The Lake Whitney Preserve is one of the larger preserves in the TTN system and for all it’s size is quite well maintained. The roads and sites are asphalt paved and while generally good there are a few areas that are deteriorating. Sites are generally spacious and well separated with cedar trees providing some privacy without feeling that you are in a green tunnel. Most sites have water, sewer and 30-amp electric service with a few providing 50-amp service for an additional $3 per day surcharge. Verizon cell phone and air card service is marginal and while slow, it does work. Free Wi-Fi is available at most D and B-loop campsites and at the Family Center. Many sites will provide access to the southern skies for rooftop satellite dishes but you will have to look for them. The Family Center has a nice pool, “Fillin’ Station” restaurant for weekend and occasional meals, a store and a relaxing lounge. There is a separate Adult Center with a very nice pool and spa as well as a lounge with TV and games. Surprisingly, however, there are no sites in view of the large Corps of Engineers Lake Whitney and access to the lake is only by a hiking trail through COE property. While checking in at the Gate be sure to ask for their 10-page writeup called “My Texas and the Thousand Trails Network” by Ranger Warren Wynne. It provides a brief history of Texas and the area as well as road trips of discovery. One trip stopped at the Coffee Station in Crawford, TX where Pres. Bush has occasionally eaten. A full-sized cardboard cutout of the President is in the corner if you want a picture with him. We enjoyed our stay at this park and this part of Texas and will certainly stay here again.

Carolina Landing is a part of the Thousand Trails preserve system, but this preserve does not live up to the “America’s Finest Campground Getaways” advertised. On arrival the entrance is nicely landscaped and very attractive but beyond the gate many of the roads and campsites are deteriorating. The 50 amp sites are mostly asphalt paved and stair stepped up a hillside. They are completely unlevel, fore and aft and especially across the sites leaving most all coaches with wheels hanging in the air or supported on numerous boards. There is not much level area left between coaches and no space for picnic tables. On the plus side however, the electricity is very good with 120volts, high water pressure (use a pressure regulator), and good sewers. The Verizon cell phone and air cards work well and many sites are satellite friendly. Although TTN members stay free of charge, there is an extra $3 per day charge for the 50amp service. The two pools and laundry are fairly good and the family lodge is nice except for a musty odor. We toured the nearby Clemson University and BMW plant while here, both very nice. We felt that the budget for this preserve probably does not allow for sufficient maintenance. Regrading the sites and repaving the roads will be a major challenge and expense but is necessary if this preserve is to come up to the standards established by Thousand Trails. We will not go out of our way to stop here in the future.

As with most Corps of Engineers parks, Seven Points on the J. Percy Priest Lake is a beautiful, well-maintained campground. Sites are mostly level with good gravel surfacing and asphalt paved service roads. As mentioned in previous reviews, there are probably a few too many trees to allow rooftop satellite dishes to obtain a signal, at least until we found site No. 44 which has a beautiful view of the southern sky and the lake. Verizon cell phone and air cards work quite well here, as does the bat-wing antenna for local TV. With its proximity to the Nashville area this makes a wonderful spot to stop for a visit. We found the new Providence shopping area nearby with restaurants, shops, and a theater. We would have rated this campground a 10 but deducted 1 for the lack of sewers and another 1 for the difficulty in getting satellite TV. The cost represents a 50% discount for a Golden Age card, a real bargain!

Typical of COE campgrounds, Dog Creek is clean and neat and nicely situated on the banks of the Nolin River Lake with grass, trees and beautiful views of the lake. This is the smallest of about three campgrounds on the lake; and while there are 70 sites, there are only 24 with electricity (50amps) and water. These are generally above the floodwater elevation. There is a swimming beach, a playground and pavilion and a boat ramp with a large trailer parking area that fills up on weekends. During the week most of the campground sites are empty but weekends will find all of the electric and water sites filled. Most of the graveled sites are large and level with some of the sites satellite friendly (specifically B13 & B14) but Verizon cell phone and air card service is marginally possible on extended service. The managers are very friendly and helpful and pointed out the Green River Ferry shortcut to the Mammoth Caves National Park. A marina with boat rentals is nearby for boat trips to explore the lake. Unfortunately there are no showers at present but they are “in the works”. The price reflects the Golden Age Passport 50% discount, a real bargain.

This is a very nice preserve with no trains, planes or freeways to annoy you. However, we were disappointed that there is virtually no cell phone or air card service, although they are apparently working on it. Many of the sites are satellite friendly although there are numerous trees to provide shade. Sites are quite large and mostly flat although they are generally dirt with some gravel here and there. The pools and spas are very nice and well maintained. There is a wi-fi available in the Adult lodge in the North section and pay phones (remember those?) at the store and adult pool. The store is very well stocked with interesting curios and Thousand Trails Pio Pico T shirts. This is an excellent park and we will return whenever in the area.

This is a special resort for us in spite of a few shortcomings such as no cell phone or air card service. However, free Internet wi-fi is available at the Family Lodge and at the Country Store and a phone is available in the Family Lodge. While there are some full hookups available, they are in a nicely treed area that is away from the river. A newly lined pool is available with new pool furniture. Most of the sites have shade trees but there are still many that are satellite friendly. We often are able to get a site right on the bank of the American River with 30 and 50-amp electrical service and water but without sewer hookups. We never tire of watching the rafts full of people shooting the rapids and families of geese trailing their 6 or 7 goslings behind. The management and rangers are very friendly and are working hard to upgrade this facility and their efforts are showing improvements. With the proximity to the Sacramento area this park fills up on summer weekends so reservations are a good idea.

Don’t be misled by the name of this campground as it has very little to do with fish other than being adjacent to the San Joaquin River in the Northern California Delta region. And it certainly is not a resort with many amenities and activities, but as part of the Thousand Trails system it is a very nice campground and we enjoyed our stay there. The rangers are friendly and very helpful and maintain the property very well. The Verizon Wireless signals are very good and many of the level, spacious sites are satellite friendly. There are about 47 full hookup sites with 50-amp electrical service and there are another 17 sites with water and 30-amp electrical service. The management has provided a handy sheet with a list of about 50 “useful addresses,” with shopping, banks, restaurants, Flying J’s (2), post office, medical facilities, etc, all within a few miles’ drive from the campground. This is information that should be provided by all campgrounds as a helpful guide to newcomers to the area and is very much appreciated.

This Thousand Trails Preserve is excellent for folks who want to get away from it all. There are no planes, trains or freeways to annoy, only the chirping of the birds. We were disappointed not to have any cell phone or air card service, at least until my sharp eyed wife noticed a strange looking tree on an adjacent hilltop which turned out to be a cell phone tower under construction so we would expect to have services fairly soon. There is a free wi-fi in or around the lodge/store building and a pay phone in the B-section (north) bath house/laundry. Even with the many trees in the area there are still many sites that are satellite friendly. Thousand Trails and the staff have done a great job of restoring the preserve after the devastating fire of 2003 destroyed the beautiful old timber and stone buildings. A 20-mile drive North on Hwy 79 will still show many areas of fire blackened trees arriving at Julian, a small mining town noted for apples, restaurants and quaint shops. We especially liked the Julian Pie Shop. This is a great place to stay if you are in the area and we will return whenever we can.

Excellent campground for an Elks Lodge, with easy access from Hwy 101 and two areas for camping. Rates have been raised and are now $25 & $20. Verizon cell phone and air card work very well here as does a satellite TV. The lodge is modern, clean and in accordance with California Law, does not allow smoking. The bar is huge with two friendly bartenders and serves an excellent dinner on Mondays and Fridays in the dining room.

This "park" is more an improved place to park overlooking the beautiful San Luis Bay near Avila Beach. These sites have recently been paved with 30 and 50 amp electrical service, and water and sewer connections. The price has also been raised to $40 which seems a bit much to us for a basic parking space. The access road to the pier is in front of the sites but did not bother us very much, at least there were no trains, planes or freeways to bother us. The beach is easily accessable and very nice with a small surf. Verizon cell phone and air card service was excellent as was the satellite TV. While the pedestals are numbered to 32 there are only 16 pedestals. The sites are too narrow to allow slides or awnings so most rigs use two marked sites and one pedestal. I'm not sure what will happen this summer with many more rigs. Other spaces are available on dirt along the road with no hookups for $25. We camped here in a motorhome.

This park is in Door County, WI which is a noted vacation area above Green Bay, WI with water sports, fishing, wineries, restaurants, theater groups and hiking nearby. Half the sites are in heavily wooded areas while half are in a lightly treed area with good access for satellites. Telephone and air card connections are marginal. The resort includes a huge water park with two slides and a 6,000 sf pool. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and look forward to longer stays. We stayed on an RPI membership which limits us to one week at this price.