Lodging

Not all dudes yearn after the guys-only Vegas blowout vacation. Any why should they? Get creative on your next mancation, aka vacation with the guys. Instead, try fishing in Mexico, skiing and snowmobiling in Wyoming or golfing in South Carolina.

Boca Paila Fishing Lodge in Riviera Maya, Mexico
During the day, catch snook, tarpon and Culebra snapper, then lounge on the beach drinking Tequila on the rocks as the sun sets. Trips to the nearby Mayan ruins can also be arranged. This small resort caters to only 18 guests at a time, so expect a low-key experience. Rates start at $385 a night based on double occupancy. Price includes three meals a day. Call 01-52-984-155-00-12 or email info@bocapaila.com.

A rustic fishing lodge in Mexico

A short walk to daily entertainment: fishing

Togwotee Mountain Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Dubbed the ultimate snowmobile lodge, this outpost in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, caters to the winter sports set, offering access to skiing, snowboarding and more. Prices start at $119 for a half day snowmobile rental ($169 for a full day) without a guide (based on the rate for a beginner snowmobile). Guests are encouraged to bring their own. Rooms start at $140 plus tax, based on double occupancy. Cabins start at $190 plus tax; cabins have three beds and offer a taste of winter camping. For details, call 866-278-4245.

Snowmobiling in Wyoming

Opt for a cabin for the next boys' ski trip

Kiawah Island Golf Resort near Charleston, South Carolina
The Ocean Golf Course offers views of the Atlantic at each of the 18 holes. And, this course will host the 2012 PGA Championships. The three-room villas start at $270 per night. If golfing, drinking Bloody Marys and walking the beach aren’t enough to fill your days, you can always wrestle gators. Call 800-654-2924 for more details.

The Ocean Course

Special thanks to Boca Paila for the inviting lodge photos, Togwotee Mountain Lodge for the crisp shots of winter fun, and to Kiawah Island Golf Resort for the inviting shots of the resort and golf course.

When my husband first suggested that we go camping near Yellowstone Park I have to admit I cringed…a lot.  I couldn’t help it, I’m a city girl, I like my hotels to come with all the amenities, including a king size bed.  I love room service, and free Internet and cable. 

Camping is a hard sell.  But, as I looked at my little boys I realized that in this instance I was (again) out numbered, because camping, if we want to stick with generalizations, is a “guy thing”, and mine is a “guy dominated” home.  So I caved in to the idea.  But not without packing up extra sheets and pillows and insisting that we sleep on queen size air mattresses as opposed to flat, confining sleeping bags.

My husband did his research trying to find a compromise and what we found was KOA Kampgrounds, about 10 minutes outside of Yellowstone Park on the Montana border. And I guess they have several throughout the U.S.

The campsite has all the amenities for sure.  It has a 24 hour laundry room, which provides all the supplies you would need, including a change machine.  It has a store for those last minute purchases, such as milk, or toothpaste, or paper towels.  They have a coffee shop, though on the first morning, my city slicker husband asked for an Espresso and was quickly offered a no frills cup of coffee instead. They also offer hot breakfast in the morning, made to order, consisting of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon.  The eggs were a little strange tasting, but otherwise the food was ok and not expensive. They also have free wireless service which you can access every where on the  grounds (including from your campsite), a pool, a playground, bike rentals, and a game room. The bathrooms are clean and have private showers and toilet stalls, ample room to hook up hair dryers and spread out make up.

Then there were the campsites.  They have cottages as well as what they call “tent villages”.  I convinced my husband that since we were going to go “camping” we should go for the full camping experience.  So we settled on the tent village.  I am not exactly sure what size the section they provide for your tent is.  I guesstimate it is about 30×20.  It comes with a picnic table, a fire pit (bring your own wood), and ample space for a large tent, which we had, and your car, or RV.

And it was, for all intents and purposes, a perfect site for a city girl like me.  It had all the conveniences one could need, especially with little kids, and activities galore.

It was close to the West entrance of Yellowstone Park, and we had tons of fun there, so that was really great for us. But in the end, except for the part where we slept in a tent, it didn’t much feel like “camping” at all.  I had envisioned my camping experience to be a bit more rural, more isolate.  I psyched myself up to “rough it” and in the end, it wasn’t that at all.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park

It is not KOA’s fault, they have set themselves up for providing traveling families with everything they could need and want.  But personally, I felt like I cheated my kids out of a true camping experience.  Maybe, for now, this option is the best.  The two youngest are pretty small still (2.5 and 4).  And though we enjoyed our stay, I felt at times I was in a trailer park and not really camping…and I think next time, when the boys are a little older, I will aim to really appreciate more of nature and without so many of the conveniences.

Photo credit: Carol Cain

Public Beach at Gilbert Lake State Park

By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog

When we were looking for a cheap way to see Cooperstown recently we looked into campsites. It was baseball’s Hall of Fame induction weekend so the hotel rates in and around the area were high priced with limited availability. Returning to our camping roots seemed like a good way to go. In general, state parks tend to provide cleaner, safer, more comfortable campgrounds with better amenities. And Gilbert Lake State Park in nearby Laurens did not disappoint. Spending less than $30 a night didn’t hurt either. Read More »

When I was a kid, mom and I camped out quite a bit and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park was one of the places I remembered most fondly. It was close to home, and I loved the whole kid-appeal of Yogi Bear.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Campground

As an adult, perhaps I’ve lost the rose-colored glasses, but the current day campground doesn’t mirror anything I remember from childhood.

The majority of the campsites, including the one I stayed at with a friend, were set up on uneven ground. Many had pieces of leftover garbage lying around, even pieces of broken beer bottles in a few, as if the staff didn’t even bother to check the sites between rentals. The community areas were unclean and the two days we were there, the bathrooms were often closed for one reason or another. Our site also was near the interstate, so there was a lot of noise to deal with.

The worst part of the stay was the indifference and rudeness of the staff. Complaints were either ignored or quickly foisted off to someone else. Many other campers we spoke with were unhappy, though the kids didn’t seem to mind as long as they could play in the pool or caught glimpses of Yogi and his friends.

I didn’t get a chance to check out the campground’s cabins internally, but it appeared there was quite a variety of them. They even had two sites with yurts on them for those who forgot their tents, but didn’t want to book a cabin.

Rates started at $29 for the bare bones campsite, $59 for sites with water and electric and $109 for the cabins.

Honestly, though, even for free I wouldn’t stay here again and neither will my friend. But at least I still have my memories.

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Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
S1915 Isnala Rd
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
608-254-2568
Open May 1 – September 30

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[photo courtesy Michelle Snow]

Related Posts:

• Comfort Inn in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
• Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin
• Mayflower Motel in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
• Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

From hiking and picnicking, to fishing and horseback riding, to simply enjoying a scenic drive along Trail Ridge Road (the highest continuous paved highway in North America), there’s so much to see and do in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. One way to fully immerse in the natural beauty in the park is to overnight in one of its campgrounds.

High-alpine highway affords stellar mountain views in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Last summer my family took our pop-up camper to Grand Lake, Colorado, to enter Rocky Mountain National Park on its less-touristy western side. We indeed drove Trail Ridge Road (which peaks at 12,183 feet) toward the eastern side of the park to set up camp at Moraine Park Campground.

With 245 sites, there’s lots of room at this particular campground for tents and RVs. We picked it because it’s one of two for which you can make reservations; three other campgrounds are first-come/first-serve.

Like most National Park campgrounds, Moraine Park is rustic; there are no electric, water or sewer hook-ups. There is plenty of fabulous forest and shady areas, as well as some open meadows, where we spotted deer, butterflies, chipmunks and other critters.

There’s a free shuttle bus that runs from Moraine Park to Bear Lake, a very popular place for nature walks; a myriad of more difficult trails also start from Bear Lake. In the evenings, campers can gather for 45-minute talks from park rangers at the campground amphitheater.

Fees for camping at Moraine Park are $20/site/night; plus there’s a $20 automobile fee to enter the park (valid for 7 consecutive days). In an effort to stimulate summer vacations at National Parks, the government is waiving all entrance fees on three weekends in the coming months: June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16. I hope it does indeed encourage more families to get out there and enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park — it’s certainly a favorite spot of mine.

Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Towering monoliths and steep-walled canyons at Colorado National Monument.

Last weekend my family and I embarked on our first camping trip of the year. We dusted off and cleaned out our pop-up camper to “explore our own backyard” at Colorado National Monument, just south of Fruita in the Grand Valley.

Now, we’ve taken our kids to six National Parks throughout the Southwest, but, embarrassingly, hadn’t visited this National Monument before — even though it’s less than two hours away from our house! I’m so glad we made the trip to spend two nights in its convenient Saddlehorn Campground. (By the way, a National Monument is established by the declaration of a president. A National Park is established by an act of Congress. Remember that one for your next game of U.S. trivia!)

The 32 square miles of terrain in Colorado National Monument includes towering mesas and rugged sandstone formations. In one word (okay, three): otherworldly, striking and inspiring. What’s incredible is that this canyon country is just six miles from the town of Fruita — with its Dinosaur Journey museum (fun for kids) and a giant grocery store (in case you’re camping and forgot marshmallows). Further down the road less than a 20-minute drive away is the major city of Grand Junction (with a mall, in case you forgot any other sort of travel gear).

View of Fruita from Saddlehorn Campground at Colorado National Monument.

In fact, Fruita is visible from a ridiculously steep overlook at the Saddlehorn Campground, set on a mesa. In particular, there are cliffs behind spot #47 in Loop B, where we parked our pop-up camper. If you have toddlers or preschoolers who tend want to “explore on their own” and escape from your sight, this might not be the best choice for you. There are other loops and spots in the campground that don’t have as easy access to towering cliffs. But with responsible children ages 7 and 9, we loved our spot surrounded by pinyon and juniper trees, and a stone’s throw from the clean restroom with flushing toilets (but no hand soap; bring your own to the lavatory).

Camping at Saddlehorn is on a first-come, first-served basis. We arrived at the campground at about 3 p.m. on a Friday in mid-May, with plenty of spots open. But by 7 p.m., most of the 80 spots were filled. Campers were a mix of families and young-adult mountain bikers who came to ride the Fruita area’s famous off-road trails.

Besides the campground’s fabulous restrooms (any restroom without a pit toilet is fabulous for me), amenities include community water spigots, plus a picnic table and charcoal grill at each campsite. Wood fires are strictly forbidden due to high winds and extreme dryness in the area. There are tent and RV sites available; no hook-ups. The cost is $10/night per site up to 7 people.

During our camping weekend, we biked with our kids to the nearby Visitor Center (all of 5 minutes by bike), where they enrolled in the Junior Ranger program, answering questions about the flora and fauna of the monument in an activity book. We also took two short hikes, really nature walks, along Window Rock and Otto’s trails to fenced overlooks with dramatic views. Again, these trails have some extremely steep drop-offs, they may not be appropriate for very young children. We also drove the scenic route along the monument’s 23-mile Rim Rock Drive.

We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend “roughing it” the basic Saddlehorn Campground. It was a convenient place to rest our heads while exploring the sights in Colorado National Monument.

Lush grass at Zephyr Cove

The crystal blue water of Lake Tahoe is mesmerizing. And if you drive just four miles past the craziness of Stateline, you’ll have a resort that offers a nice alternative to South Lake Tahoe’s typical accommodations.

Zephyr Cove Resort has cabins that range from studios and cottages to two-story chalets that are set up to sleep ten people. Many of them have beautiful lake views.

Zephyr Cove is four miles north of Stateline on Highway 50. The resort sits on the shore of North America’s largest alpine lake in the middle of a pine-scented forest.

The resort also has an award-winning RV Park and Campground across the street from the resort and marina. It’s situated on a hill with beautiful views of the lake from your campsite.

Grab your friends for a game of volleyball

The marina rents powerboats to pedal boats, or if you have your own boat you can rent a buoy and enjoy all of the amenities that are offered at the marina. The mile-long sandy beach has volleyball nets, beach chairs and umbrellas for rent, easy entry into the lake for a refreshing swim, and the Sunset Bar and Grille for food and libations.

You might want to try some parasailing for an exhilarating experience. Soar peacefully with spectacular views of the mountains surrounding the clear blue lake.

The stark beauty of Lake Tahoe

This is truly a nature lover’s paradise. The next time you think about Lake Tahoe think past Stateline and enjoy a full service resort in a quiet cove. Zephyr Cove Resort has a quiet beauty that is unsurpassed.

Photos by Betsy Husband

Zephyr Cove Resort
760 US Highway 50
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
800-23-TAHOE

Spacious sites with plenty of shade at Trinity Lake KOA

Year after year families have created temporary summer homes at Wyntoon Resort on Trinity Lake. Some people still call it Wyntoon, even though it’s officially now Trinity Lake KOA.

The campground offers tent and RV sites as well as one and two-bedroom cabins.

KOA is honoring history by allowing families to retain their favorite campsites year after year. Some of the campsites have been passed down from grandparents, to parents, to children. And the people with the most seniority get to have theirs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

We’re not so lucky. We’ve only been camping there for 20 years, so we can’t move in until mid-July every summer. The people who camp in our spot in early July have been there longer.

Wakeboarding on Trinity Lake

Camping offers an affordable and truly relaxing vacation, with time to reconnect with each other after a busy winter. Families play on the water all day, then come back to camp at the end of the day exhausted. After a good dinner followed by charades or a game of cards everyone’s ready to fall into bed. Frequently the hardest decision is what time to get on the water the next morning. Shall we sleep in, or get up early to take advantage of a perfectly glassy lake?

Teach young children to swim while camping

The pool at the campground is a nice alternative for those without access to boats, and a safe place to teach children to swim. And if you don’t feel like cooking dinner, the Mini Kat serves the best hamburgers and milkshakes in Trinity County. It’s often a favorite spot for an ice cream sundae after dinner.

Children will enjoy the playground and miniture golf

Take a budget-friendly vacation this summer to Trinity Lake KOA. It will be one of those vacations the kids will talk about for years.

Photos by Betsy Husband

Trinity Lake KOA
60260 Highway 3
Trinity Center, CA 96091
530-266-3337

Thanks to the Save-the-Redwoods League, Prairie Creek Redwood State Park is a sanctuary for old growth coast redwood.

Wild rhododendrons have blooms bigger than your hand

But at Prairie Creek it’s not just about the redwoods. This park is a mass of wildflowers during May and June when western azaleas and rhododendron are blooming. These shrubs can produce flowers bigger than your hand and can transform a deep, dark forest into a brilliant show of pinks and purples. Earlier in the spring, the trillium, with its three delicate white petals, are found among the ferns and clover.

The delicate trillium can be found in early spring

Roosevelt Elk can be seen along the roads

Prairie Creek SP is also known for its resident herd of Roosevelt Elk. Brought back from the brink of extinction from being hunted by early settlers of the North Coast, the herd now numbers in the thousands. Frequently while driving along the Redwood Highway (Highway 101) you’ll see cars parked along the roadside and people getting pictures of these massive creatures with huge racks. The bulls can weigh up to one thousand pounds and the cows up to six hundred.

The walls are smothered by ferns at Fern Canyon

One of the most spectacular places to visit while there is Fern Canyon, a canyon with walls smothered by ferns that leads inland from the ocean. It can be accessed from the mouth, at the oceans edge, and the loop trail is an easy 2.2 miles, but the drive there can be a bit daunting. While four-wheel-drive is not required, a high clearance is. The road is very narrow and cannot handle trailers.

This state park is co-managed with the National Park Service along with Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Redwood National Park. Together they make up 45 percent of all remaining old-growth redwood forest in California.

Visit the wild and unspoiled North Coast. Bring your camping gear and enjoy the many treasures that Prairie Creek Redwood State Park has to offer.

A visit to the historic China Camp Village is a must.

Admittedly, I’m not big into camping. I’ve been known to make an exception for Burning Man but that’s an entirely different thing…

But there are lots of great places in Northern California to get down to basics, commune with nature, and sleep on dirt. One of them is China Camp State Park in San Rafael, CA, about a 45 minute drive north from San Francisco.

A campsite at China Camp State Park.

In the 1880’s, this idyllic slice of land on the San Pablo Bay was a Chinese shrimp-farming village of approximately 500 people from Canton, China.

Today, the state park offers 15 miles of hiking trails and 30 developed campsites in the northwest side of the park at Back Ranch Meadows in a quiet oak and laurel forest.

Sites are exclusively for tent camping and include a picnic table, fire ring and a food locker. Wood is available for $5/bundle. The lockers looked a bit weathered and campers need to furnish their own locks. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and coin-operated showers are centrally located.  This is not car camping. While the sites aren’t far from the parking lot (between 50 and 300 yards), you do need to haul all of your gear in and out.

Picnics, mountain biking, hiking, swimming, boating and windsurfing are among the activities enjoyed here.

A visit to China Camp Village is a must. A museum walks you through the history of the camp and there is a little crab shack on the pier that juts out into the shimmering blue bay.

The funky little (crab) shack at China Camp Village.

The park offers free, hour-long “Junior Rangers” programs for kids 7 to 12. Topics include ecology, outdoor safety, survival, wildflowers, California Indians, and history. Call the Ranger Station  (415) 456-0766 for upcoming schedules.

Campsite reservations can be made up to seven months in advance by calling (800) 444-7275.

Photos by Lisa Dion