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TLGPE · 11-02-2014, 03:48 PM

We spend our winters at our condo in Florida, but travel in the summer. Obviously, we are familiar with Florida summer heat.

I am a native of North Carolina, so I know how warm the southern states get in summer. That said, we are considering spending some time next summer in the foothills of Georgia, NC or Tennessee. For the past two summers, we traveled a lot from place to place; now we would like to have a summer of just enjoying our retirement.

Does anyone have any personal recommendation of places to go to stay for weeks at a time? We will get a late start next summer, but would like to spend most of July and August in a cool nearby place.

Any specific recommendations would be appreciated.

Tom

LarrytheBear · 11-02-2014, 04:17 PM

Georgia State Parks are reasonably priced and one of our favorites is Vogel SP about 12 miles south of Blairsville, GA. If you become a "Friend of SP" for $55 you get 2 free nights camping plus 10% off all additional camping. (One year membership) This makes the rate about $27 a night. Unfortunately there are no sewer hook-ups, only dump stations. Vogel is a great location in the center of the N. Ga mountains. Your "Friends" membership applies to all Ga State Parks. From there you could go to Cloudland Canyon SP just south of Chattanooga and then to FDR SP close to Calaway Gardens and the Little White House and then....

allegro1x · 11-04-2014, 09:57 AM

Larry is right about GA parks, but it's good to have a site reserved and they aren't set up for Class A Motorhomes from what I've seen. Check out
Riverbend Campground in Hiawasse, GA. A lot of the RV Campgrounds in north GA are not rental, but are owner lots. The KOA in Murphy, NC isn't bad and its going to be near a new Casino opening in 2015. Over near Clayton, GA is a RV park called River something (can't remember exact name). A campground called the Great Outdoors is going out of Franklin, NC a few miles. Dave

davismills · 11-04-2014, 10:04 AM

Unicoi State Park near Helen, GA is a nice park as well. My 35 foot class A had no problems.
Unicoi State Park and Lodge | Georgia State Parks

jeffwit · 11-04-2014, 11:15 AM

it's good to have a site reserved and they aren't set up for Class A Motorhomes from what I've seen.

Georgia State Parks will not allow you to reserve specific sites, only a "slot". My suggestion would be to move during the week so the maximum number of sites will be available.
I've had my 40 foot DP in all of the parks mentioned so far plus several others, so the quote about them not being set up for class A is incorrect.
I know you didn't mention Alabama, but Chewacla State Park in Auburn is right over the state line. It's a great park, has full hook-ups, and is around $25/night. Plus, you're close to the best football team in the country.

G.G. · 11-04-2014, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allegro1x

Larry is right about GA parks, but it's good to have a site reserved and they aren't set up for Class A Motorhomes from what I've seen. Check out
Riverbend Campground in Hiawasse, GA. A lot of the RV Campgrounds in north GA are not rental, but are owner lots. The KOA in Murphy, NC isn't bad and its going to be near a new Casino opening in 2015. Over near Clayton, GA is a RV park called River something (can't remember exact name). A campground called the Great Outdoors is going out of Franklin, NC a few miles. Dave

The one he's talking about near Clayton is River Vista Mountain Village RV Park. It's in Dillard GA, and we're there right now. It's a VERY nice park. I'm not sure how cool it is in the summer, though, as it's in the valley. We've been here in the summer, but stayed at our house we had up on the mountain. It's cooler there, but I seem to remember it being hot when we would come down to Clayton or Dillard to go shopping or to a restaurant.

johnhicks · 11-05-2014, 09:04 PM

I think you'll want to go farther north and farther up in the mountains than Georgia. The Helen area (Cleveland, Vogel) isn't remotely cool in July and August. You'll have to get more altitude.

Clayobx · 11-05-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhicks

I think you'll want to go farther north and farther up in the mountains than Georgia. The Helen area (Cleveland, Vogel) isn't remotely cool in July and August. You'll have to get more altitude.

This is a fact. We lived in the outskirts of Murphy NC, "Peachtree" for six years on top of a ridge, 2800 ft. Elevation. It was hot in the summer, 90 + and not just a few days! You'll need to go further north, much further north. Last year we spent a month in Northern Vermont swimming in our friends pool with all three ac's on in our coach both day and night. Stowe, VT. Just a fact.