Looking for travel/camping ideas

[hsmytwins]

We (2 adults, 2 12 yr olds & a dog) just got home from the Fort and we are looking for other ideas of places to go/things to see.

We live in West Michigan and would like to stick to 2 long days of driving (or less) before reaching our destination.

We would like the campground to be near a destination - either a bike ride or short cab ride.

We like historical, scenic and entertaining (doesn't all have to be in one trip). Is there such thing as a camp ground with a water park? Anything good near outer banks? Gulf shores? The Carolinas?

We have Branson booked for the 4th of July. Next summer will be Rocky Mountains.

We will entertain just about any location - but I think west coast is too far. Canada is good (already mulling over Niagra Falls.)

Any advice? Google turns up zillions of options.....I don't know how to narrow that down!

 

[bama_ed]

I can help with Gulf Shores info.

When you say bike or cab ride, does that mean you don't have a tow vehicle or a toad? Sorry, I don't recall what you camp in, hsmytwins.

Although we often talk about Gulf State Park, it is a ways out of town. If I were wanting to stay in the center of Gulf Shores, I would stay at the RV Luxury Resort right on Hwy 59 in Gulf Shores behind the Pizza Hut. I have never stayed there but you can walk/bike to just about all there is to see in the core area. Here is the link: http://www.gulfshoresluxuryrv.com/rates.html

It's within a walk of a good selection of restaurants, the beach, souvenir shops, and Waterville, a small amusement park/water park. http://www.watervilleusa.com/. There is a small zoo just past Waterville as well. By this summer the additional construction will be complete and there will be sidewalks on both sides of Hwy 59 from the beach almost up to the big bridge over the Intercoastal waterway.

It's 1,018 miles from Grand Rapids, MI (a big town in western Michigan I used for mapping purposes) which is two 500-mile driving days. As far as the Gulf Coast of LA/MS/AL/FL panhandle, LA doesn't have many nice beaches (too much bayou). And trust me, you don't want to be around New Orleans in the heat and humidity. MS has beaches but they aren't very nice due to the barrier islands (just my opinion). The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is nice and quiet (Gulf Shores is more hotels, some condos, but lots of rental beach houses especially out West Beach (west of Hwy 59 on the Beach Highway). Orange Beach is more of a string of towering condos on the beach with one or two exclusive, expensive RV communities across the road from the beach/condos. Traffic is bad too.

The Pensacola area is nice with its beach communities. Our poster Napria (I think it was her) has stayed at Pensacola Beach RV Resort http://www.pensacolabeachrvresort.com/ . Destin and Seaside have nice beaches but the Destin area is very popular, built up, and lots of traffic. Panama City is hotels, condos, and noted for its college spring break crowds although during the summer they aim for the family market.

Back in Gulf Shores, the Luxury RV Resort is a block or two from a Dollar General and a 5 minute bike ride up a sidewalk to the Super Wal-Mart. Gulf Shores is a place to relax and not to be entertained.

Other ideas include Gatlinburg, TN. Lots of RV/camping places with some along the main highway which has public transportation/shuttles to get people to shops, restaurants, and entertainment. It's kinda touristy but the Smokey Mountains are beautiful just about any time of year.

We're going to the Charleston, SC area (which is near Hilton Head) and staying at Edisto Beach SP which is literally on the beach (but it's March but nearly booked up already). Didn't find any place to stay when I checked that I would call convenient for walking or biking. Same for Savannah.

Good luck with the feedback.

Bama Ed

 

[kellyjeanie]

What about Wisconsin Dells? Lots of camping around there, and many great water parks.

 

[FtW Mike]

Here on East coast there are several campgrounds in VA and MD that might work. Some near Williamsburg Va have low cost shuttle service To Colonial Williamsburg and Six Flags park. Camp Wilderness offers Kings Dominion Park a short ride away and Cherry Hill Campground in Md offers shuttle service to DC metro service

 

[hsmytwins]

Great ideas! We can possibly do more than one location in a trip (we can go for 2 weeks at a time).

Ed- no toad. We have a 45' Prevost. Our first trip ever was the Fort in April. We got a rental car while at the Fort, and can do that at other locations too. We brought our bikes to the Fort. We went thru Alabama on our way down- it is a beautiful state!

We live just outside of Grand Rapids. If anyone is interested in visiting Michigan....this is a beautiful state. We will do weekend trips in Michigan, and farther trips as often as we can in between. I failed to get something booked for Memorial Day, so I need to learn to book farther ahead of time.

 

[4077]

Hershey, PA and Gettysburg, PA area come to mind for me. I love history so Gettysburg is a hoot and the general area is quite scenic (IMO), so I live it there. Hershey is just a fun amusement park with a water park inside. They have a campground that gives you some perks for going to the park.

 

[Shanti]

We (2 adults, 2 12 yr olds & a dog) just got home from the Fort and we are looking for other ideas of places to go/things to see.

We live in West Michigan and would like to stick to 2 long days of driving (or less) before reaching our destination.

We would like the campground to be near a destination - either a bike ride or short cab ride.

We like historical, scenic and entertaining (doesn't all have to be in one trip). Is there such thing as a camp ground with a water park? Anything good near outer banks? Gulf shores? The Carolinas?

We have Branson booked for the 4th of July. Next summer will be Rocky Mountains.

We will entertain just about any location - but I think west coast is too far. Canada is good (already mulling over Niagra Falls.)

Any advice? Google turns up zillions of options.....I don't know how to narrow that down!

Mount Desert Island (Maine) in summer

• Acadia National Park
• Gorgeous
• Rockefeller gardens
• Lots of boating/kayaking opportunities with good wildlife spotting
• Berry picking
• Good bus system to get around the island & many park areas
• It's one of our lesser-known national treasures

 

[tiggerdad]

I second Gatlinburg, TN. There are several campgrounds in Gatlinburg and nearby Pigeon Forge. there is Trolley service throughout both destinations. Of course, the biggest and best thing is my favorite place to go and get lost...The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Now to tour the park you will need to rent. If the money is available, Once my wife and I rented a Jeep and had the top off and toured it. Best way in my opinion. Having the top off allowed you to see and hear so much.

Look em up.

 

[peg110]

We were at Pigeon Forge in July 2015. Busy but great. Went out to Gatlinburg too. Also busy but it was a nice drive. Lots to do all around the area. For us We spent time at Dollywood. It was a new experience for us. We would go again too. I'd love to spend more time in the Smoky Mountains.

 

[Vijoge]

Rocky Mountain National Park is breathtaking and there's a ton of stuff to do in the area.

 

[texasroni75]

Camping along the Delaware River/Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania. Lots of beautiful campgrounds right along the river. Canoeing/kayaking/tubing, hiking, visit farms, shopping and antiquing in quaint nearby towns, Lakota Wolf Preserve, Pocono Mountains, Dorney Park. Look up Driftstone on the Delaware, Mt. Bethel PA.

 

[rideswithchrist]

I always wanted to go to the Smoky Mountains, i think that would be a 2 day or less trip for you from MI. It is so beautiful there.

 

[jeffrey1966]

Hi Cindy. Another possibility is the Adirondacks in NY. The most direct route takes you through Niagara falls and is just under 700mi. There are lots of places to stay around Lake George. We stayed at the Lake George RV park a couple of times and it a really nice place. Fort William Henry and Fort Ticonderoga are there to take in. You can rent boats to tour the lake or take a dinner cruise. There is a Six Flags park called The Great Escape which includes a water park with admission.