Top 10 Tacky Tourist Traps

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Devil's Tower

 

Campground review - Beavertown Campground

We stayed for one night at Beavertown Campground in South Charleston, Ohio.

Staff - 6 - Spoke to one staff member was did the basics.

Natural surroundings - 7 - Trees and a pond in the park, but pretty close to interstate.

Roominess - 8 - We had a pretty big site.

Facility Fun - 8 - Lots of things were closed down, and it also looked a little rough, but there is a clubhouse, horseshoes, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, mini-putt, and other things to do.

Facility usefulness - 6 - Laundromat, propane, dump.

Bathrooms - 7 - Several of the bathrooms were closed, but the ones were open were OK.

Cleanliness - 6 - The park needs some updating and it just gave us the impression of being run-down.

Nearby attractions - 5 - Close to Columbus and Dayton and Springfield.

Value - 9 - Paid $15 a night for a pull-through site with full hook-ups. Used our Passport America card.

Overall - 6 - Cheap stay, but campground is a little rough.

American whistle factory tour

We are sorry, but we have removed this post becuase it is a part of our new book entitled Napkin Dreams.

Grand Lake St. Mary's State Park and Blueberry

We stayed three nights at Grand Lake St. Mary's State Park in western Ohio. It was so nice to be at the state park and enjoy the area with just a few other guests. We took a few walks and saw a snake and a bunch of song birds greeted us with their songs each morning.

While we were at the park our trusty mini-van, Vangoh, gave up the ghost. It has been limping along for several months, but faithfully did its job, almost to the end of our trip. So we purchased a new van in nearby Celina, Ohio. This 2011 model is such a major upgrade for us, that we actually get excited going for a drive, whereas before we almost dreaded having to take Vangoh anywhere. We named the new van Big Blueberry because of its unique color. Patsy said no more silver vans because they are too hard to find in a parking lot with the dozens of other vans with the same color!

We also visited a fun little restaurant in St. Mary's called Lost in the 50s. This eatery is filled with memorabilia from the 1950s and there is a little museum with lots more fun stuff from the era. It is funny talking to our sons and how they think we grew up in this era! The lightbulb came on when I explained I was born a decade after the 1950s were over. This was our parent's era!

Staff - 8 - Spoke to one ranger who was nice and the camp hosts were helpful as well.

Natural surroundings - 9 - Right on St. Mary's Lake.

Roominess - 8 - Plenty big enough.

Facility Fun - 8 -Two playgrounds, BB court, mini-putt, walking trails and lake fishing.

Facility usefulness - 5 - Laundromat, dump.

Bathrooms - 8 - Bathrooms were clean and showers were hot and plenty of them. Flush toilets.

Cleanliness - 8 - State Park clean

Nearby attractions - 5 - Close to Lima. Dayton and Fort Wayne within striking distance.

Value - 10 - Paid $12.50 a night for a back-in site with electric hook-up only. Used our Passport America card.

Overall - 9 - Cheap stay, modern yet in the midst of natural surroundings.

Botkins Kidology to Go

Sorry, but this post has been deleted because it is a part of our new book called Napkin Dreams!

Pastor Randy in the Monkey Room

 

 

Ebony the mascot of the children's ministry

 

Campground Review - River Trail Crossing

We enjoyed our brief stay at River Trail Crossing in Butler, Ohio.

Staff - 8 - Spoke to two staff members who were helpful/ Loaned us an adapter for 30 to 50 amp plug-in.

Natural surroundings - 8 - In the country. Right on a river.

Roominess - 8 - Plenty big enough.

Facility Fun - 7 - Small playground, volleyball court, walking trail and river fishing.

Facility usefulness - 6 - Laundromat, propane.

Bathrooms - 6 - Bathrooms were cold and a bit out of date.

Cleanliness - 8 - Nicely kept campground.

Nearby attractions - 8 - Close to Cleveland and Columbus.

Value - 8 - Paid $18 a night for a pull-through grass site with full-hook-ups. Used our Passport America card.

Overall - 8 - Very affordable and clean campground.

First year in review

It has been awhile since I, Sunset the Snake gave one of my reports from the road. So since I do not have as much to do I thought I could report on the first year the Martin family has spent on the road. Yes a snake has put together a video, made the map and compiled the stats! If you do not believe this then you're imagination is seriously lacking and I am afraid you may suffer from serpent prejudice! Sorry about the lack of sound on the video, youtube has been having fits accepting the music, but we are trying to replace the sound with an audio swap but youtube is also having fits with that!

So here is the adventure by the numbers:

• We started in Cambridge, IL and ended the year in Pittsburgh, PA.
• We traveled over 35,000 miles between the RV and the vans.
• We visited 22 states
• Over 100 Walmarts and 1 Target
• We replaced eight tires.
• We visited 17 Zoos/Aquariums.
• We lost a total of 7 teeth.
• We explored 49 National Parks.
• We soaked up the sun on 10 different beaches.
• We ate at over 70 unique eateries and 25 different McDonalds and 95 other national or regional restaurant chains! 
• We saw at least 277 different species of animals.
• We toured 27 workplaces.
• We went to 6 different amusement parks.
• We spent time in two different countries.
• We traversed through 42 state parks.
• We stayed at over 120 campgrounds!
• Celebrated 7 birthdays.
• Expanded our horizons in over 40 museums.
• All in 372 days (this is from 9/23/10 - 10/1/11)

more...

Check out the basic path we took on our trip in the first year!

Krohn's Conservatory

After we teaching at a Kidology to Go in Florence, Kentucky, we took Sunday afternoon to visit downtown Cincinnati. Florence is right across the river from Florence and we were looking for a family friendly freebie to do.

We spotted a place online called the Krohn's Conservatory. Basically this place is an indoor have for tropical and dessert plants, with small streams and waterfalls and walkways for visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature that they might not see in southern Ohio!

This particular Sunday afternoon was pretty crowded because the Conservatory was holding it's annual Orchid Festival. Even so our family got to see some amazing, award-winning orchids on top some of the other exotic plants. It provided for at least an hour of diversion for our family before we headed back to Howard and our campground.

50 McDonalds - Ohio

It is Monopoly Time at McDonalds so our Ohio stop for dinner in the town of Austintown, Ohio was extra exciting as we got our game card and playing pieces out with dreams of untold prizes! We did win a free small fry which our Blake, our human hollow leg, turned in and consumed with his usual ravenous hunger. He has grown about a foot since we started this RV trip and his appetite has tripled! It won't be much longer before he passes his dear old dad up.

This particular McDonalds had a playland, and with all the rain we have been having, it was a welcome site for our boys, who jumped in with the same ravenous look in their eyes that our teen gives to cheeseburgers and fries!!

Campground Review - Streetsboro KOA

While we saw a little of the sites around Cleveland, we stayed at the Streetsboro KOA.

Nearby attractions - 8 - Close to Canton, Akron and Cleveland.

Staff - 8 - Very nice Christian people who run this campground.

Natural surroundings - 8 - Several ponds with ducks and geese and trees. 

Value - 7 - We paid a little over $30 a night for a back-in gravel site with full hook-upsusing our KOA card.

Bathrooms - 7 - Clean but cold, showers were hot but the water smelt a little funny.

Roominess - 8 - Plenty big enough for our rig and toadie.

Facility fun - 9 - Playground, tetherball, games, paddle boats, swimming pond, game room some activities.

Cleanliness - 9 -  Very clean and updated campground.

Facility usefulness - 9 - Dump station, fire rings, laundry, camp store, propane, picnic tables.

Overall - 8 - Only downside to this campground was the cold bathrooms, which is not a problem during the summer!

Swensons Drive-in

We are sorry, but we have removed this post becuase it is a part of our new book entitled Napkin Dreams.

A Christmas Story House

We are sorry, but we have removed this post becuase it is a part of our new book entitled Napkin Dreams.

 

His trusty peacemaker

 

 

 

A deranged Easter Bunny?

 

Fragile - Must be Italian!

 

 

Marblehead Lighthouse

We are sorry, but we have removed this post becuase it is a part of our new book entitled Napkin Dreams.

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Campground Review - Huron River Valley Resort

The Huron River Valley Resort was a layover stop for us. I am never sure what rates a place a "resort"?

Nearby attractions - 7 - Close to Toledo, Sandusky, Akron and Cleveland.

Staff - 8 - Young couple who run the campground are very nice.

Natural surroundings - 8 - Lots of mature trees, ponds and on the banks of the  Huron River.

Value - 8 - We paid $16.50 a night for a back-in gravel site with electric and water hook-ups.

Bathrooms - 6 - Older and in need of some updating.

Roominess - 7 - Our lots was long enough, but pretty tight to back into because of the size of the main driveway.

Facility fun - 7 - Playground, marina, swimming pond, some activities.

Cleanliness - 6 -  Lots of seasonal sites, some of those were great and others were pretty cluttered. Drive is full of potholes.

Facility usefulness - 8 - Dump station, fire rings, laundry, camp store, small exchange library, propane, picnic tables.

Overall - 7 - The new owners are trying to upgrade this park and are hard workers!