Favorite camping spots?
 

Here is one of our favorite places to camp. It is called Red Canyon. Some other pics from our family vacation included. Red Canyon is near Bryce Canyon National Park. We also stopped at Kodachrome State Park where the picture of my boys in front of the arch is. Where do you like to camp?

Tyffanie

Alas we are in a rented cabin in Bozeman, Montana this week. ;) An abundance of creature comforts but that has not taken anything away for me. The temperatures have been glorious and the mountains and terrain are second to none. We went into Yellowstone yesterday and it beat all my expectations.

The hot springs, geysers, and massive spaces that have been set aside for wildlife to roam are something to be proud of as an American. We have a tendancy to pave things over and put up a shopping mall, but a few dedicated souls are there to make sure the best gets protected.

I Love your pics and your children are very beautiful! I love to camp, (dh says no way). When the kids get older I will take them camping in Colorado. Utah is so special and your pics are very very pretty!-R

Morgan,
I'm so glad you got to see some of Yellowstone. It is amazing!!! I would stay in a cabin any day over camping---but camping is more economical, and the kids love it. I have a good air mattress now so its not too bad, and the campground we stayed at had warm showers. We would like to get a pop-up trailer in the next couple of years. Setting up and taking down camp is always a pain.

Did you get to see any of Grand Teton National Park?
My Dad is from Montana and lives there now, so I've seen some beautiful places there as well.

Rena,
Colorado is beautiful too---definitely some good camping spots there. I feel lucky to live in a place that has sooo much to see. When I was in high school I lived in California. Camping on the beach is fun too. My kids did the Jr Ranger program at Bryce Canyon. I bet your kids would like that too. I think most National Parks have them. The funny thing about our trip was that we hardly saw any Utah plates. The majority of the tourists were from other states, or Europe---especially France. I bet there are tons of people living in the cities here, that have never seen our National Parks, yet drive to Vegas or California for vacations and such.

Tyffanie

Nice family and camping photos. My daughter and family lived in Utah for 6 years and unfortunately I only got to see the neat red rocks when we were driving out of the state to move her to Maryland. They camped every year there. I will ask her where she went...maybe you've been there too.
Sue

Your pictures are really cool. I've not been out West much. My aunt, uncle and cousins used to live kind of at the bottom of Pike's Peak. Visiting them is really the only time I've spent out that way, other than on the Coast.

My favorite campground is actually right down the road from my house, across the street from the store where I do most of my grocery shopping. I know that sounds funny but it's true. It's on the beach with lots of live oaks. Each site is fairly private. Sometimes, especially when you have RV sites mixed with tent sites, it's set up kind of like a parking lot for campers. Everybody is just in a row, all together. There are some not so great sites at this campground, up by the road, but most of them are nice.

We go to another great place out Route 58, just past South Hill, Va. It's North Bend Park by the John H. Kerr Dam, on the Va/No. Carolina border. If you have a boat, bring it. Great bass fishing. We have camped here at least 25 times. Both tent camping and RV camping with water and electric. It's a three hour drive each way but we like it there.

Michele,
My best friend used to live in Virginia Beach and loved it! I hear the beaches are very nice, so I imagine camping there would be nice---especially when you don't have to go very far. Our closest campground is about 20 minutes away, up the canyon. It isn't our favorite, but it's nice for a quick get away. When we have babies it is a good place to go because I can leave Dad there with the kids and go home for the night, then return in the morning. There is a creek that runs by/through it so the kids can get wet. We will go up there for Sunday drives sometimes and just get out and walk around for a bit. There is a lot of wild mint, so sometimes I'll bring some home. The kids like picking the snake grass.

Tyffanie

That's part of the reason I like the one down the road. First of all, we're actually in civilization. Also, when my son was younger and used to take a nap, he wouldn't be able to fall asleep during the day at the campground. So we'd take him home, put him in his own bed and let him sleep. I'd work in the garden and my husband would clean the pool or something, then he'd wake up and we'd go back to the campsite. At night, one of us would lie in bed with him and he'd fall asleep pretty quickly and we'd sneak out. My daughter still takes a nap so we'll see if we have to come home for those with her.

I'm also a big fan of Utah. Attended college in Colorado, where needless to say there were plenty of awesome camping possibilities. Nothing against CO but I was just drawn to the Utah backcountry as well as its parks...National, State as well as lots of the BLM land. My favorite park unquestionably is Canyonlands N.P. Have pitched my tent there times too numerous to count. Also love Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion, Arches and Calf Creek S.P....try finding that sucker on a map.

I don't camp nearly as much as I used to unfortunately. The kids are getting older so we will be getting bolder in our recreational choices in the near future. Nice pics BTW. I need to catch up w/technology. Virtually all my pretty camping and outdoor pics were prior to digital. Favorite Camping Spots?? Man, I miss Utah!!
*Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado
*Maze and Needles districts of Canyonlands N.P. Utah
*Pt.Sal State Beach in central coast CA...no camping allowed back then so pulled stealth, tactical overnighter(s):D
*Arches N.P. Utah, offseason w/light morning snow:dizzy::D:D
*Calf Creek S.P Utah backcountry w/ lil' fossil collecting

Well THANKS a lot;)...another summer virtually gone w/ no camping...thanks for rubbing it in;)!! Good news is that we might visit some friends in N. California later this fall or early winter and check out some of the Redwoods.

I think I saw Calf Creek on the map when we were taking scenic byway 12 (awesome drive!) from Red Canyon to Capital Reef. We haven't made it down to Canyonlands yet, but it is on our list. We want to try to go in October when the kids have a 4 day weekend. Its too hot in the middle of the summer. You should try to bring your family to Utah sometime. I bet your kids would love it. We usually look for the easy hikes/trail that are around a half mile or so and the kids love it. We want to work our way up to some of the longer hikes in the next couple of years. We want to go back to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and spend a whole week exploring. We like to stay in Island Park which is on the Idaho side about 20 minutes from West Yellowstone.

Tyffanie

Bumping this thread. Last year I won a 5th wheel n a raffle (paying the taxes almost beggared me). I was also finishing up the last year for a college degree. I promised my kids we would travel more when Mama finished school. My kids are 6, 4, and 2. So every other wkend now we've traveled to a campsite here in SC. We started this month. The first place we went was Givhans Ferry State Park. We'll definitely go back. We loved it there. Last fall we went on vacation with a family friend to Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach during the fall. He rented one of the houses there for a week. We really enjoyed it then. This past wkend we took the 5th wheel. The kids enjoyed the water park and the ocean but I think we'll probably pass on Ocean Lakes during the summer from now on. There was no where outside our camper the kids could play and my husband finally put on his t-shirt and flip flops and went and told the group of teenagers and 2 ppl in there early 20's behind us they needed to be quiet about 3 a.m. Saturday morning as we had young children trying to sleep. We're going to Huntington Beach for our next spot. I'll let y'all know what we think. I know there's more campers trolling T'ville. Where do y'all like to camp?

[url]http://www.huntingisland.com[/url]

Just saw that hurricane matthew clipped hunting island.
Doesn't look like it will be the same.

[QUOTE=Nematode;650154]Just saw that hurricane matthew clipped hunting island.
Doesn't look like it will be the same.[/QUOTE]

Well it will be different that is the way it is.:)

As for camping spots a local favorite place is about a mile from my house.
That is why I moved here.:lol:
Worth

Hunting island will heal. Not its first hurricane rodeo, but been a while for sure.
One of the things making it special was the forested beachfront campsites. They are gone, and looks like they won't be replaced.

Ok heres another.
[url]https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm[/url]
I won't name our favorite campground, its already tough to get in.
But the whole area is beaches and family friendly.

Nematode we went to Ocean Lakes last fall the day when they opened back up after Hurricane Matthew had hit. Yes, it done some damage. The big damage from the storm though came from the inland rivers flooding we saw on our way home the end of that week. I'm aware of the changes at Huntington Beach. Matthew was a walk in the park compared to the monster that destroyed when Hugo roared ashore when I was a child in the 5th grade. The last link you sent seems interesting! Thanks! I've always wanted to visit the Cape Cod area....

Great pics! I love camping and have camped in many places. Acadia National Park in Maine was amazing. Ok, that's it - next year I'm camping!

I so miss our family camping trips! I'm glad to see some of you out sharing the outdoors with you kids.

We started off tent camping as a cheap vacation option when our son was young, and then progressed to backpacking when he got a little older. We had a ball and saw so many sites in both the Whites and along stretches of the Appalachian Trail in VA that can only be seen if your willing to strap a pack on your back and walk away from civilization for at least six or seven days.

We had to give up all hiking when my husband's knees could no longer take the strain, but we have so many great memories of the time the three of us spent out in "the wilderness" together. Now that he has two new knees he's able to hike again and we dream of being able to camp out in the back country in the southwest someday.

An old friend of my husband's not only invited us but paid for the rental fees for us to come up to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area campground and stay the weekend before last. Yes, we'll go back. I thought my eardrums were going to burst at the squeals that Saturday morning when he asked the kids what did they think about spending the day at Dollywood? The campground was clean and quiet to be as busy as it was.

Then last Tuesday my husband and I left on our honeymoon trip to Yellowstone. Oh my! I'll call it another bucket list trip! Wow! Just wow! The only bad things I have to say are I missed my kids and home and I felt incredibly guilty when my best friend insisted we didn't come home after the grandmother who raised her passed away while we were there. So last night after supper and bedtime reading I went and spent a couple of hours with her. 2 hours after I got home I got called and asked to come to work. I should sleep well tonight!

My favorite would have to be the place I have been going to for literally the last 40 years. It is Port Crescent State Park in the thumb of Michigan. 4 miles of sandy beaches along the fairly shallow Saginaw Bay off from Lake Huron, so warm summer fresh water. Killer sunsets. Usually fairly moderate temperatures. It is very hard to get reservations during the local festival times for 2 weeks in August, otherwise not too bad.

View from Port Crescent. Forgot to include in post

I cant stand oceans or large lakes I like rivers.
The constant wave action drives me nuts.:lol:

Worth

Worth, I'm sorry you feel that way about oceans and lakes. Pretty much if it's a body of water I'm pleased to be there. I love to hear the ocean waves roll in and out.

Last week end we went to Pirate Land @ Myrtle Beach. We enjoyed it, but last week most of South Carolina had blistering hot temperatures. We didn't do as much as we usually do when we go to the beach.

[QUOTE=upcountrygirl;657236]Worth, I'm sorry you feel that way about oceans and lakes. Pretty much if it's a body of water I'm pleased to be there. I love to hear the ocean waves roll in and out.

Last week end we went to Pirate Land @ Myrtle Beach. We enjoyed it, but last week most of South Carolina had blistering hot temperatures. We didn't do as much as we usually do when we go to the beach.[/QUOTE]

Don't feel bad for me it is just that I was raised up fishing hunting and camping away from all humanity in small streams, rivers and forests.:)
Our lakes here are nothing but a power boat sewer on the weekends.
Rivers the same.
You cant find a secluded spot to save your life.

Worth

Our Favorite Campground
 

Our favorite campground is Watauga Dam Elizabethon, TN. Right on the water, kayaking, trout fishing and beautiful scenery.

Despite my best intentions it seems I'm always posting long afterwards the camping trips this year. It has definitely been a year of changes for me. A husband, another degree, serious illness in my family.

It's also been an interesting year garden wise. We've irrigated little. We've had a lot of rain. So when the rain stops and the garden beds dry out in we go to harvest weed, prune, thin, etc...

The first wkend of August we left that Saturday for Devils Fork State Park as the first wkend here in SC is always a tax free wkend for back to school preparation. We enjoyed Devils Fork but my, oh my, was it busy! We had been warned prior that it would be though. Then last wkend we went to Calhoun Falls State Park. Yes, we'll go back. We enjoyed it almost as much as Givhans Ferry State Park.

Upcountrygirl, Lake Jocassee (Devil's Fork) is the most beautiful lake I've ever seen- and we've stayed in the tent loop there many times. Incredible place!!

KOA are the best bet for us.
 

At this writing I am in return transit back to Homestead with my three pups in tow.We stay at The site since pet friendly cabins,tent sites,Rv up to fifty amps etc.Each site is different in amenities.They are all over USA.INEXPENSIVE VERSUS THE 10 buc fees per animal,in those prison looking HJ,MOTEL HELL, ETC.

Aug. 31st saw us leaving for the farthest camping destination to date. We went to Panama City Beach, FL for the Gulf Coast Jam(a series of country music concerts). We stayed @ Raccoon River Campground. There was rain from the remnants of Hurricane Harvey and no one was able to get in the ocean due to the rip tides(that was something new my kids learned about). Overall we enjoyed it.

Labor Day saw my husband and I flying to CA for the Heirloom Expo. I really enjoyed it! I hope to take my kids next year if I can get the 2 oldest excused from school those days. The following Friday my husband and I flew to VA to meet the rest of the family for a wkend camping trip @ Misty Mountain Resort. We visited Monticello. That Sunday was Grandparents Day. Gigi had never been to Monticello and wanted to see it. Everyone enjoyed that as well. We came home Sunday and prepared, well for us, tropical storm Irma. She took out my clothesline by way of a dead pine tree and she also took out a huge pine in my back yard area. We have the clothesline back up and the trees disposed of.

The first week of October we went with a family friend to Manteo, NC for vacation. We stayed at a B&B near there. The Outer Banks Bluegrass festival was the last half of the week. The adults enjoyed it. We also toured the Elizabeth II with the kids. That was very educational for all. We all enjoyed it. I want to go back during the summer when the do the play on the Lost Colony.

Oct. 13th saw us leaving for the North Georgia Air Show. We enjoyed the show but once again we stayed with a friend who lived about 45 miles away so we could see the meteor shower. 2 trips with the 5th wheel planned for next month.