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.
Enjoy a beautiful natural setting at the base of Mount Baker with easy access to North Cascades National Park, Baker Lake and of course our very own Grandy Creek running along the edge of the campground. Take a day trip to Bellingham, the San Juan Islands or British Columbia - the beautiful Northwest is at your disposal.
This campground features long Pull-Thru RV Sites (up to 90 feet) as well as Tent Sites and Camping Cabins. Enjoy a game of mini golf, volleyball or basketball, swimming, a hayride and the Jumping Pillow. Hike the campground trails and make new friends in the Family Center or at a pancake breakfast or an ice cream social.
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.
We pulled into Birch Bay around eleven in the morning and fortunately I had looked at a satellite view of the campground and had a good idea of where I wanted to park. The campground is divided into two sections. The section on the entrance side is set up so that four campsites share the same utility post. So, to make everything work as designed, every other vehicle should pull forward into the site. This way the right side of each camper is open to an area with a picnic table and a fire pit, sharing the space with the people next to you. However, not everyone does this or can do this. If you had a trailer or a fifth-wheel, then you can’t pull forward into the site when there is another rig backed in front of you. So, this is problematic, some people wind up with no space to camp or they have to camp on the back side of their RV. In the other section of the campground, the pull-through sites are set up with just two campers on a utility pedestal and people do park every other vehicle facing the opposite way. The sites are long enough so that when I pulled into a site next to a 43-foot class A with my 40-foot coach, I couldn’t see the other RV out my left windows. The sites are also spaced so that there was more than 30’ between me and the RV sharing the common grassy area. The sites that were on the outside edge, where everyone backed in and spaced far enough that you could park two more RV between them. Finding a site in the second section was tough to do, I think most people settle for one in the first section and watch for people to leave so they can nab a better site in the second. We, fortunately, lucked into one of the pull-throughs (in the second section) between two nice couples. Because of the campsite and because of the people we made friends with, we would have loved to stay longer, however reserving sixty days in advance doesn’t allow much freedom in making changes.
The campground is well maintained. There were the usual Thousand Trails amenities, pool, lodges, horseshoes, etc. On Saturday night, they had a live band play and they were pretty good. Our short stay here was just that, too short. We are looking forward to returning and keeping our fingers crossed to find a spot again in the second section when we do.
Situated just a few miles south of the US/Canadian border, Birch Bay RV Resort offers convenience, fun, and a family friendly environment 365 days a year. For water-goers, a beautiful saltwater beach is located just a few miles away. There, visitors can enjoy swimming and splashing about, along with crabbing, clam digging, and oyster picking. For those seeking land activities, Birch Bay RV Resort has a bicycle and walking track perfect for soaking up the great outdoors.
We arrived at Beachwood on a Thursday after being detained at the border coming back into the US from Canada. This is our first visit to a Coast to Coast resort, and our first park not open to the public. Like the Thousand Trails campgrounds, it has amenities like pools, spas, fitness rooms, tennis courts and so on, so it wasn’t all that different. The park is divided up into sections, two sections for people who live there full-time and several for those who don’t. This is nice because you don’t feel that are the better sites are taken by people who live there. There is one row of back-in 50amp sites that are large and spaced well, but the bulk of the sites are very tight with little room to camp outside your RV. We found a great site with plenty of room, which I assume was once in a section reserved for tents as it had no water. Honestly, what makes a site great is the people you camp next to or nearby. We had the good fortune to meet several great people, Jim & Helga, Joe & Dianne, and Tom.
Like I said, the campground has lots of amenities. There are three pools, kids, family, & adult. There are three spa tubs, family, adult, and one adult in a sauna. There is also a separate sauna, a fitness center, an adult center and a family center. The resort is set up with enough activities to keep the family busy without ever leaving the park. There is also a small store located on the edge of the property so that it accessible to both people inside the camp and to the public.
Beachwood RV Resort is located in the town of Birch Bay. It's a small town that does its best to draw tourists. There is a large water park and plenty of beach access. The bay is beautiful, but at low tide, the beach doesn't look that inviting, yet there were lots of people out enjoying it. The weekend that we were there, there was a classic car show and live music. (the songs were good, but the singing was pretty bad) Nearby is the border town of Blaine, it's a bit more touristy (unless you're looking for a postcard) The border crossing there is Peace Arch Park, which is a beautiful park with lots of history on the making of the US/Canadian border.
Below is information from Coast to Coast:
Good Sam Rating: 6.5/5/6.5
Address:
5001 Bay Rd.
Birch Bay, WA 98230
Resort Information: Resort is located 40 miles from Vancouver and 20 miles from Bellingham, convenient to winter and summer activities in the Pacific Northwest. Designed for the whole family as well as retired couples, the resort is in a wooded setting on beautiful Birch Bay. Saltwater bay offers nonstop summer beach fun, as well as peaceful winter solitude.
Full Sites: 272
Pull-through Sites: 104
Maximum Electrical Service: 30 amps
WiFi Available: Yes, (not at the campsites, but some sites have cable)
Maximum RV Length: Unlimited
Elevation: 0
Amenities: Recreation hall, outdoor pool, Jacuzzi hot tub, spa, sauna, tennis courts, horseshoe, grocery, teen center, playground, volleyball, softball field, soccer field, basketball court, disc golf, fishing nearby. Nearby: Beach.
Below is a link to the Thousand Trails Campgrounds that we have visited.
- Indicates Trails Collection Resort