Picking your collective brains: camping?

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good, family oriented campground? we want to go camping next weekend, just one night, as it will be the first time we take the little ones camping and not sure how they'll react to it. We have no preference for state (MA, NH, VT, maybe ME, although that might be a little far for just one night). (Edit to add: I'm thinking somewhere with a pool or a lake, fairly easy hiking trails, and generally laid back. Not somewhere that will be full of hardcore campers/hikers that might be annoyed by our car camping ways, and also somewhere that isn't full of people boozing it up all day/night)

any suggestions appreciated. and if this is too far off topic for DSLJ, let me know and I'll take it down.

Thanks!

Comments

[ron_newman]

I unfortunately have no suggestions, but as a moderator here I'm fine with the topic.

[dphilli1.livejournal.com]

could you define "family oriented"? playground, pool, showers, nature trails, etc?

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

edited above, but basically all you noted, pool or lake, fairly easy trails, etc.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

I've stayed at quite a few of the Vermont State Campgrounds over the years; they were all really nicely set up. There always is wide range of people there - including families with little kids, people there for one night or for many weeks. The website gives lots of information about what the facilities are like; all the ones I've stayed at were on a lake with swimming, canoes to rent, etc.

http://www.vtstateparks.com

[lac.livejournal.com]

So, I have not ever camped (I know, right?!) but two of my friends recently camped here: http://pinewoodlodge.com/ It's in Plymouth, there's a lake and a park as well. The both brought their respective children along and they are youngish kids.

The place is actually owned by the family of the ex-boyfriend of one of the teenage daughter of my friend, but it does seem like a nice place so I figured I'd recommend it.

[freetobeme18.livejournal.com]

I second this! It's fantastic!

[mytheria.livejournal.com]

You should have good luck at most of the state parks. I'd suggest looking at the state department of recreation pages.

However, know that booking can be hard for 1 night. You'll need to call, not do it online, and weekends are often full far in advance in the summer.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

yeah, that's what we're finding. we planned to go to Gunstock, where we had gone years ago, but they have a 2 night minimum. We might have to suck it up and do 2 nights, getting there late on Friday after work/camp...

[silveraeroguy.livejournal.com]

Check out Bear Brook State Park (http://www.nhstateparks.com/bearbrook.html) in NH. A little over an hour away. Has a couple of ponds with beaches and offers boat rentals. Also has bathhouse facilities.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

I looked there, it looked perfect, but is booked up next weekend. I'm going to keep it in mind for later in the summer if we have time to do another camping trip.

[taura-g.livejournal.com]

Flat Rock Bridge (http://flatrockbridge.com/) in Lebanon, ME right over the border from Rochester NH. It's about 90 minutes from Boston.

We used to go with my late husband's family every July 4th weekend and it was great for the little ones.

[eanja]

Myles Standish state park in Carver is where I usually go camping w/ the kid. About an hour from Boston- mostly families, and it's a state park so anyone drinking has be be very discreet about it. There's lakes for swimming in, roads and trails to walk on, and water faucets and bathroom huts with toilets and showers. Plus all the campsites have picnic tables and little firepit/grill stands if your kids are old enough to get excited about roasting marshmallows. My kid is a teenager- it's quiet and remote enough that he and his friends can just be turned loose to wander freely, but the friend I go with has 3 years old twins, and it's a very good place for little kids to run around, and also a good chance there'll be some other kids their age there as well. Definitely a family campground versus a hardcore wilderness camping area, but that sounds like what you are looking for. And, yes, you park right at your campsite, though there are also parking lots if you want to hang out and swim/hike next day between leaving your site and heading home.

(They have several different campsites- different people have different opinions about which are the best. I usually go w/ Charge pond- ideally the A loop, as having the closest walk to the lake. But that might be more crowded on a weekend for that reason, so if you more want peace and quiet and less other families nearby, you might want a loop that's a little further walk from the lake.)

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

My family's been going to Cardigan Lodge since my youngest brother was in a baby backpack. (He's now in college and resents me reminding him of how cute he was as a tyke.) It has a swimming hole, a dining hall for dinner if you prefer, and there's a number of car camping places. I had mono one summer and still did the easier hikes.

http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/cardigan/

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendation, we made a reservation for a campsite there next Saturday. Looking forward to it!

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

Glad I could be of service! Have fun!

[rhino88888888.livejournal.com]

Tully Lake in Royalston is a campground run by the Trustees of Reservations. They have swimming and kayaking and some nice hiking trails. The campsites require a short walk from the parking lot and are generally pretty laid back. http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/places-to-stay/tully-lake-campground/

[freetobeme18.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend Pinewoods Lodge in Plymouth. I spent all my summers growing up there and loved it. It has activities every weekend for kids (themed for theme weeks), a playground, a beautiful pond beach, and boat rentals. It's in the woods. There is also a lodge for if it rains and you need a break from being outside for a few hours; some of the activities are held in the lodge, and it has a little camping store, a cafe that serves brunch on Sundays, and ice cream shop, and an open space to just hang when activities are not occurring. Each site has water, a picnic table, a fire pit, a grill, and is in close proximity to public restrooms/showers (though the showers are coin-operated and don't last very long).

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

We have in the past few years also camped with kids in Harold Parker State Park, which is in Andover, and at a private campground near the beach in Gloucester called Cape Ann Campground.
I don't know how heavily booked these get how far in advance in the middle of summer though.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

highly recommend http://www.nhstateparks.org/explore/state-parks/pawtuckaway-state-park.aspx

And also making reservations online before you go. It's got a great lake, nice hiking, fishing and pretty laid back attitude and you can park right where you camp. It's nice and shady and not too buggy.