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Didn't do a whole bunch today. Mainly just checked out some other campgrounds in the area to see where I may want to move to once my week is up here at Gulf Waters RV Resort.
Just down the road a couple of miles is Pioneer Beach Resort. They are mostly full but do have one space available for two weeks. I drove through and the RVs are packed tighter then sardines. They have a lot of activities, are located a short walk away from the beach and they have a lot of good reviews from others. Just not sure I'd like being that tight but it's always something to fall back on.
I then drove down to the northern tip of Mustang Island to check out IB Magee Beach Park. This is a county park that has just had a new office and bath house built recently. This is located right next to the beach on one side and the Port Aransas boat channel on another side. They even have primitive camping right on the beach. They do have about 75 "improved" campsites with electric and water but they are pretty rough. Some are in low land and have a lot of water on them, other are a bit better but look like they could get pretty muddy. The closeness to the beach makes it attractive but not sure I want to rough it that much. Lots of spaces available and at $125 a week it's not out of the question.
Last stop was Mustang Island State Park located on the southern side of the island. They have 48 improved campsites with electric and water plus 300 primitive campsites right on the beach. The improved sites are only about 50 yards from the beach. Each improved site has a covered picnic table and enough room between RVs as not to feel cramped. Price is about $150 per week but found I most likely would have to make a reservation as spring break is coming up the 2nd week of March and they start filling up the 1st week of March.
I may pick Mustang Island State Park to stay in as it is a bit roomier, still close to the beach and inexpensive. I'll have to decide soon.
Showing posts with label Campground Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Campground Reviews. Show all posts
Fort Stockton Texas
I left Guadalupe River State Park this morning for Big Bend National Park and stopped at Fort Stockton RV Park for the night. It was a bit frosty this morning with temps in the upper 20s. As I retracted the slider before leaving there was a bunch of racket outside. Decided I better go investigate. Their must have still been some water on the slide topper and it had frozen during the night. It all slid off as the topper rolled up and crashed to the ground.
The drive to Ft. Stockton was a nice change of pace. While it was a bit hilly, the scenery was very nice. It is what I would consider typical western plains scenery. Right out of a Marlboro commercial. There are also a lot of wind generator farms on top of the flat hills.
Here are a few more pictures.
The Fort Stockton RV Park is pretty nice considering it is in the middle of nowhere. OK, Fort Stockton may be one of the larger cities in the region, but there is still no much else around. Might be one reason the park is over half full, there really isn't any other place to stop within 100 miles. By the time I got here the temps had gotten up to 55 degrees, felt really good.
Not a lot trees and stuff on the lots but there isn't much of that in the area. The park is clean with a bit of construction going on behind the main building. The bathrooms/showers are surprising nice. All full hookup sites are pull through and there are sites for any size rig. I was able to pull in my 30' 5th wheel and leave my truck hooked up. The sites are wide enough to extend any slides you may have. They even have a tent area and a few cabins for rent. I was able to pull in 6 television channels, 4 or them are Spanish. They have WiFi but I found it close to worthless. The signal is strong, but so slow pages would time out loading. Verizon cell signal is strong so I'm tethering with no problems.
There is a small restaurant in the park that is open a couple hours in the morning and evening. I didn't feel like cooking something up so tried some of their Mesquite pork ribs. It was a pretty good meal for 8 bucks. I think I'll give their bisects and gravy a go in the morning.
I plan to be in Terlingua Texas tomorrow staying at the Big Bend Resort & Adventures RV Park. It is located only a few miles outside the west entrance to Big Bend NP and is suppose to be the best place to stay when visiting the park. I heard there is no cell service in the area but the park has WiFi. Not sure how many days I am going to stay there, it will just depend on how interesting Big Bend is.
Here are a few more pictures.
The Fort Stockton RV Park is pretty nice considering it is in the middle of nowhere. OK, Fort Stockton may be one of the larger cities in the region, but there is still no much else around. Might be one reason the park is over half full, there really isn't any other place to stop within 100 miles. By the time I got here the temps had gotten up to 55 degrees, felt really good.
Not a lot trees and stuff on the lots but there isn't much of that in the area. The park is clean with a bit of construction going on behind the main building. The bathrooms/showers are surprising nice. All full hookup sites are pull through and there are sites for any size rig. I was able to pull in my 30' 5th wheel and leave my truck hooked up. The sites are wide enough to extend any slides you may have. They even have a tent area and a few cabins for rent. I was able to pull in 6 television channels, 4 or them are Spanish. They have WiFi but I found it close to worthless. The signal is strong, but so slow pages would time out loading. Verizon cell signal is strong so I'm tethering with no problems.
There is a small restaurant in the park that is open a couple hours in the morning and evening. I didn't feel like cooking something up so tried some of their Mesquite pork ribs. It was a pretty good meal for 8 bucks. I think I'll give their bisects and gravy a go in the morning.
I plan to be in Terlingua Texas tomorrow staying at the Big Bend Resort & Adventures RV Park. It is located only a few miles outside the west entrance to Big Bend NP and is suppose to be the best place to stay when visiting the park. I heard there is no cell service in the area but the park has WiFi. Not sure how many days I am going to stay there, it will just depend on how interesting Big Bend is.
Guadalupe, Pedernales and LBJ
Had a chance to get out and explore the area today. Nothing here is very close to each other so that means a bit of driving.
First stop was where I am staying, Guadalupe River State Park located close to Spring Branch, Texas. The park is about 25 miles north of San Antonio just off State Highway 46. The main feature of the park is the Guadalupe River.... go figure. When I first saw it I was really surprised at the deep cut walls that line parts of the river. There are large areas set aside for picnicking with many easy paths that you can walk to take in the river scenery. There are even areas where you can fish, swim and even tube down the river. While the park is pretty deserted now, I could see that this would be a hopping place in summer.
All of the facilities look to be in very good shape with nice bathroom in each major area. I also found out they have WiFi in areas of the park. I pulled out my super duty WiFi antenna and can get a usable signal for internet access. This is great a place to stop if in the area.
See more pictures of Guadalupe River State Park.
I then headed north another 35 miles or so to Johnson City. Johnson City is the birthplace of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Before visiting the LBJ Ranch I took a side trip to Pedernales Falls State Park which is 9 miles east of Johnson City. This takes you into the heart of Texas Hill Country. The road to the park is hilly. At the bottom of some of the hills there are "flood level" markers so you can see how much water is flowing over the road... they went up to 5 foot!
Once you get on the park road is winding and hilly. Reminded me a lot of the road from Gardner to Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone. They have a large camping area in the park so I drove through to see what it was like. It's much like the camping area where I am at now. From there I headed to the spot on the park map marked as a swimming and tubing area.
This is not like any swimming spot I've ever seen before. You have about 100 yard walk down a path with numerous steps to get to the river. Once there you have patches of sand in between large rocks and trees. The river in this area is littered with boulders but these also create areas of calm water that would be perfect for a soak. Interesting indeed.
It was then on to Pedernales Falls. This was completely unexpected in the middle of Texas. The river is down so there was not a lot of water flow, but the whole area is awesome. You can get right down to the rivers edge and walk on the rocks that would make up the falls when the river is running faster. Sheer cliffs are on the other side of the river with a sandy beach for swimming below the falls. This is easily the best place I have visited since being in Texas and I could have stayed here all day. But time was running short and I had one more place I wanted to visit.
See more pictures of Pedernales Falls State Park.
14 miles west of Johnson City is the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. This park was created from the Johnson Ranch and it is still a working ranch. The visitors center has a lot of information on LBJ's life and memorabilia. They have a self guided tour on a CD that you play in your car while you drive around the ranch.
One of the most interesting parts was the main driveway to the ranch that goes through the Pedernales River and your car is actually in the water as you cross the river (it is no longer in use). You may remember pictures of LBJ and Lady Bird riding in their Continental convertible as water splashed under it's wheels. Also located here is LBJ's Western White House, his parents home, the one room school house he attended and an exhibit of his white Continentals, other cars and other memorabilia at the ranch airplane hanger.
The LBJ State Park is more of an historical site then what many would consider a state park. If you have any interest of this time in history, you want to stop here,
More pictures of the LBJ Ranch.
That wrapped up my day. Well, almost. On the way back to the camp site I spotted a DQ, me and Spud shared a carmel sundae! Pretty exciting day and I saw things I never expected. I'm glad I took the time to stop in this area. I'm going to extend my stay for a couple more days.
All of the facilities look to be in very good shape with nice bathroom in each major area. I also found out they have WiFi in areas of the park. I pulled out my super duty WiFi antenna and can get a usable signal for internet access. This is great a place to stop if in the area.
See more pictures of Guadalupe River State Park.
I then headed north another 35 miles or so to Johnson City. Johnson City is the birthplace of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Before visiting the LBJ Ranch I took a side trip to Pedernales Falls State Park which is 9 miles east of Johnson City. This takes you into the heart of Texas Hill Country. The road to the park is hilly. At the bottom of some of the hills there are "flood level" markers so you can see how much water is flowing over the road... they went up to 5 foot!
This is not like any swimming spot I've ever seen before. You have about 100 yard walk down a path with numerous steps to get to the river. Once there you have patches of sand in between large rocks and trees. The river in this area is littered with boulders but these also create areas of calm water that would be perfect for a soak. Interesting indeed.
It was then on to Pedernales Falls. This was completely unexpected in the middle of Texas. The river is down so there was not a lot of water flow, but the whole area is awesome. You can get right down to the rivers edge and walk on the rocks that would make up the falls when the river is running faster. Sheer cliffs are on the other side of the river with a sandy beach for swimming below the falls. This is easily the best place I have visited since being in Texas and I could have stayed here all day. But time was running short and I had one more place I wanted to visit.
See more pictures of Pedernales Falls State Park.
One of the most interesting parts was the main driveway to the ranch that goes through the Pedernales River and your car is actually in the water as you cross the river (it is no longer in use). You may remember pictures of LBJ and Lady Bird riding in their Continental convertible as water splashed under it's wheels. Also located here is LBJ's Western White House, his parents home, the one room school house he attended and an exhibit of his white Continentals, other cars and other memorabilia at the ranch airplane hanger.
The LBJ State Park is more of an historical site then what many would consider a state park. If you have any interest of this time in history, you want to stop here,
More pictures of the LBJ Ranch.
That wrapped up my day. Well, almost. On the way back to the camp site I spotted a DQ, me and Spud shared a carmel sundae! Pretty exciting day and I saw things I never expected. I'm glad I took the time to stop in this area. I'm going to extend my stay for a couple more days.
AmeriCana RV Resort - Mission Texas
Overview: I stayed in AmeriCana RV Park for 3 weeks in January 2010. It is a mature park.... I hesitate to call it an older park as it wears it's age well. With the maturity of the park comes many of the things that attracted me to it. It is a smaller park with about 125 spaces, lots of mature trees for ample shading for most of the spaces and just enough facilities to make it enjoyable.Location: AmeriCana is in a good location close to I-83. It is only 3 miles from Bentsen State Park which is the birding capital to the world. There are many other RV parks in the vacinity so you will see many other Winter Texans biking and walking in the area. This also puts it close to just about any big box store you could ever want, many eateries, movie theaters, malls and gas stations. A few blocks to the west is an area that is a bit run down but I never felt uncomfortable driving through the area.
All sites are back in and there are lots to fit any size RV. Since this is a mature park the roads are a bit narrow. Two vehicles can pass side by side but that is about it. With the lots being as large as they are I did not observe anyone having a problem backing into their sites. I would guess that 25% of the lots taken by permanent seasonal units that were all kept up very nicely.
Site Services: Each site is full hook up with 30 and/or 50 amp service, water and sewer. Sewer hookups are towards the rear of the lot so make sure you have enough hose to reach, I needed 30 foot of hose. My site had 50 amp only but I have an adaptor to hook it up to my 30 amp cable. I never had a problem with electric power or water pressure. The water is hard as it left a lot of water spots when I washed my truck. Cable TV is available through the local cable company, I did not use it as reception was very good for the 4 major networks using my over the air antenna. Free WiFi is available in the park clubhouse only. Aircard reception using Verizon was excellent.
The park is very pet friendly and you will always see someone walking their dog. At the back of the park is a bird sanctuary. It is privately owned by one of the park seasonal residents and it provides a nice stop to have a nice short walk in a wooded area and view a few birds at the feeding station.
Activities: There are a number of activities planned each day. This varies from Spanish lessons to Bible Study, Exercise classes, Poker, Pokeno, Computer help and bike rides. There are also a number of special events each month that are one time events. I did not participate in the activities but I seen the Pokeno, poker, Spanish lessons and the weekly jam session were very popular.
Cost: I paid $130.00 weekly including electric. Daily rates are $30 with monthly rates are $400 not including electric. Good Sam is accepted for a few day on the daily rate.
Summery: I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at AmeriCana. The hosts are super friendly and helpful and all of the parks guests/residents were great. My favorite things was the ample shading and comfortable laid back atmosphere of the park. It was great to have birds in the trees throughout the park instead of a barren plot with little to no landscaping. Almost every evening I would sit on the patio just to relax in the shade and chat with the other guests as they walked by. Almost every day a flock of parakeets would fly in to occupy the local vegetation. My neighbor had a a hummingbird feeder out and it was interesting to see them fly in to have a drink.
I would highly recommend AmeriCana RV Park to anyone visiting the Rio Grande Valley and would suggest that you upgrade to a premium site if at all possible.
AmeriCan RV Park, 721 N. Bentsen Palm Dr., Mission, TX
(956)581-1705 - http://www.americanarvresort.com
AmeriCana RV Resort
Another day, another change in RV park. I got information on another RV park from rv.net and decided to check it out this morning. The AmeriCana RV Resort in Mission Texas is a smaller older park compared to many of the mega parks. The mega parks have rows and rows of RVs packed together with the gratuitous palm tree on each lot where the AmeriCana has more space between units and has mature trees throughout each of the spaces. The activity buildings are a bit older and while the meeting hall and bathrooms may not have the stark sterileness of the mega park, they are very clean and useable. Walk down the streets and there are orange and grapefruit trees to pick from and birds are in the trees right outside my door. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it's just more comfortable and friendly then the mega parks. I signed up to stay 2 weeks and can extend from there.Found out there was a fish boil tonight at the park and they said they had a couple of cancelations so I could get a plate. Didn't really know what to expect since I just arrived a few hours earlier. As I walked up to the club house I heard what I thought was a jet engine. What I found sitting outside was 3 huge pots of boiling water with big propane burners firing underneath.
I looked around and a group of guys were standing around the pots, beers in hand, deciding when the best time it was to start cooking. Maybe it was just the passing around of the cup of brandy but I see this is my kind of place! I headed back to the trailer, stuffed my jacket pockets full of beers and joined the group. We had boiled fish, potatoes, carrots, onions, cole slaw and bread. Sure was a nice finish to the day.
Cold Brook Park - Climax, Michigan
Cold Brook Park is a nice little county park located a couple miles off I94 at the Climax, MI exit. It is about 20 miles from my house. I like it because it is a clean quiet park that is close enough for me to just get away for a weekend and don't want to plan/drive for a more distant campground.It has 29 improved sites (30 amp electric and water) and 22 rustic sites for tents. Camping fees are $20 per might. Each improved site has a fire ring and a picnic table. Most of the sites are shaded. The access road is paved and the sites are grass. RVs of any size should have no problem getting into the park. The shower/bathrooms are centrally located in the improved area and are nice and clean. There are 3 lakes reachable from the park if you are into fishing or boating. The boat ramp is about 1/4 mile from the campground. Some complain that it is too far from the campground but it is one thing I like about it. Those that come just to boat don't disturb us campers
Within close walking distance to the campground are two playgrounds for the kids, a pier for fishing, picnic shelters and a volleyball court. A short distance away (1/2 mile) is the boat ramp, dish golf course and swimming area.
This is just a campground that I enjoy. It is relaxing, sites are not packed close together and has a number of activities to keep you occupied for a day. You should check it out if you are in the area.
I rate it an 8 out of 10
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