Completing the second leg of trip 22, we find ourselves at the Riverbrook RV and Camping Resort in Rumney, New Hampshire. This one had a two-week stay, but was a little different in that a good chunk of the visit had three of us, as opposed to the usual two.
Grounds: Riverbrook is along State Route 25 on one of the effective ways to cross New Hampshire from west to east. The sign outside is partially broken making it difficult to find the first time around, especially along a higher speed road. They are a couple miles outside Plymouth for resupply opportunities, with major resupply only about 30 miles away in Tilton. The campground itself seems a bit run down from the curb, and could use some sprucing.
Sites: Nearly 100 full hook-up 50-amp sites adorn this park, most of which are gravel back-in at a 90-degree angle with a grass patio, though there are a couple pull-through, as well as tent only sites. Although the pad itself was effectively level, the patio was far from it, making it difficult to setup an outdoor kitchen. They tried to make some room to park vehicles on the gravel as they request it not be parked on the grass, but the spots were meant for compacts towed behind motorhomes, and not a truck towing a trailer, which we were barely able to fit sideways.
Staff: The staff was relatively friendly, although sometimes seeming a bit too laid back. You could tell the campground recently changed hands, as the rule sheet was not up to date by any means, not even containing any sort of quiet hours they supposedly had. We even had to request a mow of the patio a couple days in, and though we're happy they respect our property not to constantly come around to deal with the grass, you'd think the site would be prepped prior to coming in.
Amenities: The park has a rec room with free-to-play game tables, a pool, laundry at a reasonable price, propane, and a riverfront beach. The dumpsters did not have 24 hour access making end-of-day cleanings difficult, though it seems to be an issue in the area in general. They do advertise being permitted to share amenities with their sister property, Baker River Campground, though we did not make our way up there to see what they had. The bathhouses seemed to be growing mushrooms out of some of the shower stalls, rendering them unusable.
Atmosphere: The campground certainly has a family vibe to it, as plenty of kids were out and about, with the kiddo we had wanting to do the same. However, it seems to also be a magnet for belligerent partiers, especially during a holiday weekend. The adults seemed to act more like children than the children were, and made us want to rather explore the state for the day than stay to enjoy the amenities offered.
Overall, Riverbrook RV and Camping Resort receives a 7 out of a possible 10 rating. The price was relatively high for the area, though we have seen other parks at a similar price point. Though they try to offer things to cover the price they charge, we believe there are better choices for where to stay if your Internal Compass takes you to this part of the country.
Trip 22 is a two-legged excursion back into New Hampshire, with our first foray at the White Birches Camping Park in Shelburne, New Hampshire. A one week stay was had here.
Grounds: White Birches is located along the corridor of US Route 2, just east of the city of Gorham. Plenty of attractions are nearby, including the Mount Washington Auto Road which takes you to the highest point in New Hampshire. There is a resupply opportunity in the nearby city of Berlin, but needs for other national chains would have to be done in Conway or Littleton. This area has limited cell phone reception and wifi, so you probably won't be able to stream entertainment. The Appalachian Trail is nearby to this campground, owing to a number of visitors to their amenities. The place does have a vehicle gate, however because of it, they do not permit any sort of late check-in.
Sites: The park boasts over 100 sites with a mix of pull through and back-in, as well as full hookup with 50 amp service, water/electric, and primitive tent sites. This place is situated on a hill, with grass sites being divided by a change in elevation and snow markers near the roadway. The sites are about as level as they could be given the circumstances, but the length of the sites is what is most impressive to give enough room for a complete setup. A picnic table and fire pit are included in each of the sites. There are a number of very bright lights around the park at night, which did also reflect off many of the other RVs at the park, making it difficult to sleep.
Staff: The staff was found to be quite friendly for the most part, including when we saw maintenance out working. Not too many interactions were had.
Amenities: This campground has a gated entry with card, laundry, propane, as well as a heated pool for relaxing fun in the sun. Showers at the bath house are coin operated, mostly owing to the number of trail visitors. The laundry is a tad on the expensive side, however they do make up for this with larger front loading machines.
Atmosphere: This campground is, without a doubt, a family friendly park. Plenty of families were out enjoying the grounds, especially the pool. The quiet hours are a little later than other parks, but generally well respected.
Overall, White Birches Camping Park receives an 8 out of a possible 10 rating. The price is competitive with other RV parks in the area, and although it's a bit out in the middle of nowhere, it's not a bad place to visit if you need access to the north woods. If we were in the area, we'd be happy to visit again.
For our foray into Maine, we make a stop at Pumpkin Patch RV Resort. This is a privately owned RV park near many of central Maine's attractions. A week's stay was had here.
Grounds: The park is located just outside Hermon, a neighbor to the relatively larger city of Bangor for resupply, and only about an hour from Acadia National Park. Do follow their instructions on using Exit 180 to approach when pulling, as there are some railroad bridges along US Route 2 that may present problems for the larger rigs. Be aware that Bangor International Airport is nearby, and planes landing or taking off may be heard during your stay.
Sites: Pumpkin Patch has 85 RV sites, about half of which are pull-through while the other half are back-in, with all of them having 50-amp electric service, water, and the majority having full hook-up with the sewer as well. The gravel pad was easy to approach even for a back-in, and was found to be mostly level, with quite a sizable patio area. This park is insistent upon back-flow protectors being used on their water spigots, and although their intentions may be honorable, the pressure is not good enough to run with a regulator, while constantly feeling like we might blow out our pipes without one, which we were forced to do in order to have any water whatsoever.
Staff: The staff was found to be very friendly and accommodating in the office, as well as after hours when an issue was experienced. The amount of signs around the park are a bit overkill, and some of them would have been helpful in the rule sheet instead of the laundromat, such as boards being available if a table-top grill needed to be placed, as they did not permit it on their plastic picnic tables.
Amenities: The park features showers and laundry, an activity center, and a small dog park. In addition, propane may be purchased on site. Surprisingly, the price they offered was very competitive to other businesses in the area. Many campgrounds will gouge their customers on propane costs leading them to take their tanks to hardware stores or warehouse clubs; we believe they should be commended for valuing customer quantity over per-sale tactics when raising revenues with propane.
Atmosphere: This campground has the vibe and feel of a 55+ park, especially when considering some of the activities planned, although they are willing to accommodate all ages. It was generally a very quiet and peaceful park; a good place to kick back and relax.
Overall, Pumpkin Patch RV Resort receives a 9 out of a possible 10 rating. Pricing in the northeast is somewhat high, but the park is competitive with others in the area. This is one park where we would be very glad to stay again, especially if our Internal Compass takes us into Maine.
The second leg of Trip 18, along with its continuation in Trip 19, found us visiting Clemson RV Park at the Grove in Pendleton, South Carolina. This is a privately owned RV park where we had a one month stay.
Grounds: This park is uniquely situated within a fairly new (at the time of writing) suburban housing development between the supply-rich city of Anderson and Clemson University, with the cities of Seneca and Greenville not too far away. Although near one of the major US highways serving the northwest part of the state with a few grocery and restaurant chain opportunities of its own, it is a fairly quiet living area when not accounting for the construction taking place at the new development.
Sites: Clemson RV Park has nearly a whopping 400 sites available! About 75 percent are for visitors to the area, while the rest are privately owned lots that can be purchased outright, though without direct mail services. All of the sites are full hook-up with 30 and 50 amp capabilities. There is a mix of gravel and concrete sites, with all of them being of the back-in variety. Separation is minimal in the gravel area with spray-painted lines, while the concrete has small grass medians. Although the sites are plenty wide, the patio can be a little tight for those who have slides.
Staff: The staff themselves seem quite friendly. We had a few issues outside the park, and they were well accommodating for our changing needs, from old soul, to rental, to new soul. We did not have any interactions with maintenance, though we did see them doing quite well with the upkeep of this place.
Amenities: This location has a pool, and although it was originally designed for exclusive use by the "executive suite" of privately owned lots, it was later made open to the entire park, which makes it difficult for the monthly visitors at the end of the main area near the dumpsters to access. There are a couple of bath houses; one near the pool and the other near the office, that may or may not have working showers depending on which section you enter; the "family rooms" are usually the best bet for a working shower. Laundry facilities also exist at a reasonable price, whether for just drying or also washing. There is also a recreation hall, but we didn't see any events advertised.
Atmosphere: The park had a slight buzz with a few of the sites around us, and the daytime found guests hearing the construction of a nearby housing development. When staying here, it seemed less like a camping spot and more like a place for monthly renters, whether temporary or permanent, to stay while contributing to the society of nearby Clemson University or surrounding neighborhoods. Our stay was outside the college football season, which may bring a different experience to those who go here.
Overall, Clemson RV Park at the Grove receives a 9 out of a possible 10 rating. The price was reasonable for the area, especially when you consider the clientele and prices for surrounding apartments and houses. A while back, we reviewed another park that had the potential to be something, and Clemson is precisely what it has the potential to be. If we're back in the area, we'd be happy to consider this for a winter spot, but would try to wait until January when the football season has concluded, as prices are raised through that season.
Ah Mobile County, one of our favorite places to stay thus far and certainly worth another visit. Here is some information on the last time we visited.
Sites: Having a larger rig meant that we were found in a different row in the same area. Although there was no ant pile this time around, we did find some bad luck with the pad not being level. Although we were able to adjust to suit our needs, it was a little cumbersome to set up.
Staff: Ironically enough, after about two years since the last time we visited, the staff actually remembered us. They were just as friendly as ever, and led to a bit of an interesting banter when checking out to receive our site deposit.
Amenities: This was probably the most disappointing part of the return trip. We previously quipped about comparing other parks to if only half the amenities were there, and that was the case this time. The laundry facility was closed down, along with the platform walk. We remember it was starting to deteriorate a little bit, and must have reached a dangerous point. We really hope that Mobile County is able to fund repairs of these in the future, even if they have to seek a grant, because it was one of our favorite things to do.
Overall, despite what we saw this time around, we probably wouldn't change the rating on this campground, if only for the unchanged price and the staff. Not to mention, just like last time when escaping an uncomfortable situation, this was once again a proverbial "breath of fresh air". One of the staff members joked about seeing us again in a couple years, and that may just happen if we're back in the area.
Trip number 16 saw us going to yet another park. In fact, it was a park we've previously visited. Most of the details are the same as the last time we were there, so let's take a look at what's changed.
Sites: This time saw us in a different part of the park, a bit more open and one of the pull-thru 50 amp sites with much more space to be able to maneuver, both while driving and when parked. There's a little something for everyone in these parts.
Staff: We saw a bit of an improvement in the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Whether it's because our hair is more grey, or it's just a different crew that knew we were back for a second round, it was a much better experience.
Amenities: The bath houses have changed in that they are now coded entry, which did puzzle a couple of guests who didn't take the time to read the literature. The funny signage is still there, including how only toilet paper is permitted to be flushed (makes you wonder what's to be done with purposes 1 and 2).
Overall, the rating given to Rainbow's End Park is about the same. Administrative business was definitely completed here, and although we were also using it as a bit of a "crossroads" for our next trip, business still remains one of the few reasons to actually go to this park. We did notice some improvements being made outside of the grounds along the highway itself, and look forward to seeing what they have to offer, potentially improving the atmosphere of this spot seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Trip thirteen found us at Arkalon Park in southwestern Kansas. Although owned by the city of Liberal, this park is situated on what was once the now-ghost town of Arkalon. Although there are still some dirt roads around to show what once was, the building material has since been recycled. While in transit to the next location, a two-night stay was had.
Grounds: The park is a few miles east of Liberal on US Highway 54. It's clearly marked from the highway, but will take a little bit of dirt road driving along with paved roads while crossing railroad tracks and a couple cattle guards. Freight trains do run nearby along a rail bridge. The city of Liberal is a good re-supply point. Be aware the park is seasonal, and only open from April to mid-October. In addition, the gates are locked between 10PM and 7AM.
Sites: Arkalon is a small city park with about 15 RV and 30 tent sites, along with day use. These may be reserved online, or paid with the camp host upon entering. The RV sites are electric and water only, with a single dump station available at the campground entrance. Tent sites are dry. RV sites are level concrete pads and a mix of pull-thru and back-in. There is a 14-day limit to stay, and the check-out time is a fairly late 4PM. Both 30 and 50 amp electric is offered, but there is an extra charge to use 50 amp.
Staff: There is a single camp host on site that has morning and evening hours, along with on-call. They are very friendly and accommodating for extenuating circumstances.
Amenities: Arkalon's amenities are minimal but available. There is a fishing pond for catch-and-release only, along with a sizable playground for the children. A couple of walking trails adorn the grounds. There is a bathhouse with metal toilets and push-button cold showers. Several pavilions, both near the playground and campsites, have picnic tables, fire pits, and grills. There are also several dumpsters around the grounds and, should the need arise, tornado shelters.
Atmosphere: Our visit to the park was around the beginning of the season, so it was fairly quiet with only a couple of campers, both tent and RV, around us. There are no quiet hours so a few events around the fire happened after the gates were closed, but otherwise uneventful. There was a children's event happening during the daytime and evening; they were quite respectful of the other campers.
Overall, Arkalon Park receives a 9 out a possible 10 rating. The price is one of the best for what is offered, and the city noticeably takes great pride in maintaining not only this park, but the entire city itself. This may not exactly be the best longer-term "destination", but if your Internal Compass takes you towards southwestern Kansas, make a few day stop in Liberal and Arkalon Park.
For the final leg of Trip 11, time to head over to the mainland to Aransas Bay RV Resort, or "ABRV", in Aransas Pass, Texas. This one saw a one month stay.
Grounds: ABRV is found within an otherwise developing outskirt of Aransas Pass, almost immediately off a highway bypass under construction at the time of our stay. Access to the business route version of the highway for resupply, along with a way to get to the island, is short and easy.
Sites: This park has about 80 full hook-up sites, all back-in and pointed in the same direction on both sides of the street, some being marked as "premium" based on pad width. Each pad is concrete with some of the best paved "patio" areas seen from a site since our adventure began, room enough to set up a full outdoor kitchen. The fairly wide separation between rigs is a combination of grass and gravel, so the lawn maintenance contractors aren't potentially damaging the hook-ups while keeping a sound appearance. We were happy to be able to get a site on relatively short notice during Spring Break, as it seems most vacationers will choose the island. The asphalt streets could probably use a re-paving, along with painting the location of the speed bumps whose position could already make backing in a rig slightly difficult.
Staff: The staff is friendly and accommodating, as well as receptive to the immediate needs of the guest. There seems to be a bit of a communication breakdown, as our paperwork was "lost" at check-in time after having reserved in person a few days prior. In addition, after a security issue involving a door-coded amenity, the guests weren't notified of a change that had been made, even after allowing for time as the incident occurred when the office was closed.
Amenities: The amenities at ABRV are hit or miss. They have relatively inexpensive laundry facilities for the area, along with a small and unheated yet beautifully designed pool with deck. There is a rec room with kitchen and billiard table, but is more like an extended office building, in that it's only accessible during the office's limited hours. Pet areas are not fenced, so unleashed time for the pup will need to be done at a city dog park. The bath house with four house-like full rooms are easy to get around, although some things don't work, such as an external fan that's seen better days.
Atmosphere: This park seems like it caters more to the long-term resident. The people are friendly, but seem to keep to themselves. There are a few families with children young and very young, although no play facilities exist.
Overall, Aransas Bay RV Resort receives a 9 out of a possible 10 rating. Although the monthly price is unbeatable, they do not accept cash and charge fees to use a card, so be ready to hop into town to purchase a money order at a lower fee rate. The local staff is thankfully very understandable about patrons doing this, especially when settling electric with the office that doesn't open until after check-out time. If your Internal Compass takes you to this area and you don't want the hustle, bustle, and premium pricing of the island, this is definitely the place to go.
Trip 11 takes us, after a workamping excursion, to another campground. Nestled on Mustang Island in South Texas is Pioneer Beach Resort, a private campground that saw one of our first extended park stays of just over two months.
Grounds: Pioneer is outside the small island city of Port Aransas on the main Mustang Island highway, a few miles in the other direction from Corpus Christi. The resort is on the beach side of the highway with a private access point.
Sites: The park has nearly 400 sites, all of which fill up for the busy seasons of Spring Break in March, as well as the summer. We were able to get a spot, along with an extension up until just before spring break, on short notice. All of the sites are full hook-up, with some pull-thru and some back-in. There are also a few cabins able to be rented for those without a rig. The pads are concrete, although our site has a small paved patio area. Some are more cramped than others. The park also elects to practice dog breed discrimination.
Staff: Although the staff does the best they can, they seem to be hampered by a lack of organizational helpers. The office workers do not have computer access. Greeters do help you back into the tight sites. However, all of the staff seems to suffer from Jekyll-and-Hyde syndrome depending on the season, with things seeming "on edge" as Spring Break approached. They also seem to become more asinine when you are neither from their state nor of their preferred age group.
Amenities: Along with the beach access, where the wash faucets along their private boardwalk don't work, Pioneer has a rec room chalked full of activities. However, there is a cost associated with most of the activities that isn't disclosed until you're already there; it isn't on the calendar. Bathhouses with decently sized showers exist, although the hot water does take some time to get running. A hot tub exists along with unheated pools. Laundry exists, although the price doubled during our stay along with new yet dirty appliances; we found it better to go to the downtown laundromat. Don't even try using Park Wifi, because it doesn't work most of the time. There is a dog park, but is severely restricted to one dog and 15 minutes; you're better off going to the city park in Port Aransas.
Atmosphere: As we were there during the "Winter Texan" season, there were many visitors from the northern midwest who seem to have been coming for many years. As is typical with RV resorts, it is an older clientele, yet the other campers are quite welcoming and overly friendly. Once in a while, you'd see families come by.
Overall, Pioneer Beach Resort receives a 7 rating out of a possible 10. The price is one of the better ones for the island, although the mainland is much less expensive if you can stand the ferry waits. If our Internal Compass told us that we had to stay on the island again, we would be happy to return to this place.
Trip eleven saw yet another campground visit. About an hour north of Houston just outside the city of Livingston lies Rainbow's End Park, a sponsored private campground where a four-night stay was had.
Grounds: Rainbow's End is a few miles outside the city of Livingston as a rural community. The term "community" is used because, along with the campsites, there are a number of privately owned "deeded lots" interspersed across the grounds that look to be owned by RVers and are part of a homeowner's association of sorts. If you're looking to use a boat, Lake Livingston is about 15-20 minutes away.
Sites: The park has over 175 sites able to be rented by travelers to the area. Online reservations were found to be difficult, and we had to call in the reservation. The majority of the sites are back-in, though there are some that are pull-thru. Nearly all of the sites have full hook-up, varying between 30 or 50 amp maximum electric depending on the site, with a couple of "dry" spots. The pads are sand and fine pebbles, while being reasonably level when dry. Our site was located in the wooded area, though there are some that are more open. The sites in this part of the campground are tightly packed without much room outside.
Staff: Of the staff seen, most were fairly friendly, although the check-in person seemed a bit hurried. Some of the signage they placed around the park bordered between being comical and being over the top. We had no issues that needed to be rectified, so no information on maintenance quality.
Amenities: Rainbow's End is unique for its amenities in that not only are they shared between campers and homeowners, but in that most are geared towards the park's sponsor, whose national headquarters is at this place. The bath houses have squeegees inside the showers with expectations for the women (but not the men) to "squeezee" the walls, however the laundry facilities nearby have some of the cheapest prices ever. The pool was closed during our visit despite warm temperatures, but the dog parks are spacious and well kept.
Atmosphere: The other campers were relatively friendly for the most part. The park is geared towards an older clientele, with amenities and activities planned in accordance. Hardly any families were seen, and no playgrounds exist.
Overall, Rainbow's End Park receives a 7 rating out of a possible 10. The price paid is dependent on membership, and although it is competitive with parks in other parts of the country, it isn't the best value for the young full-time RVer. If you're a member of the sponsoring club, this is a great spot for a couple nights, if only just to take care of administrative business.
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