New (and we're heading to Whit's End CG)

[MassPopupFamily]

Hello, my name is Paige and we just purchased a 1997 Coleman Sun Valley yesterday.  We live in eastern Mass and like to camp on wooded private sites.  We are looking for any BTDT tips on camping around New England.  I will be sure to share my experiences, as we plan to do weekend jaunts as much as possible.  

I just made a reservation at Whit's End campground in NH, based on some reading I did here. http://www.whitsendcampground.com/  We are going at the end of August and will stay on site R12.

Also, if anyone has any good links or tips on setting up the PU for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 boys, 4 and 7 1/2).  I am totally into organizing and look forward to conquering the art of having just enough but not too much, organized.  Probably will take a year or two.  I've already checked out a few pictures of outdoors kitchens.

Anyway, thanks for the tips I've gathered so far.  

Paige

[crazymommaof4boys]

Looks like a nice campground, can't wait to hear your review of it...as I bookmarked it for next year as a possible weekend getaway for my family...

We went to Exeter Elms in July and had a large wooded site there, the seasonals were very friendly and it was close enough for us to drive to either Salisbury or Hampton Beach...We've also done Pine Acres in Oakham, MA, Sandy Pond in Plymouth, Sweetwater in Brewster...to name a few...we basically travel from campground to campground every other weekend or so with the boys...
As for setting up the pop up....my hubby and I practiced a few times at home and we can set up the trailer in under 15 mins...we leave the kids in the car till its set up (I have a 2, 4, 6, and 8yr boys so its easier for us that way)...also we unroll the awning before we raise up the pop up since its easier for us that way and I am vertically challenged (aka short).... we have a porti potti which came with our pop up which is a godsend with young children at night espec if you are a distance from the bathrooms...we bought a utility rm/shower at Walmart (Kmart has them too) for $34 which we set up outside as the porti potti tent for their use.
As for everything else, we have dedicated pans, silverware,cups, etc that stay in the trailer year round and I have certain non perishables that we keep on hand for the kids if they get hungry (aka spagetti o's, mac n'cheese, ramen noodles) that I stock in the early spring and keep in a plastic bin along with the certain foods/condiments we always use:oil, syrup, ketchup, mustard, relish, salt, pepper, spices, pb & j, and side dishes (mash potatoes, rice or pasta dishes)....  
I usually open up the trailer before we leave to stock it and pack up our clothes and stuff so there is more room in the car...also I premake both beds so they are ready once we open up the trailer at the campground...I just strip the sheets off when we go home to wash....
 
I'm sure there is more, but thats all I can think of right now...
 
Happy Camping!
Chris
 
 

Hello, my name is Paige and we just purchased a 1997 Coleman Sun Valley yesterday. We live in eastern Mass and like to camp on wooded private sites. We are looking for any BTDT tips on camping around New England. I will be sure to share my experiences, as we plan to do weekend jaunts as much as possible.
 
I just made a reservation at Whit's End campground in NH, based on some reading I did here. http://www.whitsendcampground.com/ We are going at the end of August and will stay on site R12.
 
Also, if anyone has any good links or tips on setting up the PU for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 boys, 4 and 7 1/2). I am totally into organizing and look forward to conquering the art of having just enough but not too much, organized. Probably will take a year or two. I've already checked out a few pictures of outdoors kitchens.
 
Anyway, thanks for the tips I've gathered so far.
 
Paige

[Hargus]

Hello,
       I'll also be interested in a reveiw of that campground. We are also big fans of Exeter Elms. We will be there this weekend and have been going there for several years since we got our pu. We like it because it is close and somewhat wooded and activities.

Mike

[crazymommaof4boys]

Mike, we'll be heading to Exeter Elms (which reminds me, gotta go make my reservations!) Sept 8-10th.....going for Hampton Beach's Seafood Festival....yum yum!

[Hargus]

Mike, we'll be heading to Exeter Elms (which reminds me, gotta go make my reservations!) Sept 8-10th.....going for Hampton Beach's Seafood Festival....yum yum!

Hi Christine,
               We're heading up to Exeter Elms on Labor day weekend. I'm not usually a big fan of going on big weekends. Our son starts school soon after that and it changes the schedule. Plus they have some good entertainment that weekend. What are some of your favorite sites there? I was there in July for Christmas in July weekend. Did I recall seeing a utilty/shower tent set up on one of the sites. Might have that been your family?

Mike

[GeneF]

Paige

Enjoy your stay at WhitsEnd and please tell Jan and Dan, the owners that Gene and Terry said hi.

First year in a few that DW and I haven't gone there for a few days.  Just been a crazy summer.

From your post, I assume you have read my coments about WhitsEnd.

[MassPopupFamily]

I will be sure to pass on your message.  And thank you for your recommendation.  I have spoken to Jan once and emailed once and our exchanges have always been very friendly and comfortable.  I feel really good about where we've chosen to go.  Due to a cancellation, we now have one of the best riverfront sites (R13) according to Jan.  We are beyond thrilled.

We are leaving bright and early tomorrow AM.  We are in final countdown for our maiden voyage.  DH and I feel like kids before Christmas (although a little more stressed than they would be).

Cannot wait to kick back by the fire.

I'll check back in early next week to give an update and probably to share a few (hopefully) funny mishaps.  Should be interesting.

Paige

[crazymommaof4boys]

We were up there for Easter in July I believe the 14th to 17th.... I know we weren't there for Christmas....
 
The first time we stayed there we were in site 68...it was a large site as we had the pop up and I have a large one with a slide out, a screen house, the utility/shower room all up plus there was plenty of room for the kids to run around.  The negative is it is right at the stop sign when you enter into the camping area so lots of car traffic. Anyways, because they had screwed up and didn't have a site for us they gave us this one which was a full hookup.  THe next time we went out we had a site in Hickory section, site 40...it was nice cause we could see the kids in the playground and we didn't have to leave our seats by the fire.  Most of the sites there are good sized.  I do like the pine section though.
 
 

Hi Christine,
We're heading up to Exeter Elms on Labor day weekend. I'm not usually a big fan of going on big weekends. Our son starts school soon after that and it changes the schedule. Plus they have some good entertainment that weekend. What are some of your favorite sites there? I was there in July for Christmas in July weekend. Did I recall seeing a utilty/shower tent set up on one of the sites. Might have that been your family?
 
Mike

[Hargus]

You were right about 68, a very busy section with the road. Site 40 is nice we've camped on that site. You might agree with me the playground is nice but I wish they had newer or more equipment.
 Since most of the time we only need w/e we always end up in the Hickory section. I think the Oak section is nice but we have to wait until our son gets older since they don't allow any children under 10 down there. How long have you been going to Exeter Elms? It's been quite a few years for us. We started going there after we got our first PU maybe 7 or 8 years ago. Our family uses Exeter Elms when we camp close by for extended weekends. So we don't have a 1 or 2 hour drive to or home. We're also big fans of Storyland so we make the trip up and stay at Green Meadows Campground for a week or so.
 Hope to catch up with you and your family at Exeter Elms sometime.

Mike

[crazymommaof4boys]

I've only camped there the two weekends this past summer...Will definitely go back there again next summer espec if its just me and the boys, we'll prob have our lab with us too (hubby goes with his friend to Loudon for the weekend).  I do agree with you on the playground equipment...definitely need new stuff but then my kids were too busy catching the frogs in the little pond next to the playground (to the left of it) with one of the seasonal kids they made friends with.. I do have to say the seasonals are all really friendly there, the first time I went there was the first time I pulled the trailer by myself, the seasonals all felt bad for me watching me back in the trailer into site 68 with 4 kids running around, then proceed to set up on my own... there was one guy who was great, and got a kick out of my fearless 2yr old jumping into the pool over and over again.  any sites you recommend in the hickory section?  (my trailer is about 23ft long and 9ft wide with the slide out pulled out....)

 

You were right about 68, a very busy section with the road. Site 40 is nice we've camped on that site. You might agree with me the playground is nice but I wish they had newer or more equipment.
Since most of the time we only need w/e we always end up in the Hickory section. I think the Oak section is nice but we have to wait until our son gets older since they don't allow any children under 10 down there. How long have you been going to Exeter Elms? It's been quite a few years for us. We started going there after we got our first PU maybe 7 or 8 years ago. Our family uses Exeter Elms when we camp close by for extended weekends. So we don't have a 1 or 2 hour drive to or home. We're also big fans of Storyland so we make the trip up and stay at Green Meadows Campground for a week or so.
Hope to catch up with you and your family at Exeter Elms sometime.
 
Mike

[Hargus]

Hi Christine,
                Don't get me going on sites I could be here all day. But since you asked I'll give you a little of my opinions. I'm pretty picky about my sites, I like to be in a wooded area and not on top of the next camper. Since we have been going to Exeter Elms so long I know it pretty well. My wife likes to be in the area of the restrooms, but I don't want to be on top of them so we have to compromise. If I tell you all my secrets then you'll be on my favorite sites and I won't be able to get them (just kidding).
 Alot of the sites at E. E. are pretty good they spend alot of time taking care of them. I've seen it first hand. That's why I have written some reviews on them on some websites. Site 61 is good on the left and site 64 is nice by the canoe storage 58 is okay but the fire ring is in the back. Some of the ones I don't like are 32 next to the pool, lots of people and the pump is always on and it fills with water when it rains. Site 37 is on the edge of a hill kind of on an angle. Site 41 is kind of small near the playground and 39 is next to the playground, I like playgrounds but sometimes they are gathering spots.
 They have some good  theme weekends and activities. But they have recently lost their activities director that been there for a long time and some seasonals that used to help out so that changed the feel of some things. But I couldn't speak highly enough of the woman that runs the campground and her husband.
Her name is Carol I can't think of her husband's name. Carol wants to do her best to make sure everyone is happy and I believe her staff represents that.
 The way I go on you would think I don't go anywhere else, but we do. You have found a good campground, I wish some others we go to could be run as nice as E.E.
Mike

[crazymommaof4boys]

So you won't share your favorite sites with me huh? just kidding!    I'm like you, I like the wooded sites that aren't on top of each other, I also like the good size sites so that we can set up all our stuff (screen house and utility tent), park our suburban and still have enough room for the houseful of toys I swear the kids cram into the trailer to bring camping...plus the large sites are great since I swear half the campground kids end up at our site to play (and I swear I feed half of them too!).  Will make note of the sites you recommend.. I agree on the playground sites... I rechecked and we were on 40A not 40 and the first night we were there the kids were there late (older kids) and were yelling and making lots of noise till 9-10p... other than that it was ok.. I don't mind being a little distance from the bathroom as long as its close enough for me to walk to without getting lost...since night time we have the porta potti for the kids to use to save us nighttime bathroom trips.  My son loved the activities there on Easter in July weekend and he won at the kids bingo too...the other time we went was the weekend or two before they closed for the season....so there was no activities that weekend, which bummed them out...  I like going there cause its close enough to go to the beach but not on the main drag...and it helps since Hampton Beach was my old stomping grounds in my teenage years (my parents used to be seasonals at Tidewater Campground on rte 1 in Hampton)...so I feel comfortable bringing 4 kids on my own without hubby camping...  oh well...  off to read some other reviews... oh what other campgrounds do you recommend...we like to try new campgrounds...I know we may try Dunes Edge in P-Town out on the cape unless I hear a bunch of bad reviews...  we usually travel around MA, NH, CT, and eventually up to ME... also any recommendations on any area attractions that would neat to bring a pack of boys to see (I'm a asst den leader for our cub scout pack...couple yrs ago we went up to Howes Cavern and Secret Cavern in NY, fun fun trip but don't recommend the campground - icky bathrooms, primitive sites), though staff was very friendly and were in process of updating the campground as they had just bought it that yr...
THanks!  Maybe see ya camping next yr...
 
Christine
 

Hi Christine,
Don't get me going on sites I could be here all day. But since you asked I'll give you a little of my opinions. I'm pretty picky about my sites, I like to be in a wooded area and not on top of the next camper. Since we have been going to Exeter Elms so long I know it pretty well. My wife likes to be in the area of the restrooms, but I don't want to be on top of them so we have to compromise. If I tell you all my secrets then you'll be on my favorite sites and I won't be able to get them (just kidding).
Alot of the sites at E. E. are pretty good they spend alot of time taking care of them. I've seen it first hand. That's why I have written some reviews on them on some websites. Site 61 is good on the left and site 64 is nice by the canoe storage 58 is okay but the fire ring is in the back. Some of the ones I don't like are 32 next to the pool, lots of people and the pump is always on and it fills with water when it rains. Site 37 is on the edge of a hill kind of on an angle. Site 41 is kind of small near the playground and 39 is next to the playground, I like playgrounds but sometimes they are gathering spots.
They have some good theme weekends and activities. But they have recently lost their activities director that been there for a long time and some seasonals that used to help out so that changed the feel of some things. But I couldn't speak highly enough of the woman that runs the campground and her husband.
Her name is Carol I can't think of her husband's name. Carol wants to do her best to make sure everyone is happy and I believe her staff represents that.
The way I go on you would think I don't go anywhere else, but we do. You have found a good campground, I wish some others we go to could be run as nice as E.E.
Mike