Where We Are Now

We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.

   Ely KOA our site

Where We Are on the Map

Where to Next

From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls

 Anderson Camp Stock Photo

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Tuesday, 24 December 2024

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Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles, LA

Our Visit

      Sam Houston Jones State Park, was just a one night stay over, but after going there, I wish we would have stayed longer. The park is beautiful with swamps and a river, cabins, RV, and tent camping. The campground is wooded with mostly paved sites.

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Sam Houston on the map blue burned

Most are a bit tight for bigger rigs, but we managed to fit. Walking around the park we saw that the swamp directly across from the campground had been drained. (to restore some of the forests)  As we followed the road we found a large picnic area with plenty of tables along the river bank. There is a boat ramp and we saw someone out in a kayak paddling up and down the river. There is a boat ramp with a warning sign not to swim and a possibility of alligators. Further along, the road was several very nice cabins to rent. There was a second swamp, this one not drained with a large wooden bridge crossing it. In the middle of the bridge was an amphitheater. From the bridge looking down into the swamp, we saw dozens of turtles swimming about. (I took pictures, but you need to zoom in to see their heads poking out of the water and their bodies under the surface) As we passed the cabins along our walk around the park we discovered a full 18-hole disc golf course. Had we more time, we would have grabbed our discs and tried it out. Alongside the road, we could see that water had recently receded from there and discovered what we later found to be mounds of mud with holes in them made by crawfish digging into the ground as the water evaporated. Being from the Northwest, this was new. Later we searched You-tube and watched a video of someone pushing his arm (up to his shoulder) in a hole and pulling out a crawfish. A second video showed him using a trap in a creek using dry dog food as bait and catching them by the dozen.

     Overall, we really liked the park, we met some great people there and would recommend two nights if you’re using it as a stopover on your way down the road.

Campground number eighty-six. 

  • April 18, 2018 -  1 day
  1. Campground Information
  2. Their Description
  3. Amenities
  4. Policies .
Website:
  crt.state.la.us
Type: State Park
Address: Sam Houston Jones State Park, 
       107 Sutherland Rd,
        Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 855-2665

Originally named for the Texas folk hero who traveled extensively in the western reaches of Louisiana, Sam Houston Jones was given its current name in honor of the state's 46th governor, who was instrumental in setting aside this tract of land for the public to enjoy for both day-use and overnight visitors.
Because the caretakers of this 1,087-acre park have worked to keep the land in its natural state, abundant wildlife inhabits the area. Tree-filled lagoons and mixed pine and hardwood forest combine to create a unique natural environment. The park is located just north of the most productive birding region of Louisiana. The bird watching is always excellent, but at certain times of the year, nearly 200 species of birds can be seen at or within 30 miles of the site.

The Office of State Parks has partnered with Sasol in Lake Charles on the Longleaf Legacy Project,  to preserve the iconic tree's rich history, restore the splendor of local forests, and ensure the resiliency of such habitats for generations to come.  The project includes the restoration of over 70 acres of longleaf forest in the park and companion educational programs for local teachers and families.

Sam Houston Jones State Park is home to more than 70 acres of longleaf pines, the oldest living southern pine species. They were once one of the most abundant tree species in the United States, stretching across 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas. Over time, land-use practices such as logging, farming, development, urban encroachment, and fire exclusion have diminished the longleaf pine, leaving less than 4 million acres of longleaf forest and less than 10 percent of their original presence in Louisiana.

The numerous waterways in this area make water sports a natural highlight at the park. Two boat launches are conveniently located on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River, providing access to Calcasieu Lake, about 20 miles away. (No-Wake Zone Advisory )

The three hiking trails winding through this beautiful park make strolling or serious hiking, pleasurable. Particularly interesting is the old stagecoach road, which hikers may travel to explore the park and the banks of the various tributaries to the Calcasieu River.

 

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Hours of Operation:
Site is open daily.

Gate Opening Times:
Sunday through Thursday

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 9 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 10 p.m.

Entrance Station Hours:
Sunday through Thursday

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entrance Fees

  • $3 per person
  • Free for seniors (62 & older)
  • Free for children (3 & under)

Camping
A $6 non-refundable fee will be assessed on each reservation transaction made online, via phone, or as a walk-in.
( map of sites 23-43)  ( map of sites 44-62)

9 Premium Campsites (pull-through sites with water and electrical hookups) $33/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$30/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
26 Improved Campsites (water and electrical hookup) $28/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$20/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
Backcountry campsites (maximum capacity of 6), 5 available on a first-come, first-served basis $9 per person/night, plus tax
Primitive camping area (maximum capacity of 20) $20/night plus tax
America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes (formerly Golden Age & Golden Access Passports) (Available through the National Park Service. Click here for more information)
Holders of the Passes, whose state of residence also honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport).

Additional Information About Overnight Facilities

Tuesday, 21 May 2019 04:19

Tuxbury Pond

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Tuxbury Pond RV Resort, South Hampton, New Hampshire

     The drive in was wet and rainy so the branches along the route were low and did a number on our roof.  Our Garmin GPS led us to the back entrance to the park (which was not a road for RV's) and Google Maps put us on the correct road but took a screwy way to get there.  (Later the car's GPS placed us a mile away from the entrance)  Check-in time is 2 PM and we arrive at half-past ten.  So we had to pull over and wait.  (however, our assigned site was empty when we arrived)  Our site was nice enough, right between a park model that was vacant and a great couple with their three grand-daughters.  (So it was all good)  The park is along Tuxbury Pond which is large but mostly covered with vegetation that wasn't very inviting.  The park is divided with the park buildings in the middle.  It offers both heavily treed campsites as well as several with no shade at all.  The swimming pool looked nice and has a nice camp store.  There was an inflatable movie screen showing Christmas movies in July.  We did look at some of the other buildings like the laundry and what I assumed was a teen area which was in bad condition.  The campground is quite large and the only dumpsters are located about a quarter of a mile outside the gate with no recycling.  The campground is half in New Hampshire and half in Massachusetts.  Overall, the campground was fine and meeting new friends made it all that much better.

     While we were there we took a day to drive up along the New Hampshire coast along Route 1A.  This was the first time we had been able to drive along the Atlantic Ocean and actually see the ocean.  We followed the coast until we reached Portsmouth.  Along the way, we stopped at a revolutionary war bunker, Fort Constitution, that is located inside a Coast Gaurd station along with a Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse on New Castle Island.  On another day we drove south back into Massachusetts to do the tourist thing in Salem.  We spent the day poking around town, did a tour of a which house and walked out onto Derby Wharf to check out the light station built in 1871.  Salem was a beautiful town with lots of history and lots of tourists.  Who would have thought that less than one year of witch trials in 1692 would bring so much money into the town several hundred years later?  We had also planned to visit Boston, but the parking cost alone made it unappealing for a partial day visit.  In the future when we can take the train into town and plan a little better, we'll try it again.  

Thousand TrailsFamily-Friendly RV Resort in New Hampshire
     Get ready for fun and exploration at Tuxbury Pond RV Resort in New Hampshire. There's something for everyone here: relax along the peaceful shores of Tuxbury Pond, lounge by our swimming pools, or take advantage of the many activities and events arranged for our guests to enjoy throughout the season. Located in South Hampton, Tuxbury Pond RV Resort puts guests within reach of popular tourist attractions including apple orchards, farms, and one-of-a-kind restaurants.

     Join us at Tuxbury Pond RV Resort for a special vacation experience just 30 minutes from the ocean and Salisbury-Hampton beaches.

Read 5689 times Last modified on Friday, 24 May 2019 05:10
Published in New Hampshire
Rick

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