Where else do you like to go?

[Trixie15]

Is this a taboo question? Sorry if it is! I figured that the camping community would be the best people to ask since you guys often travel more than the expensive hotel crowd. I could be wrong though!

I took the kids KOA camping (tent camping) last summer in Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. We had a great time! I am thinking of going on a low budget tent camping trip with them again this year but want to head in a different direction.

I don't really want to hit any MAJOR attractions because my dh will not be going (no time off work.) But I do like to see historical places or do interesting things (we went digging for emeralds in NC.)

Any recommendations?

 

[2goofycampers]

What States would be in your budget? What State would you be starting from?

 

[LuckyinGa]

How old are your children? How far are you willing to travel from your home base?

 

[Trixie15]

We'll be starting from either IL or MO.

I really don't have a budget at all yet - this is all hypothetical. I'm just looking for ideas of interesting places to visit.

ETA - kids are 9, 8, 6, and 3. We like to drive so ... really no boundaries!

 

[DaveInTN]

One of our favorite places to visit besides the Fort is Williamsburg, VA. Lots to do, some historical, some more "fun" like Busch Gardens and the waterpark. Nice RV parks, and lots of restaurants and shopping. From there you are pretty close to Washington DC. There is so much to do there with kids, and most of it is FREE. You could then even hit Gettysburg on the way back toward home. And if you time it right, there may be a Fort Fiends Grand Gathering in Gettysburg this summer!

Closer to home for you would be Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN. That is a GREAT amusement and water park with a nice campground.

Another place you might want to consider would be Mammoth Caves NP in KY. That's a really fun place for kids. From there you could also visit Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. If any of your kids are horse lovers that is a beautiful park to visit. Only problem is you'd have to schedule around the World Equestrian Games being held there this summer. But the horse park and campground are beautiful.

 

[Judy in Texas]

If you are heading toward Texas, Fossil Rim Animal Park is just south of Fort Worth/Dallas near the town of Glen Rose. The Dinosaur Valley State Park is right nearby. It has a nice campgound.

Fossil Rim is similar to the Jungle Trek at Animal Kingdom only you drive your own car through. You buy a bag of kibble at the main entrance and feed the animals along the way. My favorite part is the giraffes. They come right up to the car and eat out of your hands. If you have a sun roof, they'll even stick their heads right in the car! The zebra and ostrich can be a bit pushy. We took the behind the scenes tour at Animal Kingdom and the guide mentioned that WDW has a partnership with Fossil Rim for animal research.

http://www.fossilrim.com/

 

[Born 2 Fish]

MEXICO !!
Thats where I want to go, MEXICO ! Right now I'm friggn freezing !!

 

[homebrew2]

MEXICO !!
Thats where I want to go, MEXICO ! Right now I'm friggn freezing !!

Oh I don't know Frank.......I've been thinking of the French Riviera
myself

 

[homebrew2]

We'll be starting from either IL or MO.

I really don't have a budget at all yet - this is all hypothetical. I'm just looking for ideas of interesting places to visit.

ETA - kids are 9, 8, 6, and 3. We like to drive so ... really no boundaries!

Trixie...one of my favorite places in the world is Maramec Spring.....
it will be close for you, just outside of St. James MO. Then south thru
Steelville into the Ozark National Scenic Riverways country.

 

[kc5grw]

We like to camp in the state parks in Texas, National Parks in some of the surrounding states.

Cruising, as on a ship, was a forgotten pleasure till this Christmas. We sailed on the Carnival Triumph out of New Orleans over Christmas. Visited Belize City; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel. Great Christmas trip. We'll be sailing on the Disney Wonder during spring break.

 

[disney4dan]

I second the Washington DC area for inexpensive or free options for the kids.

Also - lots of caverns in the Virginia mountains along Rte 81, and many historic areas in Virginia and PA for civil war battlefields.

Knoebel's park in Elysburg, PA has camping adjacent to the theme park and you do not have to pay anything to get in the park. I have not been, but my oldest son has and he really enjoyed it.

Can you tell we are all planning our spring and summer adventures while snowbound?

We are looking forward to the Gettysburg, PA grand gathering of some of the folks in this group. Should be a good time.

 

[GOBA Mom Lynn]

Well Washington DC seems to be a recurring theme here lately....
I'm in the starting phases of planning a week split between DC and the beaches of Delaware. We have friends who live in Lewes so we'll stay with them, but we spend all our time at Cape Henlopen State Park. If our friends didn't have such a nice house where we could stay for free, I'd be camping in the state park.

Another nice place to go, but would be a long drive, is Colorado. In and around Rocky Mountain National Park has lots to see. There's a YMCA camp that's like a resort in Estes Park. Back in the 80's we went with 8 friends and rented a condo in Steamboat for a couple of days for only $60 a night. Those ski resort towns have tons of condos sitting empty in the summer, so they rent them cheap.

Those are my suggestions.

Anybody else have something so we can all dream of sunny summer weather.......

 

[4mickey2]

http://www.assateagueisland.com/index.htm

this is a cool place to visit on the east coast. otherwise, we have done the blue ridge parkway. took it all the way down. i think we started in the shanondoah and ended up in the smokies.

you can't go wrong with visiting national parks.

FRANK YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO MEXICO. TRUST ME WE WALKED ACROSS THE BOARDER OVER CHRISTMAS AND IT WASN'T WARM THERE EITHER. WELL, ,MAYBE FARTHER DOWN BUT, NOT RIGHT ACROSS THE FENCE. LOL

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Oh I don't know Frank.......I've been thinking of the French Riviera
myself

Well, I spose the people there would be a little better look'n ,

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

Just about anywhere on a cruise ship is nice. Camping wise if I can't have FW I'll take Ft.Desoto near St. Pete, Gettysburg, or the KOA near Luray Caverns in VA.

 

[2goofycampers]

Well, I spose the people there would be a little better look'n ,

Only if you like hairy women.

 

[Judy in Texas]

Trixie...one of my favorite places in the world is Maramec Spring..... it will be close for you, just outside of St. James MO. Then south thru Steelville into the Ozark National Scenic Riverways country.

If you explore the St James Missouri area, add St James Winery to your list. It is on the north east corner of the I-44 St James exit. I make at least one trip there each year from Fort Worth to stock up.

 

[kayrosek]

Since you mentioned the Missouri area we are rather fond of the Basswood RV resort in Platte City. They have a spray ground, pool, stocked fishing ponds (you don't need a fishing liscence there) and planned activities on the weekends (hayrides, movies, crafts, etc.)Nearby is Worlds and Oceans of Fun Also love the KOA in Lawernce Kansas. They have a huge jumping pillow (last year it was 5 dollars for a wrist band that would allow the kids to jump all weekend), pool, pedal go carts that you can rent for the kids and activities (themed weekends, flashlight candy hunts, movies, tye dye T shirts etc.) Nearby the college has a natural history museum that is pretty cool. If you head through Kansas Salina has a KOA (never stayed there) and we loved the Rolling Hills Wildlife park (zoo, indoor exhibits with taxidermied animals and animatronics in their natural habitat, hands on kids area with animal puppets, educational computer programs and other things, plus a 360 degree movie theater). Plus Salina has a bison farm we found rather interesting. A place we want to stay is Jellystone RV park in the St. Louis area near six flags. They have tons of activities including pancake breakfasts with Yogi Bear and of course ther's Six Flags to visit. Also in St. Louis we found tons of things to do. General admission to the zoo is free, they have art and science museums in that area that are also free. The botanical gardens are really cool and the kids (and adults) loved City Museum! I also love camping at Table Rock Lake. I find Branson too crowded for the most part but the lake is calm and beautiful. Silver Dollar City is close and when we feel like braving the traffic in Branson there's tons to do.