Review: Camp Hatteras, Waves, NC

Bottom Line: Well-maintained and busy campground on the Atlantic ocean on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Looking for something a little "beachy" without all of the crowds, this year (July 4th week) we ended up staying seven nights straight at Camp Hatteras, which is the longest we have stayed in one spot. We had tried Myrtle Beach, SC a couple of years ago and had a god experience at the campgroup, but the whole area is over populated and very crowded. This was also the first time we brought an extra vehicle. We did that so that we could run to the store and down to Ocracoke island.

Being on the beach, Camp Hatteras has no shade to speak of, but there is an almost constant breeze as well as direct beach access and a pool. The evenings were quite nice with the only downside being mosquitoes. Those were (mostly) taken care of by sprays and repellent candles.

The weather in July was hot and humid as expected, and so we discovered how great air conditioning is. Crazy Train's A/C thermostat quite working sometime during the drive, so I called around and was able to find a newer replacement. The guy (Outer Banks Camper, RV,, and Trailer Supplies) was just across the street and had a big selection of stuff an RVer would need when things break. I got the A/C up and running within 15 minutes of having the part. Other than a couple of storms with some serious wind and a slight tear in a weak spot of my awning, the rest of the stay was uneventful.

The sites were mostly all the same, and they appeared to be almost 100% booked up for the independence day week. It was the perfect place for kids on bikes, golf carts, and even some Frisbee or football.

The pools were clean and comfortable. The beach (no life guard) was not terribly busy, and the ocean was a bit chilly, but great for cooling off. There were activities for the kids during the day, and the staff were all very attentive and nice. I was surprised at the level of service at Camp Hatteras. The price was a little high, but this is a peak month (and week). They do give Good Sam discounts as well.

About 3 miles South is the Salvo Day Use area which is a nice little free beach area on the sound side. The water there is warm and shallow for quite a ways out. That area is heavily used for kayak and paddle board enthusiasts. There are golf cart and vehicle rentals nearby as well as a decent little store and various shops. There It was about a 40 minute drive to the ferry for Ocracoke and the ferry line was very long on July 3rd. I think we arrived around 10am and waited about 2 hours before boarding the ferry. There are shops nearby, which made the wait easier.

Features: sites with 50a/30a/20a/water/septic/cable, concrete pad, picnic tables, bath/laundry houses, indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, beach access to the Atlantic, and a small store.

Summary:
Camp Hatteras Campground is fully featured and well managed and I would love to stay there again. I give it eight out of ten stars.
Camp Hatteras Campground (Official Site)
24798 NC HWY 12
WAVES, NC 27968
Phone: 252-987-2777
Web: https://camphatteras.com

Review: Somes Sound View Campground, Mt. Desert Island, ME

Bottom Line: Well-kept campground on Somes Sound and adjacent to the Acadia National Park and close to Bar Harbor Maine.

Our family landed at Somes Sound View for five nights. We chose it because not many of the campgrounds in the area had the same kind of views and a lot of the features one would expect from a regular RV campground. Due to the region this campground is not open in the winter.

Acadia National Park is a real destination and provides a ton of outdoors entertainment, and Bar Harbor is a nice town that has a lot of things to do. There are plenty of campgrounds to choose from in the area, but Somes Sound View has everything one would need. Despite not being a chain the grounds were very clean and well maintained. The office is small and has firewood and ice for sale.

The weather in August was very nice for those us that live in the South. The evenings were around 60F and the days got up to the low 80s so there was no need for air conditioning. The site we had (11A) was a little sloped toward the water, but someone with a couple of blocks would be able to level up. It was not enough to cause any suffering. There were dozens of sites in a big ring around the old quarry (with a free paddle boat and fishing) and down the bank toward the sound. We had no trouble with noise and I did not see any permanent campers which is a good thing.

Features: tent sites, RV sites with 30a/20a/water (limited to 30' or less), fire rings, bath house, heated pool, dock access to Somes Sound, fishing, and kayak rentals.

Summary:
Somes Sound View Campground is nice and about as fully featured as could be expected considering where it is. I give it seven out of ten stars.
Somes Sound View Campground (Official Site)
5 Spinnaker Way
Mount Desert, ME 04660
Phone: (207) 244-3890
Web: https://ssvc.info/

Review: Rest N' Nest Campground, East Thetford, VT

Bottom Line: Beautiful sites and very nice weather in August.
Vermont is a beautiful state and this campground reflects that. The sites are spacious here while still being very wooded. This campground was one that is on my short list to come back to if in the area again, that alone is nothing short of great for me considering how I like to try new things.
There is a small pond for swimming on the bottom of the property with a slide and a sandy beach area which we did not try. It looked okay, but the above ground pool was clean and cool, perfect for an August day.
Overall, this campground was very comfortable and quiet with friendly neighbors. There is a little grocery store a few miles away and we were able to stock up and get supplies for the next few days. I think I paid $49 in total for one night.
Features: Pool (above ground), sandy pond beach for swimming, recreation hall, tent sites, RV sites (some pull-through) with 50a/30a/20a/sewer, playground, bath house, very small store.
Summary:
Rest N' Nest is a very peaceful place with a lot to offer. I give it seven out of ten stars.
Rest N' Nest (Official Site)
300 Latham Road
East Thetford, VT 05043
Phone: (802) 785-2997
Web: http://www.restnnest.com/

Review: Dorset RV Park, Dorset Vermont

Bottom Line: This is a nice, smaller campground in the woods.

This was the first time I have been to Vermont and the whole state was really beautiful. The campground was mostly shaded with tall evergreens, the roads were gravel, and there were few apparent permanent residents. The office is an old house that the owners might live in, and check in was quick and easy. This campground is only open from May to October.

Getting the 31ft "Crazy Train" into our spot took a couple of turns but the spot was quiet on the back edge of the ground, and had everything we needed. We had water, 30 amp electric, cable, and sewer. There was no wifi, which is fine for me. I had spotty LTE access in our site.

The tent sites were in their own wooded area behind the campground, and there were probably a dozen sites.

Features: Fire rings, tent sites, playground, bath house, store.

On the way in we did buy a pizza at the Manchester House of Pizza, and though expensive, the pizza was very tasty. We also stopped here so that we could visit the Hildene house, which is a family home of the Lincolns.

Summary:
Dorset RV Park is a very peaceful place with a lot to offer. I give it seven out of ten stars.
Dorset RV Park (Official Site)
1567 Route 30,
Dorset, VT 05251

Phone: 802-867-5754
Web: http://dorsetrvpark.com/

Review: Indian Creek Camping Resort, Geneva-On-The-Lake, OH

Bottom line: This Campground is large and well kept, but you'll need to walk or have a car to more than see Lake Erie.

The front desk service were very friendly and took care of us quickly. The entry and exit roads were both two-lane and split with a median, and each has an electric gate.

This park has a number of small cabins for rent as well as the RV sites. There were some permanent residents as there always are but I did not get the feeling that the park was not well-kept.

We visited the playground first since there were kids in our party and there was nothing wrong with the areas at all. There was the typical tower gym with a wood chip base, and across the road there was another one with swings and a jungle gym. Next to the jungle gym was a large covered patio that would likely be used for large gatherings. There is a putt-putt mini golf on site, which I think was $5 per game. We did not play, but it looked clean and in good shape. They sold snacks and ice cream where they sold the mini golf ticket. We did not visit the pool.

The bath house that we used was in good shape and clean.

The resort has a very well stocked store with gas and diesel and an adjacent restaurant called "The Loft." There must be some prohibition in Ohio about selling full-strength alcohol because the liquor was all watered down and specially labeled. The store had pretty much everything one would need and more. It was much larger than a typical campground store. The Loft restaurant was kind of like a sports bar. The service and food were both okay, nothing special but nothing wrong either.

This campground is across the road from Lake Erie, and there is a walkway to get there. Unfortunately, the water access is owned by a condominium and the walkway only allows a "view" of the lake. I was told that a mile or so down the road was public access and a lot of other businesses and restaurants, but not having a car and with kids in tow, we decided not to do that. I might have done that with a two night stay.

I think I paid $32 in total for one night, which was a great deal. There is a $5/day fee if you bring your own golf car.

Features: Good LTE signal, 2 heated pools, restaurant, catch-and-release fishing (lake), Lake Erie view, free wifi, 30/50 amp, sewage hookup, picnic area, showers, laundry facilities, and hundreds of spaces in the open and under trees.

Summary:
Indian Creek Camping Resort is a one-stop shop with lots of amenities and activities for kids. I give it seven out of ten stars.
Indian Creek Camping Resort (Official Site)
4710 Lake Road East,
Geneva On The Lake, OH 44041

Phone: 888-886-2477
Web: https://www.sunrvresorts.com/resorts/midwest/ohio/indian-creek/

Review: Myrtle Beach Travel Park, Myrtle Beach, SC

Bottom line: This park has everything needed to park and stay put on the beach.

The front desk service were very friendly on the phone and in person. If you call ahead you can request available sites in certain areas. Tow vehicles are given an entry pass that is returned on check out. And there is a Walmart shopping area and a Tanger Outlet center about one mile from the entrance with the normal businesses, restaurants, and stores one would expect to surround those.

The first impression was the sheer size of the park. It is really big. The first part is all shaded and has a lot of evergreen trees. In the middle is a small lake and the pool park, arcade, and general store. From there to the beach is mostly dirt/sand roads and camp sites right up to the dune at the beach. The beach itself has nine access paths and was very clean.

The arcade has games and a restaurant that sells pizza, burgers, hots dogs, and more. The general store sells a little bit of everything. There is a breakfast restaurant on the far beach corner next to a covered picnic area and basketball court.

The pool area was very clean and well-kept. Perfect for kids.

The rates are a little higher than a normal park, but this park offers a lot more than a normal park.

Features: Pools (indoor and outdoor), lazy river, arcade, 2 restaurants, fishing (beach and lake), beach access, free wifi, 30/50 amp, sewage hookup, picnic area, showers, laundry facilities, and hundreds of spaces in the open and under trees.

Summary:
Myrtle Beach Travel Park is a one-stop shop for beach access with tons of amenities for kids. I give it eight out of ten stars.
Myrtle Beach Travel Park (Official Site)
10108 Kings Road,
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572

Phone: 800-255-3568
Web: http://www.myrtlebeachtravelpark.com/

Review: Arizona Charlies RV Park, Las Vegas, NV

Bottom line: The grounds were well kept and the price was fair.

I've never heard of Arizona Charlies, but since we were driving through the area and needed to spend the night somewhere, we looked for a fairly priced place with good ratings to stay at. One of our plans was to take an Uber up to Freemont street in the afternoon and get dinner, so the proximity was a consideration.

One of the nice things about this place was that the sites were all concrete pads.

Features: Pool, wifi, 30/50 amp, picnic area, dog run, showers, laundry facilities, and 50, 40, and 35 foot spaces with over half being pull through.

We went there with kids and ended up swimming in the pool which was semi-clean. Being July, the pool was bath-water warm and not refreshing at all.

Notes about Vegas:
Our first Uber driver didn't have a clue where he was going and made about 15 U-turns and took an extra 15 minutes. We got a $60 bill and had about $18 returned after we disputed it. The Uber on the way back to the RV park was quick and easy and appropriately priced.
The Freemont Experience can get a bit raunchy even during the daylight hours. We took three kids and expected to see some lights, music, and maybe a few wild folks, but even around 6 PM Freemont street was determined to shock as many as possible. Beware if you have kids in tow.
That being said, without the kids, Arizona Charlies RV park is a good place. It is close enough to the strip to get a taxi. They have pretty good weekly and monthly rates for those who want to park for a while, and the Arizona Charlies casino is right next door.

Summary:
Arizona Charlies RV Park in Vegas is close to the action and a good deal. I give it seven out of ten stars.
Arizona Charlies RV Park in Vegas (Official Site)
4575 Boulder Hwy.
Las Vegas, NV 89121

Phone: (888) 236-9066
Web: Arizona Charlies RV Park Las Vegas