Thanks for the inspiration

[AZsix]

Since learning that most of you seem to enjoy camping more at state/national parks, I have been inspired to do some camping at some of the state parks here in AZ. We are planning an overnight trip to Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction (http://www.azstateparks.com/Parks/parkhtml/dutchman.html) next Saturday night (no hookups) and then the following Friday night we are camping at Kartchner Caverns State Park
(http://www.azstateparks.com/Parks/parkhtml/kartchner.html ) in Benson, AZ. They do have electric and water hookups there. We are going on a tour of the caverns and then heading up to Wilcox, AZ to go apple and pear picking on Saturday. We are staying at a CG Wed and Thurs nights but doing that mainly so that the kids can enjoy the pool and hot tub. This is the kind of trip that I envisioned when we bought the PUP. I see more trips like this in the future. I will submit a review of all three places when the trip is over.

Thanks again to all that have taken the time to share their experiences with a newbie like me. I feel we will get more out of our camping experiences because of it.

[ksugrad]

State Parks can be great. We have yet to take any trips with our new Pup to any, but we will. We have tent camped for years and stayed at many a State Park. For the most part we have found them to be clean and generally there is more space between you and your fellow campers than you will sometimes find in a private campground.

I am not sure how it will be in Arizona, but the parks where we stayed in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebrasksa all had plenty of trees and foilage.

I am sure there are state parks that are not so nice, but our experience has been very positive. We have not stayed in any National Parks, but that is in our future.

Good luck on your trip.

[Russinator]

I'm looking forward to your trip report.

Have a great time.

Russ

http://picasaweb.google.com/Russinator43

[CajunCamper]

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. There are also many state parks out there that have swimming pools giving you the best of both worlds.

CajunCamper

[AZsix]

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. There are also many state parks out there that have swimming pools giving you the best of both worlds.

CajunCamper

I haven't seen any here that have pools but there are a few with lakes. One even said it had beach camping. There is another one that has a natural hot spring that they have made a natural hot tub out of.

You know since we got the PUP I have been like a kid again. I just can't wait to get out there and camp. What I am really looking forward to is spending the time with the kids out in nature away from all the distractions of home. After just one overnighter with just the boys my twin son (we have b/g twins) has grown noticeably closer to me.

I'm going to start researching state parks in neighboring states as well. What's nice about living here in AZ is that when a lot of people are talking about storing theirs because camping season is ending we are just getting into the time of year when we can go more places because the weather won't be as hot. We can camp year round here without having to freeze doing it.