Trip report and need a little pep talk...
Hey all, Just back from our Memorial Day camping trip. Left on Saturday, back here by 6 Monday. We have a 2013 Nomad Retro, which is quite short at 20 feet. It's alright for the 4 of us with 2 boy...
Forum Discussion
I know Caboose Lake, I pass it if I use US-24 on my trips between Oklahoma and Michigan. I might consider it for an overnight, if that's where my overnight stop fell, and I didn't have kids with me. But it is not really a place for a RV outing that you want to have the feel of a campout, because it is not really a park in the recreational sense, and it is not even a campground. It is a RV park, and if it has long term stays, to that extent it is a trailer park.
When coming through on US-24 with my grandchildren, and needing an eastern Illinois or western Indiana overnight, I try to make that stop at one of the campgrounds at Indiana Beach (Monticello). That's a resort where kids can have some fun on an extended stay. You pay somewhat more, most likely, for the fun. Just as when you go to the state fair, some of the fun is being there, but also some of the fun costs money for the facilities you use and the games you play.
I know some people only have the holiday weekends to work with, but I try to avoid them, rather than add to the crowds. You can go on holiday weekends if you plan, and make reservations, and the crowds sometimes make it all more enjoyable. At our lakefront camping areas, and many of our state parks, all weekends May through October are busy, so going camping is not really a last-minute decision.
I've had rainy campouts. Many were back in my tenting days. We would find things to do in the rain, boots and poncho. A group shelter, a larger open tent or a canopy, can help draw people out of their tents for activities.
I have cancelled camping plans for weather, there are times the weather just gets unsafe. I cancelled (as wagonmaster) our camping club's plans to be at the lake May 20-22, because of the certainty that the weather system coming through would produce severe storms. It produced the Moore tornado, several smaller ones south of this town, and at least one in the area we would have camped. Starting this time of year, and into June and July, you have to deal with those systems in Indiana, Ohio, and southern Michigan.
You have some really good state parks in Indiana (though not free of charge). You need to plan a family outing that will take you to those places, before you give up on RVing or camping as a family activity.
When coming through on US-24 with my grandchildren, and needing an eastern Illinois or western Indiana overnight, I try to make that stop at one of the campgrounds at Indiana Beach (Monticello). That's a resort where kids can have some fun on an extended stay. You pay somewhat more, most likely, for the fun. Just as when you go to the state fair, some of the fun is being there, but also some of the fun costs money for the facilities you use and the games you play.
I know some people only have the holiday weekends to work with, but I try to avoid them, rather than add to the crowds. You can go on holiday weekends if you plan, and make reservations, and the crowds sometimes make it all more enjoyable. At our lakefront camping areas, and many of our state parks, all weekends May through October are busy, so going camping is not really a last-minute decision.
I've had rainy campouts. Many were back in my tenting days. We would find things to do in the rain, boots and poncho. A group shelter, a larger open tent or a canopy, can help draw people out of their tents for activities.
I have cancelled camping plans for weather, there are times the weather just gets unsafe. I cancelled (as wagonmaster) our camping club's plans to be at the lake May 20-22, because of the certainty that the weather system coming through would produce severe storms. It produced the Moore tornado, several smaller ones south of this town, and at least one in the area we would have camped. Starting this time of year, and into June and July, you have to deal with those systems in Indiana, Ohio, and southern Michigan.
You have some really good state parks in Indiana (though not free of charge). You need to plan a family outing that will take you to those places, before you give up on RVing or camping as a family activity.
