Monday, 20 May 2019 20:38

Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort

Written by Rick

Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort

On our way to Lake Conroe, we stopped at Camping World in Katy, Texas to have some work done on our hydraulic jacks. Thinking it wasn't going to take too long we waited. At 1:30 they were still troubleshooting but were breaking for lunch. So we decided to drive up to the campground and see about securing a site, because it may be after dark when we finally pulled in with the coach. Well, it was a good idea, however with Houston traffic, it took a very long time to make the 70-mile drive and as it turned out, we couldn't hold a site without our RV. We fought traffic to get back to Camping World and it was after closing when we arrived. The issue was fixed and for a lot less than I had expected. So we headed back up to Lake Conroe and arrived just after dark. Fortunately, they had just recently added 67 new paved sites at the front of the campground and finding a site was not an issue.

The new paved sites were very nice with full hook-ups. The rest of the campground was gravel. There are sections for full time manufactured homes, park models, RV annuals, and regular camping. The campground requires you to take a 50 amp site if you have a 50 amp RV and charges an extra $3/night. I'm not sure why, but the gravel sites were almost filled, while the new paved sites were pretty much empty. It's good to see a lot of work going into improvements on campgrounds. Besides the new sites, they were also in the process of building a new sales office. The amenities were pretty nice. There is a large pool and hot tub. There are tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts. Also, horseshoes, shuffleboard, miniature golf, and a softball field are available. We found the laundry to be disappointing and opted for one in town which worked out great. Overall, the campground had everything that you'd expect in a Thousand Trails Resort. It was well maintained and very green and welcoming. I would enjoy returning here in the future. We were told that the campground is very popular in the summer with lots of kids and the pool was always crowded. We visited in April and there was a duck in the pool, but that's about it.

While we were there we took a drive down to the south side of Houston to visit the Houston Space center. The museum part of the Space Center was well done and very informative. We took the 90 minute "Tram Tour" so that we could see more of the complex, like Mission Control. Unfortunately, that was disappointing. The young lady giving the tour was very well informed and really knew her script, but she spoke very fast in a high voice, which was impossible to understand over a speaker. I don't think that English is the first language for a lot of the visitors, so once they realized that they couldn't understand her, they conversed among themselves drowning out any possibility for me to hear the speaker. I believe that most of the staff were high school students and did a very good job, except for this one exception. There's a lot of history to take in and news about future Mars missions. Overall, it was pretty cool. It cost $30 per person.

Experience family camping at its best with a visit to Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort. Perfect for water lovers, this RV campground in Texas allows you to launch your boat right from the campground. Don't have a boat? No problem. Enjoy the 22,000-acre lake with a jon boat, paddle boat, kayak, or canoe available for rent. With the marina expansion and new beach, there is even more fun to be had at this RV campground in Texas.

For land-goers, mini golf, basketball courts, and a recreation hall are just a few of the on-site attractions. The RV & Camping Resort's convenient location also allows for nearby explorings like visits to Splash Town, the Houston Zoo, Sam Houston Museum, and the Prison Museum.

Don't wait! Set up camp at Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort, where 300 sites offer the perfect spot for your tent, pop-up or motorhome. Our friendly staff looks forward to making your trip one to remember!

Published in Texas

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:37

Lake Casa Blanca State Park

Written by Rick

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park was a stopover on our way to the Gulf Coast of Texas. The park started out as a city park. Then Governor George Bush made it into a state park before he left office. The park is divided. The upper section of the park is for picnicking and day use. The far end of the park has a boat ramp, fishing pier, and three camping loops. Camping there is $18 a night plus a $9 a day use fee. The campsites are large and well-marked. Some have full hookups, but most are set up with just water and electricity. All the campsites have new covered picnic tables.

As we walked around the park we found a filled in pool that was built back in 1981, but we couldn’t find any more information on it and why it was filled in. There is also, an old rock building on the grounds, that looks like a small mission or an old school house, but I guess it was a museum, but is now abandoned. The building was boarded up and we couldn’t find much information on it either. The park had warning signs posted about snakes but we didn’t see any, just a few geckos. We spent a couple of days there and enjoyed walking around as the park was almost empty it was as if we had it to ourselves.

While we at the park we thought that we’d go check out the city of Laredo. The downtown section seemed very poor and run down. The only nice building we saw was government buildings. We drove around town for awhile and didn’t see a reason to stop and get out. A few miles out of town we found a large modern mall and killed a couple of hours. I’m glad we stopped for a couple of days and had a chance to enjoy the park and check out Laredo. I’d definitely revisit the park in the future.

Relax, fish, picnic and more at this lakeside park.

Lake Casa Blanca is located in Laredo, just minutes from the Mexican border. Here you will find outdoor fun on water and land—and the perfect place for a family outing!

Things to Do

Water-ski, swim, boat, and fish on the lake; or hike, bike, picnic, bird, geocache, study nature and camp along the shore.

Trails for mountain biking and hiking will take you through beautiful and varied landscapes. The park also has a swimming area, playgrounds, a baseball field, and tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. Webb County operates an 18-hole golf course nearby. Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map.

All campsites have water and electricity; some have sewer hookups, too. Reserve one of our three picnic pavilions or recreation hall for your next gathering. We can host groups of 35 to 200.

Shop at Chloe's Convenience Store for kayak, tube and paddle boat rentals; fishing and boating supplies; and convenience items. Chloe’s also offers food, drinks, frozen treats and more. The store will be open on weekends and some weekdays.

Fishing

At Lake Casa Blanca, you might reel in a largemouth or hybrid striped bass, crappie or catfish. The park has a fishing pier and a boat ramp. We loan fishing gear for use in the park.

Published in Texas

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:35

La Conner RV Camping Resort

Written by Rick

La Conner RV & Camping Resort, La Conner, Washington

Arriving at La Conner RV Campground we were third in line to detach our dinghy, so we thought we would just drive around and find a spot with the motorhome (car in tow). We found a spot that might work, so we detached the car and found that we couldn’t fit without approaching the site from the other direction. We left the car and tried to figure out how to get back to the site and found a better location. It was large enough for us, but with trees and a boat trailer across the way, I couldn’t maneuver into that site either. On our way back to the first site, we found an even better site. Finding a good site can be so frustrating sometimes.

Once we settled in and got set up, we explored the campground on foot. The is no pool, and the hot tub was under repair, so that left swimming in Similk Bay. (a little cold for my blood) The campground is nice and sites are set up for camping. There is both an adult and a family lodge. The sports courts, shuffleboard, volleyball, horseshoes, play area and the rest of the facilities were in good repair and well kept. There is a small store, exercise room, and laundromat.

Nearby the campground, there are lots of great places to visit. One of my favorite places is Deception Pass. I never get tired of the views there. We got there in the morning with the mist still present and it added to the beauty. We also visited Anacortes. As we travel, we are getting better at being tourists. We first went to the Visitors Information Center and learned what was nearby. They told us about Washington Park just outside of town. So we went out and drove the loop through the park, stopping a few times to take photos. On a second outing, we decided to take the ferry to San Juan Island to see if we could spot whales from shore. We took the car so that we could drive to the other side of the island to Lime Kiln State Park (Whale watchers park) to see if we could spot some orcas. We didn’t have much luck seeing whales, but the park was nice and had a neat history of being where (100 years ago) they heated limestone in a huge kiln and put the resulting lime in barrels to be shipped to other locations both from the site and Friday Harbor. After we left the park we checked out the town of Friday Harbor, nice place. The next day we met other campers at the campground who told us that just last year a pod of orcas came through right there at the campground. (please note, any orca photos on this page were not taken by me. I wasn’t that lucky) Also, we checked out the town of La Conner, which is a great little touristy town to poke through shops and check out restaurants along the water.

La Conner Campground is another campground that we’re looking forward to visiting again. We met several people there, (most of them from Canada) and it only made the park better. My only gripe about the park would be the number of private sites along the beach that should be available for everyone.

From: Thousand Trails

“Join the fun and adventure at La Conner RV & Camping Resort. With 111 acres of camping space and a half-mile of saltwater beachfront, this RV campground in Washington offers an ideal location for exploring the Pacific Northwest. Shopping, dining, and historical buildings are accessible in La Conner to the east. While the San Juan Islands are just a ferry ride away to the west.”

Published in Washington

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:32

Kenisee Lake RV Campground

Written by Rick

Kenisee Lake RV Campground, Jefferson Ohio

Our drive from Niagra to Kenisee Lake was an eventful one. Our "stop engine" light and buzzer came on and it was almost an impossible find to locate an auto/RV/truck mechanic that had the equipment to analyze our trouble. We finally did, got the issue resolved and was able to make the 173-mile drive in just a bit under eight hours. The other thing we found is that if you're using Google Maps as your GPS coming from I-90, it will direct you to go under a ten-foot bridge just before reaching the campground. Once we got to the campground we found that they had already chosen our site for us. (not the norm for a Thousand Trails park) Fortunately, it was a 50 amp site as we found that there are just a few of them. I'm guessing that the assignment was to prevent RV's without 50 amps from using the available sites. The campground is very nice, the sites are large and all have grass lawns with full hook-ups. There are tent sites with just water and electricity as well. Like with most campgrounds that rent out annual sites, the better locations we filled with people who don't travel. The campground is only open half the year. The other half power and water are turned off, but people can keep their RV's in their sites. We found that most of the annual sites are just used on the weekend. The campground is very well kept up and has decent amenities. The pool could be bigger and the shared sports court could be split up so that you didn't have to set up a net everytime you wanted to play pickleball. The small lake is fine for boating but swimming isn't allowed. There is also a good number of folks with ATV's and they drive them from the campground to go mudding somewhere nearby. Overall the campground is one of the better ones we have visited, the people are very friendly and the feel of the campground is welcoming to traveling RV'ers.

While here at the campground we didn't find a whole lot of excitement in the surrounding area. We drove to Geneva by the Lake, (the local tourist area) then followed the road east along the lake for twenty miles or so. Unfortunately for the town, since the 70's the lake has eaten up the beaches and businesses who once had nice beaches to draw customers in no longer have them. We drove through town around eleven on a Monday and found most stores and attractions to be closed. We also stopped at a couple of parks along Lake Erie and had a chance to wade out into the lake. It was surprisingly warmer than I expected. The problem is that the geese and seagull population at the parks is so numerous that most of the grass and beach areas are minefields and not very pleasant to hang out in.

One Beautiful Lake, One RV Campground in Ohio

Looking for a fun trip away from it all? Fishing, hiking trails, family activities, and pristine waters await you at Kenisee Lake RV Camping. Surrounded by breathtaking foliage and water views, this RV campground in Ohio offers the perfect getaway for couples, friends, and families.

With plenty of campsites, guests can take their pick at their ideal setting. Choose from heavily wooded sites, clear and open camping, or scenic sites with a water view. Like to fish? Then Kenisee Lake RV camping couldn't be more perfect. Home to a beautiful lake and three ponds, guests can spend the day fishing and create memories by the water.

Published in Ohio

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:26

Jefferson County Lake Campground

Written by Rick

Jefferson County Lake Campground, Rigby, Idaho

Because of the change in the weather in Yellowstone, we opted to head south from Montana and found ourselves in a county park just north of Idaho Falls. As it turned out, this was one of the better campgrounds that we’ve visited. Although we avoided the snow we did hit a bit of rain while here. But because the campground was all paved and most of the sites (ie ours) have a large level concrete pad to park on the rain wasn’t the issue it could have been. The park features a small lake, with a paved path circumnavigating it which was just about a mile and a quarter around. The park is utilized locally for group picnics and other events. While we were there a cross country meet was held there by several of the local schools. Most of their race was dry, however, at one point there was quite a downpour and the kids ran on through it. I imagine that it is a pretty popular place to swim and such during the summer. The photo shows how hard the rain was coming down on the lake while these kids were running by.

Idaho Falls is twelve miles to the south, so we took a day and went and explored. The Snake River runs through the middle of town, and yes there is a waterfall in Idaho Falls. It’s actually pretty cool and the city has done a great job with building a waterfront park around the falls. Also, we found a great place to eat. (Grandpa’s Southern Barbeque) We met Grandpa (the third generation of the original Grandpa) when came to our table offering us a sample of his gumbo. It was just too good so I ordered a bowl with my meal. The also featured buttermilk pie, which I had never tried, so we split a piece. I can’t even begin to describe how good it was. Needless to say, we’ll have to go back to Idaho Falls.

Back to the campground: The campground was across the lake from the park area with features like volleyball, basketball, the swimming area, boat rentals, and such, so it was pretty quiet. The sites were spread out amongst the trees and had full hookups for a whopping $15 a night. I highly recommend it for a stopover while traveling down I-15 or Idaho 20. We stayed three nights and enjoyed it very much even with the rain.

(from the park's website) Jefferson County Lake is a wonderful place to spend the day with a number of amenities and low fees assessed for maintenance and improvements (fees displayed below). The lake fills naturally and is normally full the first week of July. Amenities include 50 campsites with water and electric hookups, bathrooms, volleyball nets, playground equipment, a tennis court, sandy beaches, a lake slide, grassy areas, walking trails, a boat ramp for non-motorized boats, picnic tables, small shelters on a first come first serve basis outside the camping fee area, and large shelters by reservation only.

Published in Idaho

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:24

Indian Creek Campground

Written by Rick

Indian Creek Campground, Dear Lodge, Montana

Originally Indian Creek was just a one night stop over on our way to Yellowstone, but after talking to friends we met at Willow Bay who had just come from there, we decided it would be worth adding a day to check out the town of Deer Lodge. The campground is very well maintained with lots of pull-through sites. It’s perfected for over-nighters who don’t want to disconnect their rigs. There was also a few staying longer as well. The sites are spaced well and each has a picnic table. Ours was 50 amps with a full hookup but I assume not all sites had septic as there was a dump station at the exit. When you arrive at the park they direct you to which site to take and it seemed like they try to space RV’s out so that they have as much room as possible. The biggest impression that I took away from the park was how well kept it was.

Adding a day allowed us time to visit the town. There are four museums in town and you pay once for all four and your receipt is good for two visits. The first place we visited was the Old Montana Prison that operated from the late 19^th century until closing its doors in 1979. Having never been to a prison myself it was interesting learning its history and trying to imagine me there as an inmate or even a guard for that matter. They provide a self-guided tour with a couple dozen points of interest to learn about. The photo was taken inside of the prison office, it looks like a huge rolla-dex. But, I'm just guessing. From the prison, we walked into the car museum. It was the best collection of cars that I’ve ever seen in on place. Taking the time to read the information on each car a person could spend a couple of days admiring them. There was also a small museum that featured the history of the local area with a section on WWII and Yellowstone. The history of the Yellowstone Trail, the first transcontinental path for cars which featured a stop in Yellowstone National Park. It ran from Boston to the Puget Sound and was built mostly by auto enthusiasts of the day since the government was spending its money on rail transportation. During the depression, the trail all but disappeared. There are still yellow painted stones across the country marking the path of the trail. The final museum is a collection of someone’s obsession with Raggedy Ann dolls, along with a room of “scary dolls” and some model trains. There is also a tourist ranch in town.

Type: GNP - Good Neighbor Park

Good Sam Rating: 7/10*/7.5

Address:
745 Maverick Ln
Deer Lodge, MT 59722

Phone: (406) 846-3848

Fax: (406) 846-3819

Reservations Phone: (800) 294-0726

Reservations Fax: (406) 846-3819

Web Site: indiancreekcampground.net

EMail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full Sites: 56

Partial Sites: 8

Pull-through Sites: 40

Open: Apr 15 to Oct 14

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 70 feet

Elevation: 4600

Amenities: Cable TV, hot showers (Apr 15 to Oct 15), tenting, communal fire pit, super clean restrooms, pavilion, laundry, public phone, security, golf nearby, restaurants nearby within walking distance, city swimming pool nearby, tourist attractions nearby: Frontier Montana Museum, Grant Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Montana Auto Museum, Old Montana Prison Museum, Old Prison Players Summer Theater, Powell County Museum, Yesterday's Playthings.

RV Notes: Rate includes 2 people, 30 amp, full hook-up, free Wi-Fi. Additional charges: 50 amp $2/night plus tax, cable $3/night. Tax. Extra wide/long pull-throughs.

Accepts Pets: Yes

Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes

Published in Montana

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:23

Indian Cove RV Resort

Written by Rick

Indian Cove RV Resort (The Cove), Virginia Beach, Virginia

From our last campground in Newport, NC, the drive to Indian Cove was crazy. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly make the trip without GPS. The roads are narrow with no aprons on either side, but after hours of white-knuckle driving, we made it to the resort. Other than the surprise of a $9 per night resort fee, we were very impressed with the park. The sites had concrete pads to park on and lots of green grass to get out and enjoy. Most every site backed-up to water and are spaced enough so that you aren't camping on top of your neighbor. The pictures can far better describe the park than I can. It has three pools, one is open every day and two are open just on the weekends until the middle of June and then they are open every day as well. Our visit included a beautiful June weekend, so the park was filled with kids. Saturday night they had a DJ and a big graduation party. If you're a boat owner, you tie your boat up at night right at your site. The park is very well laid-out and all the sites are very nice. This is definitely a park for us to return to.

While we were there, we made a couple of trips to the beach at Virginia Beach. We had to try out my daughter's suggestion of Chick's Oyster Bar. On the weekend we were there, there was a boardwalk art show/sell. The boardwalk (paved) runs between the beach and the hotels, there is even a separate path for bicycles just a few feet away. Virginia Beach is beautiful with lots to see, do, and eat. When we visit here in the future we will plan on staying longer.

Type: Deluxe

Good Sam Rating: 9.5/9*/9

Address:
1053 Sandbridge Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: (757) 426-2601

Fax: (757) 721-6029

Reservations Phone: (757) 426-2601

Reservations Fax: (757) 721-6029

Reservations EMail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Resort Information: Two minutes from the Atlantic Ocean at Sandbridge Beach, 20 minutes from Virginia Beach. Wooded and open campsites border a freshwater channel leading to the wildlife refuge at Back Bay, with largemouth bass, speckled perch, and channel cat. Nearby: Festival Park, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Directions: From I-64: I-264 E to Ex 17A, Independence Blvd S, bear R. L on Princess Anne Rd. L to 2nd light where road becomes Sandbridge Rd. Approx 3 mi to resort. Sandbridge Rd is a narrow, twisting rural road.

Reservation Requirements:

Web Site: indian-cove.com

EMail: jlivingston@indian_cove.com

Full Sites: 300

Check-In/Check-Out Times: 2:00 p.m./ 10:00 a.m.

RV Site Minimum Stay: 1 night

Open: Mar 2 to Dec 31

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amp

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 40 feet

Elevation: 0

Amenities: Recreation Hall, outdoor pool (3), adult lounge, shuffleboard, horseshoes, tennis, basketball, boating available, boat ramp with kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, general store, playground (2), tenting, firewood, handicap access, ice available, grocery, fire rings, ping pong, laundry, picnic tables, group activities, pool table, propane, hot showers, game room, beach, tourist attraction nearby, golf nearby, fishing nearby, boating nearby. Nearby: Festival Park, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, beaches. Outer Banks of NC, a wildlife refuge.

RV Notes: Additional charges: Park fee $9/night collected in cash or credit card. No gas powered golf carts. No pull-through sites. Drive-ups not accepted.

Rental Notes: Rental units available. Trip Points not accepted. Contact the resort directly.

Restrictions:

Accepts Pets: Yes

Pet Restrictions: Not in rental units.

Visitor Mail Accepted: No

Visitor Mail Restrictions: Fed Ex or UPS allowed.

Published in Virginia

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:21

Ike Kinswa State Park

Written by Rick

Ike Kinswa State Park, Silver Creek, Washington

On our continuing quest to find new campgrounds, we found Ike Kinswa. Since it's February, the campground was mostly empty and the trees were bare. Even without leaves the campground is beautiful. The sites are all paved, some back-in some pull-through. (I did notice that most of the pull-through sites were in the form of a tight arch and maybe too small for larger vehicles if they're not hitched in the middle and the back-in sites are narrow, designed for camping behind your rig) Don't let that scare you away, the campground overall is great. It is located on a peninsula reaching out into Mayfield Lake. We found a nice but short hiking trail along the lake, complete with a rope swing for a warming time of year. Also, there are several cabins for those so inclined. They are 12 x 24 with electricity, but no plumbing. From the outside they look quite nice. We will have to visit here again, maybe next time in the summer, when we can enjoy the lake more. All and all, it was a great weekend and I'm glad we found the campground. It's about 20 miles off the interstate halfway between Portland and Seattle.

(From Wikipedia) Ike Kinswa State Park is a publicly owned recreation area on the northern side of Lake Mayfield, located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Mossyrock in Lewis County, Washington. The state park covers 454 acres (184 ha) that include 46,000 feet (14,000 m) of shoreline mostly along the Tilton River including the point where the Tilton and Cowlitz rivers once merged. The park offers boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing and windsurfing plus facilities for camping, hiking, and mountain biking, It is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. The park came into existence with the construction of the Mayfield Dam in 1963. In 1971, the park's original name, Mayfield Lake State Park, was changed to Ike Kinswa State Park, in honor of a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

Published in Washington

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:18

Huntington/Firefox KOA

Written by Rick

Huntington / Fire Fox KOA, Milton, West Virginia

We don't usually stop at KOA campgrounds, but this was the only campground in West Virginia along our route that worked without going too far out of our way. The campground has long pull-through sites but were very close together. If everyone would have parked their cars or trucks in line with their RV then it would have worked. For some reason, they didn't. After speaking with the camp host the prior night about two trucks that would need to be moved for me to pull forward to get out, both were still parked the next morning so we had to figure something else out. I still had the dinghy attached and didn't want to disconnect to back out. The large 5th-wheel a site over from me was also blocked by the same two trucks and frankly, our front in. If I backed up some, then he could fit. (I was still on my jacks) The folks on the other side of him parked their truck behind him half in his spot so he couldn't back out. So I quickly got things stowed away, he backed up as far as he could so that I could pull forward in front of him and head out the wrong way up the street. That worked, I hope that he got out as well.

Other than the tight sites, the campground was quite nice. It had a sandy beach on one of the three ponds with large floating toys for kids to play on. It had a few nice rental cabins along one of the ponds. The tent sites were set up really nice and you could even rent sites that featured patios complete with furniture and a nice fire pit. Overall the campground was pretty decent, better than other KOA's that we have visited. It's a great one or two-night stop-over right off the freeway. We would return if our travels bring us that way again.

WELCOME TO THE BEST CAMPING IN WEST VIRGINIA. YES, WE ARE OPEN ALL YEAR AND RV'ERS, CAMPERS, AND TENTERS ENJOY OUR FULL HOOK-UP SITES. WE ALSO HAVE SIX CABINS, BOTH RUSTIC AND DELUXE!

Welcome to wild and wonderful West Virginia! This KOA is on the western edge of the state where Southern hospitality is still in fashion and every camper is a special guest. Enjoy the beautiful campground amenities and helpful staff. This KOA can accommodate any camping unit - from the smallest pup tent to the largest big rig. Drop in for an overnight stay or plan your vacation for several days. The campground is conveniently located adjacent to I-64 in the western Metro Valley region of West Virginia between Huntington and Charleston. Plan a trip to local attractions such as the Blenko Glass Company or take an excursion to the Mountain Lakes region. Make this KOA your base camp to enjoy all the tri-state area has to offer. Max pull thru 80 feet. Your hosts: Brent and Sheila Andrews, owners.

Published in South Carolina

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:16

Hilltop RV ParkHilltop RV Park

Written by Rick

Hilltop RV Park

We stopped at Hilltop RV Park for an overnighter because it was on the freeway and just not a whole lot to see. We were pleasantly surprised by how nice the park is. The park is very well maintained and was a welcome change from our prior night camping off the freeway. There are tiled patios, with picnic tables at each site. They also have a small courtesy fence between your site and your neighbor’s utility connections. The dog park was nice. There is a small pool and a community fire pit for people to share. Plus there’s a discount for paying with cash. Our nice 50amp site was $27 a night. Also, Fort Stockton is just a couple of miles down the road where we took advantage of buying groceries and gas. This is definitely a campground we’ll use again crossing Texas.

From the website:

We are the newest RV park in Ft. Stockton and the surrounding area. Our location is as unique as our park and the views of the plateaus, mountains and valley are truly awesome.

♦ All PULL THRU Sites with picnic tables	♦ 50/30 Amp Service - ALL SITES
♦ All PULL THRU Sites with picnic tables	♦ FREE WiFi (it works great)
♦ Extra Long Big Rig Spaces	♦ Laundry Room Open 24 hrs
♦ Beautiful Pool with Spacious Covered Patio	♦ Easy Access to Interstate 10
♦ Beautiful Pool with Spacious Covered Patio	♦ Enclosed Puppy Patch
♦ Private Shower/Bathroom Suites	♦ TV Lounge (for Adults)
♦ Base Rates start at $30 per night	♦ Free DVD Lending Library
♦ Sunset Firepit for Evening Fires and Great Conversation	♦ 1 min. drive to Walmart, golf course, dining or shopping
♦ Peaceful Desert Setting	♦ West Texas Owners/Hosts
♦ Monthly/weekly rates, please call	♦ NO tent camping in the park
♦ 10% discount for cash, on overnight rates	♦ Check in time is 2:00 pm
♦ Full-service hook ups at all sites

Published in Texas

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:14

Highland Wood RV Park

Written by Rick

Highland Woods Travel Park

We decided on camping here in the city near Fort Lauderdale so that we could visit my cousin Loren Brown. Breezy Hill & Highland Woods are next to each other and share ownership. I originally picked Breezy Hill because it has a much nicer pool, but changed to Highland Woods because Breezy Hill doesn't allow pets. Both parks this time of year are pretty much empty and with the rain, we didn't get a chance to use the pool anyway. The park is old and is set up weird. It has staggering sites, a short 30amp site next to a long 50amp site. The other odd thing is that the septic connections are located directly under your RV. We are not all that impressed with the park, it needs a lot of work. When you are booked into Highland woods, you'll arrive here to find that there is no place to check in. You have to know to check in at Breezy Hill then turn around and drive down the street to get to Highland Woods. The gates here are placebos and have no code, just drive up and they open from either direction. There are signs stating that it is patrolled by security, but I'm guessing those are placebos as well. I think that I will avoid this park in the future.

We did take a drive around town and checked out Pompano Beach, which was very nice. After an hour or so we drove up A1A along the beach 20 miles or so but really couldn't view the beach from the road. However there were very nice homes on the beach side of the road and beautiful yachts along the channel side, so it wasn't a bad drive. After that, we met my cousin (who I hadn't seen in 40 years) for lunch. That was great!

Located in South Florida's Pompano Beach, Highland Woods Travel Park offers daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rates on 147 full-hookup sites. Each site features a lawn area and patio. Dining, shopping and sporting events are all located nearby.

A tropical Fort Lauderdale RV resort near the Atlantic Ocean
Enjoy the shores of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean in South Florida when visiting Highland Woods RV Resort. Located in South Florida's Pompano Beach, we're a tropical RV resort boasting spectacular amenities and activities. Relax at the pool, play a game of horseshoes or snuggle up with a book at the library.

A variety of local activities are available within minutes of this Fort Lauderdale RV park. Deep sea fishing, dining, shopping, gaming, and golf are all popular pastimes among our guests. Our sites can accommodate motorcoaches up to 40 feet, and all 147 sites feature full hook-ups. We also offer daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rates.

Come and take in the sights and shops of South Florida or stroll along our miles of beaches while enjoying the warm tropical breezes of the Atlantic Ocean.

Published in Florida

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:10

Hidden Valley Mountain Park

Written by Rick

Hidden Valley Mountain Park, Tijeras, New Mexico

After a very long drive from Oklahoma, we finally reached Hidden Valley Park. We were assigned a site (after a $6.45 charge per night for 50 amps) and pulled forward to disconnect only to find the car battery was dead. So I drove the motorhome up to our site and got the AC running for the Yahoos (the dogs) while Jackie found someone to jump the car, only then did I remember that I had the car keys. In short time, we got the car going and set up camp. The park was just that, a place to park with utilities, it had neither the feel of a resort or a campground. The roads are all dirt and gravel while the sites are tight and not well maintained. There was hardly room to walk down the right side of the coach, so forget about setting up chairs or the barbecue. We walked around the park and found the pool drained and the pet area to be a small space alongside the road behind a sign.

We did have the good fortune to meet some nice folks that invited us to sit and chat. They had an end site so they were able to set out chairs. However, it was located on a busy corner with clouds of dust everytime someone came around the corner faster than 5mp (which was pretty much everyone) Again, good company made up for the dust issue. We also made a trip down into Albuquerque to run some errands, visit the National Museum of Nuclear History and Science, and have lunch at Whataburger (our new favorite fast food burger place since we discovered them in South Texas). Albuquerque is a beautiful city and we would enjoy spending more time here.

Back in the park, the staff and the people we met while there were very nice, but I think that in the future, we'll probably pass on a second visit.

Address:

844B State Hwy 333
Tijeras, NM 87059
Phone: (505) 281-3363
Fax: (505) 281-2026
Reservations Phone: (505) 281-3363
Reservations Fax: (505) 281-2026
Resort Information: Resort is 10 miles east of Albuquerque, a short distance from the Sandia Crest Ski and Recreation Area. Nearby: national forest, ghost towns, Indian pueblos, Rio Grande Zoo, Coronado Ruins, and Monument. Albuquerque's western edge reveals a history page of petroglyphs, volcano cliffs, and the Folsom Man Site.
Web Site: hiddenvalley-rvpark.com
EMail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Full Sites: 104
Partial Sites: 2
Pull-through Sites: 59
Check-In/Check-Out Times: 1 p.m.-4 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.
Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31
Peak: May 1 to Oct 15
Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps
WiFi Available: Yes
Maximum RV Length: 45 feet
Elevation: 6607.0000
Amenities: Recreation Hall, outdoor pool (seasonal), playground, nature hiking trails, basketball court, fitness room, tenting, gift shop, hot showers, picnic tables, dump station, mountain setting, terraced sites, laundry, TV room, full kitchen for groups, library, tourist attractions nearby. Nearby: National forest, ghost towns, Indian pueblos, Rio Grande Zoo, Coronado Ruins, and Monument.
RV Notes: Coast rate not honored in Oct during Balloon Fest. June is in high demand, make a reservation as early as possible. Rate includes 2 people. Additional charges: 30 amp $3.23/night, 50 amp $6.45/night. After hours check-in box. Internet access in clubhouse, Wi-Fi access in lower level sites only.
Accepts Pets: Yes
Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes

Published in New Mexico

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:04

Harbor View RV & Camping Resort

Written by Rick

Harbor View RV & Camping Resort, Colonial Beach, Virginia

The trip to Harbor View is another fun-filled nightmare of no-shouldered backroads, but very doable. The campground assigns you a site and escorts you to its location. It probably wasn't the site I would have chosen, but the next day really great people moved in across the way which made the site perfect. The campground is nice, but like a lot of the Thousand Trails parks, it could use some work. It looks like projects that got started years ago never got finished and things like the tennis courts were just let go. The very small game room was the only "Rec Center" available. There was a larger room that was locked up for special events. Repaving the main road and adding more gravel to the camping loops and sites would go a long way. Sometimes I get too critical of these membership campgrounds, but they are what they are. Overall the campground had a good camping feel, lots of trees, green grass, and friendly people. We would certainly return there in the future.

We chose Harbor View because it was the closest campground in our network of membership campgrounds to Washington DC. It was sixty-some miles to a Metro station and a quick train ride into the city. On our visit to the capital, we spent four and a half hours of our day traveling to and from the city. Once in the city we walked a little over six miles and took in as much of the city as we could during our short visit. To see the city, you really need to stay in the city and take a week or two. We did manage to visit several memorials, spend part of an hour in the American History Museum (Smithsonian), eat off a "roach-coach" with an albino squirrel (probably the most photographed squirel in the city) and join the poor people's march. (Fight Poverty, not the Poor) It's too bad the drive kept us from spending more than just the one day.

Just five miles down the road from the campground is Popes Creek, Washington's birthplace. It's a 500 plus acre park with a nice visitor's center and offers an hour or so walking tour with a park ranger. It is well worth the visit. We learned quite a bit. The one thing that stuck with me was that King George would give colonial farmers three free acres for every slave that they owned in hopes of controlling more land than Spain or France in the Americas. We also visited Westmoreland State Park which has a nice campground, a beautiful pool and a beach along the Patomic River that was great for hunting shark teeth fossils. Finally, on our last day, we checked out the town of Colonial Beach. Along the beach road, were osprey nests every other block and we got to see about a dozen osprey in about a half-mile strip.

Explore historic towns from a Harbor View RV Campground
Historic towns are at your fingertips when booking your stay at Harbor View RV resort. Quaint waterside towns, nearby wineries and an array of on-site amenities make staying at this Harbor View campground a memorable experience.

Become one with nature and soak up the beauty of the Virginia countryside. Nearby colonial towns offer a look into American history while access to the nation's capital is well worth a visit. A pristine location combined with endless recreation make Harbor View Resort a vacation you won't want to pass up!

Published in Virginia

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:01

Greenwood Lodge & Campsites

Written by Rick

Greenwood Lodge & Campsites, Woodford, Vermont

Since there were no membership campgrounds alone my route through Vermont, we looked at other options. (I typed in "campgrounds along Route 9 in Vermont" on Google Maps) I reserved a couple of nights several months ahead of time and had to mail a check because they don't accept credit. It seemed like a hassle, but I'm glad that I did. We arrived at the campground in the early afternoon and were shown which site was ours. It an excellent site so I don't mind that I didn't pick it. I'm sure I could have changed if I wanted to. First of all, I have never been in a campground where the owners took so much pride in it. Every campsite was nice, there are acres of green grass and three ponds to canoe in. All of the sites are very well maintained as well as all of the roads. The tent sites were secluded but with views over-looking the ponds. Each one having both a garbage and a recycling can all with very nice picnic tables and fire rings. The lodge is used for showers and bathrooms. None of the RV sites have septic, but there is a free dump station. The campground is located pretty much at the summit of route 9 next to a ski resort and surrounded by forest. The owners have made walking trails and built bridges and even an RC track and obstacle course. I just can't say enough how beautiful and well maintained this campground is.

We were there for just two nights so we just had time to check out the local towns, parks, historic sites, and covered bridges. Vermont is beautiful, worth spending more time here. Oh and we bought some Vermont maple syrup.

311 Greenwood Drive, Woodford, VT P.O. Box 246 Bennington, VT 05201

Phone: (802) 442-2547 | Fax: (802) 442-2547
May 20 to October 26

Owned or Managed by Ed, Ann, and Chris Shea

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: https://campvermont.com/greenwood

Sites: 40 Overnight / 8 Pull-thrus / 20 No Hookups / 20 E & W / Max. Length: 70

Rental Units: Rooms - 4

Amenities: Store Close by / Boating / WiFi / Dump Station / Firewood / Recreational Hall / Pavilion / Hot Showers / Flush Toilets / Universally Accessible / Pets Welcome

Recreation: Fishing / Hike & Bike / Swimming: Pond

Nearby Attractions: Bennington Museum, Car Show, Garlic Festival, Old Castle Theatre. Wilmington Flea Market, Mt. Snow, Bromley Slide, Mass Moca, Rockwell Museum, Tanglewood

Nearby Cities / Towns: Bennington, Wilmington Manchester, and Wilmington

Description: Clean, well-maintained, up-to-date facilities. Scenic Green Mountain setting. Hostel w/dorms, private bedrooms. Separate, spacious tent/RV campsites, Big Rigs Welcome, blue-boy loaners. All-inclusive facilities cost. $ Firewood. Mountain biking trails and river-walk. For everyone's enjoyment camping guidelines are enforced to provide a peaceful, uncrowded, friendly atmosphere. Quiet, non-aggressive pets welcome w/restrictions.

Published in Vermont

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Below is a link to the Thousand Trails Campgrounds that we have visited.

- Indicates Trails Collection Resort

Our Route

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Our Travels

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Where We Are Now

Where We Are on the Map

Where to Next

Rick n Jackie

Our Visit

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Campground number one hundred twenty-one.