Forum Discussion

campn4walleye's avatar
Aug 09, 2015

be careful when accepting the last site

We just returned from the North shore of Lake Superior. It was a wonderful time. We didn't realize how packed all the CGs would be, even during the week. We finally found an open site for the days that we needed at the CG that we wanted (Burlington Bay). It was the last site available. No problem.

We knew ahead of time that it was near the playground AND showers. We did not know how near. People walked continuously through our site. Not just the grass part...over our carpet under our awning, through our towels as they were hanging on our awing edge! Are you kidding me?!! Are you too lazy to walk an extra 10 feet?

Now the kids. I expect them to have fun. But, do they HAVE to scream? It was incessant. Luckily, we went exploring most of the time but the evenings were the worst.

Our neighbor's kids started playing kickball and the last straw was when they hit the truck. DH is usually extremely tolerant, but the truck, TC and boat are off limits.
He warned them twice to move further away from the campers or the ball would be confiscated. They moved. Around 10 PM, there were still about 10 teenagers out making a racket, acting ridiculous (girls and boys flirting...you get it). Finally another camper came out and told them to be quiet as his small children couldn't get to sleep. Ahh, finally, peace and quiet.


So, things we've learned. Never take a site near the showers or the playground. It's a wonderful CG but the campers are crammed into that particular area. Nice if you have young children yourself, but not if you want to enjoy the lake and (sort of) quiet.

Most of the dog people were great about picking up. One lady however let her chihauha (sp?) poop in someone's site. I asked her if she needed a bag. She said "did she poop, I can't tell. She poops earthworms anyway". She laughed and walked off. You can still step in it can't you? She gives dog owners a bad rep and it made me angrier than all the other annoyances.

BTW, the park rules say if you have a problem...call the city police. Not bad enough for that, just annoyances.

Would we stay again? Absolutely, just not site #27.:E
  • et2 wrote:
    pira114 wrote:
    I don't think the people walking through the campsite is appropriate. Not at all.

    But kids screaming? At a pool or playground? Seems normal.

    My kids are very well behaved and polite. But I don't see a problem with kids having a good time during a camping trip.

    It was suggested that people with kids boondock or stay home? Maybe that's a bit backwards. If you can't handle kids playing in a pool and screaming, maybe you should stay home or go boondocking.

    Seriously, a campground with pools and playgrounds is obviously designed to accommodate families. But some people here seem to think they deserve to tell these families to stay home?

    This is why many people think RVers are stuck up egotistical jerks. It's that attitude that they should be able to dictate what happens at the campground.

    Sorry if I offended anyone. Just tired of hearing it.


    We were taught not to scream when we were kids. We still had a blast. Personally I don't care one way or the other. But if it's quiet time another story. Usually the screamers are still screaming.

    Is it a bad attitude to expect rules to be obeyed?


    Not at all. Rules are rules and staying somewhere with rules implies you're willing to follow them. I get that.

    Unless I missed it, we weren't talking about quiet time. And personally, I think 10 pm is late. I tell my kids quiet time is about 8:30. We may be still around a campfire, but that's late enough and time to be quiet for my kids.

    But at the pool, on vacation, middle of the day? I expect laughing, screaming, kids.

    To me, it's kinda like going camping and getting upset over campfire smoke. It's just part of it.

    I agree with the rest of the OP. People walking through campsites is unacceptable. My kids would catch hell if they ever did that.
  • You roll into a CG without a reservation & they have only one site left, you take what they have without complaint or move on. Your choice.

    Been there. Done that. My own fault for not planning ahead on a busy weekend.
  • We learned a simple lesson many years ago when our daughter was still in school. Stay out of most CGs during July and August. Those months are the height of the summer vacation season. Especially the last week of July/first week of August.

    Once she was done with school we rarely go during that time period. Everything before and after (save for holiday weekends) is generally easy going. Especially weekdays. The first week of September is our favorite time to go almost anywhere. Kids are in school, only the die hards are in the CGs, and nothing is very busy.
  • msjdbman wrote:
    Ah, the joys of campgrounds when they are busy. Just a few years ago, we finally had no children or grandchildren responsibilities after Labor Day any more. So...now we wait it out and go to our favorite campground and campsite after Labor Day. There is typically only 5-10% occupancy at that time, and we can truly relax and do our thing without the noise and issues.


    AMEN x 10!
  • portscanner wrote:
    Reminds me of the experience I had a few years ago in a Ga State Park.

    About 15 campsites were taken up by what must have been every single relative for the past 20 generations of a family. Kids everywhere. There had to be at least 50-70 under age 15 rugrats running around.

    We set up our 5er on our site (at that time we had a 5er instead of a TC) and sat down in an attempt to enjoy some quiet when a soccer ball rolled in front of my chair. I child (8-10 years old) ran over and said, "I am sorry sir, may I get my ball?" Being near speechless at such a inquiry, I smiled and replied, "No problem!"

    We were going to run out and meet some friends for dinner, so we got in our truck. It was then we realized there were about 20 kids having a football game of sorts in the road. As soon as I started the engine on the truck, the older kids immediately directed the younger kids out of the road.

    We got back around 8 and as we drove back to our site, as we drove to our site, every time we approached any kids, they would immediately grab their toys or bikes and clear the road.

    We sat down outside our 5er as there a cool breeze and we noticed something weird. We could hear many people talking, the sounds of feet running on the street and leaves, the sound of bicycles being operated, but something was missing....something was missing.....

    about 8;30 they all gathered in one area - then everyone went to their tents and campers.

    We woke up late the next morning, had breakfast and then went outside. Again- ankle biters everywhere - you could hear laughing and running and other sounds...but something was missing......

    We took a walk, and as we walked past them they said a plethora of weird things - such as "Good morning, sir", and to my wife "Good morning, ma'am." We even got a couple of "Excuse me!" when they ran in front of me as they played. Again, I noticed something was missing....

    They all packed up and left the third day we were there. After they drove off we took another hike to a different section of the park, but to get there, we had to pass by where they had camped. Not a single piece of trash to be found. Fire pits had been cleaned out. It was disgustingly clean.

    After we got back from our hike, I realized what had been missing.

    I had not heard not even one screaming kid during the 3 days they were there.


    Was this either in Mayberry or you were in a Twilight Zone Show !?? ;)

    Its not just the kids anymore its the whole family / clan.
    Loud , rude ,crude, cursing the whole time.
    Its the "its all about me" anymore "Rules don't apply to me" attitudes!

    It just does't matter what your doing anymore, camping ,on a cruise,on a flight ,to simply going to the grocery store (no not walmart , that's a whole other planet )
    People in general have lost it , its called manners !!
  • "Was this either in Mayberry or you were in a Twilight Zone Show !?? ;)

    Its not just the kids anymore its the whole family / clan.
    Loud , rude ,crude, cursing the whole time.
    Its the "its all about me" anymore "Rules don't apply to me" attitudes!

    It just does't matter what your doing anymore, camping ,on a cruise,on a flight ,to simply going to the grocery store (no not walmart , that's a whole other planet )
    People in general have lost it , its called manners !"
    ------------------------------------


    BINGO...try going to eat at a restaurant anymore. The kids acting up, everyone at the table loud, they disturb the entire restaurant. This is not your home at your kitchen table...you are in public and should behave appropriately, have some manners and respect for others.

    I have seen many kids playing nicely without SCREAMING. It's the few, the one family that ruins it for others...hence...go boondock.

    Why should everyone else in the CG go boondock who are not disturbing others enjoying the CG and know how to behave in public? That is backwards.
  • lots2seeinmyrv wrote:
    "Was this either in Mayberry or you were in a Twilight Zone Show !?? ;)

    Its not just the kids anymore its the whole family / clan.
    Loud , rude ,crude, cursing the whole time.
    Its the "its all about me" anymore "Rules don't apply to me" attitudes!

    It just does't matter what your doing anymore, camping ,on a cruise,on a flight ,to simply going to the grocery store (no not walmart , that's a whole other planet )
    People in general have lost it , its called manners !"
    ------------------------------------


    BINGO...try going to eat at a restaurant anymore. The kids acting up, everyone at the table loud, they disturb the entire restaurant. This is not your home at your kitchen table...you are in public and should behave appropriately, have some manners and respect for others.

    I have seen many kids playing nicely without SCREAMING. It's the few, the one family that ruins it for others...hence...go boondock.

    Why should everyone else in the CG go boondock who are not disturbing others enjoying the CG and know how to behave in public? That is backwards.


    It's a PC thing world anymore (input :R sarcasm) lol
  • wa8yxm wrote:
    You might try some portable dog pen fencing and set it up around your site so as to have a fence.. you can tell folks it's about your fur-kids staying "Home" but it's for keeping the riff-raff off site.. May or may not work but it's something you can try.

    Alas.. I know one woman who routinely reams out folks who cut thorough her site
    I will cut through a vacant site but not an occupied one.




    Right idea, just put up signs on the fence that say "please don't feed the alligators"
  • OFDPOS wrote:

    Was this either in Mayberry or you were in a Twilight Zone Show !?? ;)

    Its not just the kids anymore its the whole family / clan.
    Loud , rude ,crude, cursing the whole time.
    Its the "its all about me" anymore "Rules don't apply to me" attitudes!

    It just does't matter what your doing anymore, camping ,on a cruise,on a flight ,to simply going to the grocery store (no not walmart , that's a whole other planet )
    People in general have lost it , its called manners !!


    The unusual experience I had actually happens more often than you realize. You have to look for it. The problem is the screaming distracts you from the good going on at the other table / campsite / isle of the store / seat on the plane where there are people w/ class and manners not getting your attention.

    Look for it. Lead by example
  • little screaming is normal, but when it goes on and on and over the top---pull out your hair time :) :)

    we avoid big cgs. I like the ones with less sites, more controlled most times.

    we just got back from beach and next to us was a mom with 3 kids...2 girls, one boy...younger range 6-10 area. the boy screamed at every wave--OMG drove me nuts. high pitched! left and went back to camper for a while and hit beach later....honestly the screams did me in and of course screaming in the surf my mind was on shark HA HA

    older I get the screams just pierce the skull more I think :)