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Ed Perkins · 10-18-2019, 07:02 AM

We made our reservations for Normandy Farms yesterday for next year. Our stay cuts into Columbus Day weekend and we got the LAST, full hookup site there !!! I think they have over 350 sites !!!

LoringsOTR · 12-14-2019, 10:03 AM

Hi there! We are doing the same trip in reverse - going from New England (Boston area) to winter in Texas 2020! Also in the planning stages.
Normandy Farms is a beautiful (and expensive) campground near many great areas. Down the road from Gillette Stadium (make sure the Patriots don't have a home game when you are there) and Patriot Place - a fun shopping and restaurant experience. I actually would have recommended Circle CG in Bellingham - it's right off Route 495 as well - very nice (not as fancy as Normandy Farms). (We actually live a couple of towns over from Normandy Farms.) Plymouth MA will be having their 400th anniversary next year as well. My husband and I just moved from that area a few years ago; I lived in Plymouth for almost 40 years. A lot of interesting sites and history. The color in Mass isn't peak until about mid/late October. You might have better luck closer to Canada with the color change. This year was spectacular!
We are also planning a lot of stops on our trip to Bandera next year. We want to take our time and enjoy seeing the sites. I have been checking casinos for night stopovers. We frequently go to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in CT and it has been safe and free. No hookups - but we are planning to alternate between boondocking and campgrounds for our trip.
Planning is half the fun, don't you think??
Good luck!

creativepart · 12-14-2019, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoringsOTR

We are also planning a lot of stops on our trip to Bandera next year. We want to take our time and enjoy seeing the sites.

Wow, Bandera for the winter? Curious why you chose Bandera?

We live near-ish there and while it's an interesting place to visit - for a day or two - what about it made you choose it for the entire Winter?

Winter in this part of Texas is warm one day and bitter cold the next. This week it's been 30 degrees and two days later 76 degrees. Have you checked out other options in the area or are you familiar with Bandera.

PS. Be aware that all around the Texas Hill Country in January/February is high allergy season. Mountain Cedar trees have a strong pollen and when the cold north winds blow every few days the green stuff looks like a sand storm. We call it Cedar Fever. And that's why we spend Jan/Feb in Tucson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QrOdl52A9Q

LoringsOTR · 01-23-2020, 08:11 AM

We mainly chose Bandera through recommendation. I monitor the weather there and while I do know there are cold days - I am good as long as there is no snow. Being from New England - we are used to bitter cold - zero degrees - and do appreciate the warmer breaks in between when we are lucky to have them. And by warmer breaks - I mean above 32! I was also attracted by the cost. We can stay in a very nice campground with winter activities inexpensively! The area - wildlife, river and small town also attracted us. It is also a big motorcycle area!
I'm sure there are nicer areas, warmer -etc... but sometimes you just have to make a decision and go with it. We hope to explore the national parks in Texas, visit San Antonio again (we've been before and that was another attraction) and just enjoy this unique little town. I hope it works out for us! Appreciate the info though! Thanks!

igapaul · 01-27-2020, 09:41 PM

Campgrounds in Maine close around the 15th of October
Your best bet for Portland would be the Saco KOA it's right on route 1 and follow that into Portland
Eating in the Old Port is always nice there is also shopping there
I am sure you will also want to see the head light
I like your routing

ronspradley · 01-28-2020, 12:12 AM

I recommend Tom Sawyer Campground in West Memphis. Right on the Mississippi river and watch the tug boats and barges go by all day and night. Very relaxing. In Maine I stayed at Freeport, just above Portland. Cedar Haven Family Campground. And I agree that Indiana roads are the worst. I went from Austin to Maine and back last August/September.

ronspradley
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Ed Perkins · 01-29-2020, 06:22 AM

Thanks, Ron. Tom Sawyer it is !!! Get some BBQ, hit Beale Street and visit that amazing Bass Pro Shop there !! I will check out Freeport as well.

I miss Austin. Went to UT. Lost a lot of brain cells there !!!

Thanks again.

ronspradley · 01-29-2020, 06:47 AM

Ed, at Tom Sawyer you might want to book a site in the front row. Pullthru facing the river with nothing in front of you. That is the best view. Happy trails.

ronspradley
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Air Conditioned Gypsy · 01-29-2020, 06:51 AM

Ed,

Four Mile Creek State Park is a good choice near Niagara Falls. We stayed there 2 years ago while visiting Niagara.

Near Knoxville, in Sevierville TN, I recommend Two Rivers Landing. Right on the French Broad River and very pretty. Close to all the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg touristy things.

Near Roanoke VA, we have stayed at White Barrel Winery in Christianburg. BUT, you have to be a Harvest Host member to stay there.

On your home leg, looks like you will be following I-20 Westbound? If so, be sure to take I-220 bypass around Shreveport. If you go straight through town on I-20, you will shake something loose on your coach, for sure. We have stayed at the Ameristar Casino RV park in Vicksburg for overnight. Convenient to I-20 with full hookups.

Regards.

Chuck

Ed Perkins · 01-30-2020, 07:05 AM

Chuck,

Thanks !!! Appreciate the advice and have logged in the recommendations in our trip log. Can’t wait for the trip.

You are right about I-20 in Shreveport. We live just 30 miles away and take 220 for that reason !!

Ed

jgll60 · 01-26-2021, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoringsOTR

We mainly chose Bandera through recommendation. I monitor the weather there and while I do know there are cold days - I am good as long as there is no snow. Being from New England - we are used to bitter cold - zero degrees - and do appreciate the warmer breaks in between when we are lucky to have them. And by warmer breaks - I mean above 32! I was also attracted by the cost. We can stay in a very nice campground with winter activities inexpensively! The area - wildlife, river and small town also attracted us. It is also a big motorcycle area!
I'm sure there are nicer areas, warmer -etc... but sometimes you just have to make a decision and go with it. We hope to explore the national parks in Texas, visit San Antonio again (we've been before and that was another attraction) and just enjoy this unique little town. I hope it works out for us! Appreciate the info though! Thanks!

Hi, we are planning a very similar trip going from Connecticut to Oklahoma. Do you have any recommended places to stay along the way. We plan on staying at the Mammoth Caves and Silver Dollar City before heading to the eastern side of OK. Any places not to miss? Thanks in advance.