Please....help a newbie out!! :-)

[ekball]

Hi campers! Hope ya'll are a friendly, welcoming bunch. We have decided to give the camping thing a try this summer. We like our fancy digs at times, and we like to rough it too. We're not heading down to Disney this summer , but would love to try some local (New England) camping this summer. I've looked at gorp.com, and some websites for local state parks, beaches, etc. But I'm wondering....is there a website that I can go to where you can read reviews of campgrounds? You know, kind of like a tripadvisor.com? (maybe I should have checked there before posting ) Looking for some firsthand reports about campgrounds as the generic ones I've found don't give me much. Any suggestions? TIA for your help. We're excited to give this a try (hope the kids don't raise heck and bug the neighbors ). I'll have to do a little research about camping ettiquette next I suppose.

TIA

 

[PolynesianPixie]

We are a welcoming bunch but not very friendly

Seriously, WELCOME!

One beautiful thing about camping is that kids are able to be kids! Camping will bring you so much closer as a family! I promise you will love it!

Go to RVusa.org and check out the forum. There are some campground reviews over there. Also, if there is a specific campground you are interested in, feel free to ask about it on here. We are a pretty diverse group from all over and chances are...somebody has camped there!

 

[ekball]

One beautiful thing about camping is that kids are able to be kids! Camping will bring you so much closer as a family! I promise you will love it!

GREAT!!! That's what I need to hear! I know my kiddos (almost 4 and 5 1/2) will LOVE camping, I just don't want to upset the neighbors as they are....well....they are kids. KWIM. We don't let them raise heck (or we try our best), but they are kids afterall. They're not quiet.

Go to RVusa.org and check out the forum. There are some campground reviews over there. Also, if there is a specific campground you are interested in, feel free to ask about it on here. We are a pretty diverse group from all over and chances are...somebody has camped there!

Great - thanks!! We're thinking we should stick close to home on the first attempt (just in case). And I'm thinking beach camping would be fun for the kids, and will tire them out nicely. Still, I'd love to read a view 'reviews' (using that term loosely) about a few other areas nearby. Thanks for the help!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Welcoming bunch ??
Are you kidd'n ?? For a beer I'll give you the shirt off of BRD's back ! Hows that for a welcome!

Sorry, I can't help you with the info on the camp'n area you need,,but someone will be along soon that may be able to help. And Polynesian Pixie is correct, check out Rvusa.org. But where ever you camp, bring your fish'n pole !

And WELCOME to the boards !

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Noisey children never bother me. They are delicious.

 

[ekball]

Welcoming bunch ??
Are you kidd'n ?? For a beer I'll give you the shirt off of BRD's back ! Hows that for a welcome!

Sorry, I can't help you with the info on the camp'n area you need,,but someone will be along soon that may be able to help. And Polynesian Pixie is correct, check out Rvusa.org. But where ever you camp, bring your fish'n pole !

And WELCOME to the boards !

Thanks! Beer....check (that will be on the top of my packing list). So you're saying the way to a neighbors heart is via an ice cold brew? Gotcha.

Noisey children never bother me. They are delicious.
That's....um....comforting? Disturbing?

 

[kc5grw]

This site has review: http://www.rvparkreviews.com/

Also check out woodalls.com and trailerlifedirectory.com

 

[BRDof3]

Welcoming bunch ??
Are you kidd'n ?? For a beer I'll give you the shirt off of BRD's back ! Hows that for a welcome!

I'm not sure that they would thank you for that Frank. I've been cooped up in the car on the road all day. At least hold out for a couple of beers so I can join you.

Welcome to camping boards! I'm sure that we can find something better as a welcoming present than my shirt, though.

 

[BradyBz12]

Not sure where in New England you're looking to go, but I can recommend a few good state parks in MA...

Wells - http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/well.htm

Lake Dennison - http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/lden.htm

Both have pretty spacious, well spaced out, woodsy sites, lots of great areas for kids to romp around and ride bikes, and a nice beach.

If you like the ocean, Scusset Beach state park is a great location.
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast/scus.htm

There are a lot of sites out in the open, but some of the ones located sort of in the dune areas are a bit more private. Beach is very family friendly.

In the White Mtns in New Hampshire, I love Lost River Family Campground
http://lostriver.com/

The sites along the river/brook are especially nice!


Have fun and welcome to the camping boards!

 

[kc5grw]

I'll have to do a little research about camping ettiquette next I suppose.

TIA

The one rule I've always stressed with my kids and anyone I'm with for that matter that might be "new" to camping is; never walk into or through somebody elses campsite unless you have been invited or asked permission. This is pretty much a golden rule of camping, or at least it has been for me. You'll find that most campers will be more than happy to invite you onto their site and share a drink and fish tale or two. Just make sure you don't just barge in uninvited. It's kinda like just walking into somebody's house.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Thanks! Beer....check (that will be on the top of my packing list). So you're saying the way to a neighbors heart is via an ice cold brew? Gotcha.

THAT, my friend, is the holy grail of camping!

 

[disney4dan]

The one rule I've always stressed with my kids and anyone I'm with for that matter that might be "new" to camping is; never walk into or through somebody elses campsite unless you have been invited or asked permission. This is pretty much a golden rule of camping, or at least it has been for me. You'll find that most campers will be more than happy to invite you onto their site and share a drink and fish tale or two. Just make sure you don't just barge in uninvited. It's kinda like just walking into somebody's house.

Raising a glass to that piece of advice - bugs the heck out of me to see grownups do that. Kids I can understand, and you will usually hear a parent hollering to them when they catch the kids doing it. However, I nearly lost it one Memorial Day weekend when I was kicking back on my water front site (that I had to work my butt off for 6 months in advance to score an on-line reservation during the middle of winter!) reading a book and looked up to see a couple in their late 20's just standing there between my trailer and the lake Once I got them out of there, it was only about 15 minutes before some other yahoo comes strolling along across several sites for his daily power walk. Mind you, there is no walk/bike path here and the paved road is just the other side of the trailers.

It was just like finding someone in your living room un-invited.

 

[DaveInTN]

This site has review: http://www.rvparkreviews.com/

Also check out woodalls.com and trailerlifedirectory.com

RVParkReviews is a very comprehensive site, and I use it frequently. We recently returned from a 3 week trip through your part of the country, and I relied in part on the reviews on that site to select campgrounds. I wasn't disappointed. Take the time to read the reviews on campgrounds you are interested in. Everyone has different things they look for in a campground, so a simple numeric rating system alone won't tell you what you want. Someone that enjoys luxurious resort style camping might rate a Class A-only resort highly, but if you prefer rustic federal lands you wouldn't be impressed. So, decide what type of atmosphere you desire, and have fun with the search.

Ask away on the forums at RV.net too, or here since we are oh so friendly! You'll find that most campers are eager to share their love of camping with newbies, so if a quick search of the forums doesn't give you your answer don't be afraid to ask questions.

Good luck! I hope you love camping!