Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

American Bison at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Established in 1974, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park was Florida's first state preserve. Paynes Prairie encompasses more than 20,000 acres of savannah near Micanopy, Florida, a few miles south of Gainesville on I-75. We recently spent a lovely weekend RV camping in the park and using it as a base to explore the area including Historic Micanopy and the Florida Museum of Natural History.

There are numerous trails in the park for hiking, biking and horseback riding. We did a little biking along the south side of the prairie as well as a section of the Gainesville - Hawthorne Trail that traverses the north side of the park. During our visit, the herd of American Bison made an appearance near the observation tower and we were able spot wild horses through the binoculars. Paynes Prairie has a lot of unique features that make it worth a visit. Add in the park's proximity to I-75 and Gainesville and you have a fun yet relaxing get away.

50 ft. high observation tower overlooking Paynes Prairie

Viewing Paynes Prairie from the Observation Tower

The award winning visitor center at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (newly renovated, but still closed here)

The warning signs upon entering La Chua Trail

Playground at Paynes Prairie

Picnic Shelter at Paynes Prairie

Paynes Prairie boat ramp to Lake Wauburg

Campsite #9 at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

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Bluewater Key RV Resort: Paradise

Our site with the giant tiki hut

We decided to take a week of vacation in the Florida Keys. People come from all over the world to visit the Florida Keys so we decided we should take advantage of our proximity. Typically, we like to stay at state parks. Bahia Honda State Park is the only one with waterside campsites in the keys and they stay booked a year in advance. In researching other alternatives, I found bluewaterkey.com. (There is also sublets via bluewaterkey.net) All the reviews indicated the sites were pricey but worth it, and I have to say that I agree.

All the waterfront sites have docks

As soon as we arrived the kids both said, "This is the best campsite EVER!!!" and even daddy was pleasantly surprised. So I think I officially got mother and wife of the year for finding this place.

We had our own dock with swim ladder as well as a huge tiki shelter with table and chairs. The tiki hut at this particular site was twice the size as some of the others and had a counter and sink with running water as well as lights and fans.

The resort is actually on a bay in the Saddlebunch Keys. The water was so clear that as soon as we arrived we were drawn into the water as it were. While swimming and snorkeling, we saw several species of fish including grunt, mangrove snapper, and barracuda as well as a lobster.

Front gate

The resort does have restrictions on the type of camping equipment - no tents or pop-ups or even trailers with canvas pop-outs, and a minimum 23 feet traveling length. Our Outlander is certainly showing it's miles with pealing decals and in need of an exterior wash, so we felt a little bit like the Clampetts in amongst the Class As with matching tow-vehicles and giant fifth-wheels.

There is a pool, dog park, and laundry facility - but we didn't use them. (Who needs a pool when you can swim off your own dock in crystal clear water?) The bathhouse is very clean and the one entrance is gated with keycode access. All the sites are well landscaped for privacy and aesthetics. Outside the resort is a greenway/walkway for bikers and walkers that connects to other keys via the old US1 bridges. Essentially the location and amenities couldn't be better.

These two video clips will give you a good feel of the place.

Needless to say this was a perfect spot for us to enjoy all the Florida Keys have to offer. It was so nice to sit under the tiki hut and read a book while the kids played. Or throw a line out from the dock and catch a few snapper. Ah paradise......

Camping with Friends

Falls Lake State Park with the Doose Family

Bar Harbor Campground: Blueberries Galore and So Much More

We are leaving Bar Harbor in the morning, headed for Nova Scotia. We have enjoyed our stay here immensely in large part due to the campground. We discovered Bar Harbor Campground on our visit here two years ago.

They have very good wi-fi in certain areas of the campground. There is a full-hookup area in close proximity to the playground and laundry facilities. This same part of the campground sits on a ridge that has a commanding view of Frenchman's bay. Maybe 25 sites have this view (ranging from no service tent sites to full hook-up) and as such are the most popular and hard to snatch up. However, there is a lot of common space that shares the view including the pool and playground. There is something so soothing about seeing sail boats out in the blue spaces or watching the fog roll in off the water.  Ah, Maine!

The view from the playground

One unique aspect about the campground is they do not take reservations nor credit cards. It can be challenging to get a good spot at first, but once you are on one - it's yours until you leave - no worrying about having to move because someone else has it reserved beginning on a certain day.

Our site the first 2 weeks - surrounded by other RVs

One of the other great features of this campground (and this may be true for others on Mount Desert Island) is the prevalence of blueberry bushes in the undeveloped areas. The shrubs are usually very low to the ground and the berries are very small, but very flavorful. You can literally go out for a stroll in the evening and pick enough for breakfast the next morning. During one evening walk, we spotted a dear near the edge of the campground browsing for blueberries. We got within 20 feet or so before it decided to spring away. (And no we haven't seen any ticks, though I'm sure they are around)

Elisabeth blueberry picking - our view from our second campsite

Elisabeth picking blueberries

Wild blueberries

There are lots of other things about this campground that make it a hit - close proximity to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.  There is a very good BBQ restaurant adjacent to the campground called Mainely Meat and a putt golf across the road from that. They have reasonably priced ice and firewood at the campground office. You can order a Lobster and corn on the cob meal to be delivered to your site. And a couple of times a week a van drives through tempting you to buy one of their homemade pies - they are a bit pricy but good (I know this because daddy gave into the incessant begging of our 5 year old.)

Needless to say, this is our first pick for a campground on Mount Desert Island. This being said, I would like to camp at one of the campgrounds in Acadia and be closer to the trails and carriage roads at some point. Maybe when the kids have learned to ride bikes, we'll try that for a few nights.

Adieu, Bar Harbor and Acadia NP.  God willing, we'll be back.

Richmond: Americamps and Civil War History

Our Americamps Site

We were in Richmond, Virginia a couple of weeks ago. Due to a lack of planning, we had to change campsites after just a couple of nights. We relocated from Pocahontas State Park southwest of town to an Americamps just off highway 95 north of Richmond.

Except for the road noise, the Americamps campground was nice and fairly priced. The Wifi was very good as well. We tend to like more natural surroundings but it met our needs for the two nights we were there. Plus, we were in a great location for accessing historic areas in downtown Richmond. 

We went to the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. This museum provided a good broad brush presentation of the Civil War in America: the issues involved, some of the facts and the way of life during that time. Some of the displays were a bit complicated but there was enough there to interest a 5 and 6 year old with some Civil War background already. The short video at the beginning did a great job of explaining how there were a lot of issues that gave rise to the Civil War. While slavery was an issue unto itself, this video made the point that slavery was an underlying aspect to all the other issues as well. I found that message to be very profound, and, in my own mind at least, I have no doubts (assuming I ever had any) as to the central cause of the Civil War in America.

The National Park Service Civil War Visitor Center

Right next door is the National Park Service Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Both sites give information on the importance of the Tredegar Iron Works during the Civil War as this site was the primary site of artillery production for southern troops. The National Park focuses on Richmond and it surrounding area during the Civil War including the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles.  

After this we journeyed out to Cold Harbor which was a major battle field early in the war with the Battle of Gaines's Mill but is most notable for the Battle of Cold Harbor which took place at the end of the war during General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign. General Lee was victorious on both occasions. At the time of the war, the Cold Harbor area was mostly open fields and pasture, but now much is forested. We walked through the site looking at the trenches that were dug, but it was only in the more open areas that you understand their necessity. I haven't visited many Civil War Battlefields, but, of the one's that I have, this is the first one where I grasped at least of vague understanding of what it would have been like to be there a hundred and fifty years ago.

Jonah in a Civil War Trench at Cold Harbor

So if you want to get a flavor for the Civil War in America, Richmond is a good place to start. And there are many more battlefields and museums in the area than these few that I have mentioned devoted to the topic.

For a comprehensive list of Richmond Civil War sites, consider this one on the Civil War Traveler site (civilwartraveler.com).  Traveling on......

Related Posts:

• Manassas: Civil War Firsts
• Antietam National Battlefield

Jones Lake State Park

Last weekend, we went camping at Jones Lake State Park near Elizabethtown, NC. October was the last time we were camping. With all the home improvement tasks lately, we were desperate to get away. 

I chose this location because it was only 2 hours away from our home in Raleigh. We really don't like to drive more than that for just a weekend away. And, it was a place we had never been before. 

The campground at Jones Lake State Park has only one site (#3) with water and electric hookups. I was astounded that it was reservable on-line and not taken by a campground host. When we arrived Friday afternoon, we were pleasantly surprised with the campground and our site. We were amazed at how much the campground reminded us of campgrounds in Florida - a flat, sandy, pine Savanna. 

Jonah spent nearly the whole weekend playing in the dirt.

Elisabeth enjoyed riding her balance bike around the campground.

Jones Lake State Park

Jones Lake itself is one of the Carolina bay lakes. Theories abound, but the actual origin of these lakes is still undetermined. There is a fishing pier, but not many fish due to the acidity of the water. There is also a great picnic area and a beach for swimming. We enjoyed hiking the 5-mile trail around the lake that is shared with mountain bikers.

We stopped in the visitor center briefly on our way out. It was only then, that I learned that Jones Lake State Park was the first segregated state park. For my generation, it's hard to imagine a time when a park, any park, was off limits to someone based on race, religion or creed. While Jones Lake State Park is a beautiful place and was certainly a nice surprise for us, it is sad to think that at one time it was the only destination open to such a large segment of the population. It goes against the philosophical underpennings of public parks and open space. 

If you haven't visited this part of North Carolina except to drive through to the beach, I highly recommend a detour. Jone's Lake State Park is a great place to relax, hike, bike and swim - and don't forget to stop in the visitor center for a bit of little known North Carolina history. 

On the Trail of Lewis and Clark

Wednesday, we finally made it across Iowa. The only thing that broke the monotony of corn and soybean fields was the occasional field of windmills. Before leaving Iowa, we stopped near the Missouri River at their Lewis and Clark State Park for a late lunch. It was a really pretty place with a brand new Interpretive Center under construction, a campground, and some picturesque picnicking.

Giant cottonwood trees at the Lewis and Clark State Park in Iowa

While there, we were able to get an up close and personal view of a replica of the keel boat that Lewis and Clark used to travel on the Missouri River.

Keelboat replica at the Lewis and Clark State Park in Iowa

We crossed into South Dakota without a definitive plan for where we would stay or even what route to take toward the Black Hills area. On a whim, we decided to head west from I-29 to the Yankton area where there seemed to be lots of camping options along the Missouri National Recreation River. After reading through some of the tourism literature on camping options in the Yankton area, the camping options at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area seemed the most promising.

After checking in we drove to our riverside campsite and we were pleasantly surprised. It was beautiful! We were right on the river with a little beach right next to us. It was hot but the wind was blowing 20 mph off the river and it felt wonderful.

Kite flying at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area in Yankton, SD

Site #219 at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area

Our view of the moon rising over the Lewis and Clark Lake

This campground has everything a family would want: playground, swimming, boating, fishing, miles of walking and bike trails, and a clean bathhouse. On the second night, the wind died down a bit and that's when we experienced the biting flies - eek! The flies were the only detraction from our stay.

Thursday, Kelly went for another bike ride and then after lunch we did some site seeing. We stopped at the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center on the Nebraska side of the dam on our way to the Ashfall Fossil Beds. On the way back, we stopped at Niobrara State Park, just to check it out. (Our park pass from Ashfall was good for all Nebraska state parks). There were some great views there and along the drive back.

Gavin Point Dam from the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center
 (one of those white specks on the shore of the lake is our RV)

The Niobrara River from Niobrara State Park

The Missouri River Basin from Niobrara River State Park.

The Missouri River crossing at Running Water (looking to Nebraska from SD)

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South Dakota Here We Come!

For vacation this year, we decided to take the RV out west - well as far out west as we could get with only three weeks to get there and back. We left Raleigh, NC on Friday evening and made it to Pilot Mountain State Park outside of Mt. Airy, NC.  The weather was heavenly that evening - cool and crisp - ah! My favorite temperature. We had enough time to drive to the top of the overlook before they closed the gate. Then we had a nice fire and chilled out. All of their campsites have electric and water, but the terrain is very uneven and rocky. This campground would not have been fun with kids 4 and under. My 4 year old was stumbling around as it is.

We rolled out of the park not long after opening time at 8 a.m. We traveled up I-77 through Virginia and into West Virginia taking the West Virginia Turnpike to Charleston, WV.  From there we took unfinished Hwy 35 to Point Pleasant, WV where we crossed the Ohio River into Ohio State. We continued on Hwy 35 all the way to Dayton where we got on I-70 into Indiana.

We ended this day of driving at Summit Lake State Park near Mooreland, Indiana. It was mentally satisfying to have NC, VA, WV and OH under our belts at the end of Saturday.

We took the next day (Sunday) to relax and site see in the area. We really appreciated this stop. It was very idyllic in a lot of ways.

Monday morning, we pulled out around 7:30 a.m. and worked our way west on a nice straight secondary road and then hit I-69 into Indianapolis. Immediately, we realized our error as the rush hour traffic into the city was atrocious. So, we got off at the next exit and detoured north along secondary roads (a couple of which had their own detours) until we were finally able to get back on course on I-74 west toward Illinois. Illinois is mostly a blur except that I noted the nice river front area in Peoria, IL along the Illinois River. When we crossed the great Mississippi an hour or so later it was not nearly as impressive, though we took special notice anyway as this was Kelly and the kid's first time crossing the artery of North America (by car).

A common site on our travels: corn and soybean fields and windmills

We got on Interstate 80 in Davenport, IA and continued west. We made it to Rock Creek State Park between Iowa City and Des Moines by 7 p.m. Monday evening, only because we gained an hour at the Mississippi when we crossed into the Central Time Zone.

Again we took the next day (Tuesday) to rest and enjoy our surroundings. Kelly took another bike ride while the kids made friends with some locals and fished on the dock. After lunch, we drove out to a Mariposa County park and saw exactly three bison in a field (we are certain this is only a preview of what is to come.)

As campgrounds go, Rock Creek State Park has probably the best cost to benefit ratio of any we have experienced. It is only $16 a night including electric. There isn't any water hookups but the shower house is clean and functional, we are right next to the playground, and there is a nice lake view.

Site #59 at Rock Creek Lake State Park with playground adjacent & bathhouse behind

Our view of the lake.

Wednesday it's South Dakota or bust! Actually, I prefer, "God willing and the creek don't rise," as my beloved Mamaw used to say.

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I Heart Indiana

Saturday night, we camped at Summit Lake State Park not too far north of Interstate 70. The campsites were big and grassy with water and electric hookups. The water hookups were spread out funny so we had to park the rig in just the right spot for the water hose to reach the spigot on one side and the electric cable to reach the outlet on the otherside. It worked out fine thankfully.

We decided to hangout there the next day and recuperate a bit before driving another day. It turned out to be a really nice area. Kelly started off his day by biking 22 miles partially on the nearby Cardinal Greenway. It was very flat here and he really enjoyed his ride. (This place made us think of our friends Merl and Amy - they would love this area.) Meanwhile, the kids and I went to the playground and hiked around in the park.

After lunch, we went to the Wilber Wright Birthplace and Museum. When we left we passed these guys on the road:

We then drove about 45 minutes to the town of Anderson and visited Mounds State Park. We wanted to take a look at the Indian mounds, several earthworks created by Adena-Hopewell people. The largest of these is called "Great Mound" and dates back to 160 BC.

Great Mound at Mounds State Park

Also on the grounds is a historic residence undergoing renovation.

Other pictures taken at Mound State Park:

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