Silver Springs, FL

January – April 2023

We spent the winter at a wonderful campground near Silver Springs, Florida, and it quickly became our home away from home. We fell in love with our campsite the moment we stepped out of the truck, and over the next few months it proved to be the perfect place to spend our first season as snowbirds.

One of the highlights of our time there was the people we met. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and always ready to include us in activities. While the area wasn’t as tourist-oriented as we had expected, that turned out to be part of its charm. Looking back, we couldn’t have asked for a better place to spend our first winter away from the Minnesota snow. Wilderness RV Resort

Lake Eufala, AL

April 2023

We found this campground while planning our trip home from Florida. It wasn’t a destination we had specifically planned to visit, but it turned out to be a pleasant overnight stop.

Located on the edge of Eufaula, the campground sits along a canal that provides access to Lake Eufaula, although the lake itself isn’t visible from the campground. The property is heavily wooded, providing plenty of shade and creating a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.

During our stay, the campground was very quiet, although occupancy was quite low. There appeared to be a number of seasonal or long-term sites, with only a handful occupied while we were there.

The sites are mostly dirt with a few grassy areas, which seemed to be occupied by the seasonal campers. We were traveling with our 39-foot fifth wheel and had no trouble fitting into one of the pull-through sites. While the site accommodated us well, the campsites are fairly close together and the roads are somewhat narrow. Had the campground been full, it would have felt much more crowded than we prefer.

The campground is beginning to show its age, but it is well cared for, and the staff was friendly, welcoming, and eager to help with anything we needed.

One unexpected bonus was the paved bike trail that runs alongside the campground. We enjoyed spending some time riding it, and the town of Eufaula offers plenty of history, unique shops, and interesting places to explore.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would stop here again while traveling through the area. Lake Eufaula Campground

Tupelo, MS

April 2023

Although the campground is located right in town, the sites are thoughtfully designed. While they are fairly close together, the landscaping and rolling terrain create a sense of privacy that makes the campground feel much more secluded than many parks with larger campsites.

The staff was friendly, welcoming, and happy to answer any questions we had. It’s always nice to stay somewhere that makes you feel appreciated as a guest.

There was plenty to see and do in the Tupelo area, giving us more than enough to keep us busy during our stay. Between exploring the local attractions and relaxing at the campground, we had a very enjoyable visit.

If our travels bring us through Tupelo again, we wouldn’t hesitate to stay at the Campground at Barnes Crossing. It’s a well-maintained campground in a convenient location and one we would gladly recommend. Barnes Crossing

Hot Springs, AR

Arpil 2023

We spent four nights at Catherine’s Landing in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on our trip home to Minnesota. I have to say, this is one of the nicest campgrounds we’ve ever stayed in. The entire property is clean, beautifully maintained, and thoughtfully designed. The campsites are spacious enough that you don’t feel like you’re on top of your neighbors. Every site has a paved pad, picnic table, standing grill, and fire ring.

There is a wide variety of activities for families to enjoy, including boat and kayak rentals, zip lines, disc golf, swimming, and a small fitness room with exercise equipment. They also offer a variety of lawn games for guests to use.

One feature we especially appreciated was the large pavilion, which is available for everyone. It includes a kitchen area with sinks and electrical outlets, making it easy to set up a crock pot or prepare a meal for a family gathering or group event while staying out of the weather. It’s stocked with basic amenities and is simply a great place to enjoy a meal together.

Boat rental prices were in line with what we’ve seen elsewhere. Another nice touch was the number of seating areas scattered throughout the property. Some are covered by gazebos, while others overlook the waterfront or a pond with a fountain. They’re perfect places to sit, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.

If the weather keeps you indoors, the campground offers free cable television with about 30 channels to choose from.

They also provide free Wi-Fi, but we found it to be unreliable. The connection would randomly drop, and even when connected, the speeds were only adequate for checking email. Loading web pages was painfully slow. To make matters worse, our AT&T cell service was limited to a single bar, so internet access was definitely the weakest part of our stay. That said, if you’re looking to disconnect from technology for a few days, Catherine’s Landing makes that easy!

The internet was really the only negative we found during our visit.

I only wish this campground were closer to home. It would be the perfect place to bring the entire family for a camping vacation because there truly is something here for everyone.

Jordan, MN

May 2023

We spent three nights here in May. Our grandson’s hockey teammates and their families make an annual early-season camping trip, and we were invited to join them. As it turned out, another of our grandsons had a baseball tournament nearby that same weekend, so it worked out perfectly. We were able to enjoy some camping while still cheering him on at the ballpark.

The first evening was the highlight of the trip. The rain mostly stayed away, and the other families hadn’t arrived yet, so we enjoyed some one-on-one time with our grandsons and their parents. Those quiet moments together are becoming more precious every year.

The next day the baseball tournament began, the rest of the families arrived, and so did the rain. We managed to watch one game before the remaining games were cancelled because the fields were simply too wet to play on.

The boys had a great time playing with their teammates while the parents gathered to catch up. Pat and I took advantage of the rainy afternoon by heading into town for a little shopping and a leisurely lunch before returning to the campground. Unfortunately, it rained for most of the remainder of the trip. While the kids bounced from one camper to another, we settled in to watch the NHL playoffs and simply enjoyed a relaxing afternoon.

The campground itself is a typical KOA. The sites are a little closer together than we prefer, although that’s fairly common with many KOA campgrounds. The facilities are showing their age and could use a little updating, but everything was clean and well maintained. The staff was friendly and very patient with the many kids running around the campground enjoying themselves.

We’ll be back here again in June for another baseball tournament. Here’s hoping the weather is a little more cooperative next time! KOA Jordan, MN

Two Harbors, MN

June 2023

We spent three relaxing midweek days here and, as always, had a wonderful time. The weather was unusually cool for June, but that’s something you learn to expect when camping along Minnesota’s North Shore.

This time we stayed on one of the lower sites closer to the water. It was a nice change, although I still think the upper sites offer slightly better views of Lake Superior. We also met some very friendly campers in the neighboring site and enjoyed getting to know them during our stay.

While we were there, we had to have one of our trailer tires repaired. Rather than let it spoil the day, Pat found a beautiful waterfront bike trail in Duluth. We spent the afternoon riding our e-bikes along the lake and finished the ride with lunch at Canal Park. It turned into one of the highlights of the trip.

We also drove to Biwabik, Minnesota, and rode a section of the Mesabi Trail. We headed east from Biwabik and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The trail is scenic, well maintained, and we’ll definitely be back to explore other sections in the future.

Burlington Bay Campground continues to be one of our favorite places to camp. Its beautiful location, easy access to the North Shore, and proximity to so many attractions keep bringing us back year after year. Burlington Bay Campgound

Saginaw, MN

July 2023

We spent three nights here while attending a dinner excursion on the North Shore Scenic Railroad with some friends. Rather than making it a long day trip from home, we decided to find a nearby campground and turn it into a long weekend. We’re certainly glad we did.

From the warm welcome we received from one of the owners to our spacious campsite and the beautiful water views throughout the campground, everything exceeded our expectations.

Its location makes it an excellent base for exploring the area. Duluth’s Canal Park is only about a 30-minute drive away, and the Iron Range communities, including Eveleth, are less than an hour away. There is plenty to see and do, making it easy to fill a weekend or even a longer stay.

The campground offers a mix of seasonal and overnight sites, with many overlooking the water. Campers can enjoy complimentary use of canoes and pedal boats, and there’s also a small pontoon boat available for rent if you’d like to spend some time exploring the lake. Families will appreciate the playground, although there isn’t a swimming pool.

This campground has definitely earned a spot on our “we’ll be back” list. Red Pine Campground – Saginaw, Minnesota

Banff, Canmore and Hinton, AB

August and September 2023

We had always wanted to visit the Banff and Jasper area of Alberta, Canada, so we began planning a trip for the fall of 2023. As we worked through our travel budget, however, we had to make a difficult decision.

Like many retirees, we’re on a fixed income, and rising inflation and high fuel prices were beginning to affect our travel plans. Instead of taking the fifth wheel, we decided to drive and stay in Airbnb rentals. It turned out to be a great decision.

We spent the first week in an Airbnb in Canmore, just 30 minutes from Banff. It proved to be an excellent home base. The savings on lodging more than covered the additional fuel needed to drive back and forth to Banff each day, and Canmore itself has plenty to see and do. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

Our plan for the second week was to stay in Jasper, but thanks to either a math error or simply having an off day while making reservations, I booked us an Airbnb in Hinton instead. The home itself was wonderful, but it was an hour east of Jasper. That certainly explained the lower nightly rate, but the daily commute became a bit of a drawback as the week went on.

The only other disappointment during our trip was the wildfire smoke. Canada experienced significant forest fires that year, and a haze lingered over the mountains much of the time. We were fortunate to have periods of crystal-clear skies, but more often than not the scenery was softened by smoke. The views were still breathtaking, but you couldn’t help wondering how spectacular they would have been under perfectly clear skies.

Even with the smoke, this was one of the most memorable trips we’ve ever taken. Everywhere we looked seemed like another postcard waiting to be photographed. We were fortunate enough to see a grizzly bear, elk almost every day, and numerous birds and small animals we’d never encountered before.

If we make the trip again—and we certainly hope we do—we’ll probably bring the RV and stay near Banff, using it as our base for day trips throughout the Canadian Rockies.

We took so many photographs that it was nearly impossible to choose just a few to share. If you’d like to see more of this incredible trip, click the link below to view our complete Shutterfly photo album.

Lanesboro, MN

October 2023

We spent another weekend at Eagle Cliff Campground, one of our favorite places to camp. This was a return visit for us because we love the area for biking, and the campground is always clean, well maintained, and welcoming.

This trip we were joined by Pat’s brother, Bob, and his wife, Ricci. It was wonderful to get away for the weekend and spend some quality time with good friends and family.

One day we set out on our e-bikes to explore the Root River Trail. Between enjoying the scenery and chatting along the way, we missed a turn or two and ended up riding nearly 40 miles! We definitely felt it afterward, but thanks to the e-bikes we were pleasantly tired rather than completely worn out.

As always, we sampled a few local restaurants because that’s just part of the Lanesboro experience. We also attended a production at the local community theater. The cast did an excellent job with the material they were given, even though the play itself wasn’t one of our favorites. It reminded us that you can find talented performers and enjoyable entertainment in small towns just as easily as in the big cities.

One of the things we really like about Eagle Cliff Campground is that it’s a great destination for mixed groups. If some family members or friends don’t own an RV or simply don’t enjoy camping, the campground also offers hotel-style rooms, making it easy for everyone to stay together.

This continues to be one of our favorite campgrounds, and we’re sure we’ll be back again.

Two Harbors, MN

October 2023

We spent another three relaxing midweek days at Burlington Bay Campground and, as always, had a wonderful time. For a change, the weather was unusually cool for September after experiencing such a warm month. We had a few scattered rain showers, but fortunately we were able to work our activities around them.

The only thing we missed out on was riding our e-bikes, but even without getting on the trails, we still had a great trip.

This time we chose a campsite at the bottom of the hill, closer to the water. It was a nice location, although I still think the upper sites offer slightly better views of Lake Superior. We also met some very nice campers in the neighboring site and enjoyed visiting with them throughout our stay.

It was a windy week, and being on the lower level actually worked to our advantage, as we were sheltered from the worst of the wind.

One evening we drove into Duluth and saw The Blind, the story of Phil Robertson of Duck Commander fame. We thoroughly enjoyed the movie and would highly recommend it if you have the opportunity to see it.

Burlington Bay Campground continues to be one of our favorite places to camp. Between its beautiful location, easy access to Duluth and the North Shore, and the friendly people we meet every time we visit, it’s a campground we’ll continue returning to for years to come.