The Camping Club

Memorable Family Reunions

We have a family reunion every September with my brother, his wife and my sister-in-law. We all head up to Nickerson State Park on Cape Cod. There are always others that follow along, such as adults, children and others. My sisters and our Mom usually stay at a cottage on the Cape and we make sure we have one day at the campsite for steak and lobster dinner! This year, my Mom, husband and I rented a house on Martha's Vineyard and took the ferry over for the celebratory tradition. Mom got a canoe ride with my brother as the foliage was just starting to show its colors around Flax Pond. Then came the best part, the steak and lobster dinner! There were several birthdays being celebrated and a great time was had by all. We love the park and the opportunity it presents for memorable annual family reunions.
Submitted By: Lorri Shearer-Fuentes

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Chicot State Park

More of what you come to nature for.

The Setting

Take a trip to Chicot State Park – for a day or for the week. Chicot State Park will be a memorable encounter with an area perfect for recreation and relaxation in a beautiful natural environment. Lake Chicot has yielded record catches of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and red-ear sunfish. In addition to fishing, Chicot SP offers swimming, camping, hiking, picnicking and more.

The Facility

The South Landing includes cabins, a group camp, a lodge, picnic areas and playgrounds, a swimming pool, a boat launch, a fishing pier and a dock with rental boats. A scenic road links the South Landing with the North Landing.

The North Landing features campsites, a playground, a boat launch, a dock, a 400 ft. fishing pier and a primitive group-camping area. The Conservation Lodge is located in this area .

Fun!

Chicot State Park also boasts a unique combination of natural resources. Mature hardwood uplands and extensive beech-magnolia forest areas add to the beauty of the cypress-tupelo lake environment. Large numbers of deer, raccoon and other wildlife live in the surrounding woods. The 300-acre Louisiana State Arboretum, an area devoted to a living, natural exhibition of over 150 species of plant life native to Louisiana, is located just a mile and a half from the park’s main entrance.

Address

3469 Chicot Park Rd.
Ville Platte, LA 70586

(337) 363-2403

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10-minute Skillet Chicken

Why settle for take-out when you can fix up some chicken in ten?

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds skinless and boneless chicken breasts
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped parsley
1 cup sliced scallions, whites only
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper

1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces while you heat the oil in a frypan. Put in the chicken and toss the pieces briskly over high heat. Keeping the flame high, push the chicken to one side of the pan and add the garlic, parsley and scallions. Toss 1 minute more, add the lemon, vinegar, salt and lots of black pepper. The chicken will be cooked through in 1 or 2 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

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Top 25 Tours & Events

Below are just a few of the wonderful locations that are available through ReserveAmerica. Be sure to check out the many other recreation opportunities throughout the site.

Antelope Island State Park Annual Bison Roundup-Syracuse, UT Borderland State Park-Sharon/Mansfield/North Easton, MA Boston Harbor Islands-Boston, MA Carter Caves State Resort Park-Olive Hill, KY Chatfield State Park-Littleton, CO Douthat State Park-Millboro, VA Eugene T. Mahoney State Park-Ashland, NE Fort Tejon State Park-Kern, CA Green River State Park-Green River, UT Greenbo Lake State Resort Park-Greenup, KY Hearst Castle-San Simeon, CA Hodges Gardens State Park-Florien, LA Jenny Wiley State Resort Park-Prestonsburg, KY Mt. Rushmore/Hill City KOA-Hill City, SD Myakka River State Park-Sarasota, FL New River Trail State Park-Foster Falls, VA Niobrara State Park-Niobrara, NE Occoneechee State Park-Clarksville, VA Robert Frost Farm Historic Site-Derry, NH San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA-Petaluma, CA Staunton River Battlefield State Park-Randolph, VA Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park-White Springs, FL The Esplanade Hatch Shell-Boston, MA Washington DC / Capitol KOA-Millersville, DC Wilderness Road State Park-Ewing, VA

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The Perfect Gift for Outdoor Enthusiasts

The best gift you can give the outdoor enthusiast this holiday season is the gift of a one year Camping Club membership entitling your friend or family member to discounts on camping trips, camping gear, entertainment and so much more. It’s the gift that keeps giving all year round!!

For only $15 you can buy that perfect gift as well as for each gift membership you purchase you are entered to WIN an ULTIMATE GETAWAY! That’s right. You could win a getaway that perfectly suits your taste and style. The Ultimate Getaway Giveaway prize is a travel voucher allowing you to go anywhere you want, anytime you want! The more gift memberships you purchase, the better your chances!

Purchase a Gift Membership Now!

Check out Member Benefits!  

 

Hyrum State Park, UT

Willow, box elder and maple trees surround Hyrum Reservoir providing shade as well as habitat for waterfowl and wildlife. During the day, find a spot on the beach to case a fishing line or relax with a good book. Sit around a cozy campfire with family and friends at night.

The Setting

Tucked away in Cache County, Hyrum State Park offers many recreation opportunities including fishing, boating, and camping. Surrounded by tall, shady trees, Hyrum provides an excellent place for an afternoon picnic, or spend the whole weekend trolling on the lake catching yellow perch, rainbow trout, bluegill, and largemouth bass.

The Facility

Facilities include 51 developed campsites, new group-use are, modern restrooms and showers. The day-use area includes sandy beaches, modern restrooms, and picnic tables. Ample parking and plenty of shade trees enhance the comforts of your visit.

Camping Tips

Campfires are allowed in designated areas. Firewood is not provided at the park, so visitors should bring their own- collecting of wood in the park is not allowed.

Park Features

Hyrum State Park abounds in natural diversity. Bird enthusiasts can see many birds including grebes, egrets, herons and pelicans along with a variety of waterfowl and song birds. Wildlife including squirrels, raccoons, fox, muskrats, deer and occasionally beavers can be seen roaming the park.

Address

Hyrum State Park
405 W 300 S
Hyrum, Utah 84319
(435) 245-6866

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Sausage and Pepper Skillet

The red and green peppers add just enough spice to the sausage.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 green or red bell peppers, cut in strips
1 Spanish onion, sliced thin and separated into rings
1 clove garlic, crushed
12 oz. fully-cooked Polish sausage or knockwurst
1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
3/4 tsp. dried thyme

1. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add bell peppers, onion and garlic; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.

2. Add beef sausage, wine if desired, 1/4 cup water and thyme to skillet. Cover; continue cooking 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Makes 4 servings.

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Top 50 Scenic Views

Below are just a few of the wonderful locations that are available through ReserveAmerica. Be sure to check out the many other recreation opportunities throughout the site.

Bar Harbor KOA-Bar Harbor, ME Blue Hills Reservation-Milton, MA Blue Spring State Park-Orange City, FL Buckhorn State Park-Necedah, WI Caddo River Recreation Area-Arkadelphia, AR Caesars Head State Park, Panoramic Piedmont Mountains- Cleveland, SC Chippokes Plantation State Park-Surry, VA Clark Creek State Park-Woodville, MS Columbus-Belmont State Park-Columbus, KY Crawford Notch State Park-Crawford Notch, NH Dead Horse Point State Park-Moab, UT Devils Fork State Park-Salem, SC Devil's Lake State Park-Baraboo, WI Dworshak Reservoir-Ahsahka, ID Eldorado Canyon State Park-Eldorado Springs, CO Falls Mill Overlook, Burnsville Lake- Burnsville, WV False Cape State Park-Virginia Beach, VA First Landing State Park-Virginia Beach, VA Fort Robinson State Park-Crawford, NE Franconia Notch State Park-Franconia, NH Glacier Basin Campground-Rocky Mountain National Park-Estes Park, CO Goblin Valley State Park-Green River, UT Goosenecks State Park-Mexican Hat, UT Hendy Woods State Park-CA Hinton/Jasper KOA, AB Hodges Gardens State Park-Florien, LA Hunting Island State Park-Hunting Island, SC Kiptopeke State Park-Cape Charles, VA Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park-Okeechobee, FL Kodachrome Basin State Park-Cannonville, UT Leesylvania State Park-Woodbridge, VA LL Stub Stewart State Park-Buxton, OR Mather Campground-Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon, AZ Mount Holyoke Range State Park-Amherst, MA Mount Washington State Park-Crawford, NH Nehalem Bay State Park-Nehalem, OR Niobrara State Park-Niobara, NE Ridenour Overlook- Hesston, PA Ridgway State Recreation Area- Ridgway, CO Roche-A-Cri State Park-Friendship, WI Seven Points Campground-Raystown Lake-Hesston, PA Spectacle Island-Boston, MA Staunton River State Park-Scottsburg, VA Table Rock State Park-Pickens, SC Thompson's Lake State Park-East Berne, NY Waldport/Newport KOA, OR Wallis Sands State Park-Rye, NH Westmoreland State Park-Montross, VA Wilderness Road State Park-Ewing, VA York River State Park- Williamsburg, VA Click to Read more

Buy a Gift and Win a Trip!

Purchase a Camping Club GIFT membership between November 1st 2008 and January 15th, 2009 and you could win your Ultimate Getaway!

It’s the best gift you can give the outdoor enthusiast this holiday season.

Buy a Gift Membership Now!

Ridgeway State Recreation Area, CO

Mountain scenery mingles with magnificent campgrounds at Ridgway State Park. Modern, universally-accessible recreation areas and the five-mile long reservoir make memorable days and nights.

The Setting

Just 15 miles from the town of Ouray—the "Switzerland of America"—Ridgway State Park welcomes visitors from near and far. The park’s beautiful reservoir, well-developed picnic and playground areas, extensive trails, and diverse wildlife offer year-round activities for all types of outdoor enthusiasts.

The park is a great fall destination being located close to many areas with a full spectrum of seasonal colors. Three unique campgrounds provide for diverse camping experiences whether it’s spectacular views, privacy provided by the piñon-juniper forest, or full hook-up sites near the beautiful Uncompahgre River.   

Ridgway State Park is also a popular base camp if you want to take a day trip to the hot springs of Ouray, the quaint town of Montrose or the magnificent Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride.

The Facility

The peace, quiet and beauty of Ridgway State Park is an experience not to be missed this fall. Whether enjoying the park or a neighboring attraction, there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy. During the fall, hiking, biking, boating, kayaking, wind surfing, and fishing are some of the more popular activities.
During the off-season months, there are at least 20 RV sites and 15 tent sites for rental. The three unique yurts are available to rent year-round.

Picnicking is a popular pastime in this picturesque setting, especially at the areas near the swim beach and playground. With 87 picnic sites—most of which have shelters and drinking water—visitors can enjoy a family outing in comfort.

Opened year-round, Ridgway’s trails are renowned for their beauty and traverse virtually all the eco-zones found in the park. Seven miles of trails connect the north and south ends of the park. About three miles of universally-accessible concrete trails and 11 miles of natural surface trails enable visitors to enjoy the scenery yet remain within easy distance of park facilities.

Camping Tips

The three yurts located in the Dutch Charlie area can be either reserved or rented on a first-come, first-serve basis for two nights at a time.

Ridgway’s yurts have a wooden lattice wall and ceiling, pinewood floors, a ceiling light/fan and a screened skylight in the center of the domed roof. The insulated walls and thermostat-controlled propane heater/gas log stove keep these accommodations warm and cozy in crisp autumn months.

Drinking water is available at water hydrants located directly across from the yurts, and dumpsters and trash cans are close by. A year-round heated restroom is located next to yurt #10, the designated universally accessible yurt.

Each yurt sleeps up to six people and includes a pair of twin-sized bunks and two queen-sized futons, propane gas stoves, a small round table and six chairs, a front porch/deck with a picnic table, an elevated barbecue grill and a ground-level campfire ring. There are also electrical outlets and a ceiling light, along with a small microwave oven and refrigerator.

Address

Ridgway State Recreation Area
28555 Highway 550
Ridgway, CO  81432
Ph: (970) 626-5822