Trevor's Travels » Travel Park Campgrounds

What To Consider When Choosing A Campground

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 05:16:04 +0000

Are you interested in taking a camping trip? Whether you are interested in going camping alone, with your family, with a loved one, or with a group of your friends, you will need to find a campground to camp at. While many individuals just choose to go camping at the nearest campground, you may want to consider doing a little research to find one. Given the vast number of sites that are available in the US, you want to make sure you choose the best one for you, and your needs.

If you are interested in taking the time to find the “perfect” campground, you may be wondering exactly how you can go about doing so. In all honesty, it will depend on your own wants and needs, as well as the wants and needs of the rest of your camping party. Although not everyone wants to get the same thing out of their camping trip, there are a number of important factors that you may want to think about, when looking for a campground to camp at.

One of the many things that you will want to take into consideration, when looking for a campground, is the cost of doing so. In the United States, you will find that most campgrounds require the payment of an admission fee or a camping fee, and occasionally even both. The cost of the admission fee or camping fee will all depend on the campground in question. For instance, many smaller campgrounds charge smaller fees. You will likely find larger fees for campgrounds that have more on site activities (like fishing, boating and hiking).

Speaking of onsite activities, activities are something else that you may want to take into consideration, when choosing a campground. When it comes to the onsite activities of a campground, you may want to take a look at the scenery. If a campground has an onsite lake or pond, there is a good chance that swimming, boating, and fishing are activities that you may be able to enjoy. Campgrounds are often home to hiking trails, biking trails, playgrounds for children, and much more.

How reservations are taken, is another factor that you may want to think about when planning your camping trip. For instance, there are some campgrounds in the United States that randomly assign you a camping spot. On the other hand, there are campgrounds that allow you to handpick your camping spot out of all the available locations. Many campers prefer choosing their own camping spot, as it tends to give them some freedom over their camping trip and how much fun they have. If you are picky about where you would like to camp, you may want to find a campground that allows you to choose your own camping spot.

Although it is nice to know what you should look for in a campground, it is also important that you know how to find them. If you are interested in camping locally, you may already know of a number of local campgrounds. If not, you should be able to use your local phone book, or ask those that you know for recommendations (optimal). As for campgrounds that are located a ways away from your home, try using Recreation.gov – “Recreation One-Stop is one of the E-Government initiatives in the President’s Management Agenda to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and customer service of the recreation programs.” You may also want to check out Camping Sites Online and Trails.com

As a reminder, you may want to think about taking the time to research a number of different campground parks. It is important that you remember that no two campground parks are the same. To ensure that your next camping adventure is as memorable as possible, you want to make sure that your intended destination is perfect for you and the rest of your camping party.

Remember, check our myroadtotravel for all your travel needs.

Dog Health Care Article: Dog Travel – What You Need To Carry When You Travel With Your Dog

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:59:09 +0000

Spring is here and with the onset of warm weather, comes more dog shows and our annual vacations, plus the urge to take a Sunday drive. However, we sometimes neglect the needs of our pets or do not take extra precautions for unseen emergencies. If you cannot board your pet, or leave it at home and find that you must take it with you please make sure you provide adequate ventilation and water in your vehicle. Plus you should read up on heat stroke and heat prostration. Below is a simple check list to ensure your pet is provided for under normal circumstances and in the event of an emergency:

a comfortable crate or seatbelt harness 2 leashes (your usual one and a spare) a spare collar ample water for your pet, yourself and your vehicle a water dish your pets first aid kit your first aid kit tools for your vehicle a brush to remove brambles and ticks pet food (if canned, store in a cooler if opened) toys to offset boredom (nothing worse than chewed upholstery) a tarp for shade, or park in a shady area a copy of your pets vaccinations and registration your veterinarians telephone number a picture of your pet make sure your pet is very familiar with the commands sit, stay, and come – a pet in an unfamiliar area can be nervous and may try to flee a towel and/or blanket make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations

I’ve traveled a fair amount in North America and have found we have given emergency care to animals in the most unlikely spots: A mother cat and kittens in a campground in Olympic National Park, an abandoned dog in a Texas highway rest area, a mother dog and puppies in California. Plus there always seems to be someone at a dog show who hasn’t brought enough water. I’ve had dog collars get lost in brush and leashes break on beaches. Seems like I’m never prepared enough myself for unforeseen emergencies, but taking the above precautions does make the trip go a little more peaceful.

Fall Travel Highlights

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:28:55 +0000

Fall’s changing leaves, with their stunning reds, oranges, and purples, both herald the end of summer and delight the eyes. This fall, treat yourself to a display of color like no other on earth and visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Feast your eyes on the rich hues of billions of leaves on over 100 different species of trees as you breathe in the fresh, crisp autumn air.

Hiking the Smoky Mountains will give you spectacular panoramic views of the great diversity of wildlife the park has to offer. There is no shortage of hiking trails. With over 800 miles of them, you will be able to find the one right for your level of expertise. And plants aren’t the only type of wildlife you’ll enjoy. You’re sure to spot many furry critters at home in the natural habitat, including deer, elk, and even the occasional black bear!

For the adventurous at heart, a fun—an inexpensive—way to enjoy the Smoky Mountains is to campout in the park. What’s better, the campgrounds aren’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, you have a few options to choose from, so you can select the area of the park that’s right for you. Play Lewis and Clark and trek out to the backcountry. You can only get there by foot! For those of us less keen on “roughing it,” frontcountry offers running water and flush toilets. There are also campgrounds that accommodate groups of 8 and some made for folks who bring along their horses.

Of course, there’s more to the Smokies than leaves. The park has the makings of a romantic getaway for two or a trip that’s fun for the whole family. Here are just a few of the activities this national park has to offer:

• Bicycling

• Auto tours

• Wildlife viewing

• Historical sites

• Hiking

• Waterfall walks

• Picnicking

In fact, there’s more to do in Smoky Mountain National Park than you can probably fit into one trip. For history buffs, there’s the Mountain Farm Museum. This museum is actually an extensive collection of 19th century farmhouses. Highlights include a barn, apple house, and working blacksmith shop. Be sure to arrive in time for one of the live gardening demonstrations.

Lesser known than Hoover, the Fontana Dam is also an impressive site. It’s actually the tallest concrete dam east of the Rocky Mountains—480 feet to be exact. The dam, with a reservoir size of 11,700 acres, forms Fontana Lake, which provides boat access to more remote areas of the park. To learn about how the dam was built, you can check out the visit center operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Don’t forget to include Clingmans Dome in your itinerary. The dome is the highest point in the whole park and the highest point in all of Tennessee. It’s a half-mile walk to the observation tower, but well worth it. At 6.643 feet, the tower offers you an unrivaled view of the Smokies. Typically, you can see for about 20 miles, but if you’re lucky enough to be there on a clear day, you can see as far as 100 miles.

If you need a break from nature, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are near by and chock full of family fun. There’s Dollywood, numerous shows and restaurants, miniature golf, go-karts, and the Ripley’s Believe it or not Aquarium, just to name a few.