. Drive-ups not accepted.

Accepts Pets: Yes

Pet Restrictions: Yes

Visitor Mail Accepted: No

Sea Pines RV Resort & Campground, Swainton, New Jersey

     We arrived at Sea Pines on a Friday afternoon before the 4th of July for a ten-day stay.  We were able to leave the coach just inside the gate and search for a site.  We were given a map with all the available spaces highlighted in yellow and were told that only certain sites had a septic connect, however they do provide a free pump service twice a week.  The sites with septics were located in with the annual sites.  Sea Pines is definitely a campground.  The roads and sites are all dirt and a little gravel.  On the plus side most all of the sites are very large and could easily be two if not three sites.  Also, all of the sites are in the trees. (not pine trees like the name would imply)  We found a great end site and a couple hours later great people took the site next door.  With every campground, there are pros and cons.  On the negative side was the number of annual sites vs. camping sites.  The other Thousand Trails campground down the road (Lake & Shore) gave us a map when stopped in for a visit showing close to 80% annual sites and referred to the other sites as 'transient' sites.  We purchased a campground membership to camp in campgrounds not to fill the gaps in trailer parks.  Sea Pines also needs to work on enforcing their rules especial the speed limit with the number kids and the level of dust, there are way too many fast drivers, the biggest violators being golf carts.  On the positive side, there is a great swimming pond.  Never been big on swimming in ponds, but this one was really nice.  There is also a pool, but it's too small to just float and relax.  With the trees, large sites, pond, and great neighbors the campground is worth a return visit.  

    Part of our reason for choosing this location was its proximity to Atlantic City (about a 40-minute drive).  I had been there as a kid in the early seventies (before gambling was legal) and was excited about returning.  Well, I was disappointed to see that the city is dying.  Driving into town was sad, we could barely make out the skyline through the haze of the heat and pollution.  When we got into the city, we found it dirty with closed up buildings and businesses everywhere, including on the boardwalk.  We landed in a parking garage between Bally's and Ceasar's.  Both casinos were nice, but nothing like Vegas.  On the boardwalk, there were few people.  There also was quite a bit of dune between the boardwalk and the beach, I don't remember that, but it's been 45 years. I'm guessing that there are other parts of the city that aren't as dead as where we were.  There are several large casinos not on the boardwalk.  It's too bad that the city is so run down.

     On another day while were we camping here we decided to take the seventy-mile drive northeast to Philidelphia.  It was worth it, but we didn't have enough time to see everything that we wanted to see.  We decided to park free at a casino (Sugar House).  We played a bit and then made the half hour trek in the 95-degree sun to the historic part of the city.  We walked around and saw most of the historic sites that you'd expect to see and even did a tour of Independence Hall (the Pennsylvania State House)  We found a fun way to check out the city.  There are 13 story-telling benches throughout the city.  At each bench, there is someone there telling five-minute stories about the history of the place.  The storytellers are very animated and fun, but it was mostly geared toward children.  Just the same we visited several and listened to some fun stories, but we ran out of time before we got to them all.  It was a good way to find most of the historic sights of the city. Philidelphia is a beautiful city, but it doesn't smell very good.  We will have to go back and get more of the history in the future.

South Jersey Shore getaway at this Cape May RV campground
      Book a trip at Sea Pines RV Resort and have all the pleasures of a quiet campground plus the excitement of Atlantic City wrapped into one. Our easy-access wooded sites and comfortable rental accommodations make for the perfect home-away-from-home at this Cape May RV campground. Once settled, you will find that our campground offers much to do and see. Off-site, go sightseeing to appreciate the beauty of the old Victorian homes of Cape May, walk on the beach or stroll along the boardwalk. Back at the resort, hang out poolside, test your skill at mini golf or relax under the sun.

     This area offers a great selection of things to do while vacationing. Try your luck at deep sea fishing, dine at gourmet restaurants, go whale and dolphin watching or even take a day trip to the free public zoo. However you define vacation fun, you’ll find many options available at Cape May’s Sea Pines RV Resort.