We've had a good summer. It's been filled with adventure, long car rides, and tenting! Last year I wrote up a little review of the campgrounds we visited. This year we went to three different campgrounds, so I thought I would sum up our adventures in a little review. All of the following sites were in the $30-40 a night. One of them had water, but the other two did not.
Cascade Campground
If we were to choose a campground we wouldn't have picked this one. It is the campground my aunt stays at all summer. This was our first camping trip as a foursome and there are some things I would have done differently. My uncles told my Mom that there is a better spot to camp than where we did, right at the edge of the playground. If we were to return, we would stay out in the "boondocks" at the edge of the campground. The campground was more for RV's than for tents. The other thing that we thought was odd was that no one walked, they took golf carts everywhere.
Playground
Shallow Beach - it was a slow moving river and icky. We didn't stay long there. There was a nice pool though, but the rinse of shower didn't work.
Free Shower
Cooking Fire Pit
Shade
Sun
Pool
Crawford Notch Campground
I didn't do my research very well on this one. I thought I had. There wasn't a playground or grassy area to play on. I also missed that the showers were metered so I wasn't prepared in the morning when it was shower time. My parents went with us (they got their own site) and my sister and cousin. We spent a lot of time playing in the Saco River. It is an excellent place to tent. No RV's can fit down into the camping area, so it is all tents, and they are spaced far apart. I think it is more of a campground for people making use of the white mountains: hiking, kayaking, ect then a young family looking for fun and relaxation.
Playground
Shallow Beach
Picnic Tables and Grills at Beach
Cooking Fire Pit
Shade
Sun
Dog Friendly
Camping Atmosphere .. not touristy
Spacious Tent Site
Space Between Sites
Earlier this spring we went on a little adventure to check out this campground. I am happy to say that it met and exceeded our expectations! We will be going back next year. We decided to not try and get Stomper a nap (after the first afternoon of crying and fussing) at the campground, but in the van. Luckily we have a State Park Pass so we made good use of it and visited 6 State Parks in four days! The bathrooms were pristine, the chemical toilets cleaned and cleaned out daily, and the playground was tons of fun. The dog even had a playground for him and was allowed where ever we went. The ocean is literally ten steps away, ok, maybe a little more, but if you get an ocean site you can watch the sunrise. Next year we hope to get an ocean site.
Affordable Boat Rentals (kayaks $35-50)
Shallow Beach - tidal Ocean
Grassy Areas at Beach - not at the beach area, but there was some nice grass to play in.
Free Shower
Cooking Fire Pit - We could have requested a grill top for our fire, but we didn't. Jason was a little disappointed in the size of the pit
Shade
Sun
Dog Friendly
Camping Atmosphere .. not touristy
Spacious Tent Site
Clean bathrooms/Chemical Toilets - there is a note on the shower door to clean up your trash, mop the floor, leave your shoes outside. When people did as the note asked, the shower stall stayed so very clean even during the busy times!