Camping and Retirement Blog - Page 3 of 17

Maine Camping Summer 2022

Maine Camping

Maine camping for us covered eight nights and four campgrounds. It was the apex of our trip because it was the farthest north we went and Acadia National Park was the highlight of our trip.

Bangor

Bangor was our first Maine stop. I have been aware of Bangor most of my life because of all the Stephen King books I have read. I so hoped we would run into him. Silly, huh? Despite not seeing King, Bangor was such a nice place. It has a huge Paul Bunyan that is recognized as the most handsome Bunyan for its finally detailed features. The fiberglass over steel Bunyan structure can also withstand hurricane winds.

Paul Bunyan Campground

The Bunyan theme extended to our campground and we had a pleasant stay there. There was a pool and laundry and our site was beside a large pond.

Steven King’ House

Stephen King’s house was a must see. It looks somewhat like you would expect a home of his to look. The gate and fence includes bats, spiders, and gargoyles. Sadly, no sign of the great man.

This is where the writing magic happened

Land Transportation Museum

The Cole Land Transportation Museum surprised and delighted us. It has all sorts of things used for transportation in Maine dating back to more than a hundred years. Old fire engines, wagons, cars, campers, motorcycles, wagons, and snowplows are there.

The bridge below was constructed to represent bridges of the past. Unlike Vermont, there only a few covered bridges in Maine today and we did not get to see any of them.

I was particularly interested in the museum’s snowplows because they are not a part of my world in the South. I think the machine in the photo below looks like something from a King novel.

Lobster!

We discovered a grocery store that we love, Hannaford. It was founded in Maine in 1883.

The Hannaford location near our campground was reputed to occasionally be frequented by Stephen King. I hoped we might see him, but instead found a store we loved. Fresh produce covered a huge portion of the store that comes from local farms and they will cook the live lobster of your choice for $8.99 a pound. Our lobster picnic by the pond was so delicious!

Maine camping at Paul Bunyan Campground — Lobster from Hannaford

Mount Desert Island

Mount Desert is an island of Maine that includes Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The terrain is very hilly and rocky, but is quite beautiful. We spent two nights in Bar Harbor and two nights in Acadia National Park.

Bar Harbor

Our first two nights were at Hadley’s Point Campground. It was a full hookup campground on the northern part of the island and we were comfortable there.

We arrived on a Friday afternoon and headed to the town. It was very picturesque with gorgeous views of the coast and many boats and yachts. The streets are very narrow and lined with restaurants and shops that cater to tourists.

Amazingly, we snagged a parking spot right on Main Street. We had our pup with us and got some ice cream at Mount Desert Ice Cream and ate it on the Village Green. Our favorite was The Dude, which tastes like a White Russian.

We took a walk down Main Street to Agamont Park. There is a shore path that I wish I could say we hiked. Just didn’t get it in.

We returned to the town of Bar Harbor a couple of days later thinking crowds would be less on a weekday. However, it was worse and we couldn’t find any parking. There is a free bus shuttle, The Island Explorer, that transports people to Bar Harbor from local hotels, inns, and campgrounds. We didn’t try to use it because we thought dogs wouldn’t be allowed. However, we later learned that “well-behaved” dogs are allowed, but not on the seats. It would have made our last trip to Bar Harbor much more enjoyable if we had ridden the shuttle.

We just happened upon the lovely spot above and stopped for a photo. Everything was so lush and green!

Acadia National Park

I have heard many times how beautiful Acadia is and now know it is true. It is a relatively small National Park, but uniquely lovely. The big thing to do at Acadia is to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain. The park requires reservations to drive to the summit during peak season. We were lucky that the day and time we chose was clear and sunny.

The Porcupine Islands are several small islands are visible from the top. It was not too crowded on the summit because of the limited access and I do think it enhanced the experience.

Another popular spot is Otter Cliffs. There is a walkway and you can climb down to a stunning view of the rocky shore. You can’t see it in this photo, but there were tons of lobster traps in the water.

Jordon Pond is a centerpiece for the park and there is a restaurant there. They specialize in popovers and tea. We actually had a meal there, including popovers. Our meal was there because you can take dogs if you eat on the lawn.

Our pup hung out below the table while we had our meal. The atmosphere was very nice, but the meal was overpriced for what you get.

Blackwoods Campground

Our two nights in the park were in Blackwoods Campground and we loved it. Most importantly, our spot was level and shady with a nearby bathroom that was immaculate. We were dry camping, so no electricity. However, the weather was mild and we didn’t really need the air conditioner. Our camper is equipped with a solar panel and it was enough to keep our battery going because we were frugal using electricity.

There are no showers in the campground, but there was a place just outside the park that is coin-operated.

Maine camping at Blackwoods Campground — Site A45

One thing we especially liked was a path to the ocean from the park. It was an easy downhill path that led to a bench and a ledge above the water.

It was a popular spot and we met other campers there. The view of the water and rocks below was gorgeous.

Kennebunkport

Sandy Pines in Kennebunkport was our last Maine camping stop. It was the nicest campground we visited on our trip.

This campground had a heated saltwater pool and an extremely nice laundry. So, I went for two birds one stone and did laundry while we hung out at the pool.

Kennebunkport’s big claim to fame is that it is where the summer home of George H. W. Bush family is located. It has been a Bush family retreat for more than a hundred years. We got close enough to get a shot of the compound. Check out the Texas flag under the U.S. flag.

Downtown Kennebunkport is so beautiful with the Kennebunk River flowing through the center of town and flowers everywhere. We only had one full day to explore, so we just drove around and took in the sights. Next, lunch was at Federal Jack’s—delicious fish and scallops. Maine seafood is the best!

One quirky attraction is The Wedding Cake House, built in 1825. It has been called the “most photographed house” in Maine. We checked it out, but couldn’t tour it because it was undergoing renovations. However, it looks pretty good for an almost 200 year-old house.

Maine Camping in Conclusion

We had high expectations for our Maine camping trip and it certainly did not disappoint. It is a beautiful part of our country and its people were friendly. It was also nice to be in an area with such a rich history. Oh, and the seafood was incredible!

Lastly, check out our visits to other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Connecticut Camping Summer 2022

Connecticut Camping

Our four nights camping in Connecticut were very pleasant because the people were very friendly and there were fun things to do.

Cozy Hills Campground

Cozy Hills Campground is a fantastic family campground because it has lots of activities for children. There is so much going on that there is an itinerary with each day’s activities. It has a small restaurant on site and a large, but shallow swimming pool. However, it was a bit more expensive than many campgrounds on our trip at $85 a night. One thing we liked about it was its location—just outside of Litchfield and an easy drive from Hartford.

Connecticut Camping at Cozy Hills — Camping at Cozy Hills

The people who run the campground were so nice and it was very well-maintained. It is one of the cutest and friendliest campgrounds we have visited. We also enjoyed beautiful weather every day during our three-day stay.

Connecticut camping at Cozy Hills Campground — Lots of things to do at Cozy Hills

Our site was large and level and we were so comfortable while there. The only negative was the dog park. They had one, but it had artificial grass and our pup refused to go on it.

The other campers were also very friendly, particularly one family that gave us a package of Def for our truck. I costs almost $20 and they wouldn’t let us pay for it.

Litchfield

The nearby town of Litchfield was founded in 1719. It was very charming with historic buildings and lots of nice restaurants. We had a delicious outdoor lunch at Difranco’s with our pup and did a little walk around the town. One of the buildings I really liked was the Superior Court pictured below. It looks great for over a hundred and thirty years old.

Bellamy-Ferriday House

We did a tour of the nearby Bellamy-Ferriday house. It has an interesting history of two separate families. Reverend Joseph Bellamy built the main portion of the house in approximately 1754. The tour included artifacts from the time and information about the family and how they lived.

Many years later, the house was occupied by Carolyn Woolsey Ferriday. She was a philanthropist who provided support to women subject to experimentation by the Nazis in Ravensbrück concentration camp. She is one of the characters in Martha Hall Kelly’s book, Lilac Girls.

Hartford

Hartford was only fifty miles from us and we spent one of our days there and got a Rover sitter for our pup. It was a fun and relaxing day!

State Capital Building

Firstly, we headed to the Connecticut State Capital. We try to tour capital buildings on our travels because they are so grand and you can learn a lot about a state’s history. We were happy to be there on a weekday because there was a tour available. The building is a gorgeous Gothic Revival structure that opened in 1879.

Connecticut camping near Hartford — Connecticut State Capital Building

It was very grand on the inside as well. One of our tour guides demonstrated the unique echo acoustics on the spot pictured below. The man on the right in the photo is U. S. Senator Richard Blumenthal doing an interview. However, we did not get an opportunity to speak with him.

There were many beautiful and interesting things in the Capital Building, but I thought Lafayette’s Bed was a most unusual artifact, dating back to battles with George Washington. This type of bed led to the phrase, “Sleep Tight.”

Frank Pepe Pizzeria

Friends who formerly lived in Connecticut told us about Pepe’s pizza. We visited the West Hartford location and it was in a modern building with phenomenal food and extraordinary service.

We ordered a medium pizza and it was enormous. There were leftovers so we had a snack later at the campground. My husband’s half was Amanti Della Carne (meatball, pepperoni, sausage, and bacon) and mine was Fresh Tomato Pie. So delicious!

Mark Twain House

After that, we managed to squeeze in a visit to the Mark Twain House where he lived with his family from 1874 to 1891. Twain’s biographer described the house as “part steamboat, part medieval fortress, and part cuckoo clock.” I can see it.

The tour provided lots of information I didn’t know about Twain in his later years. He was quite a character.

The Visitors Center is very modern and has several cute Twain images. I loved the Lego Mark Twain.

There is also a bench where you can sit beside a bronze Mark Twain.

Clinton

Clinton is on the eastern side of the state and we were there for one night as we made our way home. Riverdale Farms Campground was a nice campground near New Haven with full hookups at a reasonable price.

Connecticut camping at Riverdale Farms campground — Riverdale Farms Site # 61

New Haven

Frank Pepe’s pizza was our main draw to New Haven, which is the original location, established in 1925. Operations are in a building beside this original building. The pizza was very good, but I preferred the Hartford location. Surprisingly, the pizza and service was better there.

We also wanted to check out Yale University as some university campuses are quite beautiful. It turns Yale is a urban campus and parking was very challenging. We didn’t get a photo of any of the buildings because of traffic and limited time.

Connecticut Camping In Conclusion

Beautiful weather, great campgrounds, friendly people, and phenomenal pizza made our Connecticut camping a wonderful experience. Therefore, Connecticut is a place that we would like to visit again. Check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource to read about other places we have been.

Rhode Island Camping Summer 2022

Rhode Island Camping

Rhode Island, the smallest state in the Union, was another new camping destination for our summer trip. Interestingly, Rhode Island is not a true island, but it does have islands as part of its boundary as do many states. Our campground was on its biggest island, Aquidneck.

Aquidneck Island

Aquidneck Island contains the cities of Newport, Portsmouth, and Middletown. We planned to spend one day in Newport and one day taking the ferry to Providence. However, there was a high probability of heavy rain for both of our full days there. Also, we saw that Providence had some flooding. So, we decided to just stay on the island.

We were camping in Portsmouth at Newport RV Park. It was the most expensive campground on our trip at $122 a night, but it did not have the most amenities. So, we definitely were paying for location.

Rhode Island camping at Newport RV Park — Site # 122

We had a nice, level site on gravel, but it was nothing special. Our site was at a low point on the campground, so we were concerned about flooding. However, the girl in the campground office assured us that the island doesn’t flood. She was right; even though weather radar showed a large mass of bad weather, we had no flooding and less rain than one would expect.

The Newport Mansions

The Newport mansions are a popular tourist destination. American industrialists built the lavish mansions from 1870 to approximately 1910. The owners referred to the mansions as summer “cottages”. It was called the Gilded Age. Mark Twain coined the phrase to draw attention to the excesses of the era. Personal income tax began in 1913 and , consequently, the mansions became white elephants. Many were torn down, a few were donated to The Sisters of Mercy for Salve Regina University, eleven are currently managed by Newport County’s Historical Society, and a few are still privately owned.

A tobacco heiress built Vinland Estate, pictured above, in 1882. A family member donated it to Salve Regina University in 1955. Today, it is classrooms and office space.

Ochre Court is the second largest Newport mansion. It was built in 1892 at a cost of 4.5 million. The owners donated it to the Sisters of Mercy in 1947 for the university. I liked that the mansion appeared in the movie, True Lies.

The Breakers

The Breakers is the largest Newport mansion and we toured it on one of our rainy days. Cornelius Vanderbilt II built the mansion in 1895 as a summer home for his family. The 70-room, Italian-Renaissance Villa utilized forty servants for its upkeep. It was built with all the latest conveniences of the day, including plumbing, central heat, and electricity.

The tour provided an app with information on the house and how it’s residents lived. Photographs were for personal use only.

I loved the tour because it was like a time capsule of the era. While we don’t have royalty in this country, these folks sure lived like they were. The house appealed to me because of same reasons that I like Downton Abbey. They are a reflection of the times and mores of the privileged.

We saw all of three of these mansions from Cliff Walk, my favorite thing in Newport.

Cliff Walk

I absolutely loved Cliff Walk! It is a 3.5 mile National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District. It was designated in 1975 and about two-thirds of it is very easy walking. Cliff Walk is wonderful because the trail winds around the eastern shore of the island with spectacular views of the shoreline and several of the mansions.

We took our pup with us and she loved seeing the people and all the sights and smells.

Rhode Island camping near Cliff Walj — Our pup loved Cliff Walk

The shoreline was very rugged in places and quite beautiful. It was very overcast that day and we were glad to see it before the rain began.

It was so exhilarating to walk along the easy pathway with the sea air blowing from below. We did not get to do the entire walk, but I was grateful we got to see some of the best parts, including the mansions referenced above.

Redwood Library

Libraries have been a passion of my my entire life, so, I was happy to get to visit the nation’s longest continuously operating library that is in its original structure. Redwood Library was founded in 1747 and has been continuously operating ever since.

An annex is across the street that dates to 1863. It was so cool to see these old buildings that were in operation so many years ago and are still used today.

Clams

On a lighter note, I was in search of New England clams. We had fresh lobster a couple of times, but we had missed eating fresh New England clams. Apparently, Flo’s Clam Shack is an iconic place for clams in Newport. We had our pup and couldn’t go inside, but Flo’s has an outdoor area that allows pets.

Rhode Island camping near Flo’s crab Shack — Outdoor Dining at Flo’s

I learned that New England’s most popular clams are belly clams. Instead of just the strips, you also get the bellies. They taste a bit like fried oysters and I understand they are an acquired taste. I liked them right away, but my husband was not a great fan.

Dealing with a Dirty Dog

We had been traveling for almost four weeks and our pup was in great need of a bath. I met a couple at a State Park earlier and they told me about Rumford Pet Express. We went to the Middletown store on Labor Day and they offer all you need to give your pup a bath for only $12. Additionally, the staff was fantastic. It was a wonderful experience and so nice to have a clean pup again.

Rhode Island Camping in Conclusion

Our Rhode Island camping didn’t go as planned because of excessive rain, but we still had a good time. It would have been nice to take the ferry to Providence, but it just wasn’t in the cards. However, I am grateful we got to visit lovely Newport. Check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource to read about our adventures in other states.

Massachusetts Camping Summer 2022

Massachusetts Camping

We have never done any Massachusetts camping before, but we have been to Boston. This visit began in the Berkshires on the western side of the state and ended on the eastern coast. Camping in the Berkshires was easy, but there is a story to tell about our coastal camping.

Bonnie Brae in Pittsfield

It was smooth sailing at Bonnie Brae because we had a nice, shaded, level site and the campground had a pool and laundry. We used the laundry, but did not have time for the pool.

Massachusetts camping at Bonnie Brae — Bonnie Brae is a cute little campground

The campground is on a steep hill. Consequently, it gave Sophie and me a workout coming back up on our walk. It was a friendly area and we interacted with several neighborhood residents below and they gave us tips on restaurants in the area.

Hancock Shaker Village

We had one full day to explore the area and we spent most of our time at the Shaker Village. Shakers inhabited the village from 1783 to 1836. Today there are twenty historic buildings. The countryside was so beautiful and the village was quite interesting.

The Shakers believed in communal living, equality, obedience, humility, simplicity, and perfection. Their work was of the highest quality. All those traits led to a harmonious and simple life. However, they also believed in celibacy. I think that was an unsustainable aspect of their survival as a congregation.

Massachusetts camping ear the Shaker Village — Shaker Village

This round barn was built in 1826 and was an engineering marvel for its day and stabled 52 milk cows. We attended an interpretive talk and were amazed at how innovative they were and how they lived. People traveled from all over when this barn was being used to see it.

Walking around enjoying the beauty of the Berkshires was another thing we loved about being at the Shaker Village.

Hilltop Orchards

Our rainy afternoon was spent at Hilltop Orchards Home of Furnace Brook Winery. We did a wine tasting and purchased a bottle of ice wine, which is unique and something we have never tried. They also had the best cider doughnuts we had on our trip. It was a good way to spend an afternoon.

Gloucester

It was a couple of weeks later when we reached the coastal side of the state. Our first impressions were not the best. The roads in the Gloucester area were very narrow and curvy. The speed limits were low, however, which helped. Unfortunately, my husband had a bit of a bad attitude about the area before we even turned into the campground.

Cape Ann Camp Site

The campground was all uphill and again with the narrow roads. The staff checking us in were very friendly though. The road up to most of the campsites is in the picture below. It is steep with a pronounced curve. When my husband saw it, he said, “Oh, hell no!” He turned down an alternative road to the left, but you couldn’t get up it. A camper who was there said a woman tore up her camper trying to go up that way. So, we turned around and braved the big hill. I got out and watched from all sides as my husband drove up. We made it!

Massachusetts camping at Cape Ann — The road up to the camp site

An added risk was the huge rocks and protruding trees all along the road. The rocks were everywhere, but there was a path for a careful driver. We saw campers that were our size, but none any larger in that top area. Finally, we made it to our site and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Ironically, this was one of our favorite stops on our trip. The area was beautiful and there was a lot to do. Also, the other campers were very friendly. This part of our Massachusetts camping turned out to be extraordinary.

Massachusetts camping at Cape Ann Camp Sites — Site 196E

The Overlook

An added bonus of the campground was a trail that led to an overlook. We walked up the trail several times and enjoyed the view and the discussions with the other campers. Cars and boats get trapped by the tides in the water below because the level varies by as much as six feet daily.

Massachusetts Camping at Cape Ann Camp Site — View from The Overlook

My husband and dog really liked going to the overlook in the early morning. Unfortunately, they never quite made it for the beginning of sunrise.

The Harbor and City

We were in Gloucester over Labor Day weekend and there was a lot going on. Everything big was happening the Saturday before Labor Day. There were schooners racing in the harbor and that evening a large live band would be playing. A parade of boats with lights would be on the harbor at dusk and later there would be a big display of fireworks. I say “would be” because we only spent the afternoon there. We were worried about the loud noises having a negative impact on our pup. In fact, the fireworks were quite loud in our camper, which was miles away.

We did see the boats going through the drawbridge. I think they were practicing in the daylight. It looked like it would be grand evening.

However, we got to enjoy the beautiful harbor with its monuments, flags, and flowers.

Stage Fort Beach

Stage Fort Beach is near the harbor and it enabled us to get close to the shoreline to see how different it is from the southeast. Half Moon Beach had just a small area of beach and many rocky cliffs.

There was more beach at Cressy’s Beach but what I found most interesting was the big rocks and the house on the cliff. I tried to find out information about the house, but was unsuccessful.

We were impressed with how long Gloucester has been around. Tablet Rock below has a commemorative plaque dedicated to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the Dorchester Company in 1623. It also states that Tablet Rock was used by native Americans as an alter to invoke the Great Spirit.

Salem

We took a short drive to Salem for our other free day in Gloucester. It is a cute town that embraces its dark history. We learned the specifics of what happened at the Witch History Museum and had Thai food in the Witch City Mall.

Salem is also the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The Scarlet Letter. The House of the Seven Gables, which was inspirational to him, is available for tours, but we didn’t have the time to see it. However, I plan to check out the book from the library when we return home.

Massachusetts Camping Conclusion

After settling in, both of our Massachusetts camping stops were wonderful. I am so glad we were able to camp in this beautiful state with such a rich history. Check out our visits to other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

New Hampshire Camping Summer 2022

New Hampshire Camping

Our New Hampshire camping included a day in the amazing White Mountain National Forest while visiting Mount Washington and a delightful day in the charming town of Wolfeboro. This stop exceeded my expectations.

Wolfeboro

The town brochure references itself as “ The Jewel of Winnipesaukee” and it did not disappoint. It is picturesque because of quite a few lovely Victorian homes, many nice restaurants, beautiful flowers everywhere, and great views of the lakes. It is said to be “ The Oldest Summer Resort in America” because it was the summer retreat for John Wentworth, the last colonial governor of New Hampshire, in 1763.

New Hampshire Camping at Wolfeboro Campground

We had three nights at Wolfeboro Campground in a woodsy, slightly mountainous setting. Our site was large, private, and mostly level. This campground offered the most value we have seen on our trip with $39 a night for full hookups in a very desirable location. A quarter was required for a shower, but the bathhouse was immaculate. Warren, the campground owner, has owned and operated it for fifty years. We enjoyed talking to him.

Mount Washington

Mount Washington, at an elevation of 6,288 feet, is the highest point in the Northeast. It was a ninety-minute drive from our campground and we visited it on the day we had the best weather. The drive to the top can be very rough on a vehicle’s brakes, so we opted for the Cog Railroad to take us to the summit. Operating since 1869, the railroad uses diesel-powered locomotives to push single rail cars up the mountain and to slow descent from the front going down. The trip has an average grade of 25% with a maximum of 37%.

The best seats are definitely in the front and on the three-seat side. Our seats were not the best because we only booked the day before, but I’m still glad we were able to do it.

We learned that it is clear at the top only 33% of the time, so it is not surprising that this is what we got. The temperature was 54 degrees with winds at 20 mph. I was so glad to have a light jacket.

Mount Washington has the worst weather in the world because of its height and high winds. Winds of 231 mph have been recorded there.

Mount Washington Omni Hotel

A highlight of our New Hampshire camping was a visit to the Omni. This beautiful hotel was completed in 1902 at a cost of $1.7 million and has 200 rooms and suites with breathtaking views of the Presidential Mountain Range. It is physically commanding, but it also has historical significance.

The incredible Omni Mount Washington Hotel

The Bretton Woods Agreement

The hotel was the site of a conference in 1944 of all the World War II Allied Nations that resulted in the Bretton Woods Agreement. The nations agreed to peg their currencies to the dollar and the dollar was pegged to gold. Everything was pegged to dollars because the United States held three-fourths of the world’s supply of gold. This led to the International Monetary Fund and dominance of United States in the world economy.

The Rosebrook Bar

The Rosebrook Bar in the hotel serves food and drinks on the enormous back deck and we were able to score a couple of seats with a view. I had a rock star martini and my husband had sangria and grey goose. My martini was different and delicious. We sat and enjoyed the warm and breezy weather and astonishing views.

From our seats, we were facing Mount Washington and the lower part of the Cog Railroad.

The Wright Museum

The Wright Museum is dedicated to World War II and to the war years. It is a very cool museum. Unfortunately, we did not get there early enough to properly see it, but I would love to come back and see it with more time to take it all in.

There was a dog tag display representing the 1,203 New Hampshire residents who lost their lives in the war.

The museum has many rooms representing the times of the era. Each year of the war, starting in 1939, has a room with information about what was going on in American culture. This room reminded me of many movies and my early childhood.

Lake Winnipesaukee

Wolfeboro borders six different lakes and ponds including Lake Winnipesaukee. Two large boats also offer scenic cruises on the lake. Oneis a paddle boat. We wanted to do one of the cruises, but neither was operating on our one day that was available. One can also rent jet skis. We walked around the lake because it was so beautiful with a wide walking path.

New Hampshire Food while Camping

Our best meal on our entire trip so far was at Morrissey’s, which we tried because it was recommended by the owner of our campground. The restaurant was also beautifully landscaped with all kids of flowers.

I had my first lobster roll and it was so good. My husband had the fried seafood platter, but I helped him get through the enormous plate of food. It was outstanding! We were so bad for this meal and also shared the white chocolate bread pudding. So delicious!

Another great meal was in North Conway at Chef’s Bistro. We stopped on our way back from Mount Washington.

New Hampshire Camping in Conclusion

This was one of my favorite stops! Although we had three nights there, I felt there was much more to do. For example, we did not get to go inside the three historic buildings in the Clark House Museum Complex. I would have loved a week in this location. If interested in our travels to other states, please see our page States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy camping!

Vermont Camping Summer 2022

Vermont Camping

Vermont camping was a thing of beauty for us for many reasons. For example, the Green Mountains were all around and the state has more than 100 covered bridges. Also, there were picturesque small towns near our campground. So, we we spent lots of time just taking in the sights. From driving through this lovely state in late summer, I can tell that it would be breathtaking in Autumn with the turning of the leaves.

Arlington

Our campground was in the small town of Arlington, population roughly 2,500. It is an old town, established in 1761, with a rich history as the first capital of the state.

The Arlington countryside was gorgeous with very green grass, rustic structures, and mountains as a backdrop.

One very famous Arlington resident was the iconic Norman Rockwell who lived in the town for fourteen years, from 1939 to 1953. The house below was his home while in Arlington, which is now a hotel called Rockwell’s Retreat.

There is a free Norman Rockwell museum at the Sugar Shack. It features the Post magazine covers of the time that Rockwell lived in the area. He used local residents as models quite often.

I especially liked the display below that had information about a self portrait of Rockwell’s.

Just across from Rockwell’s home is the Arlington Green Covered Bridge that was built in 1852 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We also drove our truck through this bridge.

Vermont Camping on the Battenkill

We spent three nights in Vermont and all our nights were exclusively at Camping on the Battenkill. The campground has much to offer: great location, full hookups, large level sites, beautiful landscaping, large dog park, laundry, and the Battenkill River. Many campers took tubes and floats into the river. I understand it is also a good spot for fly fishing.

Our site was very wide with a lush grass base. I was surprised that the grass does so well being covered with campers and rugs so much of the time.

Below is a photo of the Battenkill. We did not get in it, but I did dip my toes in and it was cold.

Vermont camping on the Battenkill River — The Battenkill River

Manchester

We also visited Manchester, a nearby town. It home to the historic Equinox Resort, built in 1853. Four US presidents have stayed at the hotel and Theodore Roosevelt gave a campaign speech on the lawn. It is said to be the most haunted hotel in Vermont. Mary Todd Lincoln visited in 1864 and planned to come back the next year with her husband, but he was assassinated. Hotel employees have claimed to see the ghost of Mary and a small child. It might be interesting to stay there.

Manchester also has the beautiful First Congregational Church, established in 1784.

First Congregational Church, Established 1784

Lastly, I loved the Manchester countryside with the Green Mountains all around. Note the flying object my camera caught. Not sure what it is.

Bennington

We came through Bennington as headed to our campground and returned a couple of days later. While passing through, we visited the impressive Revolutionary War Battle Monument. We saw it from a distance while stopping at the local Wal-mart. I later learned it is the tallest man-made structure in Vermont.

The monument is for the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777 because it was a pivotal victory for Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys, the New Hampshire Militia, and volunteers from Massachusetts. They were protecting provisions stored in Bennington that the British troops were seeking.

Bennington has three covered bridges. Paper Mill Village Bridge below is also on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1889. It is 126 ft long and 14 1/2 ft wide. We drove through all the bridges in this post.

Silk Road Covered Bridge was the oldest bridge we saw, built in 1840 and 88 feet long.

Vermont camping and visiting covered bridges — Silk Road Bridge

Robert Frost also lived near Bennington and his former home is a museum. We stopped by and walked around. However, we couldn’t do a tour because it was closed that day. However, it was a beautiful piece of property and I can see how it would be inspirational to Frost.

Vermont Food

We had a couple of good meals, both in Bennington. I had excellent fish and chips with a craft beer at Madison Brewing Company Pub and Restaurant. The fries were especially good. We also had burgers at Jensen’s that were good and very reasonably priced.

We purchased some robust maple syrup, pumpkin butter, apple cider doughnuts, and local raw milk cheese at the Sugar Shack in Arlington. In Manchester, we had some local non-dairy ice cream made by Wilcox Dairy. That was our dinner! We stopped there because they were dog-friendly.

Vermont Camping In Conclusion

Our time in Vermont was lovely. However, it makes me want to come back for the turning of the leaves. Camping in the fall doesn’t work though because most campgrounds close by mid October and we would have difficulty getting home. So, I think we might have to fly up here and rent a car to really see Vermont at its most beautiful.

If interested in other states we have visited, check out , States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy camping!

The Train from Anchorage to Denali

The Train

We opted to fly to Alaska rather than pulling our camper. It is so far away—we just couldn’t envision being on the road so long. The bonus with this strategy was that we could take the train from Anchorage to Denali. It turned several months travel on the road to just over two weeks. I had to share the photo below of Alaska from the plane. It was stunning!

I am happy to say that all our flights to and from Alaska went smoothly. We flew American Airlines to Anchorage and Alaska Air returning home. Alaska Air was my favorite because the planes were nicer and it offered better service on the plane.

We were very happy when our plane landed at the Anchorage airport as our flight from Dallas was almost seven hours. There was a definite “Alaska” feel to the terminal.

Anchorage

Our trip began and ended in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. In fact, close to half of all Alaska residents live in Anchorage. It had the feel of many small cities in the lower forty-eight, except for the amazing mountains as a backdrop.

We had a little time in Anchorage before camping and before and after the train. We loved it because of excellent meals and friendly people. Our first night was at the Holiday Inn near the airport. The shuttle was reliable and the manager was excellent. He told us about a Korean restaurant nearby, which we tried and loved.

Our last two nights (before and after the train) in Anchorage was at Crown Plaza. Hotels were fully booked long before we checked in, so I recommend booking early if going in the summer. They also had a shuttle to the airport and gave us an amazing upgrade our last night.

We had great luck with meals in Anchorage, including Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria and El Jefe Taco Joint.

Alaska Aviation Museum

Our one excursion in Anchorage was to the Aviation Museum. My husband loves anything related to aviation, so he was happy with our choice.

In Alaska, one in five people have pilot’s licenses because so much of the state is not accessible by roads. I found it interesting that Juneau, the capital, is not even fully accessible by road. Consequently, airplanes are an important part of Alaska’s history and life today.

The museum is on Lake Hood and we watched several float planes take off while at the museum.

Float planes were taking off near the museum

Alaska Railroad

We rode Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star and chose the Goldstar Service to Denali and the Wilderness Express car returning to Anchorage. Wilderness Express is a private company that has two cars that are on the back of the train. The Goldstar Service includes dome seating, meals and a couple of drinks and Wilderness Express costs a bit less, but includes no food or drinks.

The food was better on the Goldstar service and was actually cheaper because you are on the train for approximately seven hours and food and drinks are expensive.

However, the Wilderness Express car had an excellent host/narrator who pointed out viewing opportunities, including Denali mountain. Sarah was upbeat, charming and fun! The car also had more comfortable seats and you could charge your devices at your seat, unlike the dome service.

Wilderness Express Car on the train to Denali — Wilderness Express Dome Car

Views From the Train

The trip from Anchorage to Denali takes about seven hours and covers 234 miles. It travels pretty slowly, so one can take in the sights and snap photos without everything passing quickly.

Mountains and rivers were often what we saw on the trip. There were very few people and buildings along the way. Alaska truly is wide open country.

The train went slowly on the 918 feet long bridge over Hurricane Gulch. It is also 296 feet high making it the highest and longest bridge in the Alaska Railroad. The photo below was taken from the back of the rail car.

There is a story about the house below. Many decades ago, the owners wanted to paint it a green that would blend in with the background. This particular shade, however, stood out brightly. It got so much positive attention though, that the owners kept it that color. It became a gathering place for the community.

I love the colors in the mountains and trees for this area.

One area, as you neared Anchorage, had vivid lime green ground cover for miles and miles.

Special Sightings

We were on a bear sighting hunt for all of our two-week trip, but we only saw them as the train was departing the station in Anchorage. It appears that mamma and baby were separated by a fence.

We saw bears from the train — Bears near the Anchorage Station

Denali Mountain is the highest mountain peak in North America at 20,310 feet above sea level and is also the third highest peak on Earth. It is so often covered by clouds that it is estimated that you only have a 30 percent chance of seeing it. While spending two days in Denali, we tried unsuccessfully many times to view it. So we were delighted to finally see it on our way back to Anchorage. It was a sight to behold!

View of Denali Mountain from the train — Denali, the High one, viewed from the train

The photo below was taken from the back of the train after crossing Hurricane Gulch.

View from the back of the train past Hurricane Gulch — Just past Hurricane Gulch

Conclusion

The train was not the least expensive way to get to Denali, but it certainly was a pleasurable trip. To be able to comfortably enjoy such beautiful scenery was a privilege. As we are not likely to get to Alaska again, I am so glad we got to experience the train and the dome views of Alaska.

We also spent ten days camping on the Kenai Peninsula. If you would like to check it out, it’s at Alaska Camping in a Rental RV.

Alaska Camping in a Rental RV

Alaska Camping

We have wanted to go to Alaska for a long time. When camping became our major retirement hobby and we set a goal of camping in all fifty states, it was clear that any trip to Alaska must include camping. We considered pulling our trailer there, but it is such a long trip to just get there and back and it was longer than we like to be away from home. Also, the train to Denali has always seemed so cool and we didn’t want to miss it. Therefore, it was a rental camper for this trip.

The Rental Camper

Great Alaskan Holidays was our choice for a rental company because they had the best reviews. We rented a 22 foot, 2022 Forest River Forrester from them and everything went very smoothly. We have never camped in a Class C, so it was an opportunity to try something new. It had a slide out and an on-board generator, both also new to us.

Alaska Camping — Our first day in the Forrester

I am very happy to say that all went well with the RV. Riding in the cab was not as comfortable as our Ram truck pulling the trailer and the gas mileage was only about 9. 5 miles per gallon compared to about 13 for our trailer. However, it had a more comfortable bed and a fabulous stove, refrigerator, and microwave/ convection oven. I also liked that I could see what was going on in the back and could also get back there if necessary.

Loved the access between the front and back

There was plenty of room in the RV and it was equipped with basic linens, blankets, dishes and cookware. We stocked up with food in Anchorage at the local Walmart.

2022 Forrester — My big guy fits in this!

Alaska Camping on the Kenai Peninsula

The Kenai Peninsula is where many Alaska residents go for vacation because it includes some highly prized towns to visit. I narrowed our trip down to four stops and ten nights. We could have done everything we wanted in eight or nine nights, but didn’t want us to be rushed.

Hope Alaska

Our first campground was Porcupine Campground in Hope. Hope is an old mining town and a popular weekend destination for Anchorage residents with live music. However, we were there on a weekday and absolutely nothing was going on. It would have been nice to see what a weekend would be like.

Porcupine is dry camping in the Chugach National Forest. Our site was nice and our first time operating a slide and using the generator went great. The batteries held well and we only needed minimal generator use. Overnight temperatures were in the mid-forties, but we were very comfortable.

Alaska camping at Porcupine Campground — Site # 33

A few sites are on water on Turnagain Arm. It was beautiful and phenomenal to have such a view right in the campground.

We attempted a short hike, but mosquitoes were quite aggressive. We were not adequately prepared, so we gave up this idea.

Alaska camping in Porcupine campground — A trail in the campground

We we were only in Hope for one night, but our next stop was close, so we spent awhile to explore the town. It was picturesque and rustic.

Hope has a museum dedicated to its mining history. It opened at noon, but we wanted to get on the road before then. We spoke briefly to the museum’s director and she told us to feel free to look around outside. There was quite a bit outside that we checked out.

Kenai Alaska

Diamond M Ranch Resort in Kenai was our next Alaska camping stop. The campground had full hookups, but no beautiful view. There were also very aggressive flies in the campground. Any opening of doors or windows allowed them in by the dozen.

Alaska camping at Diamond M Ranch — Full hookups at Diamond M Ranch

We were in Kenai for two nights and our major sight to see was the Kenai National Wildlife refuge. On the way, we encountered a moose. So exciting!

Moose sighting on side of the road—too slow getting camera

We spent several hours at the refuge. The employees were very nice and informative. They recommended a hike by the lake and a loop. We had bug spray, but it didn’t contain deet. The had complementary bug spray with deet and we used it.

We also visited the City of Kenai. It is a small and quaint town with a wonderful restaurant in Old Town called Veronica’s. The desserts were so good, we stopped there twice. Old Town has several very old buildings, such as the Russian Orthodox Church built in 1841 below.

Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church 1841 to present

Homer

Homer was our favorite stop on this trip because it had our favorite campground and extraordinary views. Ocean Shores had full hookups, a nice laundry, and very well-maintained facilities. We were there for three days.

Alaska Camping at Ocean Shores — Ocean Shores Site #19

Our campground had a beautiful view of the mountains, the bay, and the beach below. We walked down to the beach and discovered dark sand and rocks with shapes and colors like I have never seen. Very other worldly. An interesting fact about Homer is that its tides create a variation in water levels by as much as thirty feet within a single day. Boats can become stranded because of this.

The Spit

A big attraction for Homer is The Spit. It is a narrow 4.5 mile jutting out of land into the bay. The harbor, tours, restaurants, and several campgrounds are on it. It is a cool place to visit, but extremely windy.

Homer is known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World. We didn’t do any fishing, but we did try the halibut and it was delicious!

Fresh Halibut at Boardwalk Fish and Chips on the Spit

The harbor was a very busy place. We took the Kachemack Bay Wildlife Tour with Seabird Ventures and it was excellent. Davey and his wife, Lindsey, have a small boat and they took us to Gull Island, a rookery where over 15,000 seabirds nest.

While near Gull Island, we saw eagles, common murres, and puffins. We also saw sea otters in the water.

When we returned to The Spit, my husband spied an eagle perched on a pole. He was able to get fairly close. We saw several eagles there.

Homer also has tours by plane or air that will take you to a place where you are likely to see brown bears from a close range. We considered it, but the tours were quite expensive. I think if we had it to do again, we would take the tour despite the cost because we are not likely to have another opportunity to do something like that.

Seward

Seward was the last stop of our Alaska camping adventure and it was an amazing place. We were at Waterfront Campground right on Resurrection Bay. The campground had electricity and water, but few amenities beyond that. However, the view more than made up for it.

Alaska Camping at Waterfront Park — Site #554 Waterfront Park Campground

Resurrection Bay is actually a deep fjord that was carved by ancient glaciers, much like those that can be found in Norway. It is almost a thousand feet deep and is a stop for cruise ships.

Alaska camping on Resurrection Bay — Resurrection Bay

The Alaska Sealife Center is an aquarium and a marine rehabilitation facility in Homer. It provides care for sick and injured marine animals and returns them to their natural habitat. We spent an afternoon there and saw many aquatic birds, seals, and sea lions.

Nearby Kenai Fjords National Park is only accessible by plane or car with the exception of Exit Glacier. We took a six-hour cruise and saw stunning rock formations and mountains. On two separate occasions, we saw orcas from a distance, but sadly they did not rise highly from the water.

We also saw a group of sea lions resting on a cliff from a fairly close perspective.

Glaciers

The highlight of the cruise was Aialik Glacier located in Aialik Bay. It was enormous and pieces of it was falling off into the water. It was so majestic!

The next day, we visited Exit Glacier, a few miles north of Seward. It is part of Kenai Fjord National Park and the glacier can be viewed by taking a mile hike. We took a ranger tour, which made it more interesting. The glacier has been receding since the 1800s and it appears much smaller than Aialik.

Alaska Camping Conclusion

Our Alaska camping adventure was everything we expected and more. We have now camped in thirty-nine states. If interested in reading about our adventures in other states, check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Winter 2022, Florida Camping

Since retirement, we have sought to escape the cold for a few weeks every year and winter 2022 was no exception. Last year, we also went to Florida, Winter in Florida, Two Weeks Early in 2021. This year, we were several hundred miles south in Florida for four weeks. The standout memories for this trip were the time we had with our friends and the beautiful water views.

Topsail State Park, Winter 2022

Winter 2022 camping began at Topsail State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. We booked many months ahead and were able to snag two weeks at this epic park. Our site was roomy, but we were beside the main path and it was a little noisy. Despite that, we loved every day we spent there.

We walked Sophie a lot at this campground and she loved it. The photo below was taken at No Name Lake. Most days during our stay were warm and sunny, but we had a few that were cold and several that were also rainy.

The private beach was just a mile or so from our site, down a road dedicated only to pedestrians and bikes. There is also a tram that runs daily which transports people to and from the beach. We rode our bikes to the beach a couple of times during our stay and walked it once. Sophie stayed in the camper when we rode our bikes.

It was so wonderful to spend some time on the beautiful emerald coast. The beach was glorious!

Winter 2022 at Topsail — Enjoying the beach at Topsail

Restaurants Nearby

I cooked a lot while we were at Topsail, but we did enjoy a few meals out. The most memorable was Emeril’s. It was a rare, bucket list type of experience and a delicious meal. We had a less expensive meal that was equally delicious at Shunk Gulley. Also, we had a nice meal at Thai Chiang Rai.

Winter 2022 at Emeril’s — Dinner at Emeril’s

Gamble Rogers State Park, Winter 2022

Next, we had eight nights at Gamble Rogers beachside and the best views of our entire trip. Our first four nights were not on the waterfront, but we were gifted by access to our friends waterfront site for the last four nights because they had to leave early. It was one of the most beautiful sites we have ever had.

Winter 2022 at Gamble Rogers — Site # 23

Gamble Rogers was special because we were able to spend time with our very good friends, Peggy and Chan. It was chilly for most of their stay, but we still had a great time. Peggy made a special steak dinner for us for Valentine’s Day and it was delicious.

Access to the beach was beside our site. It was lovely, but most days it was rather cold and windy.

The thing about the beachside of Gamble Rogers is that is such a beautiful environment. Sophie took multiple walks every day and got to know a lot of the campers and volunteers. That girl is very sociable.

Day Trips

Gamble Rogers is located near many areas one would want to visit. We took two day trips while there.

Ravine Gardens State Park

A friend recommended Ravine Gardens State Park and it was very pleasant. The 146-acre park has multiple trails and some, like the 1.8 mile paved road below, are very easy to walk. Cars and bikes can also access it. We took our pup and had a very relaxing day.

We were there during the blooming season for azaleas and they were present throughout the park. We also saw citrus fruit along our walk.

We checked out the suspension bridge in one of the ravines and enjoyed a cool view of the trails below.

There is a 64-foot obelisk dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was responsible for the the park’s construction in 1933 by the Work’s Progress Administration.

Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine was our second day trip. We have been there before, but did not have time to visit Castillo de San Marcos. The fort is the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and has a interesting history. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area.

We had a fabulous lunch at Harry’s and then a walk along the river. Saint Augustine is a gorgeous city and we had beautiful weather that day.

Presnell’s RV Resort, Winter 2022

Our last campground was Presnell’s in Port St. Joe and we were there for a week. Our site had full hookups and was very comfortable.

Presnell’s has a marina that almost always has visiting pelicans. The campground also has a heated pool, but we didn’t go in during our stay.

The bay was just across from our site and we enjoyed the views most nights. It is truly a beautiful place.

A big plus about our stay was spending time with our friends who were also there. We had bike rides, saw pickle ball played and many great meals with them. Our favorite restaurants were Shipwreck, Mango Marley’s, Indian Pass Raw Bar, and Pepper’s Mexican Grill.

Our winter 2022 camping was so much fun! This could become addictive!

Happy Camping!

Fresh Water Sanitation for Lance 2075

Fresh Water Sanitation

It is important to annually perform sanitation of the fresh water system on RVs. I did an earlier post on this topic, Sanitize the Fresh Water System on the T@B 400. It has general information on why it is necessary. However, it was for our NüCamp 400 and the Lance 2075 sanitation process has a few differences.

Lance Differences

The Truma Combi water heater is in the 2075 and Truma instructs that bleach should not be used in it. See page from Truma Combi manual below.
More bleach is needed in the 2075 because the fresh water tank holds 45 gallons. So, 3/4 cup of bleach is required. (1/4 cup per 15 gallons)
Lastly, one must bypass the Truma hot water heater to perform the Lance sanitation process.

Truma Fresh Water Sanitization — Truma Sanitization Instructions

Fresh Water Sanitation Steps

Empty the fresh water tank.
Perform steps to bypass Truma Combi water heater. (See below)
Put 3/4 cup of bleach (1/4 cup per 15 gallon tank) into a gallon container and fill with water. Pour contents of container into the fresh water tank.
Fill fresh water tank with water.
Use pump to draw water through to all faucets to bring in the bleach water.
Allow bleach water to sit at least three hours or (preferably) overnight.
Drain the bleach water from the tank.
Fill the water tank with fresh water and pull it through the all faucets using the water pump.
Drain the water.
Reverse the steps used to bypass the Truma.

Truma Bypass Valve

Our Lance has a yellow tag near the bypass valve. Once on bypass, I verified that our hot water heater was indeed not taking in water. Water does flow to the hot water faucets, but no water flowed to the Truma. (I could tell because I emptied the Truma and after drawing water to the faucets, it was still empty).

Our valve is right next to the door to the Truma compartment at the bottom. The first photo below shows the normal valve position and the second is in bypass mode.

In Conclusion

The process was easy, but a bit time-consuming. I found that doing this increased my understanding of the Truma.

Happy Camping Y’all