Reserve America, the largest campsite reservation service in North America, has released its annual list of top family campgrounds. Criteria used to select the campgrounds included the availability of amenities family campers most often request such as hot showers, laundry facilities, hiking trails, family beaches, radio free zones, visitor centers, educational programs, events for children, and parks that are located within 100 miles of a metro location.

There are national parks, one of which is Channel Islands National Park in Ventura, California; state parks, one of which is Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground in Narragansett, Rhode Island; KOA campgrounds, one of which is St. Augustine Beach KOA in St. Augustine, Florida; and two resorts, one of which is ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort in Mesa, Arizona.

The list doesn’t have many private campgrounds on it because Reserve America primarily handles reservations for Federal/National Parks and State Parks. The private campground it handles reservations for are Encore/ELS, KOA, and Thousand Trails.

Of the 100 campgrounds on the list I’ve only been to one, Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It’s a nice state park but the downside is that the campsites are pretty far from the lake and if a family wants to enjoy a day at the beach it’s a long way to walk - especially when loaded down with food, beverages, sunscreen, towels, and flotation toys for the water.

Here’s the complete list of Reserve America’s top 100 family campgrounds for 2008.

LASKA
Brooks Camp Campground-Katmai National Park & Preserve-King Salmon, AK

ARIZONA
Mather Campground-Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon, AZ

ARKANSAS
Hot Springs National Park KOA-Hot Springs, AR

CALIFORNIA
Channel Islands National Park-Ventura, CA
Columbia State Historic Park-Tuolumne, CA
Forks Campground-Sierra National Forest-Bass Lake, CA
Laguna-Cleveland National Forest-Mt. Laguna, CA
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park-Shasta, CA
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park-San Diego, CA
Richardson Grove State Park-Humboldt, CA
Van Damme State Park-Mendocino, CA

COLORADO
Steamboat Lake State Park-Clark, CO
Glacier Basin Campground-Rocky Mountain National Park-Estes Park, CO

CONNECTICUT
American Legion State Forest-Austin Hawes Campground-Pleasant Valley, CT
Hammonasset Beach State Park-Madison, CT
Housatonic Meadows State Park-Sharon, CT
Rocky Neck State Park-Niantic, CT

FLORIDA
Fort Clinch State Park-Fernandina Beach, FL
Oscar Scherer State Park-Osprey, FL
St. Augustine Beach KOA-St. Augustine, FL
St. George Island State Park-St.George Island, FL

GEORGIA
Watsadler Campground-Hartwell, GA

KENTUCKY
Barren River State Resort Park-Lucas, KY
Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park-Burkesville, KY
Green River Lake State Park-Campbellsville, KY
John James Audubon State Park-Henderson, KY
Nolin Lake State Park-Mammoth Cave, KY

LOUISIANA
Cypremort Point State Park-Cypremort Point, LA
Grand Isle State Park-Grand Isle, LA
Bayou Segnette State Park-Westwego, LA
Hodges Gardens State Park-Florien, LA

MARYLAND
Greenbelt Campground-Greenbelt Park-Greenbelt, MD

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Harbor Island National Park Area-Hingham, MA
D.A.R. State Forest-Goshen, MA
Pearl Hill State Park-West Townsend, MA
Tolland State Forest-East Otis, MA
Wells State Park-Sturbridge, MA

MICHIGAN
Petoskey KOA-Petoskey, MI
Sand Lake Campground-Huron-Manistee National Forest-Manistee, MI

MISSISSIPPI
John W Kyle State Park-Sardis, MS
Lake Lincoln State Park-Wesson, MS
Paul B Johnson State Park-Hattiesburg, MS
Percy Quin State Park-McComb, MS
Trace State Park-Belden, MS

NEBRASKA
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park-Ashland, NE
Fort Robinson State Park-Crawford, NE
Ponca State Park-Ponca, NE

NEVADA
Hilltop-Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest-Charleston, NV

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Bear Brook State Park-Allenstown, NH
Crawford Notch State Park-Crawford Notch, NH
Franconia Notch State Park-Franconia, NH
Lake Francis State Park-Pittsburgh, NH
Pawtuckaway State Park-Nottingham, NH
Umbagog Lake State Park-Errol, NH
White Lake State Park-Tamworth, NH

NEW YORK
Brown Tract Campground-Raquette Lake, NY
Buck Pond Campground-Onchiota, NY
Cedar Island State Park-Clayton, NY
Coles Creek State Park-Waddington, NY
Delta Lake State Park-Rome, NY
DeWolf Point State Park-Fineview, NY
Hearthstone Point-Lake George, NY
Keewyadin State Park-Alexandria Bay, NY
Keuka Lake State Park-Bluff Point, NY
Mongaup Pond-Livingston Manor, NY

OHIO
Shelby/Mansfield KOA-Shelby, OH

OREGON
Nehalem Bay State Park-Nehalem, OR
Pine Meadows Campground-Cottage Grove, OR

PENNSYLVANIA
Seven Points Campground-Raystown Lake-Hesston, PA

RHODE ISLAND
George Washington Memorial Camping Area-Glocester, RI
Burlingame State Park and Campground-Charlestown, RI
Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground-Narragansett, RI

SOUTH CAROLINA
Aiken State Natural Area-Windsor, SC
Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area-Calhoun Falls, SC
Hamilton Branch State Recreation Area-Plum Branch, SC
Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area-Sunset, SC
Paris Mountain State Park-Greenville, SC
Table Rock State Park-Pickens, SC

TENNESSEE
Bristol/Kingsport KOA-Blountville, TN

UTAH
Bear Lake State Park-Garden City, UT
Fremont Indian State Park & Museum-Sevier, UT
Goblin Valley State Park-Green River, UT
Red Fleet State Park-Vernal, UT

VIRGINIA
Chippokes Plantation State Park-Surry, VA
Claytor Lake State Park-Dublin, VA
Douthat State Park-Millboro, VA
Fairy Stone State Park-Stuart, VA
Lake Anna State Park-Spotsylvania, VA (click here to view the Lake Anna webcam)
New River Trail State Park-Foster Falls, VA
Occoneechee State Park-Clarksville, VA
Smith Mountain Lake State Park-Huddleston, VA
Westmoreland State Park-Montross, VA

WASHINGTON
Central Ferry Park-Pomeroy, WA
Takhlakh Lake Campground-Gifford Pinchot National Forest-Trout Lake, WA

WISCONSIN
Roche-A-Cri State Park-Friendship, WI
Buckhorn State Park-Necedah, WI
Devil’s Lake State Park-Baraboo, WI
Wisconsin Dells KOA-Wisconsin Dells, WI

ENCORE RESORTS
Tropical Palms Resort - Orlando, Florida
ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort - Mesa, AZ

Have you been to any of these campgrounds? Do you have a different suggestion for one of the top 100 campgrounds? If you have, please share your thoughts about its ranking as one of the top 100 family campgrounds in America in the comments section below.

Personally, I think the best campground in Wisconsin, which is where I’m from, is Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. It has campgrounds very close to the beach, bike rentals, boat rentals, level hiking and biking trails, an outdoor ampitheater, a nice nature center, a lighthouse, a 75 foot high lookout tower, and a fun night-time Halloween walk in October.

If you want to combine camping with volunteer work, consider a volunteer vacation with the American Hiking Society.

The volunteer vacations are a week long, and combine camping with building and maintaining trails in various parts of the United States.

Participants can choose the type of volunteer vacation that is right for them based on what state they would like to volunteer in, how challenging they would like the work to be, the type of accommodations they prefer, the age range of the participants, and what month and year they would like to go.

Currently, volunteer vacations are available in 25 states some of which are Alaska, Washington, Texas, Florida, Maine, and Colorado, and also in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The difficulty level of the vacations range from easy to very strenuous.

Accommodations vary from primitive tenting, improved tenting, shelter, and cabin.

Plus there are volunteer vacations that are suitable for families, for people ages 18-21, and for people 21 and over.

For example, there are currently two open projects in the US Virgin Islands Nation Park in November 2008. The work being done is restoration of historic trails, with the work being moderate to difficult. Participants will be driven to a trailhead work site each morning and will have to hike up to an hour to their work site. Four to six hours will be spent working on the trail. Participants will be able to spend their non working hours enjoying the beaches, water activities, or touring historic ruins.

The cost of the trip is $245 for American Hiking Society Members or $275 for non-members. There are additional costs for food and lodging.

For more information, click here.

Another volunteer vacation that is currently accepting volunteers is at Crowleys Ridge State Park in Arkansas from November 2-8, 2008. The work level is easy to moderate and work may consist of bridge repair, erosion control, constructing an interpretive trail, signage, tread work, or clearing work.

For more information on the opportunity in Arkansas, click here.

To check out all the opportunities, click here for an interactive map and for more information on what to expect when taking a volunteer vacation.

To learn more about the American Hiking Society, who organizes the volunteer vacations, click here.

Yahoo has put together a list of the scenic drives in America they consider the best.

Even though high gas prices have people thinking twice about jumping in the car and going for a drive, why not make one of these drives part of a summer camping vacation?

Which drives made the top 5?

BlLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
This 469 mile drive along the southern Appalachian Mountains is often called America’s Favorite Drive. Shenandoah National Park and the Smoky Mountains are along the parkway.

HANA HIGHWAY
Okay, this one might not be a doable drive on a camping vacation unless you already live in Hawaii because the Hana Highway is on the island of Maui. The 50+ mile drive has 600 hairpin curves, 54 one-lane bridges and spectacular views.

HIGHWAY 1
Also called California State Route 1, this road hugs the Pacific Coastline and boasts views of rocky shoreline, beaches where otters or sea ions may be seen, and towering forests of trees. Consider camping in the Big Sur area where you can go beachcombing and can hike the redwood tree forests. It also go through several coastal towns and the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.

HIGHWAY 12
Utah’s Highway 12 connects Bryce Canyon National Park and Capital Reef National Park. The scenery includes sandstone formations, red rock canyons, mountain ranges, and lakes.

GOING TO THE SUN ROAD
This 52 mile drive can only be driven a few months of the year, from the early part of June to the middle of October (or the first snowfall). The road is located in the Glacier National Park in Montana and has lots of lookout points and points of interest. There are views of glacial lakes, cedar forests, and windswept alpine tundra.

Milo McIver State Park is located in northwestern Oregon just 45 minutes from Portland and a little over 2 hours from the beautiful Oregon coastline.

The park is along the scenic Clackamas River where kayak, rafting, and canoing enthusiasts can challenge themselves.

If careening through the water is not your thing, there are lots of other things to do in the campground or at the 2 nearby day use areas within the parks 951 acres.

They include:
- hiking trails, one of which is a self guided bat trail with bat houses and several stations to stop and learn about the bats (click here for a brochure explaining the bat trail)
- biking trails
- horseback riding trails
- model airplane field
- boat and raft access ramp
- an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fish hatchery that raises and releases over a million Chinook salmon each year
- a 27 hole disc golf course (discs are available at the park for rent or purchase)
- pet exercise area
- Civil War enactment every September that over 300 actors participate in
- bird watching
- nature watching
- fishing
- evening and interpretive programs at various times of the year

The campground has an RV waste dump site, phones, showers, restrooms, handicap accessible campsites and group campsites.

The campground is open from mid March to October 30. There are 44 electrical campsites, 9 walk in tent sites, 1 hiker/biker site, and 3 group tent sites. To view a map of the campground, click here.

To view a map/brochure of the park, click here.

Pets are allowed in the campground but they need to be controlled at all times. When outdoors they need to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

Reservations can be made from 2 days to 9 months in advance. Reservations can be made online through the Reserve America reservation system or by calling 800.452.5687.

There are fees for day use of the park and for camping.

For more information on the park, visit their website by clicking here or calling 800.551.6949 or 503.630.7150

With over 22,000 places to pitch a tent, you’re sure to have plenty of options if you decide to go camping in main. Now if you haven’t had a chance yet, make sure you pick up the Maine Camping Guide available for free from the Maine Campground Owners Association.

But if you’re looking for some place that’s both picturesque and right on the water, then one place worth checking our is Camden Hills State Park in the mid-coast region of Maine.

Camden Hills State Park is a 5,500 acre park that offers 30 miles of hiking and trails. It offers sweeping views of Camden, Penobscot Bat, and surrounding islands, and on a clear day you might even catch a glimpse of Cadillac Mountain. And you won’t be too far from civilization as the small New England town of Camden is just a few minutes to the south.

You can even take a ferry to the islands on the Maine State Ferry Service.

And one thing that I always appreciate in a campground – hot showers and modern restrooms – are both available in the park.

Friday June 6, 2008 through Sunday June 8, 2008 is the Walk The Plank Festival in Port Washington, Wisconsin; located in the southestern part of Wisconsin on the western shore of Lake Michigan.

It includes an invasion, a Thieves Marketplace, a Gruel Galley (no gruel, just good food), a Buccaneer Bash, fireworks, activities for the kids, demonstrations, educational exhibits, musicians, comedians, parade, and a pirate ship.

The festival is a lot of fun for kids and adults plus there is camping nearby. And, as much as I like camping it’s also fun to take a day away sometimes and enjoy local events.

Entertainers already booked for the 2008 event include:
- The Midwest Knife and Axe Throwers (yes they throw knives and axes - it’s pretty cool)
- The River Valley Colonial Fife and Drum Corps
- Bounding Main Shanty Singers and Balladeers
- The Jolly Rogers Pirate Music Singers (notice the theme?)
- Reilly Rocks (Irish Celtic Rock Music)

The best part is that admission to the festival is free (although some of the special events like the rum tasting cost extra, as do the ship cruises).

It’s a fun event that takes a step back in time to the “Pirate Days” but at the festival you don’t have to worry about being forced to “walk the plank” or “swab the deck” but you will probably hear pirate jargon like “ahoy,” “arr!” and “blimey” and you may be called “mate” more than once.

Campgrounds near the festival:

Lazy Days Campground in West Bend (17 miles from Port Washington)

Lake Lenwood Beach and Campground near West Bend (about 17 miles from Port Washington)

Kohler Andrae State Park near Sheboygan (24 miles from Port Washington)

As the official website for the event says, it is a weekend of fun and merriment.

For more information on the Port Washington area, click here to order a free visitors guide.

Spring is a great time to go to Yosemite National park even though some of the park roads in the upper elevations of the park are closed due to snow (they usually don’t open until the latter part of May or early June).

Yosemite Falls, the longest waterfall in the United States, builds volume in the spring and is typically at its highest volume around mid-May with the water cascading over the falls in an awe inspiring roar. By the time late summer and early fall arrive, the falls are usually just a trickle so spring or early summer is definitely the time to go if you want to see the falls at their best.

There are 13 campgrounds in Yosemite but if you are taking an RV or large travel trailer or 5th wheel, keep in mind that some of the roads have height and length restrictions (click here for more info on vehicle restrictions).

Seven of the thirteen campgrounds at Yosemite are on a reservation system with the remaining six on a first come first served system. Park officials say reservations are essential from April through September for the reserved sites and to get to the park early for the first come first served sites because they are often full by Noon.

Ten of the park’s 13 campgrounds have sites that will accommodate RV’s, travel trailers, and 5th wheels but keep in mind the park’s campgrounds were first established when camping vehicles were smaller so there are a limited number of sites in the park that will accommodate larger rigs. Make sure the site you reserve is big enough for your camping equipment. Click here for more information about camping in Yosemite. To make camping reservations, click here to go to recreation.gov.

To take a “virtual” tour and see some great vacation shots of Yosemite, watch the slideshow below:

Yosemite National Park - California - U.S.A

One Final Note: Yosemite is gorgeous to see but keep in mind that it is also home to black bears who have a keen sense of smell. That means you will need to take precautions with food while there. Food needs to be stored in the metal food lockers which the park provides for campers in every campsite in the park. And the word “food” takes on new meaning when camping where bears live because food to bears is anything with a scent including cosmetics, shampoo, empty food wrappers and dirty dishes. For more on bears and safety at Yosemite, click here.

Camping at most Arizona State Parks is on a first-come first-served basis, including Kartchner Caverns in the southern part of the state. If you’re not the type of person that likes to plan a trip without knowing you have a campsite reserved, don’t rule out a visit to Kartchner Caverns. Instead, stay at Roper State Park and take a day trip to Kartchner (Roper State Park is a little over an hour’s drive from Kartchner Caverns and is one of the two state parks in Arizona that accepts advanced reservations. Call 928.428.6760 for reservation inquires at Roper).

Kartcher Caverns State Park is located 9 miles from Benson, Arizona and 160 miles from Phoenix.

The crown jewel of Kartchner Caverns State Park is the Caverns. They were discovered in 1974 by two cavers who didn’t tell the property owners of their discovery until 4 years later during which time they secretly explored the cave discovering its amazing variety of colors and formations. During those four years the cavers realized what they discovered needed to be preserved so they approached the property owners to tell them of their amazing discovery.

The majority of the world found out about the existence of the caverns in 1988 when the purchase of the property was approved as a state park. It officially opened as a state park in November of 1999.

It is estimated that the formation of the caverns began 330 million years ago when a shallow inland sea covered the area. It’s rich in history with more being discovered as continued exploration takes place. Palentologists have discovered the skeletons of an 86,000 year old Shasta ground sloth in the caverns, a 34,000 year old horse, and an 11,000 year old bear.

The average year round temperature inside the caverns is 68 degrees Fahrenheit with 98% humidity so take a light sweater or sweatshirt along when you take a tour. Advanced reservations for touring the caverns are highly recommended. People from around the world travel to see the caverns (it has the distinction of being one of the top 10 caverns in the world) and only 100 walk up passes are available each morning. Everything else is by reservations which can be made by calling 520.586.2283 from 8 am to 5 pm daily MST except during state holidays (including Christmas Day) or by using the online reservation system

There are two different tours available:
-Rotunda/Throne Room Tour which is 1/2 mile in length; is about 1 1/2 hours long with tours available year round. Cost of the tour is $18.95 for ages 14 and up, $9.95 for ages 7-13, and free for children 6 and younger.

-Big Room Tour which is 1/2 mile and about 1 1/2 hours long. Tours of the Big Room are only done from October 15 to April 15 (it’s closed the rest of the year to allow the cave to rest and rejuvenate and so the cave myotis bats can roost) and it is more challenging than the Rotunda/Throne Room Tour; therefore, children 6 and under are not allowed to take it. The cost is $22.95 for ages 14 and up; and $12.95 for ages 7-13.

The park itself is open 7 days a week from 7:30 am to 6 pm MST and is closed Christmas Day. Campers need to arrive by 5:30 pm. Park gates close at 6 pm and reopen in the morning at 7 am.

The 62 first come first served campsites at the park have electric hookups with water, a dump station, restrooms, showers, and flush toilets available.

In addition to guided cave tours, the park features a Discovery Center, interactive displays, a theater with a video program, a gift shop, telephones, vending machines, and an amphitheater.

There are hiking and walking trails inside the park. The Guindani Trail is 4.2 miles long, is easy for the first mile, then moderate for the next 2/3rds of the trail, then strenuous for the last section. There is also the Foothills Loop Trail which is 2.5 miles long with a moderate to difficult rating. For a more leisurely walk, there is the Hummingbird Garden Walk on the southwest side of the Discovery Center. The walkway is lined with a variety of local vegetation.

Entrance to the park is $5 per car or free with a tour reservation. Camping is $22 per night.

The elevation at the park is 4,600 feet.

For more information about Kartchner Caverns visit the park’s website by clicking here.

My first trip to Kartchner Caverns

In 2005, Fort De Soto Park in Florida was named America’s number one beach by Dr. Beach (yes, he’s a real person, is really a doctor, and does an annual top 10 list of the best beaches in America - click here to visit his website).

Because beaches are an American favorite for vacationing, because camping is a popular activity, and because many people who camp like to take their dog with them, Fort De Soto is my pick for this week’s “destination of the week.”

In addition to the great beach area, there are 236 camping sites. All sites have water and electrical hookups (35-50 amp service); plus a picnic table and charcoal grill. Eighty-five of the sites are for tents, vans, or popups only; the rest accomodate all types of camping units. Pets are permitted in sites 86-164 (the highlighted area of this map shows where dogs are allowed).

Plus, there is a special Paw Playground for dogs at the park. It is a green fenced area where dogs can roam unleashed and where there are cooling stations with showers and dog level water fountains for them to cool off in. There’s even a prime stretch of beach area where dogs can romp and play.

Camping reservations can be made 6 months in advance (7 months if you are a Pinellas County Resident) on some of the sites. Not all are reservable. Some are first come, first served. Nightly camping fees range from $33.60 to $39.20. Make sure you want to camp at Fort De Soto before making a reservation though, because they do not give refunds no matter how far in advance you cancel. Instead they issue a credit for a future reservation but that credit is only good for one year. Click here for more information on the cancellation policy and to make reservations. Click here for a .pdf file about the campground area including check in and check out times as well as rules, policies, hours, and informational phone numbers.

Fort Desoto Park

While at the 1,136 acre park, which is 5 interconnected islands, check out the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum and the 12-inch mortar battery that is located at the fort for which the park was named. It is located on the largest of the islands, Mullet Island.

Cayo Costa State Park is one of the largest underdeveloped barrier islands in Florida. It is accessible only by private boat or ferry (about a 20 minutes ferry ride) but is worth the trip. Although there is not any RV camping available at the park, there is tent camping as well as cabin and yurt rentals.

Admission to the park is $1 (on the honor system) but that fee is waived if you are camping.

There are 30 tent sites in the campground, reserveable through Reserve America with a maximum of 8 people allowed on each site. Each site has a picnic table and ground grill. Bathrooms and showers are located nearby (toilets are flush toilets but showers are cold water so be prepared). Check in time at the tent sites is 3 pm. Checkout is at 1 pm. The cost is $18 per night.
The 12 cabins are also reserveable through Reserve America but they are popular so make reservations early. Up to 6 people are allowed per cabin with check in at 4 pm and checkout at 11 am. They are primitive with three plank bunk beds and a table. They don’t have electricity or any other amenities, but the views and proximity to the beach make up for it. There are bathrooms and showers nearby (again, the showers are cold water), as well as grills for cooking. Cabins cost $27.52 per night.

When planning an overnight trip, make sure to bring in your own food and beverages as there is no access to any on the island (unless you make friends with one of your camping neighbors). The park follows a carry-in, carry-out policy so all your garbage goes back out with you. But, the ranger on the island does sell ice.

If you have a dog, it’s welcome at the park, but not on the beaches or by the cabins so if you are overnight camping with your dog you will need to tent camp.

If you are planning a trip to the island in the summer, be prepared for bugs and mosquitoes and bring a supply of insect repellent.

Some things to do and enjoy on the island:
The beaches - There are about 9.5 miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. They are a great place for shelling (especially in the winter months), swimming, snorkeling, fishing (everyone over the age of 16 is required to have a state of Florida fishing license), hiking, and sunbathing.

Biking and hiking - Bike rentals are available from the park ranger for a half day or full day. Nature trails (about 6 miles of them) on the island are a great place to do bird watching, especially in the spring and fall when birds are on their migratory journeys.

Kayaking - Kayak rentals are available from Tropic Star of Pine Island (239.283.0015)

Fishing - Click on this link to see if you need a fishing license, and if so, what kind. Your trip will get ruined in a hurry if you get fined for fishing without a license. If you go surf fishing from the island, you can catch flounder, snook, trout, redfish, snapper, whiting, sheepshead, and tarpon.

Watch the Sea Turtles - nesting season is from May to September.

Enjoy the ranger programs - On Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 am the park ranger has varying programs about the island and its inhabitants at the park’s amphitheater . On Thursdays or Fridays from October to April the ranger has an evening campfire program. Call 941.964.0375 for specific information or stop at the ranger station on the way into the park for program titles and times.

Ferry service to the island/park is provided by Tropic Star of Pine Island and departs from Pineland, Florida. Reservations are required on the ferry and there is a fee. Call Tropic Star at 239.283.0015 for specifics.

For more information on the park, click here to visit their official website; or click here to download a park brochure. Click here to download a map of the park.