windriderjr

Massachusetts

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Joined: 03/20/2007

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My parents had seasonal sites in several CGs in New England over the past 35 years. Some CGs are geared toward seasonals and you will only find out about them through word of mouth (or maybe here). The last CG they had a TT in was like that. The CG owner would only rent a site to "transients" if they knew one of the residents. People stay there for literally generations. Many TTs, like my parents', are sold on-site. My parents loved camping but age finally caught up with them. Now they are in a condo in Florida.
The best way to find out if your favorite CG offers seasonal sites is to ask them. If they offer it, I would walk around and and chat with some of the permanent people just to make sure you will get along (my parents' last CG was filled with the over 70 crowd, not a place for kids).
DW and I in our Gulfstream Amerilite 21MB
Chevy Silverado 2500 HD - Duramax Diesel 6.6L - Allison Tranny
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." - Major Mike Shearer - British Army - Basra, Iraq
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bonse

Port Colborne, Ontario

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Joined: 03/18/2007

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This is our first year as seasonal campers and we are looking forward to it. It was a big step for us, but we thought we would try it for a year. Everyone we have talked too since, seems to really enjoy it. I'm looking forward to the relaxation and the trailer park is right on Lake Erie with beautiful sunsets. We can travel a short distance from home.
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jtwisconsin

Menomonie, WI

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Joined: 02/23/2006

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Seasonal sites offer a completely different type of camping experience that some people love and others don’t. Once we upgraded to the new Jayco, we don’t have a TV that could pull our trailer so this is the only place we camp now. My wife really didn’t know if she was going to like it, but now we both agree it is by far the best solution for us. No more loading/unloading the trailer, setting up, tearing down, hitching and unhitching, etc. All I have to do is turn on the water/gas when I arrive and unload any food or clothes we bring along. Leaving is a matter of loading up any clothes we want to take back with us (we leave clothes at the trailer as well), turn off the water and gas, and lock the doors. I timed myself once – took 4 minutes.
Because camping is much less work now, we go camping so much more than we did before. We went from 9 trips in the hybrid before to using the seasonal site nearly every weekend from spring until fall. We know all our immediate neighbors and the kids made a bunch of new friends. It really feels like a second home.
If you think you might like it, I would suggest taking your time to find not only the right campground but also the right site. Stop and talk with your potential neighbors and really check out each available site.
Good Luck!
John, the lovely wife, plus the 3 kids.
2007 Jayco Jay Flight 31BHS - Parked at the Seasonal Site
Previous setups...
2002 Ford Explorer V6 pulling 2000 Trail-Lite Bantam B19
1997 Chevy Blazer pulling small Coleman popup
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yesitsfree

Central Ohio

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Joined: 03/09/2007

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jtwisconsin wrote: Seasonal sites offer a completely different type of camping experience that some people love and others don’t. Once we upgraded to the new Jayco, we don’t have a TV that could pull our trailer so this is the only place we camp now. My wife really didn’t know if she was going to like it, but now we both agree it is by far the best solution for us. No more loading/unloading the trailer, setting up, tearing down, hitching and unhitching, etc. All I have to do is turn on the water/gas when I arrive and unload any food or clothes we bring along. Leaving is a matter of loading up any clothes we want to take back with us (we leave clothes at the trailer as well), turn off the water and gas, and lock the doors. I timed myself once – took 4 minutes.
Because camping is much less work now, we go camping so much more than we did before. We went from 9 trips in the hybrid before to using the seasonal site nearly every weekend from spring until fall. We know all our immediate neighbors and the kids made a bunch of new friends. It really feels like a second home.
If you think you might like it, I would suggest taking your time to find not only the right campground but also the right site. Stop and talk with your potential neighbors and really check out each available site.
Good Luck! 
I agree with everything this poster said. We seasonal camp and use it way more then we did when we towed the TT all over the place. We still take a trip once or twice a yr with the trailer but it is sure nice to head out to the camper Friday evening after work and relax.
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rltorpey

The land of taxes

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Joined: 06/16/2003

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spike99 wrote: Ya Terryallan. We buy all our tools, autos, trailers and water craft "on sale". Thus, why we sometimes call them "sale boats". Seriously... Should have called it a "Sail Boat". Must be that grammer thing that some folks spot 500 yeards away. LOL!!!!
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spike99, great comeback.
Robin & Laurie 
4 yr. old granddaughter Mercedes 
'04 RAM 2500 QC, 4x4, SWB, Hemi, auto, 4.10 LSD, power trailer mirrors
'06 McKenzie Starwood 29RES fifth wheel
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Hornet28BHDS

Parker, PA

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Joined: 01/29/2007

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Most private CG's offer seasonal sites.
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Life is short, why not spend it in an RV!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
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Wiscampsin

Wisconsin USA

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Joined: 06/11/2004

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We just signed up for our first seasonal site last weekend. We set a maximum drive time of 2 hours from our home. Toured 4 seperate campgrounds on a Saturday and found all of them to be quite different. At 2 of them we found the sites way to close for our liking and there were over 200 sites at each one. Our awning or slide would be about 10' from the site boundaries. One campground looked like a home for old age trailers. We pulled up to the 4th one and there was an entrance gate. 123 total sites, 73 of which are seasonal. The owners wife welcomed us, drove us to, and gave us a walking tour of the 3 available seasonal sites. She drove us all over the campground pointing out where everything was. The place reminded us of a State Park, had large woodsy sites secluded from each other. They have a large pool, all sorts of weekend activities, on a lake, 1/4 mile from another lake, well kept facilities, lots to do in the area, 90 minutes from home. The staff and the other seasonal campers we talked to were all quite friendly. So we took a site for this year. We will pull the camper out twice for week long trips to 2 Wisconsin State Parks we had previously made reservations at. I'm looking forward to the convenience of not having to load, hook up, haul, set up, on Friday and reverse the procedure Sunday. With gas prices going up hopefully we did the right thing. By October 15 we'll have to decide if we want to renew for next year, time will tell.
2006 Toyota Tundra DoubleCab
2007 TrailCruiser C243S (traded in)
2008 Jayco Eagle 314BHDS
http://community.webshots.com/user/wiscampsin
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N9MB

Indiana

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Joined: 04/07/2006

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We lease our site on an annual basis. Water and sewer are included, I have my own electric meter which is billed to me directly by the power company. I mow the grass and keep the lot groomed. It's nice having the same neighbors year after year and still having the opportunity to meet others who stay in the short term areas.
We make several trips a year but this is where the coach stays the rest of the time.
F350 PSD CC DRW Tow Boss
Heartland Bighorn 3600RE
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Lug

Illinois

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Joined: 04/12/2007

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This is our 5th year at a seasonal site. It's 20 minutes from our house and it's like being in a different world. We live on a farm and nothing but corn and soybeans as far as you can see. Drive 20 minutes and it's like being in northern Minnesota.
This campground is on 150 acres, bordered by a large river, has several stocked ponds and lots of trees and trails. It's open year round, lot rent is $1195.00 a year and I also rent the site next to mine for half that. Water and sewer is included, electric is metered. I run the A/C a lot and heat water mostly on electric and my bill for a year runs about $175.00.
I have a 10X20 deck on the camper, an 8X10 shed (a nice wood one) on my 2nd lot that houses a fridge, yard tools, junk, and one of my golf carts. My wife and I work different hours, so traveling with the camper is hard to do. We can stay there and go to work from there.
Now the down side. If the campground owner would clean the place up a bit it would be heaven. It's a beautiful piece of property but too much junk laying around. Most of the seasonals keep their places immaculate (me included) but a few don't. I guess it's like living in a neighborhood. Some are well kept, some are not.
We average 4 nights a week there from late March thru late Oct. It works for us! Tom
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NorthernWarrior

Ottawa, ON, Canada

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Joined: 03/10/2005

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I would like to add something as well.
We have been at the same campsite for 3 years now due to no TV. We had orginally wanted to travel, but we are having too much fun at this campground.
We found the following:
Year 1. Basic Set-up
Year 2. Added a Deck
Year 3. Moved sites.
This was actually very cool as moving to a different site makes camping entirely different. Kids have an awesome time. We are setup in no time. Clothes are already there.
Drive up to site. Turn on gas, water - Grab Beer. Done. !
Kids are off within 10 secs to find there friends, and the DW and I can sit down and enjoy. Not to mention, POKER nights which is almost every night.
Seasonal Campin is the best solution for us right now. When our kids get older then we will start to do the travel thing. I always wanted to camp under a palm tree. I will realize that dream one day. Right now we are in canada where no palm trees reside 
-Nw-
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