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Cherrystone Campground is probably the biggest destination resort for camping on the DelMarVa peninsula.  Located at the southern tip of the peninsula, the campground is about 15 minutes north of the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge tunnel; a 20-mile engineering wonder connecting the Southern Virginia peninsula to the Hampton Roads area, where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Map of cherrystone virginia

My husband started camping here with his family when he was a child, over 30 years ago. Of course, the campground has changed significantly since then, when it was made up of a hundred or so sites.  Since we started camping, we have visited this campground 20 or so times over the years.

Turning off US Route 13, the first thing you notice about this campground is how it resembles the Eastern Shore in general.  Sitting on 300 level, sprawling acres, the entrance looks like much of the surrounding farmlands dotted with Loblolly Pines. The registration  building sits near a shellfish farm, where a nearby boat ramp provides bay access for the campers bringing their boats.  

Those souls unfortunate enough to roll in on a Friday evening in the summer will see first hand just how many people this campground can accomodate, as the lines for registration and entry can easily back up for over one hour, especially on holiday weekends. Even their prepaid “express” registration is no guarantee for quick admittance, so be sure to arrive early to avoid a long and frustrating wait!

The campground is separated into three general camping areas. Getting to the sites are relatively easy, given the well marked maps and streets withing the campground.To the west of the entrance is the newest section, with large, fairly level pull-throughs. Beware of tree limbs when pulling in, as we have witnessed a couple of mishaps involving significant scratches to gel-coats and one lost TV antenna. Last year the owners installed nice hook-up pedestals for electricity. Last time we went, there was a minimum size requirement of 24 feet to camp in this section. This means if you have a pop-up, you are not allowed in this “high rent” area, so you will be camping in one of the older sections.

The other two sections of the campground are separated by the pools and camp store. The sites are well shaded with the towering “Lollipop” Pines that sway wildly in the winds careening off the Chesapeake Bay. The RV sites are mostly full hook-ups, with the exception of the sites closest to the water, which are water and electric. The sites don’t have pre-defined pads, which is really nice if you are travelling with a group, as the management is fairly lenient about how you situate your rig on the site; we have often parked in a “circle” of RV’s, with water and electric cords hidden under strategically placed mats to avoid tripping over them. 

Choose your site wisely; if you have issues with people walking across campsites, then you may want to choose a site farther from the store and pools area. One Memorial Day we were across from the store, our site on one of the paths that criss-cross the area, and were dismayed by the number of children constantly walking or riding bikes not only on the path, but across our site! LIkewise, the area in front of the store becomes a hang out for the pre-teen bunch.  On the other hand, there is a very nice sandy playground next to the store that has a large jungle gym for the little ones. A split rail fence helps keep children from the traffic in front of the store.

The campground is known for it’s water-oriented activites. Waterfront campsites have westward views boasting beautiful sunsets, while the bay breezes help keep the mosquitos away, at least while the wind is blowing (make sure to bring your bug repellent regardless, as there is always a good chance the breeze will die down, causing the pesky blood suckers to swarm your site).  In addition to the camp store, a full-service fishing store is located on the water. You can get bait and tackle, rent a small motorboat, and even book passage on the campgrounds 50-foot “head” boat, the Miss Jennifer, for fishing and sunset cruises. The fishing store also rents paddle boats and bicycles for use in the campground.

The campground has plenty of activities for the landlubbers (like me!). Three pools of varying depths, putt-putt golf, tennis courts, and lots of fishing piers allow most everyone to participate in an activity. There are also lots of scheduled activities, including organized yard sales, bingo, dancing, to name a few. The camp store is well stocked with lots of stuff you didn’t know you needed, but glad to see available if you do need it. Trinkets, RV supplies, clothes, and toys keep my kids roaming the aisles for hours if we let them.

One caveat: a trip to Cherrystone ain’t cheap.  We have paid $75 per night for a holiday weekend with a full hook-up, not to mention you can get nickled and dimed to death. If you are on a budget, bypass Cherrystone altogether for Kiptopeke State Park, just 10 minutes south. They call it a family campground, but charge extra for the children ($5 per night).  Don’t forget the air conditioning and heating surcharge of $3 per night, which pretty much applies to the entire camping season. I heartily complained for a heating surcharge one Halloween weekend. 

“But I have propane heat: I don’t understand why you are charging me for this when I already pay extra for my propane!” I exclaimed.

“Well, you may have an electric heater in your camper,” was the feeble reply from the tired registration clerk.

The kicker was during a Memorial Day event. We did not camp that weekend, but received a phone call from our friends who were at Cherrystone. She said the kids were told to go to the camp store to pick up boxes to decorate for a parade, and then were charged for the boxes, which were throw aways from the camp store. Pretty sly, if you ask me.

Overall, Cherrystone is a good destination campground if you want to savor the Chesapeake Bay scenery and fishing and have lots of pre-planned activities for your family.

The Florida Keys are comprised of hundreds of islands that extend from the southeast tip of the Florida peninsula. The keys are connected to one another by 100 miles or so of US Route 1, which is made of roads and bridges that traverse the coral islands, turquoise-blue water and mangrove swamps. The keys are measured by mileage markers (MM).

The tropical climate, laid back attitude, and casual attires found in the Florida Keys are very similar to islands in the Caribbean. Indeed, visitors will feel they have left the United States altogether. Palm trees line the highway and Bougainvillea flowers provide splashes of color, while pelicans, egrets and herons can be seen everywhere during your stay. People fish from the numerous bridges and parks along the highway, catching snapper, eels, ray, and redfish.

We just returned from Spring Break in the Florida Keys and had a wonderful time, as usual. The daily high temperature were in the 70’s to low 80’s, about 20 to 30 degrees warmer than the temps in Maryland, while the night time temperatures were in the 60’s. The windy conditions prevented us from doing more water-based activities, but there was still a lot to see and do.

Just beyond the region where Highway 1 begins the southernly route to the Keys is the “Gateway to the Keys.” There is a lot of construction, which was begun before our last visit, two years earlier, and still has a way to go before completion. Concrete barriers make the roadway very narrow, so be alert when driving a large rig.

The first large island beyond the Gateway is Key Largo (MM 106 to MM 90), considered the Diving capital of the Keys, and home to John Pennekamp State Park, the only underwater coral reef state park in the United States. We snorkeled off the public beach area, and it was so silty and disturbed we really couldn’t see anything. In order to see the best of the park, visit one of the many dive shops in the area that offer snorkeling and diving trips within the park.

Camping in Key Largo is available, but make your reservations early, as there are not a lot of spaces for the transient RV’er. One thing you will find at most campgrounds in the Keys is a mish-mash of permanant and seasonal sites, mixed in with full hook-ups. Anyone who has RV’d for a while will know exactly what I’m talking about; old trailers that must be 30 years old are used as homes and have been built around, so that the trailer is encased in wood decks and a porch. The amazing thing is that these dilapidated campers on a 30 foot by 40 foot lot are selling for $300,000 or more! An inexpensive RV site with full hook-ups will run about $50 to $70 in season (November to April).

Campgrounds in Key Largo are Key Largo Kampground, Kings Kamp and Camp Calusa (they don’t have a site, but the Dacron’s have some pics on their site). We personally did not stay in these campgrounds, but camped further south and made day trips up to Largo.

If shopping is your thing, you will be tinkled pink to go shopping in the Upper Keys if your into the trashy-tourist look.  There are several swim suit/ lingerie shops, as well as typical beach vacation fare such as shops selling shells and beach blankets. Key Largo is also home to one of the few K-Marts in the Keys. Load up on over-priced essentials here or pay way more as you get farther South. The good news is that everyone is so casual, you don’t need to pack much but a swim suit and a couple of resort-casual outfits to last you a week.

Just south of Key Largo is Tavernier, supposedly named for the favorite hang-outs of the Seamen stationed here in the 1800’s. One day, while Rich was trying to catch the elusive Bonefish, I took the girls to visit The Florida Keys Wild Bird Sanctuary, located here on the Bayside.  The Sanctuary started in the 80’s, when a local veterinarian asked a fisherman to take care of some injured birds. Today the Sanctuary has thousands of birds and a small nature walk complete with information on local trees and plants. I really enjoyed the educational aspect, while the girls had a blast with a caged talking parrot.  The sanctuary is tucked in the trees and easy to miss, and apparently doesn’t have regular operating hours.  More amazing is the place receives no government funding, and relies solely on donations.

Restaurants are easy to come by in this area, but I honestly can’t tell you anything about them since we didn’t eat here. Key Largo is just a “passing by” kind of place for us. There was a gas station (I think it was a Texaco?) on the bayside across the street from a shopping center that had a menu of Cuban cuisine that looked promising. I love ethnic foods like tamales and empanadas, and would have tried it had we not been late meeting Rich at the marina in Islamorada. One place I  really wanted to visit is the Key Lime Products store at MM 95.  I can devour tons of Key Lime pie, and absolutely die for the Key Lime Pie frozen on a stick and dipped in dark chocolate. I am ashamed to admit I ate 5 pieces of key lime pie in it’s various forms on this trip, but it was soooo awesome!

We just returned from our third Spring Break in the Keys, and as before, travelling I-95 was challenging at times. For those travelers who have yet to experience the joy/pain of driving this road during Spring Break, I wanted to share our observations.

First, we live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This means that in order to get off the “DelMarVa” peninsula and get onto I-95, we have three choices; to travel north (wrong direction), travel West to Washington DC, or travel south to Norfolk. Since we are self-described country bumpkins who freak out over the gazillions of people in the DC Metro area, we try to avoid the city like the plague. We prefer to drive south on Route 13, which crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, on the Chesapeak Bay-Bridge Tunnel, or CBBT.

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Space is very limited on Recreational Vehicles, so when I read a recent positive review of nesting cookware similar to this on the  http://www.irv2.com/ forum, I thought this would be perfect for our camper. Our camping cookware has always been a mish-mash of home kitchen castoffs, rescued from the salvation army thrift store or purchased from the dollar store for, well, dollars! I didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I though the price was reasonable.

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Located at the crossroads of I-81 and I-70, Hagerstown is halfway between Deep Creek (westernmost Maryland), and the Atlantic Ocean. (more…)

Like many RV’ers, we love grilling out, but are not that crazy about the mess. The novelty of cooking over the fire wears off rather quickly when camping frequently, and charcoal grills tend to be a little messy and time consuming. When traveling hard, as soon as we set up camp the troops want to be off on a hike or at the pool, not sitting over a grill for an hour waiting for the coals to offer the right temperature for dinner prep.

We decided early in our camping endeavors that a gas grill for traveling on the road was best for our temperaments. The last time we were in the market for a grill, we took our homework seriously; there are so many different types of grills, and they are not cheap.

Questions to ask before before buying a grill:

Gas or charcoal? Charcoal grills are less expensive and more disposable than their gas counterparts. Small “hibachi” type grills exist in both types of fuel, so portability isn’t an issue. Do you mind toting bags of charcoal? On the other hand, more expensive gas grills usually have an LP Gas hose extension so you can connect it directly to your RV’s gas tanks.

Fire or heating element? You can get a gas grill that looks like a charcoal grill and cooks with the flame, or one that works more like a non-stick pan on a heating element. Do you like your food to have that char-grilled flavor, or would you rather have non-stick surfaces that are (supposed to be) easier to clean?

I love cooking over a fire, but always end up fishing a hot dog or burger out of the coals when it slips between the rungs of the fire grate. Many portable grills have small enough gaps that you don’t have to worry about this. However, the fat drippings can really make a mess of a grill rather quickly, but this can be solved with some tinfoil. Worse yet, the charcoal dust often leaks out and spreads around the storage compartment, however a crate or some other transport container to limit the mess.

How many will you be cooking for? Another concern is cooking area.  Large families may become rather dismayed by the lack of cooking space available on smaller grills. Likewise, if you like to cook an entire meal on one grill (we cook packets of veggies with our meat), you will need a larger grill.

Will you do more than just grilling? Some grills have interchangable plates that allow the grill to become a griddle or stove burner. The griddles allow for pancakes, sausages, etc. Keep in mind that these surfaces aren’t always easier to clean up than a plain old grill that you can simply clean with a metal brush.

Do you like new every year? Using something a few times and throwing it out certainly doesn’t help our landfills, but that’s the way some folks operate.  We urge you to upgrade slightly to a grill that will last for more than one season.

Whatever you decide is best for you, check out Grills and Grilling Accessories from Camping World

Happy Grilling!

Rich with history and the site of many festivals and family activities, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is the perfect place for a vacation. And with so many campgrounds to choose from, Gettysburg is the perfect location for a family camping trip. Don’t miss the Apple festival in October, about 20 minutes North of town.  Be sure to make your reservations early, however, as the campgrounds all fill up quickly.

Just a few hours west of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly love, is the site where brothers died in arms against one another in the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania marked a turning point in the Civil War, where over 51,000 men lost their lives in three short days in July of 1863, and where Abraham Lincoln later delivered the Gettysburg address.  

General Robert E. Lee, emboldened by his numerous victories, planned a confrontation and victory within the northern states in order to force Lincoln to procure a peace agreement between the North and the South, thus ending the war. Often referred to as the “High Water Mark of the Confederacy,” the northward advance of Lee and his 75,000 troops into Pennsylvania was quickly halted when Lee discovered that he was being pursued by 95,000 troops of the Union Army, commanded by General George Meade.

Named in the 1700’s for a tavern owned by Samuel Gettys, Gettysburg just happened to stand between the two armies.  General Lee successfully prevented the northward advance of the Southern troops, but with a very high cost of human lives from both armies.  Now the site of Gettysburg National Military Park, acres of rolling hills are marked with plaques retelling the story of the confrontation and battle. History enthusiasts can spend hours touring the numerous museums, while people of all ages will enjoy the reenactments and tours dedicated to teaching visitors the story of these brave men.

Gettysburg has several campgrounds to choose from, and we have personally stayed in several of them. The area is fairly “hilly,” and we have had a lot of adventures in leveling our campers when visiting Gettysburg. So if you want a nice, level site, make sure to discuss it with the park when making a reservation. Another word of note: the campgrounds on Route 15 may have a lot of road noise. I have written up the campgrounds we have visited. Scroll down for the area map: (more…)

One of the reasons we RV is related to cleanliness. Do you remember the news story about the bed bugs in the swanky NY hotel room?  Have you ever seen a mattress?  How many times do you think that blanket or comfortor gets washed. 

When we go on a trip with the camper, I know who has used the bed, toilet, and kitchen, and I also know when they were cleaned last.

You should see these videos.

Was Your Hotel Room a Meth Lab?

Don’t drink from Hotel Glasses

I love having my own bathroom, bed, and kitchen when on the road. I know it’s clean (or not!), and know the only bugs we will be catching are the ones the girls collect in jars when playing outside.

Ask my family to name one of our favorite camping spots, and I am sure each one would include Chincoteague, Virginia.

Granted, Chincoteague is not a well known major tourist draw like Williamsburg or Roanoke. But this outwardly appearing sleepy, backwater town is steeped in history and legend, and has enough activities to keep any family busy for a full week-long vacation.The name “Chincoteague” is popularly accepted to be an Indian name meaning “beautiful land across the water,” and the name definitely befits this charming island.

Chincoteague is 37 square mile island about one mile from the mainland of Virginia. The long, low island is connected to the mainland by a causeway slightly elevated above a tidal marsh dotted with oyster beds and rocking fishing boats. The decaying vegetation and marine life forms a black muck rich in nutrients, which serves as a protected nursery for fish and shellfish that lay their eggs among the phragmites and other marsh plants.  The same decay also provides a treat for the senses; the first time you smell the marsh, you may think you just passed some hidden roadkill. One word of warning: while crossing the causeway, beware of the swooping gulls, as they frequently crash into unsuspecting vehicles, as one did to our RV on one trip.

The banks of Chincoteague island offer watersports like kayaking and boating, and fishing. Crabbing for the famous Maryland Blue Crab is easy when using a crab pot, available for rent or purchase at most shops.  Simply place chicken parts in the middle of the chicken-wire pot, and toss the into the water after tying to a nearby dock post. Check your pot periodically for some of the tastiest crabs ever boiled. Some crab-catching purists rely only on a chicken neck tied to a piece of string to lure the crabs from the brackish water. Toss out the “hand line”, and reel the string slowly back to the dock. A quick tug means you have a crab on the line. This is a fun activity the kids love! 

Chincoteague is also the gateway to one of the Nations most visited National Wildlife Refuges: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island. The refuge receives over one million visitors per year.  Like most refuges, the wildlife is abundant. The denizens include Osprey, Bald Eagles, the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel, ducks, geese, and more. Nature programs are free at the brand new Visitor’s Center, and Interpretive Rangers lead bird and nature walks.

Across from the visitors center is a small parking area with a trail leading to the Chincoteague Lighthouse. Built in the 1800’s, the lighthouse is located at what was once the Southernmost tip of Assateague Island. Now one of the few lighthouses still working in the United States, the lighthouse is about 6 miles from the southern edge of the island due to the erosion of the beaches to the north. The Coast Guard opens the lighthouse to the public on most days for a small fee. You can climb the steps to the top for a gorgeous view of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands.

The refuge is also home to a herd of wild ponies, rumored to be descendants of survivors of a 17th Century Spanish shipwreck. Like the Assateague Park herds, the ponies are supposed to be contained in an area of salt marsh dotted with Lob Lolly pines, but they frequently escape and can be seen roaming parking lots, searching for the remnants of picnics. The ponies were the subject of the famous children’s book, Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague. Currently the ponies are owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department.

 Following a devastating fire in the town, the Fire Department started auctioning off the foals in 1925 to raise funds for equipment. The VFD swims the ponies across the channel separating the islands once a year, on the last Wednesday of July.  The swim and auction is a huge draw to the town, and resorts are booked for months in advance.

You can see the ponies and two types of deer (Whitetail and Sika) on your way to the family beach on the Eastern edge of the island.  Get there early during busy summer days, as parking is limited and fills up quickly.Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of crowded beaches? Carry a pack (with lots of water and sunscreen) up the relatively deserted beach north of the parking area. Although the fresh salt air and sandy stretch of beach may give you the urge to get back to nature and shuck your swimsuit, beware that rangers frequently patrol the out-of-way areas and nudity is strictly prohibited.

Don’t feel like walking to a less crowded beach spot?  Then visit the off-road vehicle (ORV) area on the southern part of the island. A registration sticker, available for a fee, can be purchased for the ORV area. Before heading out to the beach, be sure to visit the Park Service website for a list of required items you must have in your vehicle to gain beach access (a ranger will check to make sure you have these in your truck). Also, leave early, as entrance to the ORV area is limited, and fills up quickly.

Perhaps one of the best ways to see the refuge is to pedal your way around the trails by bicycle. Do not worry if you forget to bring your bike; rentals are available on the main road into the Refuge. You can ride your bike over from the mainland on the roadside bike path, then cross to the beach on the Wildlife Loop Trail and, when open to the public, the Swan Cove Trail.  This trail runs along the backside of the dunes for about one mile, before ending at the northernmost beach parking lot at Swan Cove. The cove is named for the hundreds of swimming Whistling Swans that call the pond home, rumored to be able to break a man’s arm with their powerful wings. However, the chances of this happening are next to impossible, unless you are foolhardy enough to wade out into the cove.

After a day of roaming the beach collecting shells, you can retire at your waterfront campsite at one of the islands two campgrounds: Maddox Family Campground and Tom’s Cove Campground. From your campsite, you can watch the flash-flash-pause signal of the lighthouse, which is across the channel from both lighthouses.

Fishing fanatics will be able to take advantage of boat rentals or fishing trips in the channel or Atlantic Ocean. Flounder, Rockfish, and offshore Tuna fishing are abundant. You can also try your hand at clamming by treading or tonging for the elusive mollusks. The one bill of fare that Chincoteague is famous for is the oyster. Chincoteague oysters are supposed to be some of the sweetest, perfectly flavored of all oysters, and are available in most restaurants and many roadside stands.

Before leaving for home, when back on the mainland, take a few minutes to stop at  the NASA visitor’s center, right across from a huge NOAA facility sporting several large satellites, located where the causeway meets the mainland. Local gossip is that there may eventually be a space shuttle lift-off from the nearby NASA Wallops Island facility.

Chincoteague will always be one our favorite spots to visit, as this is where we met after the famous pony auction, in 1992. Amy was a Federal Law Enforcement Officer, working and living at the Refuge, while Rich was visiting on business and stayed for the pony penning festivities. We were married on the beach two years later. Maybe we’ll see you at Chincoteague sometime; we go back every year on our Anniversary!

Chances are a Camping and RV Show is coming to a venue near you in the coming weeks. Camping and RV shows are common in the winter, when people are busy planning their future camping trips for the spring and summer. What is better to do during the inclement weather of winter than imagining yourself camping in your RV? Often located indoors in fairgrounds or other heated locations large enough to handle the large amount of units and people that attend, RV shows charge a fee to both exhibitors and attendees. Coupons for $1 to $2 off your purchase can usually be found online and in the local newspaper. Here is a search tool to find RV Shows.

RV shows are a great resource for anyone considering an RV purchase.  You can find hundreds of different types of camping trailers and RV’s in one location; everything from Pop-up campers to expensive Class A or Bus type Motor Homes. The units are open to the public, so you can sit at the table, mom can look in all the cabinets, dad can look at the engines, and the kids can bounce on the beds (the well behaved ones don’t, but mine do…). I guess that’s why some of the more expensive Motor Homes are not open to the public…?

Many dealers will have factory representatives available to answer even the most difficult of questions.  A few years ago, we were interested in one particular unit, but didn’t want to wait the 12 weeks for delivery.  The factory rep was able to get on the phone and find us a unit that would be available in 2 weeks! We ended up passing on the unit, but found the service refreshing.

The dealers are ready to wheel and deal, so if you are dead set on a new model RV, bring yours to the show and you can work out a trade on the spot. If you see an RV that you must have, the best day to work out the best deal may be on the last day of the show, when dealers don’t want to go home with all that unsold inventory. Likewise, expect a little hard selling if you show any interest in a particular unit. Although, for the most part, the dealers are fairly laid back with the sales pitches; after all, they have thousands of people roaming in and out of their units during a show.

The shows are also a great opportunity to find out about other industry resources. Representatives from regional camping resorts and campgrounds are available so visitors can make reservations, get brochures, and find out about area activities.  Booths dot the grounds with offers of gadgets to make your RV lifestyle a little easier, crafts for sale, and my husband’s favorite; the jerky man who sells all kinds of wild game jerkies. Fare such as hot dogs, nachos, and burgers are available.

So if you are not sure what to do when the weather is rotten, beat the winter doldrums and get out to an RV show near you this weekend!