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The Best Place To...:  Midwest Camping - Our Faves!  |
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Vintage Redhead
outbound
14 Posts
Kaylyn
Saint Charles
IL
USA
14 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 09:43:38 AM
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We just returned from the Kettle Moraine region of Wisconsin. What a *WONDERFUL* area to traipse through!! Our family stayed in the Southern Unit at a campground where we could bring our dog with us. We had access to Whitewater Lake, the Ice Age [hiking] Trail, and other nearby campgrounds within the Kettle Moraine National Forest.
What especially please us: making the reservation for our campground was *so easy*!! The sites are listed numerically, and you only have to choose the site most appealing to you. Since it can be done online, it was easy to make the reservation and search out the most desirable sites. Next time we will probably choose a site that is a bit more secluded, primarily for safety reasons.
Our next venture is to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL. I must say that I am not impressed with the reservation system...it isn't online! Yeah, we can look at the location of campsites on the web, but reservations are only accepted by mail with a payment. In this era of cyber-finesse, I'm dismayed that online reserving isn't an option...it would make the process so much easier and we would know immediately whether or not our selected site was still available.
The good news is that SRSP is a *gorgeous* place to go. We're really looking forward to our next break from reality. And I can't wait to see all of the nature photographic opportunities there.
I would *love* to hear about more good camping destinations in the IL/MI-LP/IN/IA/WI region. We like to stay within a 4-hour drive (western Chicago suburbs is where we live.) If it's a great destination though, we're open to traveling a bit farther. Please post if you've got any recommendations! ~ Kaylyn
~ Kaylyn ~ (Suburban FARMGIRL, family CAMPER, altered ARTIST)
My Cause: http://nickspavilion.blogspot.com/
My Life: http://vintageredhead.blogspot.com |
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city chick
outstepping
93 Posts
Deb
Chicago
IL
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2008 : 05:23:26 AM
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Howdy neighbor!
We're midwest campers! I haven't been to Starved rock in ages. I wasn't that impressed with the campground from what I remember. The State Park YES! One of our favorite places to go is Shabbona State Park. My hubby loves to rent a boat there and fish (my girls do too.) I love the wooded sites, the girls love the hidden frog pond in the woods that we try and camp near.
Kettle Moraine is on my list. We've gone to Bong in the fall. Probably will head up there again this Sept. We like to go apple picking and it's nearby.
Thompson Causeway on the Mississippi is an Army Corp of Engineers site and is fantastic! One of my fav. places to go.
We're headed to Chain o' Lakes this weekend. Not one of my favs, but since it has horseback riding - we're going. I have horse crazy girls. If there isn't a fishing tournament going on we should be ok. That park can become packed.
Have you tried any Indiana Parks? I've heard great things about... hmmm is it Brown County something or other?
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place |
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PlumCreekMama
outthinking
6 Posts
Heather
Earlville
IA
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2009 : 1:17:08 PM
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| I live in northeastern Iowa and I am close to the Mississippi, which has tons and tons of parks. Our local geology is very rocky and hilly, so we have many state and county parks around me. There are probably 15 parks within 15 minutes and many many more not much further, so I don't have to go very far to go hiking and camping. Which is nice with little kids and lots of animals! |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2009 : 2:08:32 PM
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The closest to the midwest that I have ever camped in was the black hill country of South Dakota! Sounds like we need to make a road trip!
Elizaray |
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city chick
outstepping
93 Posts
Deb
Chicago
IL
USA
93 Posts |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2009 : 2:57:04 PM
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I have never had catfish to eat or fished for it. Do you fish for it like other fish (ie trout?)
Elizaray |
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city chick
outstepping
93 Posts
Deb
Chicago
IL
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2009 : 4:50:17 PM
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We fish for trout around here only in the spring & fall when they stock the ponds. We use wax worms and we don't flyfish for them. Lake Michigan has brown trout - never been out to fish for them. You have to go on a charter or have a boat for that.
Catfish we use a big ole nightcrawler and let it lay on the bottom.
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2009 : 5:27:40 PM
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That's interesting! We have rainbow trout, and brown trout up here by the score. In some places they practically leap out of the stream and into your frying pan!
Elizaray |
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The Best Place To...: Midwest Camping - Our Faves! |
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Midwest Camping - Our Faves!
