REVIEW Algonquin Trails Camping Resort, Dwight, Ontario

Algonquin Trails Camping Resort is located at 2883 Hwy 60, in Dwight Ontario.

It was far from a "resort" but it was a wonderful, natural, wilderness camping experience. When you read "resort" in a name you automatically think (at least I do) it will be an upscale campground and if that is what you are looking for you will be disappointed with this place.

VALUE 3/5
At $46 a night it's more expensive then visiting Algonquin Provincial Park and at least at the provincial Park there is some prestige that goes along with the price tag. Algonquin Trails price is the same if you are in a big rig or a pop up trailer. You do have a pool for use here which is a nice bonus to cool off in on a hot summer day. If the pool was in better condition with lounge chairs and a "resort" feel I wouldn't have a problem rating this higher.

SITE QUALITY 3.5/5
Although our site was level where we parked it, the site itself was full of tree roots sticking up causing the occasional trip and was sloped. Our site was what I'd call a companion site so a friend camping with you could park the other way and have your awnings opened up together. A great feature but when an older couple parked there for the weekend it was a bit awkward to be staring into their camping area as they sat outside reading. Our site also was full of ants, I mean lots of ants everywhere. Sure Ants are natural but a site with full ants nests should have something done about it. We did have a large pull thru site with electric and water. All the sewer sites are for seasonal campers.

FACILITY FUN 3.5/5
We thought this place was great because we loved all the natural exploring that went on here. The kids had a blast finding, toads, frogs, turtles and even a snake. There was a playground which was very old and the kids hung out there but they didn't really play there. There was also a fenced in toddler area with little tikes houses and small climbing and ride on toys. Kids did have the freedom to run around and just be kids which was great and earns points in my books. The pool was fun despite the cooler temperature. It's advertised as a heated pool but what that really means is the greenhouse like room heats up like a sauna while the water temperature is a constant 68. Not what I call a heated pool. The kids enjoyed it though. There is a run down basketball court and a volleyball area which I can't imagine ever gets used. There is a large field available for bigger games like soccer or baseball. There is also a pretty nice mini golf available for a fee.

NATURAL SURROUNDINGS 5/5
I loved the natural feel of this park. Very wooded, mature trees. It felt like you were camping in the middle of the forest and not in a crowded RV park. The walking trails were overgrown but with 100 acres there is a lot of room to walk around, on and off trails. Lots of wildlife present.

BATHROOMS 4/5
Despite them looking out dated they were in pretty good shape and very clean. The owner is quite militant on their upkeep. The metal shower and toilet stalls held up nicely to the test of time if you could see past the colour.

STAFF 4/5
Despite reading other reviews before we went saying the owner was "grumpy" we did not witness this at all. Basically the campground is run by a one man show. He keeps the park at low capacity to keep his workload down basically and he has some "rules" he expects you to follow. If you follow the rules you will have a pleasant experience so read the rules on the website before you go to make sure you are OK with them because he WILL enforce them.

LOCATION 5/5
This location is about 15 minutes from Algonquin Provincial Park entrance, 15 minutes to Huntsville and 5 minutes to Dwight beach for swimming, boating and fishing abilities. We also loved the town of Huntsville.

OVERALL 4/5
To some that may seem high after visiting. I justify the 4 because natural settings are very high on our list of priorities. It is not a typical resort so don't expect a Disney type atmosphere or you will be disappointed. It is a very quiet, peaceful and pleasant park to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. It's also a place where kids can be kids and they aren't told to stop running and quiet down every few minutes.

*** As a word of caution...they do offer large pull thru sites but when you are driving through the park the branches may overhang and scrape your trailer. At one point when we left I had to hold back some branches going around a corner to prevent scratches.

Our site C7

Another site behind us

Pool area

Playground

                    Washrooms.                          Laundry area with washers, dryers and small library

 

Office and very limited store

mini golf available for a fee

REVIEW Yogi Bear's Camp Jellystone, Toronto, Ontario

Yogi Bear's Camp Jellystone Toronto was our second Jellystone park to ever visit. Our first was this past winter at Madison Florida. See my review for that park HERE.

Yogi Bear's Camp Jellystone Toronto location is actually located at 3666 Simcoe County Rd 88 in Bond Head, Ontario. Heading North on the 400 from Toronto you would use exit 64, then head West on 88th. Jellystone is shortly after you cross the overpass on your right. Keep your eyes peeled as the signage was overgrown a bit and at an angle. With all the trees and shrubs around it, it is easy to drive by and not spot it until it is too late.

VALUE 2.5/5 (Based on our pre-season price and activities available)
We paid the pre-season rate which was a discounted rate to $54.95CAD plus tax ($62) a night because we booked for mid June. July and Aug rates would be another $40 per night on top for a total of $94.95 ($107) a night!

There is a coupon online for $10 off your stay of two nights or more but it is only valid in July and Aug. Also if you book seven days you get 10% off your stay. I found the $62 pre-seaon price to be very high. There were no extra activities available except Yogi Bear wandering around the campsites every morning. Basically there was a pool and a playground for use. The new Jump pads were not available. There were no wagon rides or movies. The pedal cars and mini golf cost extra.

SITE QUALITY 4.5/5
We booked a companion site with our friend and his kids. He paid the same fees as we did too but his camper was able to pull in the other direction so our two campers faced each other and we could share a common fire pit. Our site was on a grade so we had to raise one side of our RV by a few inches in order to get it even. Otherwise the site was long, large, beautiful grass, mature trees and spacious. Our pad was crushed gravel and we had water, 30 amp electric and sewer services.

FACILITY FUN 3/5 (based on our preseason mid June visit)
To be honest we were disappointed to pay so much in mid June (at their discounted rate which was still expensive). Especially since all their activities are only done in July and Aug.

Even if they only did a simple activity on the weekends like face painting, hula hoops or colouring for 20 minutes, it would have been something. Mid June on the weekend was very busy but still nothing was offered. No movie nights or wagon rides even. All that was available was Yogi Bear visiting the campsites. One morning he was particular energetic and that was the highlight of our visit! The pool was great and there was a playground. Mini golf and pedal cars available for a fee.

NATURAL SURROUNDINGS 4/5
The park is situated along the 400 Hwy from Toronto heading North but it was amazingly pretty quiet. It was just far enough away to be able to drown out most of the traffic noise. The park had large grassy sites and lots of mature trees. There park itself was nice to walk around.

BATHROOMS 2/5
I only entered the bathrooms that were beside the pool and they were dreary and smelled very musty.

STAFF 5/5
The staff here were all amazing. They were very helpful and polite. The Manager really went above what was necessary to help Sierra have a good birthday week by giving her free golf clubs for mini golf when she was bored during the week.

LOCATION 4.5/5
My only complaint about location is how close it is to the 400 hwy. However it was so close that the noise from the Hwy was bothersome. It is pretty close to Toronto so you can easily do day trips and go out and explore if you wanted. They have a great list on their website HERE of all the nearby attractions.

OVERALL 3.5/5
Overall we were a little disappointed. We already had a monthly spot booked elsewhere but wanted to go somewhere really fun for Sierras birthday so we chose here. In the end Sierra was bored here as there really wasn't much available to do in mid June.

The resort looks wonderful. It's very well maintained (except the pool washrooms) nicely manicured and the staff buzz around like bees constantly cleaning and organising, picking up trash, cutting grass etc. Nice laundry room but no Wifi at all.

For the price, we feel there should be more provided. Really the Jump pad (stated on website to be new for summer 2016 but wasn't available in mid June), a small activity or two on the weekend would have raised this rating by a lot. I'm sure my rating would be higher if we went in July or Aug as all their activities would be available, including theme weekends. We'd be paying a very high price though so those activities would have to be top notch to warrant my paying $107 a night. I can stay in the Florida Keys for the same cost.

Site #5 companion site to our friend in site #4

Pool area

Playground located to the East of the pool

Laundry facilities were very nice.

Canadian Habitats aka Yurts for rent

Some of the campsites in the row behind us

Covered meeting area

Community fire pit

Pedal cars available for rent singles $10 an hour, 4 seaters $20 an hour

Mini golf $5 plus a deposit for clubs

This Yogi full of shenanigans was the high light
 of our camping trip here

REVIEW Florida Caverns State Park Camping, Marianna, Florida

We enjoyed a quick one night stop at Florida Caverns State Park Campground at 3345 Caverns Rd in Marianna, Florida.

VALUE 4/5
At $20 a night ($22.20US) This was a great park. Florida parks tend to average around $40.

SITE QUALITY 4/5
Our site was large and flat. There was a fire ring, picnic table and small clothesline for towels. We had lots of trees surrounding us so it felt very private. With our tree huger straps we had a wonderful area for the hammock. The campground is way back off the road so it is also very peaceful.

FACILITY FUN 4/5
There was no playground here that we saw but there was a nice large picnic area by the Blue Hole swimming area, trails throughout the park. They had equestrian camping as well if you wanted to bring your own horse. The Cave Tour was great and they do special evening flashlight tours weekly as well. That sounds like a different experience.

NATURAL SURROUNDINGS 5/5
The campground had a lot of trees surrounding your site so even if you had neighbours your site still felt very private. Your in the middle of a State Park so there were lots of birds, and other small creatures nearby. The cave tours is a huge natural bonus here.

BATHROOMS 4/5
Bathrooms were very basic but very clean and bright. Laundry was also available outside of the bathrooms in an open, covered area.

STAFF 5/5
Both the staff and the camp hosts that we met here were very friendly and helpful. They couldn't understand why we were only staying one night and thought we should stay longer. Our tour guide through the cave was excellent as well.

LOCATION 4/5 
The park is located just over an hour from Tallahassee and slightly further from Panama City and the beaches making this a fairly decent commute time to various activities. Not to mention this location is made up a lot of natural beauty. It is also close to Falling Waters State Park so you can easily visit both parks on your stay.

OVERALL 4.5/5
We didn't spend much time here but overall we really enjoyed the park. It was a beautiful setting with nice walking trails. There was laundry facilities so I could catch up on some overdue laundry. The cave tour was enjoyed by all. It would have been nice to have a playground here and we can't wait to return when the Blue Hole is open for swimming.

Our site #12 (I think)

Map of the park

site 11 on inner row with site behind in distance

Site 29 

Site 24 with a small river behind it

Open laundry area

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REVIEW Goose Pasture Boondocking, Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida

Goose Pasture was our first experience staying at a water management area and we LOVED it!

To get to Goose Pasture from Perry, Florida: Travel 22 miles West on US 98 to Powell Hammock Rd. Turn Right and travel North for about 4 miles and then turn left onto Goose Pasture Rd. Travel West for about 2 1/2 miles and the tract is on both sides of the road (Fork in Rd, keep Left). Continue another mile and you end up at the campground.

One note of caution this area is subject to flooding. There was a flood warning while we were there and we didn't think too much about it as we kept our eyes peeled on the river level and there was no rain in sight. Flooding can and DOES occur on the roadway in, even when the river is fine. If the road floods you are stuck here until the water subsides and the road dries up. We spoke to one fisherman who was stuck once for close to a month. When we finished camping and were on our way to Tallahassee this fork in the road pictured below was under about a foot of water and looked like a mini lake. I was freaking hoping we made it without water damage and didn't stop to take a picture but I should have.

I heard mixed reviews about about the size of trailers that can park here too. Some places said no RV's, some said small RV's so I called the district office and they assured me we should have no problem finding a place to fit so we gave it a try. It's first come first served camping area so you have to drive there in order to find out if there is space or not. It is free to camp here and you can stay for 10 days but you do need to fill out a form when you arrive which is available at the self serve Kiosk. ***Note this Campground does close during hunting season so be sure to check the website for closure dates.

VALUE 5/5
Being free (10 night limit) it doesn't get any better then that!

SITE QUALITY 5/5
Our site was level, large had a fire ring and picnic table provided. It was off to the side and private with no near neighbours.

FACILITY FUN 5/5
If you love nature you will think this site is a lot of fun! There is so much wildlife to observe, river to kayak on, trails to bike on, areas to walk, and there is a boat launch if you want to head out on the river to fish. Keep in mind if you want to go out for dinner or a show this won't be the place for you.

NATURAL SURROUNDINGS 5/5
Being in the middle of no where you are in the heart of nature. Mature trees, river, trails...100% natural. Dark night skies, clean, fresh air.

BATHROOMS 3/5
Port o'potties on site for tent campers. No potable water so make sure you bring enough with you. They were very clean when we were there and easily accessible.

STAFF ???
We didn't speak with a ranger while here. The ranger did drive through a couple times but he didn't stop to chat. The person I called to ask about RV size and our ability to fit was very friendly.

LOCATION 3/5
It is way out of the way on roads that aren't great to travel on when you are towing a 36' trailer. The roads are bumpy and muddy in places and really not meant for large RV's. It is about an hour from Tallahassee. If you needed to run for groceries there are a couple closer towns but who wants to drive over those roads more then they need to.

OVERALL 4.5/5
We LOVED it here! We were surrounded by nature, it was quiet and calm. It did get a bit busier as the weekend approached and more campers arrived. Most of the time it was fisherman and kayakers coming and going. There is no noise here, only the sound of nature for miles. The sky is dark and the stars are bright. The wildlife is abundant, the trails are great for bike rides. We hope to be back again. Did I mention there is an RV dump station here? No potable water but dumping our tanks before heading down the bumpy road again was a nice surprise.

Entrance to the campground and Kiok for permit behind the sign

Map of Goos Pasture campground

The view of our camping area from the road

River inlet from our campsite. This area was where we
had a small alligator basking in the sun daily.

Mr Alligator

Another campsite right on the river.
It's for tents only as rocks block trailer access.

Close up of the river campsite. 

Boat launch

River view

Another campsite

More campsites around Goose Pasture

REVIEW Yogi Bear's Camp Jellystone, Madison, Florida

We spent a week at Camp Jellystone in Madison, Florida and loved every second of it.

Jellystone Florida is at 1051 SW Old St Augustine Rd. It is the only Jellystone in Florida. With it being in Northern Florida I wasn't sure if it would be warm enough for swimming but thankfully it was.

VALUE 5/5
We paid Spring Rates of $55 weekdays and $75 weekends. However there was a special for the Spring as well where if you bought 5 nights you got 2 free so we stayed for 7 and got two free nights. They had this special because not all activities were open. There was still more then enough fun to be had and we appreciated the savings. We also joined Club Yogi Rewards where you accumulate points for free nights or discounts on merchandise.  Most activities are included with campsite fees too. See Facility Fun below.

SITE QUALITY 5/5 
Our site was, hard packed gravel and level. We had a large lake front view/lot in site RV1 with electric and water only. There are limited full service sites on the lake too but we loved the location of this site in proximity to the playground and water park.

FACILITY FUN 5+/5 
This place had so much to do that we easily stayed here a week and we can't wait to go back again someday. Water slides, lazy river, splash pad area, pool with water play area (downpour derby), kayaks, mini golf, jump pad and bouncy castle which are included with your camping fees. You can fish without a license in the lake (catch & release), movie night, wagon rides and so much more. There are a couple things which cost: arcade, water wars and you buy your gems to do gem mining. So much to do.

NATURAL SURROUNDINGS 5/5 
This campground has a lake to fish in, trails to walk on, trails for ATV's to ride on, many large beautiful big trees and a very natural feel.

BATHROOM 5/5
There was a large washroom/shower house with very clean bathrooms and showers. There was even a large handicap shower.

STAFF 5/5
The staff were plentiful and always friendly and helpful.

LOCATION 3/5
Maybe this is an unfair rating as I didn't actually leave the park to go anywhere but my husband said town was small. I am not sure if there is much close by.

OVERALL 5/5
We were totally impressed with this resort. Some reviews I read said it was dirty and old looking. Either they made improvements or the people were complaining about the old tractor parts etc being stored up by the road. After entering the park you never see them so they didn't bother us. We also like natural settings so having fallen leaves on the ground doesn't bother us. If you like a pristine campsite then your rating would be lower here as there were leaves everywhere on the ground, sites, roads, and beach area.

Wifi was free and decent. It didn't work the greatest in the RV but up by the playground and the pool it was fine. Laundry was 24hrs.

We look forward to returning to this park again sometime and really have no complaints about the park at all; even running on Spring activities and having "less" to do.

Our site RV1

View of our site from the walking trail on other side of the lake

Another RV site

Map of the park

Washrooms/shower house

Water slides and lazy river included in camping rates
Water wars on the right side is a fee item

Arcade area

Down Pour Derby at pool which is
wheel chair accessible

Some of the limited weekly activities for Spring season

Jump pad and bouncy castle