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Forum
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RE: Walmart more heart then KOA
I have often wondered about KOA being "family friendly". When I check their rates, most want $3-$7 per night extra per child. Sorry, but my small children do not add significant costs to the campground. By the time I add in the extra fees, KOA would cost my family a lot more than the local competition. Family Friendly does sound good in advertising though...
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home_school_dad
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07/08/08 07:06pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Camping Burnout
It is probably not camping burn-out as much as camping prep and recovery burn-out. My family loves travel and camping but HATES getting ready and then the cleanup when we get back.
Longer trips help some because the time gone outweighs the trouble getting ready.
I try to keep the camper stocked during the camping season to help reduce the getting ready portion. Planning a recovery day when you get home is a good idea too.
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home_school_dad
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07/02/08 08:08am |
Family Camping
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RE: Looking for wide-ranging trip recommendations
A couple of suggestions...
Check the Asheville Visitors Center web site. They have list of day trips centered from there. One or two feature waterfalls on the route. There are many in the area.
Cuiver River SP campground in Troy, MO. This is off of I-70 near St. Louis. This is a nice state park about 15 miles from the interstate. Nice and quiet.
Wilson Lake in Kansas has Sylvan Park just below the dam. Beautiful old trees (lots of shade) and very quiet. Exit 206 on I-70 and north about 5 miles on the right just before the dam (turn as if for road 181).
If you stop at Wilson Lake, go on into Lucas, KS. Brandt's meat market in downtown is the place for pepper sausage, pepperoni, and jerky. A stop at the Garden of Eden and the Grassroots Art Center is also worth the time. The K-18 diner has good food and is reasonably priced.
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home_school_dad
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05/16/08 07:21am |
Family Camping
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RE: Family traditions while camping
We do not have many traditions. Long ago I taught the kids how to set up the camper (way back with our popup). That continues today. I don't hear the word "Dad" during the setup. Once we unhook, the kids get to work without me. That includes running the slide out.
One main tradition is that I cook a pancake breakfast every day. Dad's pancakes are viewed as a treat. Those few who do not go for pancakes get cooked-to-order eggs. While on trips DW gets a break and rarely cooks.
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home_school_dad
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05/16/08 06:39am |
Family Camping
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RE: long distance camping
Well, our grown son recommends one stop per time zone. I don’t think that will work well for your trip.
I plan 400 mile days if I am trying to get from point A to point B without seeing what is in between. We have made a few 600-700 mile days when we had to but never two in a row. For long days we hook up the night before and leave before daylight. I agree with trying to stop before dark.
I suspect that how long you drive will depend on your age, health, and what you are used to as far as driving goes. Driving 60 mph on the interstate will give you a 20 minute stop every two hours and still average 50 mph for the trip. That puts my 400 mile day at about 8 hours. If you have kids with you, a 20 minute stop may not be reasonable. We travel with 5 kids now and are able to do it only by using military like precession. With my van that gives one stop for rest area bathroom and the next for gas station and bathroom. I envy the folks that have the time to only drive 300 miles in a day. Perhaps someday I will be able to do that.
Travel using what makes you comfortable. Drive per conditions and your comfort level. Rest before you get tired. Take breaks as necessary but every couple of hours is recommended – even if it is only to stretch your legs.
One last idea…
Traveling with a wife and multiple children can be difficult due to the need for frequent bathroom stops. Years ago we instituted the “30 Minute Warning”. We decided that most any normal person (small children and pregnant women excepted) can determine 30 minutes before they need to find a bathroom. I, as driver, agree that if you give me a 30 minute warning, I will stop within that time somewhere (even if it is just an exit and we run back to the trailer). Also each time we make our 2 hour rest stop, EVERYONE makes a restroom stop (I know you don’t need to go, but go anyway!). Now our trips run much smoother and most of the time without extra stops.
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home_school_dad
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04/10/08 10:49am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: 4 corners Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah Disappointment
I am surprised that so many were disappointed with Four Corners. Did you not feel a historic thrill in being like Custer – surrounded by Native Americans wanting something from you?
Joking aside, we enjoyed the visit. The kids had fun being in different states at the same time. The best thing was the sand painting demonstration in the little visitor center. If you take the time to talk to the lady there, she can tell you much about Navajo culture. I have a couple of her works at home from our visits there. She collects rocks from the reservation and grinds them into sand. The colors are based on what type of rock it was. It was very interesting.
As far as the booths or lean-to’s are concerned, we have flee markets around here that look very similar… (I did enjoy seeing their wares.)
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home_school_dad
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04/10/08 08:43am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: dirty clothes
We use a military surplus duffel bag. It is 36"X12"X12" with top opening. It stands in a corner and can be stuffed into camper compartments if necessary. We find that it takes up less space than some of the collapsible laundry baskets and is much sturdier.
(With our crowd, we actually use more than one...)
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home_school_dad
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04/10/08 08:05am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Need advice on Civil War trip planning
On you way thru Nashville, consider stopping at the Jefferson Davis Historic Monument in Fairview, KY. June 7 & 8 they are celebrating Davis' 200th birthday. Take a look at it on the Internet. http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/histparks/jd/
While at Gettysburg, hire the park guide for a tour. You get a whole lot more out of it than if you use the tape tour. An official park guide will ride in your vehicle and tell you all about the battle. It is great to have someone say, "Now right over there..." He gave us detailed instructions on how the field artillery were fired and the differences between the types used. Go inside of the visitor's center for the battle overview and sign up for the guide. The tour takes about 2 hours.
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home_school_dad
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04/08/08 02:21pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Travel To Alaska (from Florida)
Remember that one of the highlights of a drive to Alaska is what you see while getting there. We made the trip in 2006 and took 9 weeks. We made some long driving days while in the US, but once we hit Canada, we slowed down. I figured about 200 miles per day once on the Alcan with extra days in certain towns for rest and sight seeing. For example, we stayed an extra day in Ft. Nelson because rain was forecast for the next day. That portion of the highway after Ft. Nelson is one of the prettiest on the route and I refused to drive that far and miss out due to being in a hurry. This gave us time to stop along the way. No matter how long you take, you could always use more time. Everywhere we stopped I could have spent more time - however with planning I was satisfied with the amount of time we spent. We came back by the Cassier Highway and drove 14,500 miles total.
Because the trip is worth doing, it is worth doing right. Your costs will be almost the same whether you hurry or take your time. By all means, take your time.
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home_school_dad
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04/08/08 01:40pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Heading For Tennessee via I-40 From Calif. (Places to Stay)
Cedars of Lebanon State Park, six miles of I-40 at Lebanon, TN on Highway 231. Nice paved pull-thru sites with E/W and dump station. $17.25 - not free but not expensive either.
Free: At the North Carolina State line take the 1st exit (exit 1). Get back on I-40 headed WEST. Stop at the Tennessee Welcome Center. It is posted "no overnite parking" but if you arrive after dark, they don't say anything. You can ALWAYS find a spot there - tractor/trailers are not permitted. There is a large truck parking area and almost no one there. We have stayed there several times and have never had any problems. The only drawback is having to drive a few miles the next morning in order to get back on I-40 east.
Free - In Tennessee Exit 424 there is BP (used to be Marathon) station with truck parking. Left back under the interstate it will be on the right. It is a gravel lot and the last few times I have been through there, it was full (stop early). It holds about 6-8 trucks. Easy to get into and out of with lots of turn around room. I usually gas up there because of the pull thru pumps.
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home_school_dad
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04/08/08 08:56am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: North West Adventure Summer 08 Trip
It looks like your mileage is a little short on the leg from Glacier to Yellowstone. From West Yellowstone to Fishing Bridge is 50 miles. On Google maps it comes in a close to 500 miles for the day.
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home_school_dad
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04/08/08 08:26am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Good Sam Membership for Life
I was one of the "select few" this year also. Looking at their web site, a three year renewal averages to about $18 per year. I figured that I would need to remain a member for about 22 years to break even (assuming no cost increase). I can't see that far ahead so I passed on it this time. For someone younger, this could be a good deal...
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home_school_dad
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03/27/08 08:29am |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Telegraph Creek Visit
I forgot to add, be sure to stop and see Eagle Rock. I almost missed it. It is on the left just as you go down the real steep grade (the one without guard rails just past the hairpin turn). It is a cliff where you can see what looks like an eagle with its wings spread. You can see it coming down the grade (have the wife look while you drive). You can also stop along the road when you get down.
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home_school_dad
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03/26/08 03:50pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Telegraph Creek Visit
We went in 2006 and I loved it. Drive whatever speed you want to - the locals drive it at 50mph and don't mind passing you. It makes a great day trip. Look at pull-offs for jade on the ground. We found quite a bit at one stop. Our son paid attention at Jade City on the way down and could identify what was jade and what type it was.
The road is mostly a ride and look trip. I did not find much to do when we got to the end. Pull off often and enjoy!
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home_school_dad
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03/26/08 03:44pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: From Dawson City, Yt to Tok, Ak
A couple of things to keep in mind:
The ferry at Dawson can back up for hours if a couple of caravans leave that morning (three left the day we were there). We waited over 3 hours in line.
The road from the border to Chicken will make the road on the Canadian side look wonderful. This was one of the few real gravel roads we were on. Take your time and enjoy it, but by all means do it. It was one of the more memorable parts of the trip. We did not make it all the way to Chicken in one day (due to the late start). I found this beautiful pull off next to a creek. The kids played next to the water while I fixed dinner. One of the best campsites we ever had.
We stopped a lot along the road so MPH did not mean much to us. You can't figure miles and time very well when everything makes you want to stop and look.
I envy you the trip! I would go again if time and money permitted.
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home_school_dad
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03/22/08 02:46pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Non-Alcoholic Campgrounds
Both Tennessee and Ohio state parks claim to prohibit alcohol. I have never seen drinking at either on our visits.
With that said, here are two parks in the areas you requested:
East Fork State Park in Bethel, OH. This is just outside Cincinnati. It accepts reservations online. They only have 5 or 6 full hookup sites. Most are electric only.
Cedars of Lebanon State Park, in Lebanon, TN. This is a beautiful park near Nashville. Electric and water sites.
Two of our favorite places in the Cincinnati area are the Creation Museum located near the Cincinnati airport (which is actually in Kentucky) and Loveland Castle in Loveland, OH.
We spent 6 hours a the Creation Museum and still did not see everything. Food is available on site and reasonably priced. There was not any off site food available near by.
Loveland Castle is a fun afternoon is a real castle. It was built by one man over a period of 50 years.
Big Bone Lick State Park in Union, KY is also near Cincinnati but I have never been there. I found no information about alcohol on their website.
Have a great trip!
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home_school_dad
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03/22/08 02:26pm |
Family Camping
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RE: YOUR IDEAL CAMPGROUND
We are the resort park types when we can find them. We freely admit that we do not "camp", we take our hotel with us. Cable TV and internet are great for the evenings when we are already tired from a full day of activities. I like long sites so that I can hook up the evening prior to an early start the next day. I tend to stay longer at resorts than campgrounds. My wife wants full hookups because she prefers her own bathroom and shower to anyone else's. The kids and I hit the resort showers.
One more note, the design of the shower area is wrong more times than not. Far too many do not have an adequate area for changing. Most are too narrow for us old fat folks who do not bend like we once did. Many end up with wet floors from of the shower. Hart Ranch in SD had some of the best I have ever seen. They had a toilet, sink, shower, and changing all in one space. Gettysburg Battlefield Resort was another good one. They had separate rooms with showers, toilets, and sinks.
Best Wishes on your new venture! Let us know when you get it built.
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home_school_dad
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03/22/08 01:49pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Campgrounds and Children
You can be fined for not "leaving the park as you found it." Harassing the animals carries another fine.
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home_school_dad
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01/09/08 05:30am |
Family Camping
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RE: ROUTE 66
If you do decide to see the Petrified Forest in Arizona, consider camping in Holbrook. The best way to see the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park is to drive out of Holbrook on US-180 to the southern entrance. This will be the Petrified Forest area. Take your time but plan to get to the northern end toward evening. The Painted Desert is best viewed early morning or late evening. That is when the colors can really be seen.
The northern side ends at I-40 for a short drive back to Holbrook.
Other side trips could include (while camping in Gallup):
Canyon de Chelly NP on the Navajo Reservation, Chaco Culture NP, Hubbell Trading Post NHS, El Morro NM, and the Navajo Museum in Window Rock, AZ.
All of these are day trips and several can be combined into one day.
Mesa Verde NP in Colorado is 150 miles from Gallup.
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home_school_dad
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11/08/07 07:44pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Glacier from the east route??
Gadget Guy was very right. "The #89 from Browning to St. Mary is very, very crooked with some fairly steep grades,"
On our first trip we ran late and drove the route after dark in a fog. It seemed to take forever! Not good if you have weak nerves (I don't, wife does). Our last trip (2006) was in daylight and we had no problems. I would not avoid it, just be sure to arrive before dark. The final grade into St. Mary is steep but did not present a problem.
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home_school_dad
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11/08/07 06:08pm |
Roads and Routes
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