Where was your best camping trip in 2005, and why?
Our best trip this past year was the trip to Acadia NP. It wasn't the first time we have been to this park. We have been there half a dozen times. This year had it all. Good weather, good shopping (LL Bean outlet store), good food and great friends. Our friends had car problems on the way to the park, but were able to get there under their own power. We did a lot of sight seeing and ate dinner at the Jordan Pond House twice. If you ever go to Acadia NP you need to go to the Jordan Pond house for tea and popovers on the lawn. Taking a horse drawn carriage ride to the pond house is the coolest way to get there. I discovered that my DS likes lobster the best when I reheat it over a campfire. I am not a seafood eater, and the rest of the family is, so we have surf and turf on the grill at least once on every trip to Acadia. Two trips to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise. It was foggy the first morning and then when I jokingly asked the kids if they wanted to go again the next morning they said yes. So the next morning I was up bright and early to once again go to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sun rise. The second morning it was well worth getting up early and braving the cool morning air. Both mornings we went to Jordan's Restraint in Bar Harbor for breakfast. This is not the same restaurant as The Jordan Pond House in Acadia NP. The specialty at Jordan's Restaurant is blueberry pancakes. They sure are delicious.:)
Quote from: tlhdocOur best trip this past year was the trip to Acadia NP...
That does not surprise me at all. :)
Our best trip was to Forretville/Mystery Cave SP in far southeastern Minnesota. We met Kelly & her crew for a fall wrap-up, including touring historic Forrestville and Mystery Cave.
What we didn't see this time (but have in the past) were Niagara Cave and the Amish country around Harmony. These Amish are extremely conservative; while the Amish in some parts of Pennsylvania are discussing allowing cell phones, Minnesota Amish are removing the plumbing and central heat from their homes before moving in. I can't imagine no central heat in an area where temperatures frequently go below -20
DW and I both agree...it's a toss up between our Pohick Bay SP trip in Virginia in April and Glen Rouge Campground in Toronto in August. Weather was good on both trips. We enjoyed both cities (Washington and Toronto). We met with friends in Toronto. They took us out to dinner at a wonderful Morrocan restaurant with a terrific belly dancer :D , but that was cancelled out by the Newfies in the park who created some noise and disturbance. Pohick Bay was quiet, but no friends to visit. Hard one for us to call.
Well, as we enjoy dry camping our favorite this year was into the Nantahala National Forest in September. The weather has ahigh in the mid 70's with lows at night in teh mid 50's.
We camped just down NC SR 1134 from the Horse Cove Campground in a dispersed camping area along the shores of Lake Santeetlah. While there are about 14 dispersed sites, most are more suited to tent camping as you need to walk down to the site from the road. We found one site that was wonderful, situated in mature hardwoods on a peninsula of Lake Santeetlah.
Water and flush toilets are available at Horse Cove Campground but this is dry camping at it's finest. The closest town is Robbinsville, NC (http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=59694)- about a 20 minute drive down the mountain. The town contains one grocery store, a couple of fast food outlets and a couple of gas stations.
If you camp in the area you have to go to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/joycekil.html) . Joyce Kilmer, killed in WWI was a poet and the author of the poem "Trees." The Veterans of the Foreign Wars asked the government to set aside a fitting stand of trees to serve as a living memorial to Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action during World War I. The memorial forest is an outstanding example of a cove hardwood forest -- with towering trees as old as 400 years. Some enormous yellow-poplars are over 20 feet in circumference and stand 100 feet tall.
This was a true test of the batteries on the pop up (http://www.popupcamping.info/Battery.htm) . We set up camp on Friday September 30. While I only stayed the weekend, Felica stayed the following week. I re-joined her Friday the 7th of October and we stayed until Monday the 10th. Over all the batteries held up for 10 solid camping days. When we left we still had power to spare. I will admit, we were careful in it's use but it was fine for lights, water pump and AM/FM radio.
Keep in mind that this camping area is in Graham County is a "Dry" county. You must bring your adult beverages with you!
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Brochure (http://www.popupcamping.info/PDF/joycekilmer-1.pdf)(contains map of area)
Quote from: dthurkDW and I both agree...it's a toss up between our Pohick Bay SP trip in Virginia in April and Glen Rouge Campground in Toronto in August.
When we lived in MD Pohick was one of our favorite campgrounds in the area. Glad you enjoyed it also!
We only did two camping trips this year; one was for three weeks and the other was a simple weekend outing.
On the three-week trip, the best part was the 5-night stay at Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park. What made it special? Well, 31 years ago, the DW and I tent-camped in Big Meadows for a couple of nights on our honeymoon. We hadn't been back since. On our visit to Shenandoah this summer, our twin daughters (and the husband of one of them) were traveling with us. The twins are now 24 years old. Now picture this: we were walking up to the Big Meadows Lodge, which played a significant role on our honeymoon, and we have our daughters and son-in-law walking side-by-side with us. All of a sudden it was as if the 31 years hadn't happened, but who were these people with us, and where did they come from? It was sort of a twilight-zone experience.
In the Big Meadows Lodge there is a pub in the basement. On the honeymoon we spent some time there enjoying the atmosphere. This summer the five of us spent some time there together enjoying the atmosphere. Wow!
Now, get this: On our honeymoon my wife made a phone call to her mom from a phone booth outside that pub in the lodge. In that phone call she found out that she had been offered her first teaching job. (Which was a really good thing to find out on our honeymoon, since I was still a full-time student.) We, of course, distinctly remember the phone call and the phone booth. Well, the phone booth is still there looking exactly as we remember it. We had a lot of fun telling the kids stories about things like that phone call.
The camping and hiking were excellent too!
Hands down the best trip of the year was to Hocking Hills, OH. The cg was pretty much forgettable, but the company was outstanding! We spent a great week exploring the area and spending time with the "PUT family". I just wish we weren't so spread out so we could do it more often.
Closer to home - the best trip was at 7 Points near Nashville. Lakefront site (and huge site) was very relaxing.
Edited to add: the first trip of the season for us was also a great one. First trip in the "new" camper and I got to camp with all my TPUC friends, too. By they way, Tracy...were we supposed to pick just one trip? ;)
Thats funny.....our favorite trip was Hocking Hills as well! As Jan said, the CG could have been better (and probably was at one time) but there was no improving on the company! We want to return to this area again...there is so much potential!
Quote from: cycloneHands down the best trip of the year was to Hocking Hills, OH. The cg was pretty much forgettable, but the company was outstanding! We spent a great week exploring the area and spending time with the "PUT family". I just wish we weren't so spread out so we could do it more often.
Closer to home - the best trip was at 7 Points near Nashville. Lakefront site (and huge site) was very relaxing.
Our Favorite Camping trip in05 was to the Wax Army Corp of Eng. Campground in Wax Ky. on the Nolan River. Close to Mammouth Cave and CatFish by the ound. Best time to go is the weekbefore Memorial day.. WWWWWIIIIDDDEEE open only 2 other campers..
We only bought our PU in Sept and have only used it 5 times. All of our camping is SoCal beach camping.
I have to say that we like Point Mugu best, so far. We love having the campsites being right on the beach. We have an unobstructed view of the ocean right out of our windows and can hear the surf quite well.
We are sure looking forward to the Yosemite trip this summer though and appreciate all the work that Azusateach is putting in on that.
Quote from: austinbostonOur best trip was to Forretville/Mystery Cave SP in far southeastern Minnesota. We met Kelly & her crew for a fall wrap-up, including touring historic Forrestville and Mystery Cave.
Quote from: cycloneHands down the best trip of the year was to Hocking Hills, OH. The cg was pretty much forgettable, but the company was outstanding! We spent a great week exploring the area and spending time with the "PUT family". I just wish we weren't so spread out so we could do it more often.
Quote from: skippThats funny.....our favorite trip was Hocking Hills as well! As Jan said, the CG could have been better (and probably was at one time) but there was no improving on the company!
I just can't choose which was best! ;) :) :D :p
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[indent] Quote: Originally Posted by
cyclone Hands down the best trip of the year was to Hocking Hills, OH. The cg was pretty much forgettable, but the company was outstanding! We spent a great week exploring the area and spending time with the "PUT family". I just wish we weren't so spread out so we could do it more often. [/indent] [indent] Quote: Originally Posted by
skipp Thats funny.....our favorite trip was Hocking Hills as well! As Jan said, the CG could have been better (and probably was at one time) but there was no improving on the company! [/indent]
QuoteI just can't choose which was best! ;) :) :D :p
Yep, Hocking Hills was a pretty darn good trip (and yes the CG left little to be desired), but you guys tied with our trip with GeneF and his wife Terry.
Both trips were great. [/size] (//clear.gif)
We had 2 favorite trips last year.
1. Our yearly trip to Pismo Beach, CA with the SC Campers and NNC groups. My kids absolutely love this trip. My teenage daughter and all the other teenagers hung out in the back of our truck the whole time. It was great watching all the friendships bloom.
2. Our family trip to Shaver Lake. Usually our family trip is pretty much all fishing. Not that that is bad but this trip turned out much different. This was our first trip here and we found out before hand that this lake was used for water skiing and and personal watercraft. Friends of ours had a SeaDoo and brought it along. How awesome. My family had never done anything like this before. Even my 4 year old had a blast riding on it with dad. We then rented a large tube and rented a pontoon boat. We towed the kids all over the lake. What a fabulous week.
Jacqui
Our new "annual" one week trip to the Eastern High Sierras was the best trip of 2005.
Both my 4yo DD, and my 6yo DS caught a variety of trout in both streams and lakes, they visited a ghost town, and they had a blast at an all-day small town 4th of July celebration!
Choices, Choices
They were both wonderful. Planning on the four corners, Grand Canyon area this year. There are about 9 national parks within a few hundred miles of each other. Bryce, Zion, Arches, Petrified Forest, Mesa Verde, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Capitol Reef...and on and on...
We used to go there when I was a kid. Some of the most stark yet beautiful areas of the world.
Kavoom
It's hard to pick one trip over the others. Most of the camping trips are wonderful. :> I suppose I'd have to say the trip I felt the most relaxed on was a Labor Day trip to Loft Mountain in the Shenandoah's. Normally early September in this area is miserably hot however, we had a cool spell in between that miserable weather and it hit the long weekend we went camping! High's every day were in the low 70s, nights were crisp and clear in the high 50s - low 60s. Every day was clear and gorgeous. Absolutely perfect for dry camping! And, although it was a holiday weekend and the campground was full the campground was amazingly quiet as soon as it got dark. We had wonderful neighbors on each side of us also. It was a very relaxing enjoyable long weekend!
Another really fun trip was our Halloween trip with two of our grown kids and one grandson. It was a totally different kind of camping but so much fun watching the grandson have such a blast.
Our best trip was to Johnson Shut Ins State Park. Kids had a great time and it really turned my wife (previously uninthused tagalong) into a real camper. We planned to make it a yearly trip but now with the destruction of the park the resulted from the Tom Sauk resevior failure I don't know when we will be able to go back. The park is closed indefinetely and it will take 30 years for nature to bring the campground back to its original state.
Our best trip was also to Acadia NP, for many of the same reasons that tlhdoc stated. It was our first time there and we were all so impressed with the area. It is such a beautiful place to go. We also went on a whale watching tour and got to see whales!!! My kids were so excited as was I. We also saw puffins, sharks and a bunch of other birds and sea creatures, but we saw several whales and they were close by. It was just so cool. We enjoyed the propane powered buses that we used to see the island and were sponsered by LL Bean. It is a really great place and I would love to go back and do it all again. I, however, did not get my fill of lobster, so I need to go back and eat more lobster. The first night there, my DH was trying to back into the campsite and was having a very hard time with it....I went off and checked out the night sky. It was so bright with stars and I ended up counting that I saw 8 metetors streak across the sky....it was fantastic! I have not see a sky like that since I was in the desert 20 years ago.
DD and I talked about this tonight while walking the dogs and we agreed that it was a June weekend at Loft Mountain in the Shenandoah National Park. We went with another family and had a wonderful time although DD had a awful bike "wreck" and really tore up her knees and was sore for a while afterwards. The weather was perfect and we got to know our friends much better!
Tena
Can't wait to camp!
Hmmmm....2005 wasn't the best year for camping, although we made several trips. We had a great first experience (despite the rain) at Clabough's Campground in Pigeon Forge.
I haven't discussed it with Holly, but probably my two favorites were with Tim and Felica at Cloudland Canyon (3 day weekend, beautiful weather), and another trip I went on by myself while Holly was in Ohio. Camped with some TPUC'ers at Montgomery Bell. They felt sorry for The Bachelor (me), and fed me well! Holly soon came home to me (from school in Ohio), and we went on trips together.
Larry
Our best camping trip of 2005 was Glacier National Park in August fro two weeks. Left Appleton, Wisc, across Minnisota and North Dakota, then to Teddy Roosevelt National Monument, from there into Glacier. From Glacier we went to Little Bighorn National Monument, then on to Cody, WY and on to Custer S.P., SD. A beautiful trip with lots of nice scenery. 3,400 miles round trip.
Welcome to PUT. Milt sounds like a great trip. We are going to the Custer SP area this coming summer (unless gas makes the trip too expensive for us). Anything we shouldn't miss in that area?:)
My best trip was to Lake Glory cg. We borrowed a popup and camped with about 10 family friends. The next week I bought my first popup. The trial run is what sold my wife.
Lee
Quote from: mlslocksMy best trip was to Lake Glory cg. We borrowed a popup and camped with about 10 family friends. The next week I bought my first popup. The trial run is what sold my wife.
Lee
Is that the same Lake Glory that is owned by Knoebles Grove?
Our favorite trip this year was not our usual, anual trip to Grand Teton NP, (that ended early with my son in the hospital.) Our favorite trip was in October to Capitol Reef. We didn't really do anything, just relaxed and played with the kids and the dog. The campground at Fruita is great and very nice. No hookups, but there are flush toilets and a dump station. We fed apples to the deer in the orchard, and took a driving tour of the sites. Overall, one of the best trips in a long time.
Quote from: tlhdocIs that the same Lake Glory that is owned by Knoebles Grove?
That's the one. Our friends have been going there for 4 years. This past July was our first.
Quote from: mlslocksThat's the one. Our friends have been going there for 4 years. This past July was our first.
I have never even seen the campgound, but a guy I work with manages the CG. I live about 40 minutes from the park.:)
Quote from: jakelawOur favorite trip this year was not our usual, anual trip to Grand Teton NP, (that ended early with my son in the hospital.) Our favorite trip was in October to Capitol Reef. We didn't really do anything, just relaxed and played with the kids and the dog. The campground at Fruita is great and very nice. No hookups, but there are flush toilets and a dump station. We fed apples to the deer in the orchard, and took a driving tour of the sites. Overall, one of the best trips in a long time.
Jake, is Capital Reef a cool place or what? The petriglyphs (sp?..ancient graffiti) are just the tip of the iceberg. After a visit there, it's easy to see why settlers made that their home.
Skip, it is great! We also really like Goblin Valley SP which is just to the east. One of the things we like there is that we can take the pooches with, even on trails.
Our favorite trip last year was to the Elkmont Campgroung in Great Smokey Mountain National Park. The campground is fairly primitive since there are no hookups whatsoever. You get a very lovely wooded camp site with a fire pit and picnic table. Water is supplied from a common faucet. There are also common rest rooms strategically placed around the campground. We enjoyed the ambiance very much. Excellent hiking trails, fishing in the Little River, cooking in the Dutch Oven and a nice campfire at night. Very quiet, relaxing and a very pleasant place to stay.
Our best 2005 trip was a loop through the southwest in the Spring time. We went to Grand Canyon, Santa Fe and Taos NM, Tucson, and Sedona. This was the first long trip with both our dogs (English Bulldog and a mini Dachsund) and they did great. Our Coleman Cheyene was very comfortable.
Our best trip of 2005 was to Hermit Island CG near Bath, ME. We tented it that weekend, it rained, I got wet, but between kayaking around the inlets and bays of Casco Bay and cooking Lobsters and Steamers of a campfire on a site that is 10 feet from the water, it was the best!
Our best camping trip was boondocking in Taylor Park, CO at about 9800 feet on July 4th weekend. We arrived late (as usual), looked at a couple of established campgrounds, and headed up the hill away from the crowds. Followed a couple of 2 track trails and then we found "the site". We were 1/2 mile off the road, next to a babbing brook and shielded from 90% of the road noise and all of the dust, overlooking the valley with a canopy of stars and the milky way second to none.
Caught our limit of nice trout 2 of 3 days, did some 'touring' and off roading, and had a total of one other car come down our 'driveway' the entire weekend. We woud wake up with ice in the pans but it would be 75 degrees during the day. Absolutely awesome trip where the crowds were just far enough away for us to appreciate where we were and how we got there.
That is what also helped us decide to buy a PU, to make those arrivals in a dark camp and loading and unloading a little easier on our old bodies and to make those 30 degree mornings a little more comfortable.
We always travel to Myrtle Beach each camping season. Every time there seems to be better than the last.
Hard to say what was our best trip this summer but we had a lot of good times camping with friends and family.
Camping with ForestCreature and her husband, Gary, at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park has to be at the top of the list. The kayak trip down the Platt River and seeing all the salmon was definetly a highlight.
Meeting SkipP and his wife was also another big plus on the trip.
Anastasia State Park and Saint Augustine, Florida definetly made an impression on us. In fact, we are heading to St. Augustine the end of the month for a week with two friends. Really liked that city the best. Not a camping trip though. Hope to get together with MoWalker and her family while we are down there.
I have to agree with thldoc, Acadia is a great place to camp.
Guadalupe River State Park, Texas. Been camping for years, but this was the best. We went in August. Definately ready to go back.
We camped a number of nights in the summer of 2005. A week in Quebec City, Canada day long weekend near Ottawa, Victoria Day long weekend at the Pinery Provincial CG, a couple of weeks at Point Farms Provincial CG and a weekend at Bronte Creek Provincial CG. We enjoyed each and every one. The summer of 2005 was perfect for camping.
After reading the question I found it tough to decide, then I figured that the one we talk about the most definitely was the best. We really enjoyed our stay at Point Farms Provincial CG. It has a great beach, daily activities for the kids, mini golf and ice cream just up the road and trails for walking or running. The pretty local town of Goderich is a close 20 minute drive.
Oh yes Friday nights in Goderich, one thing you can't miss is the piping of the sun set. The pipe band (bag pipes) stands near the beach and plays as the sun sinks into the horizon. The sun sets are spectacular over Lake Huron. Another bonus is that the drive from Toronto to Point Farms is very pleasant too. Great place to camp if you have young kids. :) :)
:S
Even though we just bought our PU we still did only one trip in 05. Yosemite. And we were flooded out our first night. We stayed in housekeeping and overnight it flooded to the roof line and hadn't flood since the 90's like that. It subsided in the day, but it flooded the meadows with the main road and you weren't allowed to leave the valley. It was destined to rain the whoile week, which it did we found out. We were on our fourth year so when the water subsided we decided to roll out, to have a dryer week of vacation down here in southern california.
But Yosemite is by far the most beautiful place I have ever seen to date. It is absolutely breath taking...we will be going again in May - first time in a pop - let you know how it goes! But first trips first.... Carpenteria state beach in 10 days! (But maybe going to the desert next weekend :eyecrazy: crazy feeling of needing to be on the road every weekend!)
Was part of a group site camp-in for a week last of June, 2005, at the Standing Indian NFS campground, Nantahala Nat'l Forest, in western North Carolina. Just a great site with a large circular stone group fire pit. Everyone could sit around a hudge fire and prop their feet up on the fireplace wall. The Nanatahala River runs right trough the C/G and there are some healthy trout that live in that river! The problem, of course, is catching them! These upper reaches of the Nantahala are "wild trout waters" ... beautiful river to fish, but a hard river to take trout out of! As the label implies, wild trout waters are where trout are living naturally and saying they are wary is an understatement; you spook 'em and they are gone! Unlike hatchery supported waters where trout are dumped in from time to time and then very easily caught!
We enjoyed the place and the fellowship so much we are planning on doing it again this coming June. Should say the C/G altitude is 3,000 + feet which means warm days and just as soon as the sun sets, out comes the sweaters & jackets! Looking forward to another stay there this year.
Fly
I have a great time on all my trips. Nailing one down as the best would be difficult. But I would have to say that watching my 2 younger sons catch monster bass in Arkansas was a thrill I will never forget. Several bass were so big they couldn't hold them up. Anytime I can get away from work and into the wilderness is a great time....
Quote from: tlhdocWhere was your best camping trip in 2005, and why?
Our best trip this past year was the trip to Acadia NP. It wasn't the first time we have been to this park. We have been there half a dozen times. This year had it all. Good weather, good shopping (LL Bean outlet store), good food and great friends. Our friends had car problems on the way to the park, but were able to get there under their own power. We did a lot of sight seeing and ate dinner at the Jordan Pond House twice. If you ever go to Acadia NP you need to go to the Jordan Pond house for tea and popovers on the lawn. Taking a horse drawn carriage ride to the pond house is the coolest way to get there. I discovered that my DS likes lobster the best when I reheat it over a campfire. I am not a seafood eater, and the rest of the family is, so we have surf and turf on the grill at least once on every trip to Acadia. Two trips to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise. It was foggy the first morning and then when I jokingly asked the kids if they wanted to go again the next morning they said yes. So the next morning I was up bright and early to once again go to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sun rise. The second morning it was well worth getting up early and braving the cool morning air. Both mornings we went to Jordan's Restraint in Bar Harbor for breakfast. This is not the same restaurant as The Jordan Pond House in Acadia NP. The specialty at Jordan's Restaurant is blueberry pancakes. They sure are delicious.:)
Oh you just brought back memories for me. My DH and I went to Bar Harbor/Acadia NP for our honeymoon almost 6 years ago. If you can ever get there in the fall it is amazing. We ate at Jordan't Restaurant every morning for breakfast. Nothing like a cup of clam chowder and a fresh, warm, blueberry muffin for a midwest girl first thing in the am. I'm hungry just thinking about it.
Welcome to PUT. Acadia is one of those places that grows on you. Each time we go back we find more things to do or see. Hope you get to go back soon.:)
Quote from: junkladyOh you just brought back memories for me. My DH and I went to Bar Harbor/Acadia NP for our honeymoon almost 6 years ago. If you can ever get there in the fall it is amazing. We ate at Jordan't Restaurant every morning for breakfast. Nothing like a cup of clam chowder and a fresh, warm, blueberry muffin for a midwest girl first thing in the am. I'm hungry just thinking about it.
Ours was at Eleven Mile State Park, west of Colorado Springs. It's not out favorite place to camp, but it was the best trip. Loaded the smoker into the truck, hooked on the PU and hauled it all out there. Smoked brisket and ribs all day.
When supper-time came, we found we had WAY too much food, so we invited the neighbors to join us (total strangers). We had a great time pigging-out and talking the rest of the evening. Now we see our new friends just about everytime we go there.