Pine Lake RV Park

     Pine Lake was a stop-over park on our way to Disney World so we didn't disconnect the car and explore the area.  We checked in on a Sunday and there was no one in the office, but after leaving a phone message, I received a return call directing me to take a site in a general area and check-in the day.  That was fine, there were lots of great sites and the park is really beautiful.  We took advantage of the small laundromat and did some walking around, but that was it. I'm sure that we will visit this park again and perhaps stay a bit longer to explore the area.

Type: GNP - Good Neighbor Park

Good Sam Rating: 7.5/8.5*/7

Address: 
21036 Hwy 231
Fountain, FL 32438

Phone: (850) 722-1401

Fax: (850) 722-1404

Reservations Phone: (850) 722-1401

Reservations Fax: (850) 722-1404

Resort Information: Pine Lake RV Park located in Florida's Panhandle near Panama City Beach and Emeralds Coast's pristine beaches with 5 state parks, Falling Waters, Florida Caverns, Ecofina, Panhandle Pioneer Settlement, St. Andrews, in addition to numerous attractions within 30 minutes.

Directions: From I-10 and Hwy 231 (Ex 130): S 15 mi to park. From Jct of Hwy 98 and 231: N 29 mi on Hwy 231. Resort on E side of Hwy 231 just N of an overpass.

Reservation Requirements:

Web Site: pinelakerv.com

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

Full Sites: 83

Partial Sites: 52

Pull-through Sites: 124

RV Site Minimum Stay: 1 night

Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 60 feet

Elevation: 0

Amenities: Recreation hall, pavilions, laundry, horseshoes, picnic tables, propane, gift shop, tenting, RV supplies, TV lounge, hot showers, phone hook-ups each site, hiking trails, fitness center, library, dump station, group activities, fire rings, handicap access, business office, fishing available, fishing nearby (deep sea charter), nearby festivals, 5 state parks, tourist attractions nearby.

RV Notes: Special discount rate for Coast members. Rate includes 2 adults, 2 children (under 12 yrs), 30 amps, partial hook-up. Additional charges: Extra adult $4/night, extra child $2/night, additional vehicle $2, tax 6.5%. No pop-ups or buses.

Accepts Pets: Yes

Pet Restrictions: Must be less than 50 lbs. No Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, or Dobermans.

Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes

Paradise RV Campground, Silver Creek, WA

     The pools are nice, with the adult pool located next to the family pool and hot tub.  The hot tub was big but seemed to be populated with kids who can’t read.  There are tennis courts, horseshoes, a basketball court, and there once was shuffleboard.  There are two lakes to fish from or to just row around in.  The campground has a small store, laundromat, family and adult centers and a large room and area for group activities like bingo and barbecues for lots of people.  Overall, the campground was good and one we’ll visit again.  We also were able to use our phones and have the internet through AT&T.

 

From:

     Washington is known for its great RV resorts, and Paradise RV Resort is certainly counted among them. Two stocked lakes are perfect for fishermen, while the nearby mountain ranges offer majestic views. Bring your camera! You will want to capture the beauty of the tulip and daffodil fields. Additionally, this beautiful Washington RV camp is located within an easy driving distance of Portland, Oregon and Tacoma, and Yakima in Washington. We are also surrounded by the majestic beauty of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.

Paradise Campground, Panguitch, Utah

     Paradise Campground is a small graveled RV park just north of the town of Panguitch, Utah.  From there, it was about a thirty-minute drive to Bryce Canyon.  While trying to make reservations I was never able to get anyone on the phone at the office, but they did call back.  When we got there, the office was closed.  A note on the door told us the rates of the sites and to pick a site and then put money in an envelope and slide it under the door.  Over the weekend, no one ever did come to the office.  The park was in good shape and looked as if someone had spent a lot of time and money into making the campground really nice and then just stopped, not quite finished with the renovations.  Speaking with another camper who had stayed there several times in the past, I guess the park has been this way for years.  We found the sites very close together, but there were enough empty campsites that people spaced themselves out.  We had no neighbors on either side so it wasn't bad.  With the campground being above 6000 feet and it being late September we did wake up to below freezing temperatures.

      We arrived at the early enough that we decided to head up to Bryce Canyon that day so that we could leave the cold and head south a day earlier.  On the way to Bryce, we drove through Red Canyon and stopped at the visitor's center.  Red Canyon is separate from Bryce Canyon and has many hiking trails.  Don't make the mistake of asking questions about Bryce Canyon at the wrong visitor's center.  When we arrived at Bryce Canyon, we parked at the shuttle bus center outside of the park.  We then rode the shuttle into the park, stopping at the visitor's center and then at Bryce Point.  From there we could view the main cathedral.  The other shuttle stops we more points along the rim of this same cathedral, so we walked most of the rim.  There are several trails that lead down into the canyon.  Had we more time, better shoes on, and better weather, we would have done more hiking.  The rim is over 8000 feet and with the wind, it wasn't very warm that day.

     On our second day, we decided to drive up to Cedar Breaks National Monument.   The drive up there was beautiful.  The birch trees were bright yellow mixed in with the dark evergreens.  When we arrived at the rim, we were above 10,000 feet and looking out to the west was a thick cloud cover below us.  We were able to view most of Cedar Breaks despite the clouds.  At the park's visitor center a couple of young ladies thought it would be cool to have photos taken while standing on top of a fence with a drop of several thousand feet behind them.  From what we've seen, it's a wonder more tourist don't lose their lives from trying to get that perfect photo shot.  Just down the road, we pulled into Duck Creek Village for lunch.  Duck Creek is a haven for ATV'rs and around the area are scores of trails to ride.  The area east of Cedar Breaks was made up of several individual peaks and the geography of the land formation was a combination Cclaron Limestone (like Bryce Canyon & Cedar Breaks) and black lava rock.  Like we found in Oregon and Washington in places the liver of lava flowing through the cooler rock forming lava tubes.  After our visit to Duck Creek, we stopped at one of these tubes, Mammoth Cave.  

   We left there on a Sunday morning heading further south to warmer weather, to get there we had to cross a mountain pass that was covered in a dusting of snow.  Two hours later we were setting up camp in Leeds on a sunny 70-degree afternoon.

From their website:

Palm Springs RV Resort

     Palm Springs RV and Camping Resort has become one of our favorite places to visit. The campground is split down the middle, on the west side all the sites are 30 amp pull-throughs, and on the east side, all the sites are 50 amp back-ins. All the roads are paved and the sites vary from all sand to partial asphalt, to total concrete (which are saved for ‘annuals’) Sites are assigned on a first come, first served basis, however, there are a few smaller sites reserved for tents. Palm trees are the name of the game here, whichever site you choose, you’ll have to navigate around at least one or two palm trees. On our site, we couldn’t open our awning because of a tree, which wasn’t a big deal as it was on the north side of the RV.
     The best part of the resort was the people we met there. We walk our dogs two or three times each day and we found that walking up and down each row came out to be about two and a half miles, during which we never failed to meet new people or run into friends we had previously met. Almost every evening we found ourselves at someone’s campsite visiting with people from all over. The park was very welcoming and didn’t give us the feeling that we were visiting someone else’s park like some parks do when there are too many people living there month to month.
    The amities are fairly good. There are six pristine pickleball courts, several horseshoe pits, a pool, a hot tub, an activity center, and more. Every morning there was a volleyball game happening in the pool. There are activities such as barbecues, pickleball events, a weekly craft sale, water aerobics, and so on. We found the mail system a bit different, UPS & FedEx delivers right to your site and packages sent by USPS are delivered to the office and a fee is charged when picking up your packages. Not a bad system, if you know beforehand what it is. The park could use some fixing up and a bit more servicing. Things like having someone check site once vacated and making sure that they are ready for the next camper, maybe paving more sites to keep the sand and dust level down, or at least ensuring that each site has a concrete pad with a picnic table. (most do, but not all) We also noticed at least three different RV wash companies in the campground, we also saw other outside services in the park, including oil changes and some fiberglass repair.
     Another great aspect of the park is its location. It is just minutes away from shopping, casinos, street fairs, and scores of golf courses. We were in the park most of the month of December and we had the great fortune of pretty much perfect weather the whole time. However, I do understand that the park is closed during the summer months because of the heat, but I’ve heard rumors that may change. (not the heat, but closing during the summer months) We are very much looking forward to returning here. We love the whole Palm Springs area.

A Popular RV Camp in California
    This RV camp in California is equally perfect for a weekend getaway or a long-term hiatus. Situated in the beautiful Coachella Valley, this 25-acre California RV campground boasts an unbeatable location near lakes, canyons, and national monuments. Whether you're looking for the perfect winter vacation or a golf retreat, Palm Springs RV Camping is a win-win choice.
   This desert community truly offers something for everyone. Known as a golfer's paradise, Palm Springs has a variety of well-groomed courses. Opportunities for fishing are just a short distance away at The Salton Sea and Lake Cahuilla. Additionally, nearby attractions like Joshua Tree National Park, Thousand Palms Oasis, and the San Jacinto National Monument await. Don't forget the most breathtaking sight of them all! Take in views of the mountains and the Coachella Valley from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway as it lifts you up 8,000 feet to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto!

Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort, Oceano, California

     We had an uneventful drive to Pacific Dunes, always a plus. We arrived at the campground at noon and were assigned a site up on the hill.  The location was great even though it was rather narrow.  The campground is located up against the dunes, however, the ocean was quite a hike.  The dunes are spectacular and massive.  I noticed in the amenities listed for the campground, sand-sledding was among them, unfortunately, our schedule during our short visit didn't give us the opportunity to give it a try.  The campground is located just south of Pismo Beach, so there is a lot to do and see there.  The park is a part of the Trails Collection and is $20 per night for members.  Given its location, I feel that it is worth it.  

     The other plus to its location is our good friend Destry lives in Pismo Beach and it gave us time to visit with her.  

Pacific City RV Campground

      We arrived on a Saturday morning of the 4^th of July weekend.  The campground was almost full and trying to find a campsite big enough for us was a bit of a task.  TT has a first come, first serve policy, after you reserve a site, however, there is nothing that prevents small RV’s from taking the larger sites.  I really don’t know a solution to the problem.  The other small issue that I have, is that the few sites with the “spectacular ocean views” are sites rented out to full-timers, so people who travel don’t get the “view sites.”  However, the campground has a lot of nice wooded sites so it wasn’t a big deal.  The other fun thing about the campground is that there are bunnies everywhere.

      Pacific City Campground is a campground with defined campsites, so you really get the camping feeling.  To add to the camping feeling, there isn’t any cell or Internet service.  (at least not AT&T) There is a lodge with pool, ping pong, TV and what you’d expect to find in a camp lodge.  There is a poor Internet signal there, but enough to check your emails.  There is also an enclosed pool and an adult hot tub.  Also, there is a small store that is open four hours a day and only on weekends.  From the campground, there is a trail that takes you to a beautiful beach.  Oregon beaches are all public which is great, but most also allow cars, which limits your ability to let your dogs run.  To me, it also takes away some of the beauty of the beach.   Overall the campground was pretty nice and I’m sure that we will revisit someday.

        “Oceanfront RV Campground in Oregon, you will never tire of the spectacular ocean views with a trip to Pacific City RV Camping in Oregon. Nature trails, fishing, clamming, surfing, beachcombing and more can all be found at this RV campground in Oregon, located along the beautiful Central Oregon coastline. Explore Pacific City RV Camping year-round with activities tailored to specific seasons. Enjoy the water in the summer, picking huckleberries in the fall and whale watching in the winter. After an exciting day of fun, sit back and relax around a crackling fire.  And…  On the coast, amid towering spruce trees and spectacular ocean views, this tranquil campground offers nature trails, beachcombing, dunes, whale watching and more.”

Niagra's Lazy Lakes Camping Resort, Lockport, New York

     Our drive into Niagra's Lazy Lakes was a long one from Vermont.  We opted to take I-90 to save some time knowing it was a toll road.  It set us back $45 dollars to do so.  Driving into the campground coming from the east was a bit tricky as we had to watch bridge heights and weight limits.  Once at the campground all was good.  We were able to pick a site (in half the park as we're not members of the park, but can camp here for free through our Coast to Coast)  a found a good one with plenty of grass and shade.  Also, not being a member caused us to cut our visit shorter than we would have liked.  The weekend we hoped to stay was a Canadian Holliday and the campground was blocked out for non-members.  The campground itself is beautiful with nice sites, two pools, two lakes, and all the amenities you would expect to find in a camping resort. (no pickleball)  It also only has 30amp sites with no septic available to non-resident campers.  The park is located just twenty minutes from Niagra Falls which was very convenient for us.

     Having just two days to explore, we decided to first visit the Canadian side of the falls.  It is much more touristy and built up than the American side.  So we took a tour to the base of the falls and behind it.  We also went to the Imax theater to see "Legends of the Falls" (it was disappointing)  We took a few minutes out for lunch and tried our luck in a Casino and didn't do very well.  On the second day, we stopped off at Whirlpool State Park on our way in.  We learned quite a bit of history about the falls and the Niagra River from a park volunteer.  Then we drove back to the falls and visited Niagra State Park.  The park is exceptional and is worth a visit.  We got out to the observation tower to see both falls, then made it to Goat Island (which is between the two falls)  From there we could get right up to the edge of the Canadian falls.  We decided that we would walk around the island and took a few minutes to walk out onto the three sisters islands which are small islands above the Canadian falls, where several signs were posted for the really stupid.  On the other side of Goat Island, you can walk out onto "Hell's Half Acre".  It's another island right above the American Falls which divides the river forming Bridalvale Falls.  Below Bridalvale, people can walk out onto decks and get the full falls experience.  I sort of wished we had taken the time to do so, maybe on our next visit.

Address:4312 Church Rd. Lockport, NY 14094

Phone: (800) 874-2957

Fax: (716) 433-2625

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

Resort Information: Niagara's Lazy Lakes Resort is in the heart of Niagara and is known as "Western New York's Best Kept Secret". Only 15 minutes from the Canadian border, plan on visiting many of the local and Canadian attractions such as Niagara Falls, Lake Ontario (salmon fishing) and Old Fort Niagara, Toronto.

Web Site:lazylakes.com

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

Partial Sites: 265

Pull-through Sites: 25

Check-In/Check-Out Times: Noon - 6:00 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.

RV Site Minimum Stay: 1 night

Open: May 1 to Oct 31

Open: Nov 17 to Dec 31

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 45 feet

Elevation: 300.0000

Amenities: Recreation Hall, laundry, dump station, boating available, paddle boats, horseshoes, outdoor pools (heated), fishing available (catch & release), shuffleboard, canoes, ice available, RV supplies, propane, grocery store, picnic tables, group activities, fire rings, beach, church service, gift shop, game room, hot showers, playground, handicap access, firewood, basketball, boating nearby, shopping nearby, golf nearby, fishing nearby, casinos nearby, tourist attractions nearby.

RV Notes: Additional charges: 50 amps $4/night, Arrival dump station fee $25, honey wagon $10. No sewer sites.

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

Accepts Pets: Yes

Pet Restrictions: 2 pets per site. Must show vaccination papers.

Visitor Mail Accepted: No 

Nehalem Bay State Park

     After years of looking forward to camping at Nehalem Bay State Park, I finally got around to going there.  It was a beautiful weekend and we had just camped 50 miles to the north at Ft. Stevens and we were caught off guard by the wind.  It wasn't so bad, that it ruined the day, but it was noticeably stronger there than up the beach.  The campground was 100% filled with RV's lined up at the entrance hoping to get a spot.  The campground consists of several loops with some pretty tight sites.  The road is very narrow and paved and the sites on the outside of the loops are angled to more easily back in, but the inner sites are pretty much perpendicular to the road.  So if you're in a larger RV try to reserve a site on the outside.  Walking around we noticed that almost all the sites were the same.  Which makes it far easier to choose.  

       Once camp was set up, our first venture was to take the dogs to the beach.  There are several trails out of the campground leading up over the dunes and onto the beach.  The sand on the trails is very soft and difficult to walk in.  It's not too long of a walk, but it is a bit of work to finally get to the packed sand on the beach.  We found another trail that led toward the bay and around a small runway.  The loop was an easy mile or so on a wide trail.  Perfect for walking dogs.  The park also had some wildlife too.  We saw deer walking through camp, not the least bit bothered by people or dogs.  

        Overall the park was great!  We met the people camping next door who were from New Zealand and hopefully will contact us through the site as we travel in the future.  The people on our other side had just purchased a very large fifth-wheel and a new GMC truck and were on their first outing.  They had quite a time getting into their site but finally got in.  Having been there with my truck and fifth-wheel in the past I felt for him and am so happy to be in a class-A, where backing in is a breeze.  I spoke to them and told them for as long as it took them to get parked, it would have taken me longer.  I don't think I relieved the stress they were feeling from the ordeal.  

     Jackie and I made a second visit to the park as our last camping trip prior to hitting the road full time.  The drive over in the pouring rain was quite the adventure.  I decided to take Highway 53 to cut a few miles off the drive, big mistake!  The road is very windy and in poor repair, not a good choice for a motor home, pulling a dinghy.  Then we arrived only to find that we wouldn't fit into our reserved site.  Fortunately, the campground was pretty much empty and half of it is set up as first come first serve, so the ranger told us we could choose from any of the more than 100 plus sites that were empty.  On the second day, the sun broke up the rain.  So after a short hike with the dogs, we headed up to Seaside for lunch and something to do.  On the third day, the rain returned, leaving us with just a small window to take the dogs out on the beach and let them run.  Rain and all the campground is beautiful and very relaxing.  We've had a couple of deer and a lone coyote visit within just a few feet of the motorhome, along with some other area natives along the trail. 

Needles KOA

     Originally, our plan was to stay at the Needles KOA for five days before heading to Las Vegas.  When we arrived at the campground, it was almost empty and was basically a rocky parking lot in a rocky desert.  There was the standard KOA store, laundry, pool, and rec room.  All of these services were well kept and in good repair, however, the rest of the campground had nothing to offer.  A few sites had some shade, but they were mostly taken by full-timers, (non-appeared to be living there at the time).  We picked a site that had a little shade and was as close to the facilities as possible.  Once we got set up we decided to check-out the campground next door, from the looks of it, there was at least more shade.  After meeting the owner and checking available sites, we decided to spend one night at the KOA and then move to the new campground.  The KOA camp host was very nice in refunding four of my five days.  The next morning, we did laundry there and moved our show next door.  The KOA just didn’t have a good feel to it.

From KOA

See that lush oasis in the desert? It's no mirage, it's the Needles KOA. At the edge of the Mojave Desert, hand-laid rock walls grace this surprising spot bursting with vibrant bougainvillea, eucalyptus, mesquite and palm trees. Historic Needles is close to the casinos of Laughlin, Nevada, and the scenic ghost town of Oatman, Arizona. There's plenty of life at this KOA, where the clubhouse (with a stone fireplace) is a popular gathering spot for potlucks, bingo, card games, and holiday parties. The campground store offers award-winning salsa and red-chile marmalade. Stop by the gift shop for Route 66 items. Pool: Open all year. Max pull thru: 80 feet.