Where the Red Haws bloom

[thehamguy1]

A thread about where your first campout of the season will be (or was, for those in nicer climes) to help us fuel our outdoor dreams.

Our first campout of 2012 will be this weekend at Red Haw State Park, about a mile east of Chariton, IA. The park is named for the Red Haw Tree, which blooms a lovely scarlet color this time of the year, and which grows in profusion around the park's lake. Good place to spot birds too. Pictures? Probably. And an open invite to all forum members nearby enough to join us!

Now tell us about your camping destination coming up. Where is it? What's special about the place?

[loganmartin]

Boy, I bet those Red Haw Trees are something to see. Hope yall have a great trip. The family and I will be heading to our lake lot in NE Alabama. This will be the first trip there with the new camper so it will be interesting to see what type of experience we have. Normally, we have to pack and leave for food and lodging at my favorite time to be on the lake- sunset. This year will be different though and I'm looking forward to it.

Most of our time will be spent fishing for crappie..which should be biting very well this time of year. The blooming dogwoods usually signal "the time" for their arrival to our shore. Then there will be some chores like raking and such which come with the territory. I also plan on bringing a flagpole and "Old Glory" to plant in the ground...that should be some fun. The rest of the time will be spent just enjoying our children and watching the boats go by.

Cheers to those who will also be hitting the road this weekend.

LM

[D-mo]

Will be Algonquin Park .. in Ontario for trout opening ... kind of a ritual for a few good friends and i ...
Howling wolves ... Speckles and lake trout ... nice quiet campground, next to Rock lake .. make this a special first trip for me ... only about a month away. if the weather keeps up ... i may head out earlier and take advantage of our may weather in march/april ... who knows ..

d-mo

[thehamguy1]

Some pics of the red haws, which my spousal unit tells me are also Redbud trees. Then a shot of our setup this weekend, outhouse and all.

[D-mo]

wow ... nice spot for sure ...love the greenery. no buds like that on our trees up here like that ...just lost our snow .... and the camper is still in the garage.

d-mo

[kamp k]

Since we got rained out two weekends ago, our first trip is now this weekend. We will be heading up to Bentonville, Va to camp at Shenandoah Stae Park. Here's a brief description from the Va State Park website:

The park is 1,604 acres with 5.6 miles of river frontage along the south fork of the Shenandoah River. The rolling, mountainous land features steep slopes and is mostly wooded. In addition to meandering river frontage, the park offers scenic vistas overlooking Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.

We've never stayed there before, and we like to go to places we've never stayed, so that's what's special about this place. Once we get there, I am sure we will find more things about it that make it "special".

[trudinator]

Kohler Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, WI. (Not too far from home for the 1st trip.) Those of us in Wisconsin are very familiar with the term "cooler near the lake." Can't get much closer to Lake Michigan. We've filled the propane tanks and plan on taking a lot of firewood with us to stay warm!

[loganmartin]

nice spot Lee!

LM