Go Camping America Blog

Take your deer camp in the road

at 8:07 AM Posted by ARVC

Take your deer camp in the road
Parks cater to hunters

Many of us enjoy fall camping – finding that perfect, peaceful spot to watch squirrels scurry through fallen leaves gathering their winter supply of food, or strolling through nature’s beautiful color palette. But there are others among us campers, who use fall camping time to experience deer hunting in other areas of the country – deer camp on wheels.

Now, I grew up in northern Michigan, so deer season was always like an extra holiday for us. Opening day of gun season was a school holiday when I was kid, although that’s changed a little now and it’s an excused absence with a copy of a deer license. It also meant family coming in to hunt, eat, tell stories and hunt some more. My grandma and mom may have liked it more if these hunters had considered taking their hunt to the road with their campers.

Today, there are several parks that welcome the fall hunters. And for those non-hunters who enjoy the fall season and camping out in the brisk weather, there’s still plenty to do at the campground or RV park while the hunters are out.

Here are a few ideas from which to choose:

McCaslin Mountain Campground, Silver Cliff, Wis. – The 300-acre campground borders the Ncolet National Forest in northeastern, Wis., making it an idea spot for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Trout streams and the nearby Governor Thompson State Park also make it an outdoor haven. In addition, there are nearby ATV and snowmobile trails, as well as hiking and biking trails. And hunters can find guide service for guided deer, bear and turkey hunts. For the times when you are not out and about or hunting during season, the park also offers a game room and mini golf course. The campground offers 80 primitive sites, both wooded and open, and 48 water and electric hookup sites.
Four Seasons RV Park, Herrin, Ill. – This park offers peaceful, spacious shaded sites, with full hookups. With an abundance of wildlife, the family-owned park welcomes hunters and fishermen. For those times you are back at camp, there is WiFi access available and laundry for the 30 sites.
Moosehead Family Campground, Greenville, Maine – Located in the heart of Maine’s north woods and just minutes from Moosehead Lake, this campground welcomes hunters, as well as nature lovers who can watch the deer and moose walk freely. Just minutes from Greenville with its golf, public beaches, restaurants and shopping, the campground is nestled in a stand of apple, spruce, fir and pine trees. With 20, 30 and 50-amp sites, RVers are also offered a game room, playground and modem hookup at the camp store.

So, whether you enjoy hunting or enjoy watching the wildlife, get out in your camper before the snow flies and enjoy the third season for camping!

Reservations are a requirement in today’s camping

at 8:05 AM Posted by ARVC

Reservations are a requirement in today’s camping
What happened to those first-come, first-serve days for procrastinators like me?

Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, has come and gone. But it wasn’t unnoticed. Although AAA reported fewer people would be traveling for the holiday weekend, the roads we traveled were filled with RVs and campers.

The weather was wonderful for camping, but sometimes if you leave the planning to someone else, it doesn’t get done and then you’re scrambling at the last minute. Earlier this year, we had planned to be in Tennessee camping and partaking in a family reunion. However, a death in the family that brought everyone from around the country together earlier, kept them from making the same trip in September. So, we were going to change our plans.

The problem is, we didn’t get the changes made in time. And, as often as I remind everyone here to make reservations early – we didn’t get ours made. And calling around just days before the holiday weekend left my husband and myself looking at each other knowing that for the first time in years, we had no camp site for Labor Day weekend.

We frantically called around to private and public parks, only to get the same message – no open sites. Finally, we found one, but there was a problem, the only open site couldn’t accommodate our 29-foot travel trailer.

So, you guessed it; we had no place to go. There used to be a time when reservations were considered odd in the RVing and camping sector of the industry. People got out of work on Friday and took off to the nearest or most desirable campground and put up camp. For the most part, those days are gone.

It makes sense that campground owners and operators want to know they have a full park for any weekend, but especially the holiday weekends. But planning too far in advance takes the thrill out of the open road and finding a destination by chance. While that can be done, for the most part, on other weekends throughout the summer, don’t leave the holiday weekends to chance. Learn from my lesson – MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY!

Now here are some campgrounds that take reservations and would love to open their sites to you:

River Trail Crossing RV Park, Butler, Ohio, is on the Clear Fork Mohican River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The campground offers 44 total sites, from primitive tent sites to full hookup sites with 50-amp service for “big rigs.” Amenities include fishing, biking and hiking, a playground and even the chance to pan for gold in the river.
My Brother's Place Campground, Houlton, Maine, is just two miles from New Brunswick, Canada. With 80 total sites, guests can stay in tents or RVs, or rent a cabin or 5th-Wheel Travel Trailer. WiFi is also available in the park, along with fishing, hiking and biking trails and nature trails, and swimming in a lake, pond or the ocean.
Pioneer Trails RV Resort & Campground in Anacortes, Wash., is located among tall evergreens and including an adult spa, sports courts and 60 campsites. There are also six cabins and 24 RV rentals. WiFi is available throughout the resort, as well as a playground, basketball courts, regulation horseshoe pit and covered picnic areas.
Indian Point RV Resort, Gautier, Miss., is surrounded by the Sioux Bayou that leads to the Escatawpa and Pascagoula rivers, leading to the Gulf of Mexico. There are 100 total sites and 16 cabins for guests without RVs. Amenities include cable TV, Internet access in the park, fishing, mini-golf, a playground and a swimming pool.

Camping is exciting with nearby thrill parks

at 8:32 AM Posted by ARVC

If your family is like mine, you love the rides of thrill parks. And for others who like a tamer type of entertainment, there are parks that offer that as well. There’s no better way to enjoy these parks than by taking your RV along for the trip and stay onsite.

Whether it’s roller coasters, wild swings, carousels or a lazy paddleboat excursion, there are parks that offer these and give you a place to park your home on wheels. We love taking these types of trips because even though the parks themselves aren’t the cheapest vacation, a full day of activity for one price isn’t bad in today’s economy. And if you have the option to go back to your campsite for a rest and food, saving you from exhaustions and saves money.

Our favorite spot is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, and its Camper Village. Although we spend very little time at our site or in our RV, and the campground offers minimal amenities, it’s nice to eat at home once in awhile. And it gives us a chance to do two days in the park, running from roller coaster to roller coaster.

The best part of staying onsite is the early and late access to the parks, while other guests are leaving or haven’t yet arrived, you can enjoy the park! So, here are some suggestions, including our favorite spot, and their offerings. Book one before the summer is over and scream with your kids. It’s a great way to spend your day!

Camper Village, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio – Located on Lake Erie peninsula, you can walk right into Cedar Point Amusement Park from your RV. The park offers 209 total sites and 60 cabins. Pets are welcome and there are cable TV and laundry facilities. In addition to the amusement park, there is an outdoor pool and whirlpool spa, shuffleboard court and game room.
Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, Santa Claus, Ind. – The 2008-09 National RV Park of the year and is located next to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari Theme Parks. The resort offers free shuttle to the theme parks. In addition to location to the theme parks, the resort offers WiFi at most sites, a pool, golf car rentals, playgrounds, paddleboats and fishing. The 232 sites include 200 full hookup sites. In addition, there are cabin and RV rentals. For those who enjoy more than theme parks, the resort is just minutes from the Lincoln Boyhood National memorial, Lincoln State Park and the Lincoln Amphitheatre.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness, Buena Vista, Fla. – Part of the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Fla. Resort, Fort Wilderness sits on 740 acres of woodlands and the Walt Disney World Resort, the campground offers 784 sites, as well as cabins. Staying at the resort allows guests easy access to all of the Disney resort with free transportation to theme parks and other parts of the resort. In addition, there are pools, horseback riding, tennis, boat, canoe and kayak rentals, as well as hiking trails. There is also a seasonal Mickey’s Backyard BBQ where characters participate in the hoedown. There is also a restaurant and snack bars, laundry facilities, babysitting, a kennel and high-speed wireless Internet access available.
Highmeadow Campground, Hershey, PA – Offering 299 sites and 22 cabins, this campground is part of Hershey Resorts with direct access to Hersheypark and Dutch Wonderland, In addition to the theme parks; the campground offers Internet access, cable TV and laundry service. There’s also a swimming pool and an arcade/game room.

Take me to the campground, and the beach

at 2:11 PM Posted by ARVC

What’s better than going to the beach in the middle of the summer – how about going to the campground and the beach?! If you’re like my family, you love camping and everything that goes with it, and in the summer that means water and lots of it.

Paddling around in a two-man raft is relaxing, especially when followed by grilling out and sitting around the fire. Fast forward to the next day – more of the same!

Or, what about splashing through the water, burying a “loved one” in the sand and building sand castles? And after you’re done, walking back to your camper, having a burger and then S’mores over the campfire? There’s no better way to go to the beach than to finish the day at the campsite and not in the traffic jam heading away from the lake.

There’s also fishing, a relaxing outing in itself. And, if you’re at the campground that means fresh fish for supper!

This summer hasn’t been as warm as many of those I remember, but we’ve found our way to Lake Michigan and then some smaller inland lakes to enjoy the water. Just a word of advice, when you go to Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, be prepared for some COLD water. But if you’re a northern girl, you love it!

Here are some great places to enjoy the water this summer, along with your RV!

Lakeshore Park, St. Ignace, Mich., gives campers an opportunity to enjoy the Upper Peninsula with a view of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge. With 75 sites, the park is open from May 1-Oct. 15, offering RVers access to Lake Michigan and is just an hour from the Soo Locks. The park also offers free Wi-Fi.
Pirateland Family Campground, Myrtle Beach, S.C., offers 1,500 sites and 88 RV rentals. On the beach of the Atlantic Ocean, the park offers visitors a swimming pool in addition to the ocean. It also has a 510-foot Lazy River where floaters can relax. With numerous amenities, the park also has organized activities. The park also offers Internet access.
Edgewater Resort & RV Park, Kelseyville, Calif., is on the 100-mile shoreline of Clear Lake, the largest natural lake in California. The park offers 60 sites and eight cabins. There is boat trailer parking, launching and docking facilities and a beach area. Watercraft is also available for rent nearby.
Sylvan Lake Beach Park Inc., Hopewell Junction, N.Y., is on 65-wooded acres and on a 120-acre spring-fed lake just 60 miles from New York City. Offering 75 sites, a sandy beach, fishing and boating. There are also lots of family activities and a playground.

New campground doing well in spite of economy

at 2:09 PM Posted by ARVC

While RV companies have been hit hard by the recession, it seems that RVers are still getting out on the road and to the parks. And even a new park in northeast Indiana is having a good seasons, despite the faltering economy.

The Bluffton/Fort Wayne South KOA in Bluffton, Ind., about 25 miles south of Fort Wayne, opened to its customers this spring, and is having a pretty good year, so far, said owner Ann Marie Crismore, who owns and operates the park with her husband, Ryan.

The couple spent two years planning and constructing the park that will eventually have 124 sites, including five cabins, plus eight tent sites, when all is completed. Sites will be water and electric and full hookup, and the majority are pull-thru sites.

There’s also a fishing pond and in-ground pool and nearby is the Wabash Heritage Trail and Ouabache State park if hiking is something you enjoy. Little Turtle State Recreation is also nearby for fishing.

While the actual work has been ongoing for two years, emotionally the couple worked on the park for 10 years, Crismore said. So, there was no turning back this spring when things looked bleak.

However, guests to the park have come from near and far. “We’re getting RVers from all over, some who are staying near home to enjoy their RV and others who are traveling cross country,” she said.

Guests have come from Bluffton and all over Indiana, as well as Texas, California and Canada, Crismore said. “Last night, we had a tent camper come in from Montreal, Canada, and this morning we had a rig come in from California,” she said in late June.

For those who have not visited the Bluffton/Fort Wayne South KOA yet, pets are allowed for a small deposit, and an activity director on site is keeping kids busy. So far, they’ve had a scavenger hunt, charades and an ice cream social. More is planned for the summer, Crismore said.

“We’ve met a lot of wonderful people,” she added, saying she and her husband used to be RVers and now tell their friends to come to the park so they can sit at the fire with them.

Independence Day weekend is fast approaching; make your reservations now, if you haven’t already. Parks fill up quick for the long holiday weekends. Enjoy the sun, the fire pits and the weekend neighbors at the park you visit. Break out the hotdogs, its time to go camping!

Here are other new RV parks to enjoy around the country:

The Bainbridge/Flint River KOA is just off of the Highway 84 and 27 Bypass in Bainbridge, Ga., and is open all year. Access to the Flint River and Lake Seminole is just across the street. The park offers RV and tent sites, as well as an 18-hole miniature golf and a community fire pit. There’s also Wi-Fi and a washer/dryer facility.
Located in the Tucannon Valley, the Dayton/Pomeroy KOA is on the edge of the Wooten Wildlife area and Umatilla National Forest; this KOA has 70-foot pull-thru sites, as well as cabins and tent sites. It’s open from March 1-Nov. 30. Breakfast is served most weekends and ice cream socials and movies under the stars at the outdoor theater on weekends and holidays during the summer.
The Salem KOA is just two miles south of Salem in the heart of the Willamette Valley, and only 100 yards from the Enchanted Forest Theme Park. Open from Feb. 15-Nov. 1, the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Hood are both within driving distance. RV sites and cabins are available. And there’s even a doggy play area. Wi-Fi is available and the swimming pool is open from May 15-Sept. 15.
Shoreline RV Park, Eureka, Calif., is on the coast of California, 280 miles north of San Francisco is in the heart of northern California's coastal redwoods. Visitors can hike, bike and boat. The park offers 58 sites, a dog park, on-site security, Wi-Fi and is near a public boat launch, marina and beach.
Deer Haven Campground is located in Lisbon, Conn., and has 78 sites, including 50 full hookup sites and five tent sites. Amenities in the park include hiking and biking trails, swimming in a pond, lake or the ocean, and planned recreation.

You don’t have to camp on public land to enjoy it

at 2:07 PM Posted by ARVC

As someone who loves the outdoors – hiking, biking, swimming, whatever it may be – not everyone can or want to haul their RV or tents to a state or national park to enjoy the wonders on a warm weekend. But there are other options. Several campgrounds and RV parks are nestled near these wonderful outdoor attractions – and often offer amenities not found in the public campgrounds – such as cable TV or Wi-Fi.

Like many, Memorial weekend was our first camping trip of the summer. We went just an hour from home in northern Indiana, enjoying the nearby state park and its natural attractions. And while the state park was full of campers, so were the surrounding private parks, which also offered their guests the options of water and sewage hookups, cable TV and Wi-Fi. And those who chose to stay at the private parks also were just minutes from the state parks vast biking, hiking and horseback riding trails, as well as the beach.

But because you aren’t the only one who wants to get away for the holiday – make your reservations early. The wonderful weather was an added boost to the unofficial opening summer holiday weekend and there were NO camping sites to be found! So, if you’re considering an RV park near a state or national park for the next holiday weekend, call NOW!

We made our reservations, along with other family, months in advance, so we just pulled in and set up. How nice that for once we were the closest to home. But I discovered that’s not always an advantage.

We were the last to arrive because of work that I could not do before 6:30 p.m. Friday. In addition, we knew we would be gone for several hours on Saturday because we had a wedding to attend. Still not a problem since we had the long weekend, and a wedding is a very important event!

However, Sunday brought sad news to my family and another trip home for me. My eldest – who decided to stay home – called me Sunday morning to let me know my dog had died sometime during the night. Now this is a dog who was 14 ½ years old and I could see him physically aging tremendously in the past few months, but you’re just never ready for it when it happens. And the fact that I wasn’t there when it happened has left me riddled with guilt.

My dog used to love camping and was a very good camper. He was a Keeshond and loved people. But the older he got, the more trouble he was having moving around, so camping wasn’t the top of his list any longer. Part of me wished we had taken him this trip and part of me is thankful he was home when he died. But hundreds of tears later, neither thought makes it any easier. I will miss my camping mate, my fuzzy buddy and my friend when no one else seemed to understand me.

Please tell me about your camping buddies. And, in honor of my buddy and for all of you who camp and travel with pets, here are a few parks that invite them in with you and are close to nearby public parks for outdoor recreation:

In northern Indiana, just a few miles from Pokagon State Park is Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake, Fremont, Ind. The park itself is located on a 100-acre lake with a pool and splash playground, waterslides, mini golf, boat rentals and five playgrounds. With 540 sites and 18 cabins, it can accommodate nearly any camper/RVer. Pets are welcome.
In northern Georgia, Lake Nottely RV Park, Blairsville, Ga., is a relaxing stay and near the Appalachian Trail for hiking and sightseeing, in addition to numerous other area stops. The park has lake-view sites with full hookups, Wi-Fi and boat ramps and docks. It also has swimming in the lake, pond or ocean, along with hiking and biking trails. Pets are welcome.
In St. George, Utah is McArthur’s Temple View RV Resort, where guests can enjoy Utah’s Color Country. Near Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, the park offers 270 sites, some with full hookups. There’s also a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, exercise room and Internet connections. Pets are invited.
Ardmore, Okla., is home to Hidden Lake RV Inc., where, in addition to large sites, Wi-Fi, cable and RV repair and service, you’re just minutes away from Lake Murray, Oklahoma’s oldest and largest state park. The park has a 5,700 acre lake with hiking and horseback riding. In addition, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, with its mineral spring and wildlife is also nearby. Hidden Lake welcomes pets.

Is it camping or RVing? Are they the same?

at 8:13 AM Posted by ARVC

With the spring camping and RVing season just around the corner I’m getting a little antsy for our first trip. I’m not sure what early trips we’ll make, but we’re already booked for Memorial weekend with a short trip joining family at a park in northern Indiana.

But I think about our camping trips and how they’ve changed – mostly because of the change in equipment. I’m one of those people who like to discuss things – sometimes to the dire end. So, we have this discussion – are we still camping even though we’re going in our travel trailer?

I remember our early days in the tent with all of the comforts of the outdoors – the outdoor cook stove, lanterns, a “camping” coffee pot, grill, sleeping bags and bug spray. Then my husband needed to add a fan and TV to the list, as well as an air mattress. Apparently, the ground was getting harder that it had been in the past.

Then we went to the popup camper – it got him off the ground and gave me that outdoor feel that still let me believe I was camping out. I enjoyed the popup, and it gave us a few more conveniences. But after some years of this, my husband again tired of the setting up of camp. If we arrived late, it was dark and more difficult to get everything ready – and beds always had to be made.

So, came the day that we went “camper” shopping, i.e. travel trailer. My husband so wanted a trailer that could be backed into a site, and with less effort, ready for the weekend in mere minutes. I went into this a little less enthusiastic. We settled on our 29-foot Jayco, and I must say, it is very nice. But I still ask, are we still camping?

It’s not that we are indoors more when we’re at campgrounds, but it’s not the same having the wind blow through the wide open screens of a tent or even a popup camper. And, let’s be real, we use the AC now. Yes, there’s TV with surround sound, a microwave and the kitchen is all indoors now. While I don’t mind this when bad weather moves in, I still wonder if we’ve lost something.

My husband says absolutely not – this is heaven. He loves camping – you can find him at the campfire almost the entire time we’re out! And he loves his travel trailer. It’s perfect, or near perfect, he says. But then I wonder why he is looking at a fifth-wheel travel trailer and even at some of the smaller motorhomes.

I don’t think our conversion is complete yet, but I’m holding him back a little. I’m not ready for a “camper” with a sauna yet.

So, tell me what do you think? Is it still camping? And please, share some of your favorite camping/RVing experiences with us! Happy camping, I can almost smell the campfire!

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