Friday, June 14, 2013
Bird Song Resort,TN- November 2012
If you are looking for a twist on camping, this RV/Tent/Marina is it. Birdsong Resort is built on Kentucky Lake centrally located on the Tennessee River, the largest man made lake in the USA. That is pretty neat, but the big deal here is the farm fresh water pearls, the only place in North America that does so. They give tours of the farm which cost, but there are a couple levels of tours with varying cost, so you can pick the one that suits you. We did not take the boat out on the water to see the pearl farm, but out tent site was so close we had a nice view of the operation. Of course you can buy pearls too at the tourist trap, which we did.
Our camp site was a wide open area with enough trees that provided great shade. The shower was not all that great but it was good enough to wash off the trail dust. A water facet was near by so we could haul water to the camp. The best thing was we were the only one's there, so it was nice and quiet.
There is parking for RV's, which provide all the requirements one needs. However, the entire resort is a bit overcrowded. There are so many permanent summer homes /trailers at the resort one gets the feeling that in the summer time this place would be supper busy. There is a club house with a pool that is open to everyone.
Would I drive my RV there? I don't think so, I seem to recall the roads where a bit cramped and what I saw of the RV park/campgrounds that seemed pretty tight as well. But if you are looking for something different this might be the place.
If I was going to visit again, I would park my RV at Nathan Bedford Forest State Park, then drive on over to Birdsong just to check out the pearl farm. The state park has better accommodations in my book.
Lost all my pictures of Birdsong when I bought my new computer sorry, nothing to share on that front. But you can do a web search for Birdsong and all kinds of stuff comes up.
Hungry Mother State Park, VA-November 2012
I have posted some information from the website, which is easier than me trying to list everything. We stayed here one night in a tent and I have to tell you it was wonderful. Our campsite was really close to the showers and they were clean, clean, clean as was the laundry room.
Even in November the campground was crowed but everyone was quite and the surroundings were beautiful. We arrived a bit too late to try our the restaurant, but the building was cool, build by the CCC back in the day with stone, got love stone buildings. The visitor center, where you check in has allot of nature stuff to look at.
All of Virginia state parks have a rubber stamp that you can get an impression to remember your visit. I collect stamps from the National Parks and there is a book you can get to press your stamps into. I use this same book to collect other stamps like the Virginia state parks stamps.
Some states, like Tennessee, have their own passport book you can get for free at any state park. It tells you about the park and it provides a place to stamp the parks stamp.
Anyway, since we live in Virginia we have visited and/or stayed at a few and we have always enjoyed our stay.
Long a family favorite known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains, Hungry Mother has a sandy beach with bathhouse, boats (fishing, canoe, kayak and paddle) and a boat launch, and a universally accessible fishing pier. Guests also enjoy its campgrounds, cabins, gift shop, visitor center, six-bedroom family lodge that sleeps 15, hiking and biking trails, and restaurant
Camp Burson Camping (This campground is located before the entrance to Hungry Mother State Park proper.)
Camp Burson guests register at Camp Burson, not at the Discovery Center. The entrance is on the right side of Park Boulevard just before you reach the park's main entrance. Camp Burson guests will need to drive to the park's main gate to gain access to all other amenities at the park - swimming, restaurant, concessions, gift shop, cabins, other campgrounds, Hemlock Haven, etc. All Virginia State Park rules, regulations and policies pertaining to reservations apply to Camp Burson guests.
Site types in Hungry Mother proper
A (Campground A E/W, 11 sites) - Various equipment, electric and water hookups; tents, popup campers and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20 and 30 amp current (50-amp current available at Camp Burson only).
B (Campground B E/W, 20 sites) - Various equipment, electric and water hookups; tents, popup campers and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20 and 30 amp current (50-amp current available at Camp Burson only).
C (Campground C - 11 TENT sites) - Tents only. Bathhouse. Tent must fit on 20 by 20-foot pad. No hookups.
Burson EWS (30 electric, water and sewer hookup sites in Camp Burson only, and not near other Hungry Mother campgrounds) - Various equipment, electric, water, sewer hookups; tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20, 30 and 50-amp current. Sites are on gravel; tent campers should bring air mattress. (Carefully read the info above regarding Camp Burson sites; the campground is not in Hungry Mother State Park proper. It's adjacent to the park, and check-in is handled separately during the main camping season.)
Burson E/W (22 electric and water hookup sites, no sewer in Camp Burson only, and not near other Hungry Mother campgrounds) – Various equipment; electric and water, no sewer; tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20, 30, and 50-amp current. Sites are on gravel; tent campers should bring air mattress. (Carefully read the info above regarding Camp Burson sites. The campground is not in Hungry Mother State Park proper. It's adjacent to the park, and check-in is handled separately during the main camping season.)
Total campsites: 94 total in the park; 52 of which are in Camp Burson
Even in November the campground was crowed but everyone was quite and the surroundings were beautiful. We arrived a bit too late to try our the restaurant, but the building was cool, build by the CCC back in the day with stone, got love stone buildings. The visitor center, where you check in has allot of nature stuff to look at.
All of Virginia state parks have a rubber stamp that you can get an impression to remember your visit. I collect stamps from the National Parks and there is a book you can get to press your stamps into. I use this same book to collect other stamps like the Virginia state parks stamps.
Some states, like Tennessee, have their own passport book you can get for free at any state park. It tells you about the park and it provides a place to stamp the parks stamp.
Anyway, since we live in Virginia we have visited and/or stayed at a few and we have always enjoyed our stay.
Long a family favorite known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains, Hungry Mother has a sandy beach with bathhouse, boats (fishing, canoe, kayak and paddle) and a boat launch, and a universally accessible fishing pier. Guests also enjoy its campgrounds, cabins, gift shop, visitor center, six-bedroom family lodge that sleeps 15, hiking and biking trails, and restaurant
Camp Burson Camping (This campground is located before the entrance to Hungry Mother State Park proper.)
Camp Burson guests register at Camp Burson, not at the Discovery Center. The entrance is on the right side of Park Boulevard just before you reach the park's main entrance. Camp Burson guests will need to drive to the park's main gate to gain access to all other amenities at the park - swimming, restaurant, concessions, gift shop, cabins, other campgrounds, Hemlock Haven, etc. All Virginia State Park rules, regulations and policies pertaining to reservations apply to Camp Burson guests.
Site types in Hungry Mother proper
A (Campground A E/W, 11 sites) - Various equipment, electric and water hookups; tents, popup campers and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20 and 30 amp current (50-amp current available at Camp Burson only).
B (Campground B E/W, 20 sites) - Various equipment, electric and water hookups; tents, popup campers and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20 and 30 amp current (50-amp current available at Camp Burson only).
C (Campground C - 11 TENT sites) - Tents only. Bathhouse. Tent must fit on 20 by 20-foot pad. No hookups.
Burson EWS (30 electric, water and sewer hookup sites in Camp Burson only, and not near other Hungry Mother campgrounds) - Various equipment, electric, water, sewer hookups; tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20, 30 and 50-amp current. Sites are on gravel; tent campers should bring air mattress. (Carefully read the info above regarding Camp Burson sites; the campground is not in Hungry Mother State Park proper. It's adjacent to the park, and check-in is handled separately during the main camping season.)
Burson E/W (22 electric and water hookup sites, no sewer in Camp Burson only, and not near other Hungry Mother campgrounds) – Various equipment; electric and water, no sewer; tents, pop-ups and RVs up to 35 feet; back-in sites; accept outlets for 20, 30, and 50-amp current. Sites are on gravel; tent campers should bring air mattress. (Carefully read the info above regarding Camp Burson sites. The campground is not in Hungry Mother State Park proper. It's adjacent to the park, and check-in is handled separately during the main camping season.)
Total campsites: 94 total in the park; 52 of which are in Camp Burson
Warrior State Park, TN- Nov. 2012
Not too happy with this park. While it did have modern facilities, the bath house and restrooms were a bit dated, no make that really outdated and run down. It really showed their use and age. We had water at our site and electricity. For a November day the park was very crowded, we arrived late in the evening (5pm) and the camp office was closed. So we selected our site thinking someone would come by to collect our money. By the time we got ready for bed no one came by. Morning came I left camp for a couple of hours to visit near by Sycamore Shoals State Historical Site. Upon my return no one had came by. So we packed up and checked the office and it was closed, this was around 10 am.
So all things considered, a free night of camping was not so bad.
So all things considered, a free night of camping was not so bad.
Petoskey State Park, MI-July 2012
Here is another state park in Michigan that we liked. Sandee's love is rocks, being a geologist and paleontologist collecting rocks, sand, minerals and gems is what gets her excited. Over the years I have carried a number of rocks for her, in fact she say's this is way she married me because I before we were married I carried one HUGH rock to her car for her.
The reason why we stayed at this park was to hunt for the Petoskey Stone. After we set up camp we went to the beach and began our search. We did not find any huge stones but we found a number of smaller ones to fill our needs. We learned a great trick to find these stones from the locals. Every one who was searching used a pasta strainer to dip into the sandy bottom a few fee from the shore line and shifted the sand out until nothing but the larger stones and shells were left. Since we did not have the a strainer I cupped my hands and let the water wash the sand away. It took a bit longer to get to those stones but I was successful.
In July 2012 we camped at four Michigan state parks and we were never disappointed. Each of the parks had modern facilities, electricity, water, dump stations and a good clean working bath house and restrooms. Clean is the key here, other state parks we have stayed in just were not that clean.
Squirrel in our camp site.
Petoskey beach.
The reason why we stayed at this park was to hunt for the Petoskey Stone. After we set up camp we went to the beach and began our search. We did not find any huge stones but we found a number of smaller ones to fill our needs. We learned a great trick to find these stones from the locals. Every one who was searching used a pasta strainer to dip into the sandy bottom a few fee from the shore line and shifted the sand out until nothing but the larger stones and shells were left. Since we did not have the a strainer I cupped my hands and let the water wash the sand away. It took a bit longer to get to those stones but I was successful.
In July 2012 we camped at four Michigan state parks and we were never disappointed. Each of the parks had modern facilities, electricity, water, dump stations and a good clean working bath house and restrooms. Clean is the key here, other state parks we have stayed in just were not that clean.
Keweenaw NHP
Our first camping adventure in over 30 years began in the Keweenaw Peninsula. We spent seven days at Fort Wilkins State Park in Michigan. What a great place to renew our adventure and love for camping. This state park is located at the furthest northern point of Highway 41 that stretches south to the very southern tip of Florida. We used this as our base camp while we explored the Keweenaw National Historic Park.
One of our fondest memories is waking up early in the morning and seeing deer near our camp and hiking to Horseshoe Harbor to look for Lake Superior Agates. We were the first that morning to get to the harbor and imagine our surprise when we found bear tracks on the shore line, however we did not see the bear.
While we were camping in a tent, we still had some comforts of home. Fort Wilkins SP provides electricity and water at some sites. Modern showers with hot water and laundry services at both campgrounds are provided. The bonus at the campground we stayed at is we had Wi-Fi right at our tent site. There is a campground store that provide a few things you may have forgotten and the near by town of Copper Harbor has a number of restaurants and small mom and pop stores. You can also find a number of tourist type artist stores there as well. If you like good food and do not mind paying for it Harbor Haus is one not to miss. All the staff dress in traditional German clothing. When then cruise boat returns from Isle Royal National Park all the staff run outside to and give a traditional wave to those returning on the boat. Kind of touristy but lots of fun to see.
Camp site
Back side of our camp site
Deer near our camp early one morning
Horseshoe Harbor
One of our fondest memories is waking up early in the morning and seeing deer near our camp and hiking to Horseshoe Harbor to look for Lake Superior Agates. We were the first that morning to get to the harbor and imagine our surprise when we found bear tracks on the shore line, however we did not see the bear.
While we were camping in a tent, we still had some comforts of home. Fort Wilkins SP provides electricity and water at some sites. Modern showers with hot water and laundry services at both campgrounds are provided. The bonus at the campground we stayed at is we had Wi-Fi right at our tent site. There is a campground store that provide a few things you may have forgotten and the near by town of Copper Harbor has a number of restaurants and small mom and pop stores. You can also find a number of tourist type artist stores there as well. If you like good food and do not mind paying for it Harbor Haus is one not to miss. All the staff dress in traditional German clothing. When then cruise boat returns from Isle Royal National Park all the staff run outside to and give a traditional wave to those returning on the boat. Kind of touristy but lots of fun to see.
Camp site
Horseshoe Harbor
Pictured Rocks NS- 26-28 July 2012
I grew up camping in a tent and Sandee started camping while in college. She in such places as Alaska and Wisconsin. I spent my childhood pitching a tent in Pinnacles NP ( at the time it was a state park), Craters of the Moon NP and in my backyard on many a night.
We are older now and it has been many years since we have pitched a tent. The kids are grown and on their own now so in 2012 we got back to what we enjoyed as kids, camping.
Our first adventure came when we attended the annual convention for the National Parks Travelers Club. A club dedicated to those who enjoy the nationals park system. In 2012 the convention was held at Apostle Island National Seashore. After the convention we started to make our way home to Virginia. Along the way we spent a few days at a couple more parks and made camp for a few days to enjoy the natures beauty.
Our first stop was Hurricane River campground at Pictured Rocks National Seashore. This camp site is what most consider primitive, no electricity, one tap for water and a vaulted toilet. But we had a great site a stones throw from Lake Michigan. At night we could hear the gentle waves of the lake as it crashed against the shore. While at the camp site we took a few hikes, the one I most recall is the mile and half hike to Au Sable Light Station.
This made for good nights sleep. We spent three nights at this campground before we moved on.
Hurricane River Campground
Lake Superior near our campground
We are older now and it has been many years since we have pitched a tent. The kids are grown and on their own now so in 2012 we got back to what we enjoyed as kids, camping.
Our first adventure came when we attended the annual convention for the National Parks Travelers Club. A club dedicated to those who enjoy the nationals park system. In 2012 the convention was held at Apostle Island National Seashore. After the convention we started to make our way home to Virginia. Along the way we spent a few days at a couple more parks and made camp for a few days to enjoy the natures beauty.
Our first stop was Hurricane River campground at Pictured Rocks National Seashore. This camp site is what most consider primitive, no electricity, one tap for water and a vaulted toilet. But we had a great site a stones throw from Lake Michigan. At night we could hear the gentle waves of the lake as it crashed against the shore. While at the camp site we took a few hikes, the one I most recall is the mile and half hike to Au Sable Light Station.
This made for good nights sleep. We spent three nights at this campground before we moved on.
Hurricane River Campground
Au Sable Light Station
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