Well, we made our first stop. Cave Mountain National Forest Campground. It was a great campground.  Actually one of my favorites. But I think they ruined it, as they made it all reserve-able.  Reserve-able campgrounds come up on Recreation.gov and everyone can see it.  It used to be all First Come-First Served.  Those do not show upon Rec.gov.  So this weekend it was packed with fathers and little kids camping on Fathers Day weekend.  So a very quick one night stay and an early morning departure to Washington DC.

Well, Google said it was 3 ½ hours away.  The reality of driving into Washington DC on the interstate highways is that it takes 6 hours.  It was a Saturday, so no rush hour traffic or heavy business traffic.  Just regular everyday people going from here to there.  Nothing so really bad.  Two slowdowns on Interstate 81, 4 slowdowns going around the Beltway, and 2 stops for gas and stretching our legs.  Most of the slowdowns were just moving along at 20 to 30 miles an hour.  I figured they were really saving our lives from the morons going 90 miles an hour.  But we got to the campground and our campsite about an hour after my son got there with his girlfriend.  So it’s always nice to have a welcoming party.

We camped at Greenbelt National Park campground.  It is in the most wonderful spot around Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia.  You can actually walk a mile and a half to a Metro station if the trails are open.  During this time frame the trails are not all open because 2 years ago they had a big blow down from a storm that came through and it wiped out a number of the bridges that cross some of the streams.  We did hike a number of the trails that were closed, and there were places where there were logs across the stream that you could easily walk across.  But technically the trails were closed. I was not the first to be on these closed trails.  we picked up a bag full of trash which was fairly new.

The other thing I was told was that the bathrooms were supposed to be rebuilt this year.  It would appear they should of been rebuilt 10 years ago.  They’re in really sad shape.  And the contractors who come in and clean them really need to know how to clean a bathroom.  From what I see the only thing they do is sweep the floor and maybe mop it.  There is dirt and debris and piles in the corners of the bathroom.  There are spiders and bugs because some of the windows do not have screens.  There is only one shower for our loop of 40 campsites in each of the men’s and women’s bathroom.  And it looks like when they clean it, the hair that’s collected on the drain just gets pushed over to the side.  Because of the 3 days I was here, each day there was a different wad of hair at another corner of the shower.  So today there were 5 wads of slimy hair and various spots around the edge of the shower.  But the bathhouses themselves look like they’re settling because they have large cracks in the walls in between the windows.  One of the hosts told me that they were going to do on last year but they had the blow down.  So maybe they’ll do them next year. We can hope.

There are 4 campground loops, loop A, loop B , loop C, Loop D. Loop A is for groups like the Boy Scouts and church groups.  We were in loop B.  But on our loop, sites 31 to 39 are pretty poor sites because they’re very small and very sloped.  Past those sites the ones on the inside of the loop are pretty nice but pretty close to their neighbors on the other side of the loop.  Actually all the sites on the outside of the loop are pretty bad except for site 78, 79, and 80.  Another thing you have to think about when you camp here, is that the ash trees have been severely hit by the emerald ash borer beetle.  There are many dead ash trees that are about to, or have already fallen over.  There are also many that are still standing.  And the campground is on kind of a hill that there is always windy.  This weekend there is not a lot of strong wind.  But there are definitely a lot of widow makers in this forest.  If you come here make sure your site is safe from falling trees and branches.

But, the good part of this park is where it is located and for only $20/night.  And all the sights you can see with a 30 minute drive or even a 2 mile walk.  Every American needs to visit Washington DC.  It will change you.

Now we couldn’t do a 5 minute video on everyplace you can visit, but here on some quick highlights, and some important info on visiting. The Attractions are Unlimited within 30 miles:

Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall:  35mins – 17miles

North End of Rock Creek Park, West Beach Drive NW:  30mins away, 14miles:  Urban Oasis with ranger lead nature tours and wildlife programs.  Connected to the National Zoo,   Dog Friendly in the park.

Lincoln Park, Washington: 15miles and 30mins :  Open Air Park for Relaxation and reflection,  NPS

Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD:  13miles, 30mins

Smithsonian National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC: 45mins, 20 miles.  Literally 1000s of animals,  Free to enter, $30 to park,  Need to reserve entrance time.

United States National Arboretum, Maryland Ave, NE  10miles, 19 mins  Right down Washington-Baltimore Parkway.  It’s Free, Lots of trees, shrubs, & plants, plus a picnic area & museum.  Dog Friendly.

NASA Goddard Space Flight & Visitor Center, 9432 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 2077, : 15miles, 14 mins.   No reservation is necessary to walk in and view indoor and outdoor exhibits, or to see what’s playing in the theater.

Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019, : 10miles 30 mins,  Tranquil preserve with short trails including a boardwalk through a ponds & marshes, plus picnic spots, and shops. Dog Friendly, free Parking,  No Cost to enjoy NPS

Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd, Riverdale Park, MD 20737,  5miles and 15mins (Faster to walk direct-2miles),. History preserved in a grand early-1800s mansion built by Flemish settlers.

College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr, College Park, MD 20740 5miles, 15mins,  (1.5 mile Walk) At College park Airport,  $5 admission, $4 for seniors

Buddy Attick Lake Park, 555 Crescent Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20770., 3miles and 8 Mins, just up the road at Greenbelt Lake. Dog friendly and nature trails in this natural setting Park

Meridian Hill Park, 16th St NW &, W St NW, Washington, DC 20009, 14miles & 35 Mins. Gardens, Fountains, Waterfalls and Statutes. NPS

Montpelier House Museum, 9650 Muirkirk Rd, Laurel, MD 20708,. 8miles(10 by Bike)  20mins Historic Plantation living Museum

Abraham Hall, 7612 Old Muirkirk Rd, Beltsville, MD 20705.  20 mins & 8 miles. An example of an African-American benevolent society

Wheaton Miniature Train & Carousel, 2002 Shorefield Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 24mins away

I hope this entices you to visit the area in your camper.  Its relaxing and enjoyable if you can just ignore the traffic.  Thanks for stopping by.  We’ll hope to see you again next time.

Rick &Akela