suggestions: 1 tank trips 4 family w/popup

[boss302]

We will be getting a popup this week. I'm looking for suggestions for some low cost one tank trips (overnights to long weekends). We have two younger kids (boy-8, girl-5) and a small dog so pet and kid frienly is prefered. I have a few ideas in my head, but would love some advice on places to explore.

[Incroixdible]

Clays park in canal fulton. They have a website. Awesome awesome amentities for kids. We go every summer. Saturday nights in the pavilion in the middle of the camp ground they have a dj who comes in and it is a huge kid party. Next to the pavilion they have a full store, bath house, restaurant, bar and laundry. The price is right also. Definitely worth checking out. Clays park is dog friendly but unless you can keep your dogs inside your camper alone for a little while, try to go without. The first year we went, we took the dogs and as you will see on the website, there are great water things todo. Problem being you cant take the dogs to the swimming beach so I spent some time baby sitting the dogs while the wife went to the swimming lake. It was fine with me. I made a fire, ate and drank some beverages. If that works for you than your good. We take the dogs everywhere. clays also has a large fishing lake and streams, all of which you can let the dogs go in. So there is plenty to do with the dogs. Just keep in mind the swimming beach thing. Truth is the kids can only take short burst of swimming anyway and we have no prob leaving the dogs in the camper for 2 hours or so. I close all the curtains and turn the fans on so they cant hear outside so well. They go right to sleep. Definitely wouldn't leave them if they can see outside because there is an endless line of people and other dogs going by and they will go bonkers. along with your neighbors. ha.

There are a million places. Probably the camp grounds that will always be our favorite is Indian Creek in Geneva. Full store with beer and wine. Very Very nice shower houses. Clean grounds. Nice little ponds stocked full of easy to catch fish. (hot dog pcs work great) Indian creek, we like to think of as our home camp grounds. Very accommodating. We have a 21 ft highbrid. This will be our second year with it. We had a popup and loved it. Best money I ever spent. Our popup didn't have AC and I always said it wasn't necessary until we bought our hybrid with AC and realized how great it was. It's not camping. It is more like a vacation where you bring your own hotel room. I’m not a boy scout. Indian creek is definitely worth a look. The website blows though because the place is owned by a large resort group so the website is hard to navigate to find actual pic's of Indian creek Geneva. But definitely worth the trip. We have kids and we like to entertain them. We also have 2 big dogs. Our one friend has two kids and two big dogs. They also consider Indian creek their home course. Thier kids are twin 5 year olds. Ours are 7 and 10.
Plus it is about a mile from Geneva on the lake strip which is right on the lake and is about a mile long strip of cool little shops, restaurants, bars and you name it. Outdoor patios with bands...Very cool area.

ps. we drove through Yellowstone out near 82 and 306 and we were not impressed. it was very run down and trashy. I have many many older friends who speak highly of it from years ago. It probably was great years ago but not impressive now.

Other tips, sometimes on a nice sunday or saturday the wife and I will pick a camp ground about 2 hours away and drive to it. Drive through. Then look up ohio camp grounds on your gps and hit any you can on the way home. We have "stopped" by many. We keep going back to the couple I mentioned.

We took a trip last June to Mohican great adventures camp ground. NOT Mohican state park. The amenities were fine but the views were awesome.

We have gone camping on Kelleys Island 2 years in a row at the state camp ground. Again, pretty nice and they have a great great beach area. Not as much to do as Clays but a very nice place. Plus you can cruise the island. Kelley’s is not like put-n-bay. Kelley’s is much more family oriented. Good luck. Mike.

[boss302]

just happened on your reply. I've been to Indian creek with my wife (then girl friend) probably 18 years ago, way pre-kids. Would like to go back. I also grew up spending a good bit of time on Kellys Island....love that place and the lake in general. I have fond memories of many trips there in the spring and summer, but the fall is truly special. We spend a week at Lakeside every summer with the inlaws and we hope to go there with the camper for either memorial weekend, labor day weekend, or their fall festival. I'll have a hard time getting the wife and kids to go to the island and pass Lakeside. I'll probably wait a couple more years on that untill both kids can handle a bike better/longer.

I looked into Clays and it looks like a good time; Kids would definatly like it and it's prety close to home too. Also, I'd like to do a Mohican canoe trip with them, will look into the camp you mentioned there.

I'm starting to really think about this more lately. Hoping I can find time and $ for one quick trip a month April - Octoberish, with a coupple being extended weekends.

[ThunderHawk7]

For the kids, do not overlook Guilford Lake near Lisbon, Ohio. They have a very kid oriented campground including a pirate ship that comes around and shoots ""treasure" to the campers as well as "movie night" at the little Ampitheater in the center of the campground. They also have wildlife seminars geared toward kids....very cool. My extended family goes there for a long weekend in Aug..started 2 years ago...reservation are already made for this year.

[fishinjim]

Check out the camping clubs. I booked camping at east harbor for July and was able to get $70 off my 5 nite stay by joining passport America. PA was $44 to join so it paid for itself already.
Also, woodalls.com has an online directory of campground or you can buy the book.


Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine