Campground of the Week | From the RVFTA Podcast Network

13 Oct

Campground Review #50 Canyon RV Resort on Sinclair Creek in Radium Springs, British Columbia, Canada

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On this episode of Campground of the Week, Heath and Alyssa Padgett are reviewing Canyon RV Resort on Sinclair Creek in British Columbia, Canada. This beautiful private campground is located in Radium Springs, a perfect stopping point on your way from Glacier National Park to Banff National Park.

Heath and Alyssa loved that Canyon RV Resort combined many of the benefits of public and private campgrounds, offering both natural beauty and clean, manicured campsites. This campground is large but fills up well in advance, and you would be wise to make reservations if you are looking to stay here.

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06 Oct

Campground Review #49 Rafter J Bar Ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota near Mount Rushmore

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On this podcast episode of Campground of the Week, we are so excited to share Kerri Cox’s review of Rafter J Bar Ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota, just minutes away from Mount Rushmore.

Kerri explains why Rafter J Bar Ranch might just be her favorite campground ever. Yes, that’s right…EVER. The tall pine trees, scenic views, and lovely amenities won her family over during their stay in the Black Hills.

This campground has an unusual feature though–there are 6 distinct campsite areas, and it is important to know the differences so you chose the best one for your family. Kerri describes all the areas in detail, so listen before you book:

Main Camp
Base Camp
Line Camp
Ranch Camp
The Island
Lower Ranch Camp

Kerri also discusses some of the highlights of the grounds, including the hiking and biking trail that runs adjacent to the campground. Add in a lovely pool, solid bathhouses, and full hook ups and we understand why Kerri is gaga for the Rafter J Bar Ranch.

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Even though you could while away your days at Rafter J Bar Ranch, this campground is located in the heart of a bucket-list RV destination, the Black Hills of South Dakota. Guests are within minutes of:

If you are planning a trip to Mount Rushmore (now or in the distant future) you have to listen to this review of the Rafter J Bar Ranch in South Dakota. It may just become your favorite campground ever as well.

Also head over to travelswithbirdy.com and check out Kerri’s blog posts on the campground and surrounding region!

Thanks to our sponsors for supporting weekly content for all our camping fools!

29 Sep

Campground SmackDown: Lake in Wood Campground vs. Jellystone Quarryville in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

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On this episode of Campground of the Week, we are introducing a new format: the Campground SmackDown.

We have recorded almost 50 campground reviews from all over the country in the past year, and we noticed a bit of a pattern. When we released a review of a campground located in a popular destination, we received emails and comments about other great campgrounds in that area as well.

So a new idea was born…let’s put two reviews side by side so our listeners can choose which one sounds right for them. We won’t do this for every episode, but we are definitely planning on SmackDowns being in the regular rotation. Stay tuned for more in the future!

For the first Campground SmackDown, we decided to do two campgrounds that we love in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country region. Lake in Wood Campground and Jellystone Park Quarryville are both fantastic resort style campgrounds in the heart of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. However, the atmosphere, activities, and pricing are very different.

We have both reviews back to back in this episode, so you can listen and decide which place YOU would enjoy more. At the end, we make a choice on our favorite, and we invite you to chime in as well. Which sounds like a better pick for your family campground style? We would love to know!

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22 Sep

Campground #47 Streetsboro/Cleveland SE KOA near Cleveland, Ohio

On this week’s Campground of the Week episode, Stephanie and Jeremy review the Streetsboro/Cleveland SE KOA about 30 miles outside of Cleveland, Ohio.

This campground is a peaceful and quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the greater Cleveland area. The number of seasonal sites indicates that many people use this campground as a weekend getaway spot during the spring, summer, and fall months. But it is also a lovely place to stay if you are passing through the area and want to explore Cleveland.

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15 Sep

Campground Review #46: Ainsworth State Park near Portland, Oregon

On this week’s Campground of the Week’s podcast episode, Larissa Richardson from ThePopUpPrincess.com, takes us back to the amazing state park system in Oregon, and reviews Ainsworth State Park, just 30 miles east of Portland.

This campground is simple, but makes a perfect base camp for exploring both the downtown area of Portland and the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. images

One of the best features of the campground is that it offers full hook ups at a bargain price of $24. Larissa also raves about the clean (and free!) showers with plenty of hot water to keep her teenagers happy. The campground isn’t large though, so if you want to nab a spot you should probably book early. Listen to the episode to hear even more insider tips from Larissa and also her one (loud) nobody’s perfect complaint.
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08 Sep

Campground #45 Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, Texas

Balmorhea State ParkToyahvale, Texas

On this week’s episode of Campground of the Week, we are so excited to welcome Kate Dunbar with our very first review of a Texas campground. Kate takes us to Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, Texas.

This unique state park was first constructed during the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The crew of unemployed young men built the San Solomon Springs pool, which covers over two acres of land and is home to a variety of aquatic species. Over 26 million gallons of pure artesian water flows through the pool every day, and the water is a constant 74 to 76 degrees. This is truly an oasis of a state park during the hot Texas summers.

Kate provides all the details you need to know about camping at this State Park, including her pick of sites and how much you can expect to pay. In addition to swimming, expect your activity’s calendar to be scheduled with star gazing, hiking, and photography. Oh, and you could also get scuba certified during your visit!

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01 Sep

Campground #43 Jellystone Park Quarryville in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Jellystone Park QuarryvilleLancaster, Pennsylvania

On this week’s episode of Campground of the Week, we are reviewing one of the best campground resorts in the country: Jellystone Park Quarryville in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

This is not your typical camping…this is a family resort where you bring your RV. And that should definitely be your mindset when visiting. The price tag reflects the level of amenities and service, and on this episode we discuss how to measure the value of a resort campground.

From the water park to the pools to the hot tubs, expect to spend a lot of time in your swim trunks while visiting Jellystone Park Quarryville. In addition to the water features, special cabana rentals and snack bar service set this campground experience apart from anything you have ever seen before.

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25 Aug

Campground #42 Platte River Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan

On this week’s episode of Campground of the Week, we are reviewing the Platte River Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was names on of America’s most beautiful places by Good Morning America, and there is not better place to stay while exploring than the Platte River Campground. This is a hugely popular campground, and booking 6 months in advance when the reservations window opens is necessary if you want to nab a spot during peak season.

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18 Aug

Campground #41 Holiday Park Campground in Traverse City, Michigan

On this week’s episode of Campground of the Week, we are talking about our family’s recent stay at the Holiday Park Campground in Traverse City, Michigan. This place is very special and served both as a great base camp for exploring downtown Traverse City, and as a peaceful waterfront lake retreat.

This is the type of campground where the site REALLY matters. We booked early (January 2, 2016) and were rewarded with one of the coveted lake front sites. Listen to this episode to hear us describe the various areas of the campground, and where you might like to stay if you visit.

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11 Aug

Campground #40 Jellystone Park of Estes near Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

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On episode #40 of Campground of the Week, Brett Neilson reviews his base camp for exploring Rocky Mountain National Park–Jellystone Park of Estes. Rocky Mountain National Park is the 3rd most visited national park in the country, but surprisingly enough, people have some difficulty finding a great campground with reasonable access to the park.

Jellystone Park of Estes stands out for its combination of location and amenities. Listen to hear Brett’s review of his family’s first Jellystone Camp Resorts experience. We’ll give you a hint…we think another visit with Yogi might be in their future!

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