Family Camping ~ Wisconsin Camping Favorites

**keith** · 01-18-2005, 10:23 AM

Devil's Lake is a perennial fathers day favorite. I have a son - Ryan (aka 'Ryan' on theBubbler.com) who was born on Fathers Day and often chose Devils Lake for his birthday weekend. Lots of experience there with Scouts as well. The hike is great, the lake phenomenal (no motors of any kind allowed).

Scouting experience started with Boy Scouts and Explorers. Every October thousands of Scouts from several states converge. There are a couple of dances, one for teens, one for pre/eearly-teens.

Did skin and scuba diving there with Explorers. Water clear to 30' easy.

This one is a must for your list of Wisconsin State Campgrounds.

http://www.thebubbler.com/modules.ph...ewlink&cid=442 shows theBubbler's list of Campgrounds (Home > Travel > Camping)

**AJE** · 01-18-2005, 10:53 AM

Hello, I live for the outdoors and anything which is related to my love Geography, Geology and History. I'll be gald to list my favorites and why I love them dearly. Just you wait though I have many subjects to discuss...

**AJE** · 01-22-2005, 12:12 AM

Evans Family Motto for Setting Up Camp

Upon pulling into only remaining campsite, the heavily weighed down minivan lightened as three middle school aged children leaped from the vehicle to feverishly unload gear. The objective: get up the tent, lay out the bedding, and complete the set up of camp before the last rays of sun are completely lost! The mission of one sibling is to find firewood while the others rush to set up camp, and light the stove for our main feed of the day.

A nearby camper marveled to our father, "That, sir, is some display of teamwork."

Dad replied, "I have a system -- no one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up."

**AJE** · 01-23-2005, 01:06 AM

Word of advice to all campers this park, you might want to bring your own Tolietries. My sister and I found this out the hard way on a weekend excursion to rock hound new locations. Its a huge area of woodland preserve so also fill up the car and stock on any nessesities. Beautiful country UP-North.

JuJu · 05-11-2005, 05:47 PM

Everyone that I camp with...yell at me about this. But, I love going to plain 'ol Fond du Lac County Waupun County Park. It's super small and is easier to keep track of the kids this way. I don't have to drive far either! Which is a major bonus! :lol:

Ellen · 05-13-2005, 03:06 PM

CAMPING WITH DOGS

Hi there. Does anyone know of good places for camping with dogs? My husband and I have two black lab mixes that love to camp. The catch is that they are used to a lot of freedom and are only tied up at home when they are being punished. It seems that most campgrounds allow dogs on leashes. Know of any that allow dogs off-leash as long as the owner has them under verbal command? They usually have their own tent or other secure place to sleep so they won't roam around or bother other campers at night. Any info is appreciated.

Thanks!

Ellen

joanm53204 · 05-17-2005, 02:25 PM

We "discover" a different county every year. Have spent time in Caledonia, LaCrosse, Plymouth-Elkhart Lake, Portage, Milton, Montello, and other cities that escape me right now.

Have found most everyone we've come across to be very helpful and friendly. The only place we had a problem with was Jellystone Park in Caledonia, when one of the "rangers" made it his mission to follow our son around the whole weekend to "keep an eye on him". We've heard that man is no longer with the campground.

Our favorite is probably "Pride of America", just outside of Portage. The place is huge, with a dance on Saturday nights, fully stocked bar (with ice cold air conditioning for when you just can't bare the heat anymore), and some unique planned activities for all ages that we hadn't seen before. Two Pick 'n Saves in town, and tons of restaurants just 10-15 minutes away from the campground.

Ellen, I've seen nearly a hundred campground brochures, and can't recall any of them saying dogs don't have to be leashed, and watched at all times.

jaybee · 03-06-2006, 09:22 PM

I have been camping for only about 7 years. I have 2 children, ages 4 and 7. Its not easy finding a camping spot that my wife and I enjoy, as well as having things, and or atmosphere for our young children. We really enjoy camping @ siver springs in rio. This place seems to be layed out perfectly. Plenty of stuff for the kids, and always good entertainment for the adults after dark.

AlumniClub · 03-07-2006, 09:26 AM

Im looking forward to this years camping season also! Cant wait to get up north to our camper for fishing, canoeing,paintballing, and just for the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. Thanks for those above posted info Raven.

GB2

dschmid · 03-08-2006, 06:15 PM

Our favorite campground is Indian Trails, actually we have two, the other being Silver Spring near Rio. Indian Trails is located by Pardeeville, WI, this is beautiful Amish Country. We also much prefer camping on the southwestern side of the state, the hills and valleys are gorgeous and the scenery and culture is spectacular and interesting! I recommend Wyalusing and Yellowstone State Park. With gas prices the way they are its nice to know we have as many gorgeous camping areas in the southern part of the state as they do up north!

techwriter1970 · 03-30-2006, 09:01 AM

Hey everyone. I am looking for a particular type of camp site. Some guys and I are going to go some time this summer. What I want is the following:

On or very near a lake
Fairly secluded (not one where we're all right on top of another)
Not a family campground (with pool, mini-golf, stores, etc)
Wouldn't mind a short hike to get there, but would need to rent and portage canoes.
Cabins would be OK.

Anyone have any suggestions? The first three criteria are most important.

Thanks!

MrsMik · 04-06-2006, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRaven

Make a Homemade Firestarter
These work good for starting a fire in your fireplace or camping and are easy to make.

Here are the materials you'll need.....

* Wax. This can be leftover candle drippings, candle stubs, etc.
* Sawdust. Keep a can in your shop and save all that sawdust.
* An egg carton.

Here are the instructions;

* Melt the wax
* Fill each section in the egg carton halfway with sawdust.
* Fill each section the rest of the way with the melted wax
* When cool, using scissors cut the individual egg carton sections apart (don't remove the wax, just leave it in there).

To use one, just light with a match, the edge of the egg carton section that was left on it when cut.

We make our firestarters just a bit differently.

I use small paper "dixie-type" cups because the egg cartons are very small, and it's not easy to find cardboard ones.

Instead of sawdust (not everyone has that), I use DRYER LINT (everyone has that!

) .

To melt the candles, you can fashion a "double boiler" by boiling water in a large kettle and placing a coffee can inside the larger kettle. Put the candles or wax in the coffee can to melt. That way, you don't ruin a good kettle by melting the wax.

Another tip -- buy cheap candles at rummage sales. You can remove the wick with a fork or skewer when the wax has melted.

Using Dixie Cups will give you a firestarter that lasts about 10-15 minutes.

Julie

**j10asen** · 05-24-2006, 04:08 PM

We have been camping longer than we have been married.We love Wisconsin State Campgrounds and try to visit as many as possible every year.
The good part is that these parks exist and can be used The bad part is they are not managed very well and most have fallen to the point that can be irritataing. You would love to shake the DNR up but do not know who you could contact that would listen or care. The main reason for their name "Department of NO Reason"

Does anyone know any legislatures that are on the State Parks committee? Or anyone running for Office that will listen and perhaps DO something?

Then there is that part of me that says if they listen and makes the parks better more people will use them and it will be more difficult for me to use.

If you have camped in Wisconsin and have camped in Michigan how do you think they compare?

Let everyone know here.
thank You

Oh what a dilemma 8O

kickinkz · 10-24-2006, 03:50 AM

Aaaaaahhhhhh....another summer camping season has come and gone...this year we hit 2 Wisconsin areas for camping....we had 2 week vacation out in the Black Hills over the 4th of July and went to Wells State Park in the U.P. for our final weekend this year. The first Wisconsin CG we hit this summer was Westward Ho right on the Shebogan/Fond du Lac county line. Nice place to camp. They have 2 swimming pools and a hot tub. Plenty to do...outdoor movies when it warms up, sports things to do. They've done a lot of remodeling in the past year. We will return. Do a google, they have a website. The other place we hit this year was Lake Yellowstone S.P., SW of Madison. Very nice CG also, as most, if not all, of our state parks are. Plenty of fishing, swimming, and other outdoor activities to do. We also went geocaching while there....we found what we were looking for...

While occasionally we have hit a dud or two while camping at private CG's, most of our visits have been good ones. We try to camp near the historical attractions so we can take our children where our parents had taken us years an years ago....wow, I'm feeling a bit old...Next year we want to hit up around Superior and the SW corner of the state...possibly even go down into Illinois and up into the far reaches of the U.P....

Later
Phil

kickinkz · 10-24-2006, 04:09 AM

Here's where we've been, and where we'll go again....

Devil's River CG near Maribel...
Westward Ho near Greenbush
Lake Yellowstone S.P.
High Cliff S.P.
Kilby Lake near Montello
Evergreen C.G. near Wild Rose

These are only a few off of the top of my head...like I said, there's been a few duds and I'm not so sure I should post them here...a good place to find reviews is www.glpuc.org . Not all of the campgrounds in Wisconsin are listed there, but there's quite a few. If I can think of the others we've been to, I'll add them here...

Later
Phil