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.
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
Click on "Top Panel" to see where are and where to next
Our original thought on choosing Natchez Trace to camp at was to visit Nashville, but we never made it there. We had planned on staying for six days and moving on toward Memphis, but the couple (Bud and Melanie) next to us at Diamond Caverns were heading there the day after us so we added four more days to spend more time visiting with them. (Also, Melanie was sewing us new curtains.)
Another couple (Ron & Glenda) that we had met at Diamond Caverns also joined us a week later. On our first day there we checked out the store/cafe and met some of the local people who invited us to join them at their table for breakfast. That wound up being a daily thing. We also met three other couples there, one park ranger and his wife (Thomas & Pam), the other two (Bob & Debi) & (Rick & Kim) had also been at Diamond Caverns while we were there but we hadn't met them yet. With all the truly great people there, we added another four days to our stay.
When we arrived at the campground we went off in search of a full hook-up with 50 amps, but the only one available was in a bad location in the sun and at the time our AC wasn't working. So we then looked for a 30 amp full hookup site and found only a few of them, but they were also in full sun. So we found a great spot under the trees (I had to trim some branches while standing on the motorhome for us to back in) It was 30 amps and no septic hookup, but it was a great spot and there was a full hookup 30 amp spot that Bud and Melanie could use when they came the following day. Our park ranger friend (Thomas) set us up with a pumping service, so after five days we ponied up $10 bucks and got pumped out. When Ron & Glenda showed up, there were a few full hookup sites at the beach and we all moved over there. We occupied four of the seven beach sites for the Labor Day weekend. It was camping at its best. Thomas offered up his pontoon boat to use while he was working and once we took him up on his generous offer, we drove it back to the beach and picked up the rest of the clan and enjoyed a couple of hours out on the lake.
The weekend before Labor Day the campground hosted a charity auto show which featured mostly "Rat Rods". It was an interesting take on restoring old cars. The campground is also located right next to the Natchez Trace. The Natchez Trace is a 444-mile long national park. It's a road starting from Natchez, Mississippi extending north almost to Nashville. No commercial vehicles are allowed on the road and it has a 50 mph speed limit throughout. It followed a trail that pioneers used as they traveled north through the area. The site where Meriwether Lewis is buried is pretty close to the campground. That, and the Amish community nearby are just about the only thing to see near the campground as Nashville is about an hour and a half drive.
From what we understand about the campground is that the previous owners were going bankrupt when Thousand Trails picked it up. There are over 500 sites and it's very spread out. Because of the park's age, most of the sites are 30 amp without septic. Most of the facilities are run down and are in need of a lot of work. There are only seven sites at the beach that are near the lake that are available for "transients", the rest of the lakefront sites are annual sites. Hopefully, with enough annual sites, the park will be able to make the improvements that it desperately needs. The campground also has a lot of cabins, which we didn't learn much about. I think the number one draw to the campground is the people who live there, work there, and live nearby. Everyone we met was so nice. The other nice feature is the cafe that serves three meals a day with the best prices. Jackie and I both ate breakfast there every day for around six dollars together. I'm sure that the campground will continue making improvements and we're looking forward to our next visit.
Natchez Trace RV Camping is a beautifully wooded RV camp in Tennessee that offers camera-worthy lookouts and a relaxing getaway environment. Located right off the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway, Natchez Trace makes RV camping an adventure. Its position within an 830-acre forested preserve means fewer crowds and more privacy. This nature-focused RV camp features some of the best outdoor resources and recreation in Tennessee: a large 3 mile long lake, pontoon tours, and excellent fishing for bass, shellcracker, crappie and more.
Getting outside of Natchez Trace RV Camping can be just as exciting. Nashville offers many sports and entertainment attractions including music, theme parks, and interesting museums. Other noteworthy day trips include Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills and the home of President James Polk in Columbia, both of which can be easily accomplished from your home base at Natchez Trace RV camp in Tennessee.
General Policies:
Reservation & Payment Policies:
Helpful Information:
We do not allow pets in some accommodation types; however, we do allow service animals and a service animal may have stayed in a non-pet rental.
The Alabama cabin is the perfect getaway for the Crimson Tide fan. This newly remodeled cabin has everything for you to completely unwind. This cabin has 2 full beds and a nice size bathroom with a shower and is nicely decorated in Alabama colors. Be sure to enjoy the wildlife here while sitting on your deck.
The deluxe cabin sleeps 4 people and is located near the beach. These rentals include two full size beds. The back porch has a ceiling fan and patio table and chairs overlooking the lake. No pets.
The deluxe cabin sleeps 4 people and is located near the beach. These pet-friendly rentals include two full-size beds. The back porch has a ceiling fan and patio table and chairs overlooking the lake.
Welcome to the Fishing Cabin! Your perfect getaway for making memories. Screened in deck overlooking Chief Creek Lake right next to Natchez Trace Parkway. Fully stocked cabin: Towels, linens, pots, pans, stove, refrigerator, and a flat-screen TV. Sleeps 6 and 1 1/2 bathrooms
The newly remodeled Hunting Cabin is a perfect place for the family. It sleeps 6 and has 2 full bathrooms and the deck on the cabin overlooks Chief Creek Lake. Pack up the kids and food. The rest of your supplies is furnished in this cabin. A fully stocked kitchen, linens and towels, stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, and a flat-screen TV are here waiting on you. You and kids will make lifetime memories here.
Gather up the family and friends for a one of a kind experience at our lodge. Overlooking Chief Creek lake, this huge lodge has five bedrooms and three baths. With eight full-size beds, you can sleep 16+ people. Be sure to spend time out on the large gazebo right on the lake. With the gazebo's gorgeous, wrap-around deck, the lodge is the perfect place for outdoor weddings, family reunions or just making memories.
Phone Reservations Only - Please Call 888-551-9102 to Reserve Today .
The Nashville Cabin is the perfect place to get away and just relax. It has all the amenities of a home decorated in the music industries motif. Fully stocked kitchen, stove, refrigerator, towels, linens, microwave, and a flat-screen TV. Screened in the deck for you to enjoy the scenery and wildlife surrounding Chief Creek Lake located next to the famous Natchez Trace Parkway. Sleeps 4 with a large handicap bathroom.
The Pavilion has tables and chairs to seat 75. With a kitchen area, sink, refrigerator and more, it is an ideal location to host your wedding, reunions or party.
These three-bedroom cabins sleep 8 people and include two queen beds, two full-size beds in each room as well as one twin bunk. The large screened back porch has a patio table and chairs. Linens included. No pets.
Steps away from the lake and near a large grassy expanse, the big red barn is a great option for your wedding, reunions or party. This unique barn comfortably holds 75 and has a bonus loft space.
Venture back to the days of Route 66. This newly remodeled cabin takes you back to when times were more relaxed but has all the modern amenities. Lay back and relax on the 2 full-size beds that sleep 4 people, while watching your favorite movie on the flat-screen TV. After your shower in our spacious bathroom, go out on the screened-in deck and enjoy your favorite beverage.
These rental cabins sleep 4 people and are complete with linens and kitchens. Numbers are limited, so reserve one today. Call for availability.
These rental cabins sleep 4 people and are complete with linens and kitchens. Numbers are limited, so reserve one today. Call for availability.
Escape to the newly remodeled Tennessee cabin next to Natchez Trace Parkway. Perfect for the dedicated Vols fan!! Decorated with official orange and white Vols furnishings. The Tennessee cabin has 2 bedrooms with queen beds and sleeps, 4 people. The extra-large bathroom includes a full-size closet and a large handicap walk-in shower. This beautiful cabin features, AC/Heat, full kitchen, w/refrigerator, stove, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker and all necessary utensils to cook up a meal. After watching the game on the flatscreen TV, gather on the screened-in deck overlooking Chief Creek Lake. Memories made here will lure you back again and again.
As luck would happen, we arrived at the campground on a Sunday of a three-day Canadian holiday, so the campground was quite full. We drove into the campground and found no place to disconnect the dinghy and had to squeeze through the maze of cars and RV with the coach, car attached. Working our way to the back of the campground we didn’t find a single site deep enough to fit us until we got to an area that was backed up to the storage area which was previously designated for tents. The site was in a zoo of cars, boats, tents, and RVs, I was about to pass it up when Jackie decided it would be our spot. She had walked ahead of the coach to find a site while I was working my way through the maze. The campers around the site offered to move cars and boats and even guide us in. Based on the friendliness of the people around, we took a very tight spot with only 15 amps.
The campground was such a zoo and with a lack of phone and internet, we contemplated leaving the next morning. We didn’t. For a fee, the campground offered the internet and gave us a password that was good for just one device and 24 hours. On our second day, I got smart and set up my directional antenna and connected with a repeater and a router, which allowed us to connect any of our devices. On the last day of the holiday, the campground had thinned out a bit and it was more welcoming. We took advantage of the pool and explored the area a bit.
Our first venture out we went to Bridal Veil Falls and then to Hope to see the Othello Tunnels (being that it was BC Day, the tunnels were so crowded we passed on visiting them. Jackie wanted to do lunch at a real authentic Canadian restaurant, so she picked Tim Hortons, where we were expected to have a donut with our sandwiches. From there we headed to Harrison Hot Springs which was a neat touristy town with a beach, swimming lagoon, shops, and restaurants. Because of the smoke, we couldn’t see much of the beautiful landscape also, I had hoped to visit Devil’s Gate, but it was too close to the fires.
On a second outing, we drove just a mile or two from the campground to Teapot Hill trailhead. Round trip to the top and back was just over three miles and a thousand foot elevation change. The hike was very enjoyable because, on your way up the hill, previous hikers had left teapots of every variety semi hidden along the trail. I don’t really know what I’m going to do with 50 plus teapot photos, but oh well. We passed people of all ages, everyone having fun spotting teapots, forgetting the steepness of the climb. We even met one young lady with a teapot of her own to hide.
The visit turns out to be a success, smoke, holiday, and all. Most of the people we met in the campground loved it and come back to it over and over. On our way back across the border, we got some extra fun when we were detained for a half hour or so, while the border guards decided that even with a common name, I was safe to allow back into the states.
A Fraser Valley RV campground providing a fun getaway for all ages
Crystal Isles was planned as just a stopover, but because of the manatees nearby, I thought it best to at least stay a couple of days. It is a really nice resort and there are plenty of sights to see close by. As always we take some time on the day we arrive to walk the resort. Along the way, we did notice a good number of grasshoppers, but they seemed to be in only one small section of the park. As I walked up to take a photo of a site with its own dock, the couple at the site next door said hi. Ten minutes later, we were all drinking margaritas and talking like we've known each other for years. (this is my favorite part of full-time RV'ing) Meeting great people just makes the park! During our chat, Jackie and I got acquainted with no-see-ums. (who knew there would be bugs in Florida?)
We picked the wrong time of year to visit Crystal River because the manatees come up the river to its 72-degree springs to keep warm. Just a few miles from the resort is Homosassa Springs Wildlife, State Park. It has to be one of the best wildlife preserves in the country. Well worth the $13 dollars to visit. First and foremost are the manatees. During the summer, the manatees there are rehabilitating from boating accidents and things. Also, there is a large assortment of birds there along with alligators, a hippo, and various other animals.
Bugs withstanding, this is a really great resort, that we should have planned to stay a bit longer. The park has most of the amenities that you would expect to find in a resort (and they're well maintained). I'm sure that we will revisit here in the future.
A perfect blend of peace and pleasure at a Nature Coast RV resort
Experience a beautiful retreat that offers something for the whole family at Crystal Isles RV Resort. Located on Florida's scenic West Coast with nearby Gulf beaches, restaurants, golf courses, fishing and shopping, Crystal Isles RV Resort is the perfect camping location for enjoying the Florida sunshine.
Crystal Isles RV park offers a mix of peace, tranquility and plays to create the Florida vacation you've been waiting for. Walk on the beach, rent a boat, fish in the local streams and lakes or test your hand at golf. We offer a wonderful experience for your next vacation.
Coronado Campground is located a few miles northeast of Albuquerque in a town called Bernalillo. It is within walking distance of an archeology site and a casino. The first thing that I noticed about the campground was how much pride the owner had in it. Each sited had an adobe shelter built over its picnic shelter and each shelter had hand-painted walls. The campground was laid out nice and was set up with the customer in mind. Our site had 50 amps and water, but the campground has a one airconditioner rule. We walked around and found that there was a good view of the Rio Grande river and away from the RV section of the campground was a tent campground with facilities and some sheltered picnic tables. There was a group tent camping area with groomed laid-out out spots for tents. Overall, I was very pleased with our visit and it was also pretty inexpensive as well. I will make an effort to return for a longer visit one day.
Coronado Campground doesn't have a website, but here is a link to reviews of the campground.
Colorado River RV Campground is just outside of Columbus, Texas. It is on the Texas Colorado River as opposed to the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon. (Who knew? there are two Colorado Rivers) We were immediately impressed with how green the park is. It had some damage from Hurricane Harvey, but you couldn’t tell other than the bathrooms have been rebuilt and the banks of the river have fallen some, eating several campsites. The campground is divided into two sections, one being near the pool and courts while the other near the river. Both sections are equally nice. The sites vary from 50 amps with full hookups (where you have to pay $3 per night extra), to 50/30 with full hookups with the option of using the 50 or not and 30 amp sites with water only. Since we were only staying for three nights and the weather wasn’t too hot we opted for the later. The park has a small pool, and indoor hot tub, a mini-golf course, a basketball court and a pickleball court. The rec. facilities are in the welcome center at the park entrance. The Campground is well maintained and has a beautiful park-like setting, with lots of birds and deer. If you’re looking to get away from it all, this is the place to go. Nearby is the town of Columbus that is very picturesque with some historic buildings. An hour of walking around will cover it. Unless the Confederate Museum is open (pictured left). It cost a dollar looks like it may take some time to tour. Overall, we love the feel of this park and will definitely return here in the future.
Stay among riverside pecan groves at a Houston RV campground
Located midway between Houston and San Antonio, Colorado River RV Campground lies along the shores of the Colorado River. This Houston RV campground is nestled amid green fields and pecan groves. Colorado River RV Campground offers an abundance of outdoor camping activities such as hiking, canoeing, fishing and wildlife watching. With easy access to the freeway, guests can enjoy a trip to the big cities then return to the quiet sanctuary of this Houston RV Campground.
Clear Creek Campground, Golden Colorado
Clear Creek Campground is where Jackie and I stayed while we visited with our Niece Carrie and watched her graduate from the Colorado School of Mines. The campground is in the perfect location, walking distance to everything in town. We couldn't have gotten a better spot. I would highly recommend this campground for anyone who wants to visit beautiful Golden, Colorado.
This small, friendly RV park, owned and operated by the City of Golden, is located at 1400 10th Street. It offers a relaxed country-like setting within walking distance of historic downtown Golden.
The RV park is open year-round, equipped with 22 full hook-ups, 11 50-amp electric only, 3 tent campsites, large clean restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and a dump station.
2018 Clear Creek RV Park Rates
Site Type Price (pre-tax)
*Rates listed are for 2 people and 1 RV. Additional guests may stay for $4 per person per day.
**A maximum 14-day stay is in effect from May 1 through Sept. 30 (3 day limit in tent site)
***A monthly rate of $800 for electric sites and $850 for full hookup sites is available from Oct. 1 through April 30.
Full Hook-up Creekside - $55 / daily
Full Hook-up - $45 / daily
Electric Site - $40 / daily
Tent Site - $27 / daily
Park Amenities
Free wifi (no cable)
Large clean restrooms
Showers
Laundry facilities
Dump station – $10 fee for non-registered users but free to park guests.
Walking distance to downtown Golden
Cape Disappointment was anything but disappointing. The campground was very well maintained and the people we met over the weekend were very friendly. All of the sites were paved and level and laid out like crop circles, functionally it worked very well. During our visit, the weather was fifty and a bit breezy, but that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the outdoors. Lots of kids on bikes, some playing catch with a football. Overall the park had a great atmosphere. I think part of the enthusiasm for all the outdoor activity was the total lack of phone or Internet connection in the park. You don’t realize just how much you use the Internet until it isn’t at your fingertips.
The park has access to a beautiful beach lined with driftwood, complete with a picturesque lighthouse on the cliff above. Just outside the park is a small store/café that will deliver to campers. There is also a jetty that extends far out into the ocean. The rocks from the jetty were quarried from the property that Jackie and I used to live on 90 miles up the Columbia River from here about 100 years ago.
The Cape is just outside the small fishing town of Ilwaco. Unfortunately, Ilwaco doesn’t offer much, but just to the north is Long Beach. The town is touristy with lots to do. The beach is 29 miles long and drivable when the tide isn’t up. In the summer of 1977, I drove (with my parents in the car) our family station wagon up the beach more than six miles past the last beach access and got it stuck in the sand. Mom and I went for help and Dad stayed, emptied the car and watched the tide come in and take it out into the surf. I don’t drive on the beach anymore. Another fun note about the park, it is the home to many black bears. We didn't get the chance to see any bears, just a few deer. Maybe next time.
Below is a link to the Thousand Trails Campgrounds that we have visited.
- Indicates Trails Collection Resort