Campsite reviews
Reviews of visited campsites.
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Falls Lake State Park – Wake Forest, NC
Traveling to the state of North Carolina was a pleasant experience. The beauty of this state is fantastic. One is surrounded by lush green color seen in the trees, bushes, and grass. It emits a feeling of bountiful nature. The campground is filled with greenery, and you feel one with nature. Our site wasn’t far from the lake. Notice how we always seem to get by a lake. Most of the time, it is deliberate, but occasionally we get lucky. The lake had a roped-off swimming area. The weekend was filled with children frolicking in the water till the sun went down. Sunday afternoon, the weekend warriors are gone, and the park empties. Monday was a great day to go kayaking as we had the lake all to ourselves.
We decided to ride our bikes on the Neuse Trail. The Neuse River Greenway Trail is 27.5 miles of paved trail with various features. It has scenic views of the Neuse River, and wooden boardwalk areas through wetlands, and is home to various wildlife. On our ride back, a deer was on the trail side and remained unfazed as it stood its ground and continued to eat. Most likely, bicyclists, rollerbladers, and walkers are common occurrences.
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Colonial Beach, Virginia
Harborview Campground
This campground was one of the best Thousand Trails we have stayed in on our journey. It has lots of trees and plenty of space between sites. They offered mini golf, a children’s playground, and a good-sized pool. Mitch was able to get in a few laps during this stay. The campground was well maintained and super clean.
Kayaking on the nearby Mattox Creek was relaxing. We saw several small wooden huts in the water and surmised it was most likely where boats pulled up and patiently waited for the ducks to fly across their line of sight. Easily camouflaged by the wood, ducks would never see the gun pointed at them as they flew by. (Poor ducks) We concluded it must not be duck season as each hut was vacant.
We took a two-hour drive to experience Shenandoah National Park. While there, we decided to go for a hike. Mary’s Rock was a hike off of the Appalachian Trail. This hike was a rough one for me. It continued to climb upward with no reprieve with flat areas or downward dips. It seemed it would go on forever. Up and up we went. At last, we made it to the crest overlooking the valley. It was beautiful, and not a soul was around. We enjoyed the serenity until some other hikers made it up and interrupted the quietness. As we descended, we passed a frail older woman with a hiking pole. Behind her was her grandson. We let them know they were almost there. Two thoughts then came into my head. The first was admiration for her tackling this hike, and I told Mitch, “I want to be like her when I get to that age.” The second thought was embarrassment. I was complaining about how steep this climb was, and this woman, maybe twenty years my senior, was making her way to the top. One enormous advantage of an all-uphill climb – it’s downhill until you reach the bottom. Yea!
Fredericksburg was a quaint town with lots of shops and restaurants. Lots of history of civil war battles for those interested in checking out sites where soldiers fought throughout Fredericksburg. Cannons are seen spotted on some of the roads we traveled. We enjoyed our time here even though we aren’t much of a civil war history buff.
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Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater Home & Surrounding Areas – Mill Run, PA
Our campsite for the week was Outflow Recreation Area in Confluence, PA. The sites were spacious, cozy, and a stone’s throw away from the dam. In the early morning, the mist on the river hovers over the water and emits an eerie glow. From the campground, one can hop on the Allegheny Highland Trail.
The trail runs from Pittsburg, PA, to Cumberland, Maryland, totaling 334 miles. Our ride was only 20 miles, but it took us among the beautiful tall forest trees, wooden bridges, and through a long, dark tunnel. It was a great morning to enjoy a bike ride.
We decided to travel over an hour to Mill Run, PA, to see the infamous Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater home. Upon arrival, we discovered all home tour tickets were sold out for the month. Much to our chagrin, we purchased the grounds ticket to tour the grounds and view the home. First stop – go to the visitor center to inquire about any no-shows. The universe smiled as we were booked on the next scheduled tour. We were ecstatic and, afterward, so glad we didn’t miss out on touring this wonderful home.
In 1935, the home was designed for the Kauffman family, who owned a department store in Pittsburg. It was a summer retreat to escape the city’s hustle and bustle and business demands. It was built in 18 months, and a year later, they added a guest house. The main house totaled 9,300 sq. ft with 4,400 sq. ft of outside terraces. Anywhere you are in the home, the calming music of the swiftly moving water cascading over the rocks can be heard. Imagine spending lazy summer days listening to the falling water surrounding acres of green, lush forestry with not another home in sight. The home’s natural air conditioning is provided by mother nature.
Everything in the home is original, right down to the two Picassos, Tiffany lamps, and other invaluable treasures throughout the house. The Kaufmann’s only son entrusted the home to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1963 for the rest of the world to experience a one-of-a-kind home.
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Finger Lake Region – NY
Sned-Family Acres Campground – Ovid, NY
This campground is nestled in the beautiful Finger Lake Region of New York. Wide open spaces and all the amenities a family can look for. It was our home base while we visited several other places close by. This campground evoked a pleasant childhood memory. At night, the fireflies twinkled like lights on a Christmas tree. Living in Florida, this is a special treat.
We made a memorable trip to the east side of Canandaigua Lake to see one of our groomsmen. We hadn’t seen him since our wedding almost 40 years ago. His lakehouse was right on the water, and the urge to live on a lake intensified.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Not far from the campground was Taughannock Falls state park. It has 750 acres, and its picnic area is right on Cayuga Lake. (Mitchell’s old stomping ground) The falls can boast it is the highest waterfall in the Northeast, even higher than Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, due to the dry climate, the waterfall was not as robust as it cascaded down the cliff. Afterward, we had dinner at O’Malley’s. Mitch said it was the best ahi tuna wrap he ever had.
Watkin Glenn State Park
This is an absolute must-see in this area. There are over 800 steps weaving around the chasm created by glaciers eons ago. The waterfalls are plentiful, reminding us of how wonderful nature is.
The last weekend we were there, we visited the west side of Seneca Lake to visit with Mitch’s brother and sister who live in Rochester. We met at the visitors center, and lucky us, they had a farmers market going on that Saturday. We unanimously decided to visit two of the many wineries dotted along the east and west sides of Seneca lake. An excellent lunch with wine was had, along with laughs and reminiscing about their childhood growing up in this area. Mitch and I decided this area is one to return to and spend some time in – that’s how much we enjoyed the Finger Lakes.
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Also found on Youtube
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Taste Of Maine (Part 1) Bar Harbor, ME
Maine was our “Big Rock,” as Mitch affectionately refers to those places #1 to visit on our journey. We arrived on the “Off Shoulder Season.” Translation – before Memorial Day and the summer crowds arrive. We spent two weeks in Bar Harbor, Maine, and crammed as much as we could in that period. There will be multiple videos to share our experiences.
Mt. Dessert Narrows Campground was our home for those two weeks. It had a beautiful water view and was a short distance from Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor. It was interesting to see the drastic difference between high and low tides. The birch trees were refreshing as I hadn’t seen them since leaving New York.
The quaint town of Bar Harbor met our expectations. The sea town is brimming with restaurants, shops, and gorgeous views of the harbor. It fascinates me to see the buildings still standing since the 1700s. On the day we visited the town, the skies were clear, and the cruise ships had not yet arrived. We could enjoy a leisurely day shopping without the crowds and relax with a glass of wine (OK – plastic cup) and just people watch. There were a few good weather days when we were there and grateful today was one of them.
Mitch had his first lobster roll at the Chart Room. The restaurant was on the waterfront, the atmosphere delightful, and the company was excellent. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the day.
Our visit to the local farmers market Sunday morning was intriguing as Martha Stewart was strolling and visiting many of the booths. There are many beautiful and over-the-top summer “cottages” as many of the prominent families such as the Morgans, Fords, Astors, and more spent their summers in Bar Harbor.
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Cartersville Country Winery – Timmonsville SC Lake Gaston RV & Camping Resort – Littleton, NC
Cartersville Country Winery was a one-night stopover on our way to our first campground using our Thousand Trails membership. Our arrival was on a Sunday, and wine tasting was closed, but they offered self-serve tastings. The winery was unique with its antique cars. Once settled, we went to try their wine selection. Not a fan of fruit-flavored wines, but if you are, then their wines would be appealing. They had peach, elderberry, blackberry, and even pomegranate at reasonable prices.
Lake Gaston RV Camping Resort was what I had pictured summer camp might be like. A beautiful lake, tall trees, and pine needles blanketing the ground. We were fortunate our site gave us a great view of the lake. This only reaffirmed my desire to live on a lake. This resort had full-time sites where most people in the surrounding areas put their RVs all year round. The park is open from mid-April to November. Full-time residents can enjoy being on the lake all summer. Many of the full-timers had not yet returned during our time there, so it was quiet and very peaceful.
We strolled in the woods and found a unique flower lying on the trail floor. Its light green and yellow color was an attention-getter. I had never seen one before. We tried to see where it came from but could not determine if it was from a bush or the trees. We looked it up and found it came from a Tulip Tree. It will be surprising if many of you have heard of such a tree. I am afraid we may have been spoiled as I don’t believe the remaining Thousand Trails campgrounds will be as appealing as this. Only time will tell.
P.S. The accident on our way here was a semi-carrying boxes of tomatoes. Pounds of tomatoes strewn about. There goes the price of tomatoes!
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Loving Savannah, GA
Ft. McAllister State Park is our home for the next week. It’s about 25 minutes from Savannah. Marshes flank the entryway to the park. The park is spacious, and we prefer to be with nature as much as possible. The trees covered with moss are much like Florida. Seeing the deer outside our RV is one of the best sights. They move along slowly. Often, the group is in families with children not far from their parents. The birds are plentiful, and each morning, we awake to their songs.
It’s been many years since we last visited Savannah, before Forest Gump’s bench was in a museum and still resided in the square. We arrived early and benefited from being in the historic district before the crowds. The magnificent homes stand tall and proud and surround the courtyard squares. Each house has the opulent façade of an era of years ago. Some still have gas lamps burning. It stirs my imagination about what it may have been like to live during that time. A time when dinner tables were elegantly adorned with china and crystal and soirees were a commonplace weekend event. The architecture is outstanding. Wrap-around porches, brick facades, detailed woodwork, and each home is beckoning a welcome to visit.
The Cathedral Basidia of St. John the Baptist is a must regardless of religious affiliation. The inside is more beautiful than the outside, with stained glass, a marble altar, and sturdy wooden pews. It is just stunning and left me in awe.
The city market has numerous little shops to explore and wander through. There are numerous art galleries throughout the city. This is not surprising as the School for Arts and Design is located in Savannah. The Riverfront has restaurants and shops, and one can watch the boats as they pass by. A benefit of Savannah is its beauty can be experienced on foot as most of the sights are within walking distance. There are numerous streets made of ballast rocks. When the ships came to Savannah to secure goods, the vessel needed the stones to weigh them down. They left the stones behind to fill their hulls with the purchased goods. The rocks were then repurposed as pavers to make the streets.
The next day, we visited Tybee Beach. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with our visit. There isn’t much there unless you want to spend the day at the beach. They had few stores. There were several eateries and bars, but most of the island is vacation rentals. No matter where you park, you must pay a parking fee of $3.50 an hour, strictly enforced. Thankfully, we brought our bikes and explored the surrounding area as it would not have been enjoyable on foot.
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St. Lucie South Locks & Dam COE Campground – Stuart, Florida
Living in the Tampa area for 39 years, we are accustomed to seeing lizards cross our paths. However, walking the campground, the colorful body of the African Redhead Agama was not so familiar to us. We were surprised by their size compared to our lizards, and the campground host said they are an invasive species.
As we stated before, this year’s journey will have many stops to visit family and friends. This stay was our first stop visiting family for Easter. The campground only has nine RV sites, so it’s intimate and quiet. We could see the tranquil waterway from our site. We saw numerous boats passing through the locks, with the U.S. Coastguard vessel being the largest.
Downtown Stuart has many quaint shops and eateries, making it a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. If you love relaxing by the water and watching the sun sparkle on its surface, this is the place to be. It is a paradise for those who boat, fish, and want to catch some rays on the beach.
The roads are bike-friendly, with the majority of roads offering bike lanes. Each Saturday, one can also visit the flea market or the farmer’s market every Sunday along the boardwalk in Stuart.
We had a wonderful time with Mitch’s sister and brother, and we will get together again when we stop in New York this summer.
Email: movebeyondordinary@gmail.com
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South Ortona COE Campground – Moore Haven, FL
Beautiful sunsets to end a perfect day. We visited this campground for the second time. It’s secluded, and our site was right on the water. The big difference this time was the locks were open to the public. Covid had closed the facility for viewing on the last visit. It is fascinating to watch the boats entering and leaving the locks.
We arrived late Thursday, and Friday morning, Mitch drove me to the Ft. Meyers Airport. I was meeting my daughter in Houston to shop for her wedding dress. It was a wonderful girl’s weekend, and she did say, “Yes, to the dress!”. While I was away, Mitch went kayaking on a uniquely named waterway – Fisheating Creek. Maybe it had something to do with the numerous alligators he saw along the way.
Upon my return on Monday, we decided to spend some time in the quaint town of Ft. Meyers, which was about 45 minutes away from the campground. The downtown area was about 4 or 5 blocks of shops, restaurants, and people enjoying the day. After lunch, a trip to Sanibel Island, offering 26 miles of bike paths.
Mitch enjoys this campground due to the number of boats waiting to enter and exit the locks to continue their journey. Some were not just boats but yachts. One wonders whether it’s their home or just on vacation. Mitch’s first choice for retirement was sailing around the world in a catamaran until I put the kibosh on that line of thinking. Sailing for days on end, surrounded by water until you get to the next port, is not my definition of exploration. Full-time RVing was a much better choice.
Email: movebeyondordinary@gmail.com
Instagram: move beyond ordinary
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White Tank Regional Park – Waddell AZ
This stop was primarily to spend time with Mitch’s mom. It’s nice to be able to visit family while traveling. We had many laughs, played cards, drank wine, and enjoyed each other’s company. A bonus is Mom is a great cook, and we savored some delicious meals. She even bought gluten-free cupcakes, which were not only delicious but looked too decadent even to eat.
The campground was up in the hills and pretty secluded. There was plenty of space between the sites. During this time of the year, not many campers were there. Not that I want to be a Negative Nelly, but the Arizona landscape is not one of my favorites. It is dry, arid, and hot. It has various cacti, saguaros in different stages of growth, and grassless ground cover. It is a scene straight out of a western movie. All it needed was an Indian perched on its horse overlooking the canyon.
It’s great for those who don’t enjoy mowing their lawn—most have landscapes made of rocks and various desert vegetation. We hiked the Waterfall Trail only to arrive at a destination that did not depict its title. Maybe during monsoon season, the water may be seen but not in September. Admittedly, at night, the sun setting over the ridges and canyons was beautiful to behold, casting a soft, warm glow around the statuesque saguaros. One good thing – I never heard or saw a rattlesnake.