Sunday, May 15, 2016

Max V Shaul / Mine kill & Veroman's Nose

I have combined this post of  Max V Shaul State Campground with Mine kill State Park and Veroman's Nose. Located in Schoharie County these three places make a great place to get away for a long weekend. Max V Shaul is the place to stay. The campground here is small but very nice. The only thing missing is a dump station. There is a nice playground in the campground. There is a section of old route 30 connected to the campground which makes for a interesting walk or bike ride. Abandoned years ago it is interesting to see how mother nature has reclaimed part of this paved road.
Also heading south just before the campground we found a swimming hole used by the locals.

                                                         Activities and Amenities
  • Camper Assistance Program                                                     
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • X-Country Skiing
  • Campsites
  • Group Camping
  • Nature Trails
  • Pavilions (Accessible)
  • Picnic Tables (Accessible)
  • Playgrounds
  • Showers (Accessible)
  • Tent/Trailer Sites (Accessible)

  •                                                                     Recommended sites

    7,8,21,24

    3,4,11,13,16 good tent sites

    Staying at Max V Shaul  comes with free access to Mine Kill State Park just a few miles away. Plenty of trails, disc golf, swimming pool , picnic area and a reservoir to fish and boat in. these are just a few of the fun activities at Mine kill.
                                                                    Activities and Amenities  

    • Boat Launches
    • Educational Services
    • Food (Accessible)
    • Nature Trails
    • Pavilions (Accessible) * Tent rentals also available.
    • Picnic Tables (Accessible)
    • Playgrounds
    • Powerboats
    • Swimming Pool (Accessible)

    • Biking
    • Disc Golf
    • Fishing
    • Hiking
    • Hunting
    • Ice Skating
    • Recreation Programs (Accessible)
    • Sledding
    • Snowmobiling
    • Snowshoeing Trails
    • X-Country Skiing
    Finally on the way home we try to hike to the top of Veromans Nose. This hike is relatively easy and the views are awesome. 
    Campsite at Max V Shaul


    Mine kill

    Mine kill


    Veromans Nose

    Monday, April 4, 2016

    Lewey Lake Campground

    Lewey lake is one of my favorite campgrounds.  Some of the campsites are right on the water. Across the street is Indian lake. There are also some sites on the water on Indian Lake. This campground is on route 30 so there will be some road noise. Chimney Mountain is nearby and is one of my favorite hikes. There is also an extensive system of caves on Chimney Mountain. The caves are home to a geocache called Kidd's Ledge at Eagle Caves this geocache is on my to do list and it is quite a ways underground and is not easy to get to. . There is another hike nearby Snowy Mountain  it is just up the street and is rated difficult. Cell phone service in the area is limited. Reservations can be made at Reserve America. One other thing to note about Lewey lake. I don't know why but the people who stay here are some of the friendliest we have met. Check out the pictures below.

                                                             Activities and Amenities

    Beach                                                                 Picnic Area
    Bath House                                                         Fishing
    Dump station                                                      Showers
    Recycling center                                                 Recycling center
    Hiking trails                                                        Biking
    Boat Launch
    Boat rental
    Firewood for sale
    Ice for sale

                                                                 Campsite Recommendations
    90,92,93,101,103,107,111,113,115,117,123,78,80,88
    Campsite 88 What a view

    Channel that leads to Indian Lake

    The Beach

    One of my favorite pictures. The dock near the boat launch.

    Foggy morning view from our campsite.

    View from the top of Chimney Mountain.

    Top of Chimney Mountain 

    Another picture of the top of Chimney Mountain.

    Small cave opening om Chimney Mountain

    Sunday, March 20, 2016

    Lake Durant Campground

    Loons in the morning. owls at night. This place is beautiful and I plan to go back. There are some good hikes to some scenic views and the Adirondack Museum is just up the road.  Cell phones do not work at the campground but you can drive 4 miles up the road into the town of Blue Mountain Lake where they work well. Fishing here seems pretty good. I caught one nice sized bass. It was a little windy so I wasn't very out long. Some of the campsites are right on the water and the view from them is awesome. Checkout  camp adk for more campsite photos. I highly recommend you check this place out for yourself .

                                                                Activities And Amenities

    Fishing                                       Boating
    Dump station                              Hiking
    Biking                                        Swimming/ beach
    Boat launch                                Firewood for sale
    Hot Showers                              Picnic area

    Reserve America for reservations

    Recommended sites

    Best sites 51,41,45,32

    Good sites 2,10,15,16,17,20,26,28,33,40,49,50
    Sunset at our campsite




    View from Castle Rock a nearby mountain


    Exhibit at the Adirondack Museum

    Exhibit at the Adirondack Museum

    Sunday, March 6, 2016

    Salisbury Beach State Reservation MA

      Staying at this campground brought back many memories from my childhood. When I was young my family would spend our summer vacations just north of here at Seabrook Beach. Once during each trip to Seabrook Beach we would venture to Salisbury Beach to visit The amusement park. Sadly the amusement  closed in 2004. There is still some activity at the site. If you go there you will find a restaurant overlooking the ocean a night club an arcade and a couple darn good fried doe shops. I also went to a candy store witch I think was there when we were kids. Looking for this place take your bike or car back out to the entrance on 1A take a right and its straight ahead right on the ocean.
       One other place we regularly visited was Browns lobster pound. I have nothing against Browns but across the street is another seafood restaurant called  Markey's Lobster Pool. I cannot remember why we tried Markey's  but the wife and I agree we like the food better.
       The campground at Salisbury Beach State Reservation Is nice some sites have electric and water. The sites are not huge but they are not uncomfortably small either. Lets face it if you come here it's for the beach which is a beautiful white sand beach a short walk away. Please note no inflatables are allowed, but boogie boards are ok. campground reservations can be made at Reserve America.

    Amenities and activities

    Camp Store                Showers
    Beach                         Bathhouse
    Dump Station             Dish washing station
    Boat Launch               Life Guard/ First Aid Command Center
    Swimming                  Picnic Shelter
    Biking                        Restrooms
    Playground                       

    Campsite Recommendations

    Its all about what you want here. I personally like row A for a shorter walk to the beach or the end of A,B or C on the  Merrimac River. Please note I would stay away from sites 1-6 rows A-E. They are to close to the dumpsters and the dump station. It was 90+ degrees on a couple of the days we were there and it smelled badly.

















    Saturday, February 27, 2016

    Luzerne State Campground NY

    I started camping about at NYS public campgrounds about 35 years ago. The very first place I went camping was Luzerne. I have camped there almost every year and we have spent our family vacation there many years. I cannot figure out why I have so few pictures of this place. There is a lot to do in the area around this campground. Lake George village is only about 9 miles to the East. Here are some other activities in the area.

    Great Escape - Six Flags a little to the south.
    White water rafting                                                 
    Tubing
    Hiking
    Biking
    Swimming
    Fishing
    Boating
    Picnicking
    Geocaching
    Rodeo
    And more.

    Campsites at Luzerne tend to be larger and further apart than most other state parks.

    Campsite recommendations

    22 Largest away from the lake.
    81 Closest to the beach.
    82 Close to the beach but rocky( not good for tents)
    Other pretty good campsites
    26,27,30,31,33,56,58,59,70,91,92,94,95,121,123,122,120,120A,124,125,149,142,140,132,134,135,137






    Sunday, February 14, 2016

    North South Lake NY


    North South Lake campsite recommendations.

    Best sites. 138,145,147,148,149,170,171,177,178,179,194

    Good sites. 27,38,62,63,70,77,93,98,100,101,105,111,116,134,142,166,169,172,173,174,185,188,189,192,197,204,217

    North South Lake is a nice campground in the Catskills .  Some of the campsites are lakeside and you
    can fish or kayak right from your site.