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My daughter and I want to go camping together. She is 14 and we always have fun together, but obviously I'd like to take her to a place where she'll have a good time, and stuff to do.
If she really enjoys it, we'll invest in going to the mountains (I camp there all the time) on future trips, but this time, I'd like to stay closer to home for many reasons.
IMO, going to Jordan Lake might be boring for her. Too close to home and nothing "unique" to do. What are some other places you all like?
I've considered:
Maybe Eno State Park, just to get a little further away
Eastern NC, like New Bern, if the weather is good
Near a city (Gbo, Charlotte, etc) if there is a cool festival to attend
etc.
I am very active outdoors, but she is 14 and likes a short (3-mile) hike, or a bike ride on a FLAT campground trail or non-traffic road.
Just looking for ideas that I may not have thought of. 30-90 minute drive is ideal, but I'd go further if it is justified.
For car camping, check out Pilot Mountain SP or Hanging Rock SP. Some nice hiking in a mountain-like environment but just a couple hours away.
For backpacking and just a few mile hike, Eno River SP could work but it might be a bit tame. Uwharrie is great and just a couple hours away. There are good campsites along a creek just a few miles in on the Dutchman's Creek Trail (same trailhead as the southern TH for the Uwharrie Trail). Another option is a few miles of hiking from the northern end of the Uwharrie Trail to a nice creekside site. This is a great place to introduce kids to backpacking, but a in a few more weeks the mosquitoes are going to be awful.
For car camping, check out Pilot Mountain SP or Hanging Rock SP. Some nice hiking in a mountain-like environment but just a couple hours away.
For backpacking and just a few mile hike, Eno River SP could work but it might be a bit tame. Uwharrie is great and just a couple hours away. There are good campsites along a creek just a few miles in on the Dutchman's Creek Trail (same trailhead as the southern TH for the Uwharrie Trail). Another option is a few miles of hiking from the northern end of the Uwharrie Trail to a nice creekside site. This is a great place to introduce kids to backpacking, but a in a few more weeks the mosquitoes are going to be awful.
Thanks, they wouldn't let me rep you again.
This is definitely car camping. (Don't have equipment for backpacking, and she is not ready for that yet anyway.)
I was just at Cedarock park just south of Burlington for the state finals of the NC Envirothon. I had never been there before, but it was a very nice park w/ plenty of campsites. It's not got a lot of other things going on besides the outdoors (there's a nice creek, old mill dam & waterfall) and a historic farm, but it was a sweet spot to try out camping for the sake of camping.
I think Hanging Rock could be another good suggestion or the Uwharries (combine with a trip to the Zoo).
Raven Rock State Park is on the Cape Fear River near Lillington. Been years since I've been there, but it's close by and offers campsites, too.
It's a little further away but we just came back from Carolina beach state park last weekend and we LOVED it there! The venus fly traps and pitcher plants are out and they have a free, ranger led, carnivorous plant hike Saturdays and Sundays with the added benefit of Carolina Beach and all of it's attractions that are popular for teens across the street. And all of the hikes are easy and flat!
I get tired of saying this (but it seems the same people are always helpful), I couldn't rep you Lamishra.
Carolina beach is sounding VERY compelling. I like that it is close proximity to a lot of stuff, and the drive is under 2.5 hours from my house, so definitely within range.
Thanks, and keep the great suggestions coming (what I don't get to this time will only go on the ever-growing "to do" list.) :-)
While the time frame for this request has passed, I'll still second the vote for Raven's Rock. It's really not that far away, beautiful and I've never seen it crowded.
Thanks for all the replies. We ended up going to Carolina Beach State Park and were very glad we did. Enjoyed some beach, some camping, some food, and a pretty easy ride. As a bonus, I got to visit the WWII bunker at Fort Fisher, which was the home of the Fort Fisher Hermit for about 20+ years. This was something that has always compelled me, so it was really cool to see.
I'll be back.
I've been to Raven Rock a bunch of times, but never camped there. Might try that too.
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