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Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial On The Road is back on The RV Atlas podcast this week and she is our guest blogger here as well! Check out her recent post and interview on the podcast to hear about her stop in Burlington, Vermont. And to hear about her awesome stop at Four Mile Creek State Park and Niagara Falls click on the media player above, or read here guest post below!

Guest Post by Gretchen Holcombe

**All photos by Gretchen Holcombe



Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular sights…and it’s also one of its most crowded. Niagara Falls State Park welcomes more than 8 million visitors a year, and on a busy summer day it can feel like they’re all there at the same time. My husband and I had seen the falls before, but we were excited to make our first trip there with our kids this summer and more than willing to brave the crowds and to shell out money for quintessential tourist experiences like the Maid of the Mist boat ride.

Four Mile Creek State Park

But we were also eager to get a break from the nonstop action in the evenings, and we found the under appreciated Four Mile Creek State Park, just 20 minutes down the road from Niagara Falls, to be an excellent retreat. 







Four Mile Creek offers up 250 spacious tent and RV sites on the shores of Lake Ontario, about half primitive sites and half with electric hookups (potable water and dump stations are available). In addition to the big sites and quiet setting, we appreciated the bargain pricing: sites are just $24/night for electric, and $18 for dry camping. There are a lot of excellent sites to choose from here, but the ones in the 200 loop that overlook Lake Ontario are the pick of the campground, with enormous “backyards” and great views; look for the even numbered sites between 222 and 240. If you don’t have an RV with you, the park is popular with tent campers and also has six yurts available for rent. 

Niagara Falls State Park

It’s an easy drive from Four Mile Creek to Niagara Falls State Park, and we spent lots of time there checking out the falls from all different vantage points. We parked on Goat Island (we were able to save the $10 fee by showing our pass from Four Mile Creek) and walked all around the area; there are several great places to admire the view, including Terrapin Point and Luna Island. You can walk or take the trolley from Goat Island over to the visitor center and to all the shopping and restaurants in town. The Maid of the Mist leaves from this area and takes you on a very wet trip out to the bottom of the falls; it’s a splurge at around $25 per person for a 20 minute boat ride, but it’s worth it for a view and experience you can’t get any other way. 







Some of our Niagara Falls plans were derailed both by the fact that the Canadian border was still closed to Americans thanks to COVID and by the very wet weather we had while we were in the area. But the silver lining was that this led us to find some great off-the-beaten-path destinations that we likely wouldn’t have seen otherwise. 







We spent one rainy morning at Niagara Power Vista’s visitor center, an excellent museum all about the history of and science behind using the falls to produce power. There are lots of hands on activities, a movie, and one particularly charming exhibit where Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison debate the merits of AC vs. DC power.



The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is another excellent rainy day (or any day) stop. Niagara Falls’ proximity to Canada made it a natural Underground Railroad hub, and this small museum tells the stories of some of the enslaved people who passed through here on their way to freedom in engaging and creative ways. 







Our family never passes up a good fort, so we made a trip to Old Fort Niagara to dive deeper into the history of...

Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial On The Road is back on The RV Atlas podcast this week and she is our guest blogger here as well! Check out her recent post and interview on the podcast to hear about her stop in Burlington, Vermont. And to hear about her awesome stop at Four Mile Creek State Park and Niagara Falls click on the media player above, or read here guest post below!

Guest Post by Gretchen Holcombe

**All photos by Gretchen Holcombe



Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular sights…and it’s also one of its most crowded. Niagara Falls State Park welcomes more than 8 million visitors a year, and on a busy summer day it can feel like they’re all there at the same time. My husband and I had seen the falls before, but we were excited to make our first trip there with our kids this summer and more than willing to brave the crowds and to shell out money for quintessential tourist experiences like the Maid of the Mist boat ride.

Four Mile Creek State Park

But we were also eager to get a break from the nonstop action in the evenings, and we found the under appreciated Four Mile Creek State Park, just 20 minutes down the road from Niagara Falls, to be an excellent retreat. 







Four Mile Creek offers up 250 spacious tent and RV sites on the shores of Lake Ontario, about half primitive sites and half with electric hookups (potable water and dump stations are available). In addition to the big sites and quiet setting, we appreciated the bargain pricing: sites are just $24/night for electric, and $18 for dry camping. There are a lot of excellent sites to choose from here, but the ones in the 200 loop that overlook Lake Ontario are the pick of the campground, with enormous “backyards” and great views; look for the even numbered sites between 222 and 240. If you don’t have an RV with you, the park is popular with tent campers and also has six yurts available for rent. 

Niagara Falls State Park

It’s an easy drive from Four Mile Creek to Niagara Falls State Park, and we spent lots of time there checking out the falls from all different vantage points. We parked on Goat Island (we were able to save the $10 fee by showing our pass from Four Mile Creek) and walked all around the area; there are several great places to admire the view, including Terrapin Point and Luna Island. You can walk or take the trolley from Goat Island over to the visitor center and to all the shopping and restaurants in town. The Maid of the Mist leaves from this area and takes you on a very wet trip out to the bottom of the falls; it’s a splurge at around $25 per person for a 20 minute boat ride, but it’s worth it for a view and experience you can’t get any other way. 







Some of our Niagara Falls plans were derailed both by the fact that the Canadian border was still closed to Americans thanks to COVID and by the very wet weather we had while we were in the area. But the silver lining was that this led us to find some great off-the-beaten-path destinations that we likely wouldn’t have seen otherwise. 







We spent one rainy morning at Niagara Power Vista’s visitor center, an excellent museum all about the history of and science behind using the falls to produce power. There are lots of hands on activities, a movie, and one particularly charming exhibit where Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison debate the merits of AC vs. DC power.



The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center is another excellent rainy day (or any day) stop. Niagara Falls’ proximity to Canada made it a natural Underground Railroad hub, and this small museum tells the stories of some of the enslaved people who passed through here on their way to freedom in engaging and creative ways. 







Our family never passes up a good fort, so we made a trip to Old Fort Niagara to dive deeper into the history of...

On today's episode of the The RV Atlas podcast we are excited to have Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial On The Road back on the show to talk about part of her family's epic summer road trip through New England! Gretchen loved her family's stop in Burlington, Vermont and she really enjoyed using North Beach Campground as her basecamp! The campground itself was simple and rustic, but the location was FANTASTIC! 



To listen to Gretchen and Jeremy talk about North Beach Campground and some things to do in Burlington, Vermont, please click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your podcasts!



To find out more about Burlington, Vermont and North Beach Campground click simply keep reading and check out Gretchen's guest blog post right below!! All photos by Gretchen Holcombe!

Guest Post By Gretchen Holcombe

After a year of shorter trips close to home, our family of six was eager for a return to exploring farther afield. My in-laws 50th anniversary celebration on Cape Cod, Massachusetts gave us a great excuse to head for New England this summer, and we spent close to two months exploring Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and then farther west in New York and Michigan. Two parents, four boys, and three dogs in a 32 foot trailer has its challenges, but overall we had an amazing trip and are already planning next summer’s itinerary.

Burlington, Vermont

My oldest son loves to share geography trivia, so by the time we got to Burlington, Vermont this summer the whole family knew that it’s the “smallest biggest city in America.” In other words, it’s the smallest city in the United States that also has the largest population of any city in its state. And, indeed, Burlington feels like a quirky small town with the kinds of diverse offerings and resources that you’d expect in a much bigger city: museums, tons of restaurants and shopping, a university, and a beautiful lakefront setting. It’s a great combination, and Burlington quickly shot to the top of our favorite places in New England list. 

North Beach Campground





It’s not often that you get the chance to combine urban camping and beach camping, but the city-run North Beach Campground offers exactly that. The campground is right in town and directly on the bike path that will take you the mile and a half or so to the downtown waterfront area, and right across that bike path is North Beach—a lovely spot on Lake Champlain where you can swim or kayak and then enjoy ice cream or dinner at the outdoor restaurant.



The campground itself is fairly rustic, with grassy sites and bathhouses that could use some updating, but the sites are a bargain at $45/night for full hookups, $41 for water/electric, and $37 for tent sites. If you have a bigger rig, the full hook up sites are your best bet; the water/electric sites are jumbled together along narrow roads in the middle of the campground and looked pretty tough to get into. We had site 6, right along the main road through the campground, and found our site spacious and easily accessible. If you want a little more privacy, the other section of full-hookup sites, numbers 113–119 are on a quieter road. 

What to Do in Burlington, Vermont

Echo Leahy Center:This is a kid friendly science museum by the water (a quick bike ride or a not as quick walk along the bike path from the campground) with the usual assortment of hands on activities, an adorable play area for younger kids, and a fascinating exhibit all about the science and history of Lake Champlain.







Island Line Rail Trail: Burlington’s a great town for biking. If you didn’t bring your own bikes you can rent them downtown and then ride from there all the way to the causeway in Colchester that goes across the lake to Grand Isle. 



Ethan Allen Homestead: short but engaging tour of the home of this fascinatin...

Today I am so excited to welcome a first time guest correspondent on to the show to give us a terrific campground review of Robert Treman State Park in Ithaca, New York! The RV Atlas crew visited Ithaca about 7 years ago during an amazing two week RV trip across New York State. We didn’t stay at Robert Treman State Park during that trip. But we have always wanted to camp there!

On today's episode of the RV Atlas podcast my friend Ellen Dominus Broude is going to take us to Robert Treman State Park. Ithaca is gorgeous! And Ellen brings this campground, the state park, and area to life for our listeners!



I met Ellen on social media through The RV Atlas group. Like many of you, I sometimes complain about the role that social media plays in our lives. But then I stop and remember just how many awesome people I have met through the RV Atlas facebook group.

Ellen is an amazing person--and I just knew that she would be so much fun to have on the show. Ellen and her husband own an adorable Airstream named Frida. I love following her account @fridatheairstream and I think you will too!



6 Things I Love About My RV

Before I asked Ellen to come on the RV Atlas podcast, I also asked her to join me on my new GO RVing show--"6 Things I Love About My RV." I am so glad she said yes! Check out her episode right below!



To listen to Ellen and Jeremy talk about Robert Treman State Park and all of the best things to do in the Ithaca area--click on the media player at the top of the page. Or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts!

See You at the Campground!



--Jeremy



 

Shellie Bailey-Shah is back on the show today for another great episode of The RV Atlas podcast! Today she is sharing 10 tips for surviving a multi-family RV trip in one RV! To listen to Shellie and Jeremy discuss all ten tips click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your shows!



Here are her notes from the show!



Background: We recently took a cross-country trip from Portland, Oregon to Tampa then across the south to Phoenix and back home to Portland. The middle leg — Tampa to Phoenix — we invited by brother, sister-in-law and two nephews to join us for their first ever RV adventure. The leg included 5 national parks and 2,500 miles of travel. That’s 2,500 miles with seven people and a dog in a 38-foot motorhome.



Miraculously, we all survived.

Keys to success:

Each of these tips is discussed in detail on today's episode of The RV Atlas!



1/Set expectations for the start when it comes to finances



2/Set expectations when it comes to responsibilities



3/Make sure the itinerary includes something for everyone



4/Do not overpack



5/Have a bag of tricks



6/Make sure everything has its place



7/Make sure everyone has a designated place to sleep



8/Consider the impact of long driving days, especially on younger kids



9/Plan to spend time apart when you land somewhere, especially important for teens



10/Have some grace with each other and exercise patience



 

We are thrilled to have our friend Shellie Bailey-Shah back on the show this week for an awesome review of Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas! This was a short stop for Shellie and her family (and extended family!) on a long trip. Her entire crew enjoyed this Jellystone immensely! To listen to Shellie's review click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you listen to your favorite shows!



This podcast interview was based on an article that Shellie wrote for Kid Tripster! We will link to it after it has been posted!