Lodging

El Jabali Eco-Camp

Visitors to Mexico’s state of Querétaro can find colonial architecture, wine tasting, archaeological sites, Franciscan missions … and ecotourism adventure. Located next to the Extoraz River in a canyon in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, El Jabalí eco-camp is a gem for adventure travelers. Visitors get to the camp by quads (four-wheel all-terrain vehicles) from the nearby town of San Joaquín—home to one of the most important cultural events in Mexico, the National Competition of Huapango, a folkloric regional dance contest.

After a short lesson and practice in a nearby park, the quads traverse rough mountain roads through forest, semi-desert and canyon, and the trip provides breathtaking views of the Sierra Gorda. The narrow roads and steep drop-offs (no guardrails) may cause some to hesitate, and it’s possible to negotiate limited room to ride in a truck that accompanies your group.

The campground itself has six luxury safari-type tent-cabins. Each cabin has comfortable beds and private bathroom (and shower!). All are run on solar power. It’s an amazing sight to stand on your cabin deck and look across a grassy field to the river and monumental walls of the canyon.

Bucareli Mission

Meals are cooked in a kitchen located in the common dining/bar area and are extremely hearty and tasty. Fruits served during meals are all grown on the property. An evening bonfire next to the river provides the perfect opportunity to relax under the stars and share stories.

From the campground, you can explore the area, especially the unfinished Bucareli Mission, built in 1797 and abandoned in 1926 after the Mexican Revolution. The chapel, fountains, priests’ cells and patios with arches can still be seen in an exploration of the buildings.

The cost of the campground adventure is $1,500 pesos (about $118) per person per night, including lodging, food and the quad tours.

El Jabalí eco-camp  +045 (441) 107 2239
campamento_eljabali@yahoo.com.mx

In addition, the State of Queretaro’s Ministry of Tourism can answer questions about the eco-camp, as well as other eco-camps in the state. +52 (442) 238 5067, www.queretaro.travel.

Photos courtesy of Jill K. Robinson

More Querétato-related information:
Living History at La Casa de la Marquesa in Querétaro

Disclosure: My trip was sponsored by the State of Querétaro’s Ministry of Tourism, however the opinions are my own, and there was no promise of type of coverage.

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

Why stay in a hotel when you can stay in a treehouse? If you feel like reliving the fun of youth, here are a few lodging choices in the US where you can combine a love of the outdoors with a bird’s eye view of your surroundings:

Cedar Creek Treehouse Has Amazing Views

1] Out’n'About Treehouse Treesort – Oregon

This bed & breakfast resort offers several treehouse accommodations to choose from, with prices ranging from $120 for the 2 person “Serendipitree” to $250 for the 4 person “Schoolhouse” treehouse. All prices include breakfast.

[300 Page Creek Rd, Cave Junction, OR 97523; 541-592-2208]

2] Alaska’s Treehouse B&B – Alaska

This bed & breakfast resort offers several rooms in the treehouse, which is located two hours south of Anchorage. Off-season (Oct 1-April 30) rates are $80 to $125. In-season (May 1-September 30), rates range from $125 to $145. All prices include breakfast.

[14593 Rain Forest Cir, Seward, AK; 907-224-3867]

3] Cedar Creek Treehouse – Washington

This treehouse lodging is located about ten miles from Mt Rainier National Park, on the border of Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It sits about 50 feet above ground in a 200-year old red cedar tree. Rates are $300 per night, with a two-night minimum stay.

[PO Box 204, Ashford, WA 98304; 360-569-2991]

4] Hana Lani – Hawaii

These treehouses are bare bones. No electricity, no running water, partially open roof areas. So why would anyone want to rent them? Because they sit in the middle of a Hawaiian jungle on the island of Maui, with views of the ocean, that’s why. Rates run $250 to $400, depending on the size of the treehouse.

[PO Box 389, Hana, Maui HI 96713; 808-248-7241]

5] Lothlorien Woods Treehouse – Washington

Located about an hour from Portland, OR, just across the border, this treehouse lodging sits in the middle of the Lothlorien Woods at the base of Mt. Adams. This sounds like it would make a great romantic getaway – it even has a hot tub on the deck. Rent it for $149 per night.

[222 Staats Rd, Snowden, WA‎; 509-281-9888]

Keep in mind that while some of these may have electricity and indoor plumbing, it’s still a very rustic form of lodging. However, for seclusion and incredible views, these should appeal to most nature lovers as they all have amazing views and locations.

[Photo: Cedar Creek Treehouse]

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 »

The 1920's lodge at Camp Richardson Resort.

Nature just seems larger up here. Tall trees. Mammoth mountains. And of course — big, beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Sprawling Camp Richardson fits right in. With 28 rooms in the lodge, 40 cabins, a seven-room inn, 300 campsites, a general store, two restaurants, a cafe/confectioner, a sport equipment rental center, and, don’t forget, the ice cream parlor.

This bustling metropolis in the woods is not for those seeking a quiet retreat in nature. Last weekend the place was mobbed with throngs of folks that appeared to be having the time of their lives.

A live band played classic rock tunes to a deck packed full of revelers and beyond on the beach you’d be hard pressed to find room to lay down a blanket.

The spacious cabins offer full kitchens.

The camp was built around the 1920’s lodge on 80 acres of waterfront land. Accommodations at the lodge are pretty spartan — cabins are roomier and have fireplaces or woodstoves and full kitchens. The Beachside Inn offers more amenities and is closer to the lake/action. I would stay far, far from the campsite, though. The sites are really jammed in, offering no privacy and plenty of noise.

There is a definite family vibe here. Kids eating ice cream, grandparents kicking back on Adirondack chairs, and whole families biking together on the excellent bike trail that runs right through the resort. Camp Richardson is great option for large groups and extended families. There are also organized activities for kids.

There is plenty to do from horseback riding and rock climbing to renting jets skis and kayaks. In winter, this is the place for cross-country skiing and sleigh rides.

If you visit, a stop at the ice cream parlor is a mandatory excursion, but be warned — the portions are as big as nature in Tahoe. Stick with a kids’ small…

A crowd of beachgoers at the marina.

Camp Richardson Resort

1900 Jameson Beach Road

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158

(800) 544-1801

Photo credit: Lisa Dion

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.

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[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.

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

A family campsite in the meadow Sugerloaf Ridge State Park.

Did you know that sugar used to be sold in “loaves” that looked like over-sized, upside-down ice cream cones? Cool image that explains why there are so many “Sugarloaf” mountains around.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is located in Kenwood, in the heart of the Sonoma Wine Country. Some of the Valley of the Moon’s best wine is made just below these lofty peaks at St. Francis, Chateau St. Jean, Kunde, and Landmark Wineries.

Up top, in the meadow at 1,200 feet, the state park offers 49 developed family campsites with fire pits and tables, a group camp, picnic sites and trails.

Spring is a great time to visit. A 25-foot waterfall flows along Sonoma Creek below the campground after the winter rains. The meadow bursts to life with wildflowers that wash the mountain with a stunning color palette. California poppies, cream cups, purple lupine, shooting stars, trillium and buttercups blend into a carpet of color.

Activities include 25 miles of trails traverse the oak woodland and chaparral for hiking and horsebackriding. Triple Creek Horse Outfit runs the riding concession that operates spring through fall.

A bridge crossing Sonoma Creek.

On a clear day, the view from the top of Bald Mountain are staggering. At the 2,729-foot summit, you can see the Sierras to the east, San Francisco Bay and Mount Diablo to the south, Mount Tamalpais and Mount St. Helena to the north.

One seriously cool feature of Sugarloaf Ridge is the Robert Ferguson Observatory. This non-profit association provides astronomy education and events year-round.  Events include Night Sky Series and Public Observation Nights. I plan to attend an Aries Full Moon party there next month…

Family campsites at Sugarloaf range from $14 to $20 per night, depending on time of year.

Photos by Lisa Dion

Some consider Sedona, Arizona, a spiritual vortex. Perhaps you might consider this is a radical concept, until you witness your first sunrise or sunset against the red rocks. 

Sedona

There’s something in the air here. And the best way to maximize your time in this area whose scenery is enough to rival that of the Grand Canyon (OK, almost) is to camp.

Manzanita Campground, open all year, is located 6 miles north of Sedona on AZ-89a. Riverside, it offers 18 sites, 11 of which can be reserved. During the summer, Phoenix locals flock alongside out-of-state tourists for a spot here, where the temperature is enough to lower Arizona’s blisteringly hot average. In other words, reservations are vital. To do so, call 877-444-6777.

The best part? You’ll be that much closer to hiking spots, such as the West Fork Trail. This path, best explored during the week to beat the crowds, winds alongside a river that flows between the canyon walls. Although you could exert yourself and tread to the top, it’s more enjoyable to hike halfway up, sit on the rocks, enjoy a picnic lunch and listen to the gurgling stream.

Thanks to John-Morgan for the inspiring photo of Sedona.