celiastokes

This campground is all the good things you would expect from a KOA--great staff, clear expectations about what to find at each site, highly functional for an overnight stay. HOWEVER, 2 days each year, a mosquito-size insect called "Midges" emerge from the local mud and swarm. Swarm EVERYTHING that is. The front desk apparently stapled something to our packet when we check in but did not mention that we were there during that 2-day emergence. They SHOULD have told us on checkin because it was already after dark and the swarming insects swarmed both into my lungs as soon as I got out of the car but also, notable, HUNDREDS of them entered our trailer within 5 minutes of our arrival while we unwittingly left the trailer door open. We spent 30 minutes killing hundreds of bugs inside the trailer and it was really disgusting. And disturbing to kill so many bugs. But they were EVERYWHERE. Our curtains are still stained from it. So my advice to them would be to tell people verbally on check in--maybe even send an email AHEAD OF TIME so you are sure to keep your doors closed and a mask on to prevent inhalation. (It looked like it was snowing outside). For the readers here, I would advise just avoiding the last part of August. If they swarm only two days out of the year, the 19-21st of August were those days this year.

This was our inaugural trip with our new Airstream FC 27. Kind of a 2-night test run within reasonable drive of our house. We do not like crowds so I knew the proximity of people was going to be an adjustment for us. And it was. Had trailers backed up to our side within 10’ of the side of our trailer. But everyone respected the quiet hours, and were all so nice. We dealt. Our 2 dogs also dealt on their maiden voyage. And the redwood groves throughout the campsite are really pretty. Felt like we were really away even though we were only 3 hours from our house. Plus the Henry Cowell park down the street was gorgeous with beautiful walk options through the redwoods. But generally this park was not a scene for us to return to. We are likely going to gravitate toward boondocking where we can be MUCH more distant from our neighbors. But the site was otherwise pretty, clean and quiet at night. With friendly people.