Tag Archives: Campgrounds

#RV Journal: Grayson Highlands State Park Hickory Ridge Campground

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Location / Name: Grayson Highlands State Park Hickory Ridge Campground,  Mouth of Wilson, VA (Near Mt. Rogers)

Date: 08/01//2016 thru 08/05 (4 nights)

Grayson Highlands State Park came to my attention when I started rock climbing. I had heard it mentioned quite favorably several times in conversations in relation to bouldering, one form of rock climbing. On a trip to visit relatives in Roanoke, Virginia last year with my wife I wanted to swing by the state park to look it over, and we loved the ride up The Crooked Road and the wonderful views from within the park, so I knew then that at some point I wanted to spend a few days there in the campground. Things finally lined up and I was able to spend four nights there starting Aug 1, 2016. NOTE: Grayson Highlands State Park also has a horse campground that is not reviewed here.

Grayson Highlands State Park Wild Ponies

Grayson Highlands State Park Wild Ponies – from the Rhododendron Trail

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#RV Journal: Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area, Nantahala-Oconee National Forest

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The Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area is a recreational day-use area and campground near Suches, Georgia at the site where a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was located in the 1930’s, and some of the facilities (the beach bathhouse; maybe other parts) were built for that camp. I had heard that there were Yellow Ladyslippers blooming in the vicinity, so I spent two nights there 05/18/2016 and 05/19/2016. While there is only a single site available with electricity, this is definitely a campground worthy of your consideration if you can get that site, or especially if you don’t need electricity. While there are some issues with the bathhouses, the campground and campsites are nice, and the location is superb.

Lake Winfield Scott

Lake Winfield Scott – lake and beach

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#RV Journal: Indian Boundary Recreation Area and Campground, Cherokee National Forest

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The Forestry Service website calls the Indian Boundary Recreation Area and Campground the “crown jewel of the South Zone of the Cherokee National Forest .” My wife and I spent four nights there 05/09/2016 thru 05/13/2016, and I cannot disagree with them. While there are a few shortcomings (mostly minor issues with the bathhouses), it would be very difficult to beat this value in RV, trailer, and tent camping. The campground and campsites are VERY nice, and the location is superb.

Indian Boundary Lake Sunrise - Loop A shore on left of picture

Indian Boundary Lake Sunrise – Loop A shore on left of picture

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#RV Journal: Cades Cove Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Location, location, location. That’s why Cade’s Cove Campground is so popular. There are few amenities – bear-proof dumpsters, a cold-water-only bath house – let’s not really call it a bath house; it has no shower facilities. The C-loop also has a nice dump station. There is also a campground store, but this appears to be more of a snack and souvenir shop than a place where you can get the groceries you need for camping, so make sure you are well-supplied before you come. They do sell approved firewood – all firewood brought into the park must be certified, to reduce the likelihood of you bringing a tree infestation or disease into the park.

But it’s the location…

Cade's Cove

Cade’s Cove

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#RV Journal: Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park, Limestone, TN

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After a trip to visit relatives in Roanoke, Virginia, my wife and I were looking for an interesting stop to spend the night within a few hours’ drive from our northwest Georgia home. We stopped at the I-81 Tennessee Welcome Center and looking over their information we decided Tennessee’s Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park would be a good place to try.

Sunset at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park

Sunset at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park

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#RV Journal: Roan Mountain State Park, Roan Mountain TN

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My wife and I finished up a stint helping my daughter’s family at their Duck-Duck-Goose children’s consignment sale and had a little time before our next commitment, so we decided to take a few days camping our way to visit some family in Roanoke, Virginia. I’d been wanting to check out Roan Mountain State Park, and since that’s about half way to Roanoke, we targeted spending two nights at this Tennessee State Park before we moved on. My report follows:

Roan Massif

Roan Massif stays in the clouds 70% of the time – view from Roan Mountain State Park

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#RV Journal: Vogel State Park, Blairsville, Georgia

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Some dear friends of my wife and I invited us to join them in early February at Vogel State Park near Blairsville, Georgia, where they had a cabin rented on February 6 and 7. We love that area, and I wanted another excuse to get out in our new T@b camper trailer, so we headed up there and stayed in the campground Thursday through Sunday nights, Feb 5 thru Feb 8. This allowed us plenty of time to visit the area and well as visit with our friends. Read on for my report on the Vogel State Park campground experience.

Vogel State Park Campground

Vogel State Park Campground

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#RV Journal: Oscar Scherer State Park, Nokomis Florida

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My wife and I spent January 20-21, 2015, camping at Oscar Scherer State Park in Nokomis, Florida. We had hoped to stay for 4 or 5 days, but I was making the reservations only 2 or 3 weeks in advance, and I was only able to get 2 days at this very popular Florida State Park. Fortunately we were there for a visit with my wife’s brother and his family, and he and his wife kindly offered us their hospitality, so we availed ourselves of their generosity for a few days. That allowed us to not only enjoy their company, but also to visit some of the areas highlights such as the Venice Rookery and Caspersen Beach. More will be (or has been) posted on those, but this report is about camping at Oscar Scherer State Park…

T@b at Oscar Scherer State Park in Florida

T@b at Oscar Scherer State Park in Florida

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#RV Journal: Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, Florida

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My wife and I stayed for two nights at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park near Keystone Heights, Florida on Thursday, 1/15/2015, and Friday, 1/16/2015 so we could visit my aunt. This state park is kinda in the middle of nowhere in Florida, so I wouldn’t have picked it except for the proximity to Penney Farms, where my aunt lives. However, it’s within an hour of St. Augustine, has a beautiful picnic grounds and several small, picturesque lakes, and seems to have a nice bird population. The relatively remote location means no city lights tainting the night skies, so star-gazing was great there. While I might try Anastasia State Park if I wanted to visit St. Augustine, Gold Head Branch State Park is an attractive alternative.

Sandhill Cranes at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park by Gerry Williamson, on Flickr

Sandhill Cranes in the distance at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

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#RV Journal: High Falls State Park, Jackson, Georgia

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My wife and I stayed at High Falls State Park on January 14, 2015, as an overnighter on our way to Florida. The park is close enough to I-75 to make it worthy as an alternative to a more expensive hotel or motel, and I had hoped to have time to walk the trail along the river. We took more time en route than I had planned, however, so no time for the hike, but the park was nice, and I’ll probably make it there another time with a couple of spare hours to explore the park more.

T@b at High Falls State Park, northeast of Macon, Georgia

T@b at High Falls State Park, northeast of Macon, Georgia

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