Holiday Planning & History Lessons – Washington DC To Gettysburg, PA
When I last left you we had just finished up our Shenandoah Valley trip and were heading into Memorial Day which meant finding somewhere to settle down and ride out the holiday week-end. Of course, being the seasoned fulltimers we are we’d already booked this particular stop over 4 months ago. Planning ahead for the “big holidays” is just one of the many things you gotta live with when you travel on the road. And these days it seems to be more important than ever.
More RV’s And Less Parks, Or So It Seems…
It might be my imagination, but over the past 8 years it feels like more folks have discovered the RV lifestyle. There’s been a crazy boom in RV sales, and RV parks (both private and public) have just not been able to expand in capacity to keep up.
This means the *best* spots are booking further and further out which means folks like us need to plan further and further out too. So although we would much prefer to fly free and just travel whenever and wherever the mood takes us we find it’s tough to do, especially since we’re “beast-size” and often want to visit areas at the best weather (= most popular) times of the year. Plus we’re super picky about our spots (we like green, spacious parks), we prefer to move slow and stay longer in each spot (saves our sanity) and we don’t like to chase last-minute cancellations, so we’ve got to be even more pro-active to secure our sites.
The fact that we’re spending Summer in the NE doesn’t help either.
There’s WAY more flexibility out West (where you can boondock) and in the shoulder seasons (Spring, Fall), but out East during Summer & Winter you’re far more limited. Higher population densities and more limited public spots (especially for our size) means less of the kind of places we really like to stay. We reserved our entire Summer (from Memorial Day through end Aug) back in Jan, and even by then many of the places we wanted to stay had already booked out. It just is what it is…
Memorial Day Was Key For Us This Year
This year booking well ahead for Memorial Day was even more critical for us as we had two important appointments that required us to be close to a major airport. Paul was flying home to see his mom in Miami, and I had my Citizenship interview in South Dakota (something that’s been in the works for over 8 months). So we needed a solid place to stay where we could both fly out with minimal hassle.
Back in Jan we’d found what we thought was a decent-looking public park just 11 miles from Dulles Airport near Washington DC. Being close to the Capital it was expensive (that’s kinda expected), but it looked nice and green on paper, it was in the perfect location for our flights, aaaaand we’d be close to Washington DC which I’d never seen. It’d be perfect right??
Even “Old-Timers” Like Us Make Mistakes
My first sign that Lake Fairfax Park* might not have been the best spot to stay was the fist-size cockroach crawling along the window ledge inside our RV. OK, that might not have been my FIRST sign, and I might be exaggerating just a TAD about the size, but it was certainly the most jarring.
You see I’ve had a completely unrealistic reaction to cockroaches ever since they used to fly into my hair in Asia as a kid. I go literally batsh*t CRAZY when I see one (think 5-year old child-crazy after seeing Nightmare on Elm Street), and even though Paul and I have known each other for over 20 years, it still kinda shocks him when I let out blood-curdling screams inside the RV. On top of that our site was terribly unlevel (it took ALL our 5 packs of our Lynx leveling blocks to get close), it was unkempt & muddy with rain, and the park just had a really weird “vibe”.
How could we have gotten it so wrong?
Well, it turns out even “old-timers” like us can make mistakes!
We’re pretty darn good at planning and are usually meticulous about reading reviews and choosing just the right site (we look at campsite specific photos when we can find them, and use Google Earth to check out the satellite view, trees & orientation), but in this case things just didn’t work out.
The online reviews were decent and none of the pictures showed just how unlevel most of this campground really was (apart from a small number of sites near the top, they were truly awful!). Plus in the wooded section where we were camped (site #45) there seemed to be cockroaches everywhere (I counted 12 while we were there…aaaaargh!). For $20/night we might have overlooked such minor inconveniences, but at $45/night ($50/night on week-ends) for electric-only it was just too much.
*NOTE/ Because we weren’t crazy about this campground I’m not going to slog through the 2-3 days of work it typically takes me to write-up a full campground review. Suffice to say that if you decide to stay here, the ONLY sites I would recommend are the more open, larger, flatter, top-level sites (specifically odd-numbered sites #1-23, plus #24). The rest were simply not to my liking. The campground does have some nice hiking trails and you’re close to both Dulles Airport & downtown Washington DC.
Moochdocking To The Rescue (Again)
Thankfully we had an out! I’ve stayed in touch with Nici, my best friend from College ever since we both left the UK (all those many, many years ago), and coming to see her and spend time with her family was another of our big reasons for visiting Washington DC. She’s been living here for many years and she’d extended an open invitation to moochdock on her driveway over the big holiday.
Now not everyone realizes how BIG a 40-foot RV “beast” really is, so just to be sure we could fit we scouted out the road & entrance to her house the first day we got to the area. We decided we could *just* make it, so as soon as my trip to SD was done I moved out of cockroach-camp and into Nici-paradise. Paul was in Miami at the time which meant I drove “the beast” solo, but I made it without incident** and once we were settled in it became one of the most relaxing and enjoyable Holiday Weekends we’ve ever experienced!
From a practical stand point all our “beastly” moochdocking systems worked perfectly. On sunny days our 1500W of solar panels rocked and we got close to 100A generation! If I’d been motivated enough to get up on the roof and clean our filthy panels we would likely even have beat that. On cloudy/rainy days we were able to run everything in the RV quite happily off a regular AC extension cord thanks to the combo of our fabulous lithium batteries and snazzy MSH3012 hybrid inverter. We used a rather long extension cord (25 ft), so I simply set our inverter to max 10A draw and let the batteries handle the rest of our needs (A/C, dehumidifier, microwave, you-name-it) through load support. I LOVE our systems!
Plus it was just BLISS to hang at my best friends place and catch up. There’s a certain comfort that comes from spending time with someone you’ve known for over 25 years. It’s just such a special and relaxing experience. Plus her parents were in town, so we got to catch up with them too which was a real treat. GREAT company, wonderful food, good times. Oh, but no pictures (I had such a good time I simply forgot).
BEST…Holiday…Weekend…Ever!
**Gals, if you haven’t learned how to drive/move/dump your RV, definitely do so! Over the past 8 years there’s several times I’ve needed to handle everything on the RV either because Paul got called home for an emergency or got injured. If you need inspiration check out this great post written by our friends the Snowmads: “Queen Of the Road: RV Ladies Share Their Best Driving Tips”
A Morning Walk In Washington DC
Although we spent most of our time with my friend, we did get to explore Washington DC for a few hours one morning right after Paul came back from Miami.
Now I’ve seen plenty of pictures of the Capital, but I’ve never seen it in person and I have to admit it’s even more impressive than I imagined. There are literally hundreds of Memorials, Statues, Monuments & Historic Landmarks in the Capital, dedicated to everything that has shaped the history and fabric of this county. And perhaps what surprised me most is it’s all surrounded by so much GREEN. Enormous parks, all bike-friendly (there are bike trails everywhere), all dog-friendly with miles of exploration for just about any preference. Not only that but since we were in town for Memorial Day, there were several events happening to honor the many sacrifices that have been made by veterans. It was an incredibly moving and humbling time to be there.
Knowing that traffic might be bad we went super early in the morning (8AM) and were lucky enough to snag a parking spot right on the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park (by The National Mall). Polly came with us, so we targeted a ~5-mile hike around the major monuments, stopping to observe some of the Memorial Day tributes. Weather was grey & dull (so pics weren’t great) and we didn’t manage to visit any of the many outstanding museums (no dogs allowed), but the walk gave us a wonderful overview of the area and the chance to see many of the iconic monuments (e.g. Lincoln Memorial) that have been on my bucket list for years. Plus the war memorials were incredible and so much more deeply moving that I’d imagined.
We didn’t get much time in the area before the crowds became overwhelming so sadly we missed many spots (I didn’t even see the White House!), but the small taste we had definitely left us wanting to return for a more thorough exploration. Plus I’d LOVE to come during the Spring Blossom Festival (it must be spectacular). Next time!
VISIT & PAW NOTES/ There are metered (and a few free) parking areas around The National Mall, but they fill up FAST so it’s advisable to get in early to avoid crowds. If you come in by public transport and don’t feel like walking, rental bikes are everywhere (Capital Bikeshare) and the biking trails look like an AWESOME way to explore the area! Dogs are welcome at all the parks and around all the monuments, just not inside museums.
We Immerse Ourselves In Civil War History At Gettysburg, PA
I’ll be the very first to admit that I’m not much of a Civil War buff. There are niches of history that I’m quite passionate about (= lighthouses!), but other than the required curriculum in school, I’ve never really spent much time digging into Military History. For whatever reason it’s never really gripped me, and since I’ve got zero memory for dates (dyslexia really does a number on date memory), my brain tends to go to mush when too many battle dates are loped together.
So when we first looked at our 2017 travel map and noticed Gettysburg on our route north we weren’t really sure we were going to stop. I mean we knew it was one of the most important battles of the Civil War, and we felt like we should stop, but would we really enjoy it?
In the end we decided we’d stop for 2 days, and to make the most of our time we decided to spring the extra $$$ for a private park (Gettysburg Campground -> full review coming) just 3 miles from downtown.
I AM SO GLAD WE DID!!!!!
Not only was our location perfect, but Gettysburg was so very much more than I ever expected. Yes, it’s the site of one of the the most important (and bloodiest) battles of the Civil War, fought over 3 gripping days in the beginning of July 1863, but it is also so much more. From the National Military Park to the historic re-enactments to the many other events that are offered, this town is not just a battle-stop, but a living, interactive historical museum of which I’ve never quite seen the equal.
You start your visit at the Visitors Center and Civil War Museum. The 22,000 sq ft museum, 20-min film & Cyclorama are all amazing and provide a very complete & engaging history not just of Gettysburg, but the entire Civil War including the events leading up to and extending after the War. Seriously, even if you’re not really interested in Military History the information is just SO well presented that you can’t help but be engaged.
Once you’ve completed the museum & film, you can tour the 25 miles of battlefield either by car, bus or with a guide. It’s wonderfully presented with monuments at each stop, plenty of historical detail and even volunteers at some of the stops to answer your questions. You finish the tour at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where the incredible human cost of the battle (51,000 casualties) is laid out in the graves around you, and the historical significance of Lincolns famous Gettysburg Address leaves a very deep impression.
I have to admit that the town blew me away. Not only did I find the history truly fascinating (a testament to how very well it’s presented), but the town was incredibly charming with beautiful nature, lots of downtown eateries and even a growing craft scene (I highly recommend a stop at Mason Dixon Distillery). Our 2-day stop was really too short and we honestly wish we’d stayed a week. Put this place on your bucket lists, folks!
VISIT & PAW NOTES/ Start at the Visitor Center and see the museum, film & cyclorama ($15/person, free for active military), then tour the battlefield either by car (self-guided, free), on a bus ($35) or with a hired private guide ($75). Dogs are welcome everywhere on the battlefield grounds, but are not permitted inside the museum or in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. See more HERE and HERE.
We Finish Our PA Adventures in A Wonderful COE Park
We finished our historic tour of PA with a COE park (Ives Run -> full review coming) that we discovered thanks to our friends The Nealys On Wheels. And this time the site was right! It’s a beautiful, green, veg-out kinda park at the very North-Center of the state that’s the perfect spot to just relax for a few days. Plus it puts us right across the border for the next leg of our travels -> 2 glorious months in the new-to-us-state of New York. June has started, our summer travels are officially in full swing and there’s many exciting adventures ahead. I’m looking forward to it!
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Jilm says
Great report… I can totally understand your thoughts on roaches … growing up in Fla does not mean I don’t go bonkers as you described… I am that lady on the chair… will have to pit Gettysburg on my list… hope you love N. Y like we do
libertatemamo says
We’re really looking forward to NY! Can’t imagine we won’t like it.
Nina
Norm H. says
Great post! Especially loved the Gettysburg portion. Many years ago as a young high school history teacher I took students on tours there. Putting it back on my current “must see again” list. Glad to see you try a COE park. Many of them are wonderful; usually good spacing and amenities. Looking forward to your New York explorations. P.S. You know it’s bloggers like yourself that are getting more people out there, don’t you? Haha. Thanks for sharing.
libertatemamo says
Yup I realize I’m part of the problem…it’s a dilemma indeed. We’ve stayed at several COE parks before (particularly in the mid-west in our first year) and we’ve always liked them. It’s a bonus that they’re always by water too.
Nina
BoxinTheCompass says
Nope don’t like cockroaches at all either and that’s with growing up in FL. I can handle snakes, spiders, lizards,rats, nice, frogs, and any other vermin and critters but cannot handle cockroaches. I truly feel your pain!
libertatemamo says
Yup I’m exactly the same. I’m fine with spiders, lizards, frogs etc. but I go NUTS over cockroaches. They’re just so darn gross, and something about blond hair attracts the flying types. Gah, I hated them as a kid!
Nina
Sherry Fields says
My hubby and I went to Gettysburg six years ago. Like you, we planned on spending two days there then move on to Shenandoah. I am a huge Civil War history buff, so I was in heaven. Gettysburg had been on my bucket list since my college days. What started out being a two day visit ended up being a week for us. I just couldn’t get enough in two days, so I begged and pleaded till I got Jim to agree to postpone Shenandoah. We bought a CD for the auto tour. Well worth the cost. It added so much to the tour. I am ready to go back! D.C. is another bucket list trip. I went there in 1978 on my high school senior trip…well, let’s just say I don’t remember much other than two girlfriends and I sneaking off from our group to go to a different building in the Smithnonian to see the Hope diamond. I do remember Mount Vernon. Absolutely beautiful! I loved it! Washington was an amazing agriculturalist. Back to the present. I seem to remember a State Park not too far from D.C. Not sure though. Looking forward to hearing and “seeing” your New York adventures!
libertatemamo says
I totally get it. Gettysburg is easily worth a week, and has so much to offer for Civil War history buffs (and even non-buffs like me!). I really was blown away by how well-presented and interesting it all was. Thanks so much for sharing your story. Always fun to hear how other folks have experienced an area 🙂
Nina
Cathy says
I hate that your campground experience around DC wasn’t good. I stayed in Cherry Hill Campground 2 weeks ago and it was great. Very nice campground with wonderful amenities. There was a metro bus stop in the campground which transports everyone to the metro train stop – about 4 miles away. We took the metro train into Washington and, as long as we returned by 9 pm, the bus would pick us up at the train station and take us back to the campground.
libertatemamo says
Yeah we SHOULD have stayed at Cherry Hill. We’ve had friends who’ve stayed there, and everyone we know that’s done so has liked it, so it would have been a safe bet. But we simply wanted to be closer to the airport. With 8 airport drives to do in 4 days, we prioritized being close to Dulles and this park seemed the best option. Ah well, it WAS convenient to the airport and it all worked out in the end. Next time however, we’re staying at Cherry Hill.
Nina
Linda Lanzl says
What? No pics of the cockroaches???
libertatemamo says
Argh! Noooooooooooo…..! (See, I just freaked out again)
Nina
Andy B says
I’ve been reading your blog for a year now and really enjoy it.
I was quite shocked when I saw your picture of you moochdocking near DC because I remember seeing that RV parked in a driveway when driving in Northern Virginia recently.
Talk about small world!
libertatemamo says
Wowza! Very small world indeed!
Nina
Jodee Gravel says
Glad you were able to get away from the nasty roaches – ewwwwe! While we too much prefer the west for our travels, the history in the east is truly wonderful.
Kevin in CO says
When we visited DC, I wish we would have had time to go to Gettysburg. However, it is easy to fill up a week on the national mall. The highlights of our stay in Washington DC were the Library of Congress and the Udvar Hazy air/space museum near Dulles. Highly recommended if you have time.
libertatemamo says
We definitely need to go back to D.C. Just the museums alone would easily consume a week, and there’s so many other monuments we didn’t see either. Cheers for sharing!
Nina
Pamela Wright says
Sorry to hear about your campground. Cherry Hill Campground is the best place to stay in the DC area. Glad all worked out! The best way to tour DC is by bicycle. Gettysburg is wonderful and a place we have spent many, many, many days since we lived only 40 mins away. I’m just sorry we weren’t east. John gives a great tour and really brings the park to life. We use to live in northern PA and one of our first tent camping experiences was at Ives Run COE!! it was brand new 33 years ago. Hope you enjoyed Corning Glass as much as we did!!
libertatemamo says
You know we talked about you and John while we were in Gettysburg! Paul remembered that John was a history teacher in the area (or somewhat close by anyway) in his pre-RV life and we both thought it would have been great to visit with you.
Oh and yes we LOVED Corning Glass Museum! So glad everyone prompted us to go. That’ll be in my next blog post.
Nina
Pamela Wright says
I’m excited for you heading to Conesus Lake (and jealous) to visit Dave and Sue. It is the most spectacular spot to sit and relax. Polly is going to so love the freedom and the everyday swims. Make sure you spend a day hiking Letchworth SP. Here is our blog post: https://ohtheplacestheygo.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/hiking-at-letchworth-state-park/
Connie Houk says
Thank you for the Fairfax park review. Our kids live in the area and we have often considered staying at Fairfax, but the price has kept us away. I think we will just continue parking our rig on their street whenever we visit. So glad you enjoyed DC. There is so much to do and much of it is FREE. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a sight to behold, but it is CRAZY busy. The city gets MILLIONS of extra tourists!
libertatemamo says
Yeah I’d stick with the street parking. The upper level campsites (odd-numbered #1-23, plus #24) were much nicer than our site and really the only ones I would recommend. So if you do decide to stay those are the sites I would focus on. But even then, it’s super pricey $$$ for what it offers.
Nina
Box Canyon Mark says
Fascinating (tho somewhat discouraging) info on the RV boom. We’ve been noticing it for years, especially in the vicinity of National Parks 🙁
In regards to the map showing percentage of Govie Land by state… what happened to Maine?
Utah wins…too bad they have such stupid liquor laws or I might could live there.
Box Canyon Mark
libertatemamo says
Yeah I’m kinda bummed to see the parks get so full. I’ve found it’s harder and harder to get into the popular spots (National Parks, coastal spots, mountain campgrounds etc.), especially if you’re going at the most popular times of year. And out East some of the reservations (e.g. FL State Parks) start booking out a year in advance! As a fulltimer it’s really hard to plan that far out. I do know folks who just “wing it” and do fine, but we’re way too picky about our parks/sites and hate moving often to chase openings. Ah well….
I think “technically” Nevada wins on % of public land, but Utah has the coolest/most beautiful spots. I do love the West.
Nina
Brenda says
Nina we’ve stayed at Tompkins COE on the same lake. We actually had a FULL hookup site there. We spend all summer in N.Y. but in our kid’s driveway in central N.Y., the Syracuse N.Y. area. I will be very interested in where you camp in N.Y. There are no COE Parks in N.Y. and the State Parks here tend to be dry a lot of the times. Once we get to Virginia heading south in October we stay at COE Parks and then in Florida we stay the 14 day limit at probably 15 different Florida State Parks. We have found the State Parks in Florida to be the best around.
libertatemamo says
Yup, Tompkins is very nearby our current spot (Ives Run). It’s a lovely area and I don’t think you can go wrong in either of the COE parks on the lake here.
We’ve booked mostly State Parks in NY. We did notice that many were dry, and there were a few we decided to avoid because of size-limitations (there seem to be many smaller/older parks, especially around the Finger Lakes area). I’m curious to see how we like them. I do agree that on the East Coast, FL has some of the BEST State Parks both in price & quality.
Nina
Brenda says
And as you stated you really need reservations in winter in Florida. We’re all set for November til May but we made reservations 11 months in advance. Our Newmar Dutchstar DP is just under 40ft and vCard we don’t feel comfortable winging it.
Same thing is true in the north come summer. The season is short here so reserving is a must.
Enjoy your summer. We’re stationary for four months and get a little itchy to travel come October.
Peter Scarnati says
Too bad you guys didn’t get to see the museums while in DC they are quite unique and interesting. I used to live about a 1/2 hour drive from DC and had many, many opportunities to visit and sight-see.
The Smithsonian is an absolute must if you ever find yourselves in DC again.
libertatemamo says
Yeah, we know we missed a lot. This stop was mostly about our 2 flights and spending time with my friend. I’d love to come back and spend more time in the museums. Definitely something on our “list”.
Nina
Cynthia Huff says
Washington DC is beautiful on the 4th of July—-If you can find a friend with a small boat to float on the Potomac at night and watch the fireworks from that location….it is surreal and a memory you will never forget. Plus there is usually the folkart festival around the 4th.
JC Webber III says
“Plus I’d LOVE to come during the Spring Blossom Festival (it must be spectacular).” Yes it was!
Also, we stayed at Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey to visit NY. Location, location, location! Be sure to take the short ferry ride across to Manhattan. There are also subways, too. What a great time we had there (three times so far).
libertatemamo says
We loved our stay in NYC last year (Liberty Harbor, same place) and may well go back again this fall. Like you said location, location, location,
Nina
jsmith says
Too late, obviously, but next time you’re in the DC area you might want to try Prince William Forest Park–https://www.nps.gov/prwi/index.htm. An honest-to-goodness national park campground about 30 miles from downtown DC.
libertatemamo says
Good tip, thanks!
Nina
Sherry Fields says
That’s the one I remember from my senior trip in 1978.
Ralph E. says
One of my RV friends told me about Gettysburg being a week. I looked this week while you were there and didn’t plan anything out, but it looked to me on the website to be roughly that long.
I guess that you missed Hershey as I didn’t see that mentioned on the blog post.
I’ve always tent camped in the Washington D. C. area at Greenbelt Park. At that time it was first come, first served. It always served us well going to Washington D. C. I noticed today on the website that reservations are now accepted there. I always tent camped so I had no idea of how big the RVs were. This is where I was when I mentioned that it rained for 3 days and was going to rain another week before heading out west. BTW this isn’t the only campsite run by the feds whereby the rules have changed when I’ve camped within their jurisdiction. So you should plan accordingly as campground rules can change on you.
Both my wife and her parents went through the immigration process.
libertatemamo says
I know a few RVers that have stayed at Greenbelt Park, so it’s certainly an option. It was too far from the airport for this trip (for us), but it’ll certainly be one of the options we look at when we return to the area.
Nina
Ralph E. says
Go to pages 10, 11, and 12 on this link for 2015 percentage of federal lands owned within a state:
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42346.pdf
Allison Mohr says
Are you going to be driving secondary roads in New York? They have some low bridges. We encountered an eleven foot bridge on our way out of the Niagara Falls area. We were 13 feet in the 5th wheel. We found a turn around, but it had so much potential for badness.
We’re in Ketchum! Went to Stanley on Monday and just loved every bit of it. I put up a blog post with way too many pictures in it.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you see this summer.
libertatemamo says
We noticed some of those low clearances when we were looking at the roads on Allstays. We know to look out for them and will definitely be extra careful.
I’ve been reading your posts and saw you landed in Ketchum. Can’t deny I’m a bit jealous. It’s SO beautiful and the perfect time to be there! Enjoy!
Nina
John and Sharon says
We also loved our stay at Ives Run… check out the grand canyon of PA if you get close
Janna says
I’m not much of a history buff at all but I’ve always for some reason wanted to see Gettysburg. Great blog post as usual Nina!
Gladys says
You are scaring me, Nina. ☺️
We had a health scare this spring and didn’t dare to do much planning. With the health scare over and now summer is here, we are talking about doing a loop through the northeast and maybe even up into Canada. At this point, we have no clue what camping in Canada is like or what to expect there in the way of camping areas either. We live in North Carolina and were thinking that we would go north through Pennsylvania, New York, then Ontario heading back through Maine and then meander towards home. We figured we would get home sometime in late September or early October.
We had hoped to head out after the Fourth of July, but after reading your post, I’m wondering just how smart that would be. Needless to say, we have no reservations and, of course, as you pointed out, July and August are the busiest months for camping and/or sightseeing.
Since reading your post, I am thinking that maybe we should wait until towards the end of August before we start. Is it really all that difficult to find camping places on the fly (our fifth wheel is only 31 feet), or are you guys super picky about the sites and that’s what’s making you want to be sure that you get the kind of campsites that you love. Should I be nervous?? ☺️
libertatemamo says
Definitely don’t let worry about finding camping spots stop you from traveling this summer! You may not get the exact spots you want for the exact length of times you want them, but you’ll definitely be able to find options to stay. Also you might end up staying at a few more private parks rather than public parks (public parks book up faster), but you may also get lucky and snag last-minute cancellations. As long as you remain flexible in your travels and don’t mind moving to find the next available spot, you’ll be fine!
We’re super picky and like to stay in specific spots for longer periods of time, so booking ahead is essential for our style of travel. Plus we have a bunch of commitments this summer (e.g. my sisters wedding in the UK, my father coming back here to visit us, Paul flying down to Miami etc.) which required us to plan ahead and lock down specific dates and places from where we could fly. But that’s just us!
If you’re flexible about where you stay and go it’s definitely still possible to wing it. I know many folks who travel that way and do just fine. So, by all means get out there and enjoy your summer travels!
Nina
Gladys says
Thanks so much for the reassurance, Nina. I feel MUCH better about it now.
libertatemamo says
By the way I don’t know if you know this, but Canada is offering a free Discovery Pass this year (2017) to celebrate its 150 year anniversary. This means free entry to all their National Parks! You can get yours here:
http://www.commandesparcs-parksorders.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=22953&urlLangId=-1&productId=524528
Nina
Gladys says
No, we did not know about this. Looking it up now. Thank you for passing it along.
Gerri Jones says
I love the history in DC as well as Gettysburg…really so much history in the east. i understand your pain of cockroaches, they are awful. I have the same phobia regarding lizards.
Thanks for the share..great history.
dahkota says
I’m glad to know there is someone as OCD about campsites as I am. We are trying to “wing it” out west this year but the crowds are making it difficult. Not as difficult as the east coast last year, but enough that ‘”winging it” isn’t much of an option.
An alternative to Liberty Park if wanting to visit NYC might be Croton Point Park. It is right on the Hudson, a couple miles from the train into the city. An added benefit is it is about 10 minutes from Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. It has full hook ups and a great weekly price.
I grew up in DC and we return every fall for the holidays. I think the only times DC is awful is February and August. When it is open, we stay in the back of D Loop of Greenbelt Park – there are about four sites that get excellent solar. I’ve seen 40’ rigs back there a couple of times. Unfortunately, I get claustrophobic in Cherry Hill if I’m there too long.
I hope you love the east coast. It is a little more trying than out west but the charm of the people and the towns is worth it!
libertatemamo says
Cheers for the tip on Croton Point Park. I did look at it (briefly) last year, but didn’t find much info on it. Good to know it’s a viable option. Also cheers for the other tips.
Nina
Mike Rome says
Ugh, I biked through Lake Fairfax RV sites May 26 looking at the RVs 9 and rolling thunder guests . I’m a huge fan and would have loved a selfie with the two of you. I mountain bike there once or twice a week, great trails but yeah the RV sites are less than desirable and cost too much. Your cockroach may have been a cicada? They are thick this year.
libertatemamo says
So sorry we missed you! We did enjoy the trails in that park and can totally see why you go biking there.
And, as for the cockroaches I’m sure they were not cicadas. Had far too many run-ins with cockroaches in my life, so much so that I’m able to spy one from miles away (ok, maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea). Also, oddly enough I’m not grossed-out by cicadas even though they can also fly and are often larger in size too.
Nina
Dee says
If you ever get into a realllly sloping site, unbolt the spare tire/wheel off the coach and lay that on the ground and put your blocks on that.
We rented a MH in ’91 to go to the Indy car races at Laguna Seca, in Cali. We got the last space and it was about 10″ low on the right front wheel. I pulled the spare, laid it in front of the coach wheel and couldn’t drive the coach onto it. Needed a ramp. Wandered by the neighboring spaces and found some split logs for a camp fire.
Borrowed 6 pieces and built my ramp and got the coach level. I used one of the salad plates with some water in it to check how far off level I was. Almost perfect.
libertatemamo says
No spare tire on our coach, but it’s an innovative idea. We do carry LOTS of leveling blocks however. Cheers for sharing.
Nina
Ralph E. says
There are only 12 states with above acreage (27.36% average) owned by the feds based on my link above.
1. Nevada 79.60%
2. Utah 63.14%
3. Idaho 61.63%
4. Alaska 61.33% = more than 200 million acres so a whole lot
5. Oregon 53.00%
6. Wyoming 48.42%
7. California 45.91%
8. Arizona 38.67%
9. Colorado 35.87%
10. New Mexico 35.37%
11. Montana 29.00%
12. Washington 28.56%
Don Gerhart says
Thanks for the comments about Lake Fairfax; kept us away. Another alternative is Bull Run Regional RV Park; were current there. They have a variety of sites. We have a full hookup and you can take your dogs everywhere. Only dings we have found after a couple of days are that some sites have hookups on right side (126 is one); OTA TV reception is bad; satellite will depends on the site because of the trees. Getting 2bars for Verizon 4G. It is a reasonable distance of the Vienna Metro station and Dulles Airport.
libertatemamo says
Thanks very much for your report on Bull Run! That was the other park we (initially) looked at in the area due to its proximity to Dulles airport. If we come back to the area and need to fly, that’s where we’ll go.
Nina
Don Gerhart says
We’ve seen deer, geese and other animals. No bugs, which my wife hates.