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New York Camping: The Best Places to RV, Camp & Glamp Beyond NYC · Inspired Travels With Patti

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Thinking about camping in New York, my expert guest is here to talk about all things New York and she knows New York camping like no one I have ever met.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: She's going to reveal hidden gems and things that you must put on your bucket list.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Emily, what is the one New York camping secret most RVers don't know?
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I think the big thing is that when you hear the word New York, you think New York City, you think Manhattan, you think Empire State Building, all of the Hallmark movies we've seen along the way, and all of that is correct.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_01: But when you think about camping in New York, you can be at the ocean, you can be in the Adirondack Mountains, you can be at a winery, you can be at a beautiful lake, you can be close to Buffalo Bill Stadium and everything in between.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_01: So I guess it's not really a secret, it's just more of a misconception that New York is just New York City and there is so much beauty in our state.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: That is through adventure, and that is visiting new amazing places, having incredibly unique experiences, and of course meeting amazing people.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: Today I am incredibly grateful to have Emily Simmons, president and CEO of Campground Owners of New York and Camp New York.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: She is an industry leader, an RVer, and someone who knows New York camping inside and out.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: Today she's sharing hidden gems, must-see destinations, and insider tips you'll want for your next New York adventure.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome, Emily, to Inspired Travels with Patty.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Patty, for having me.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_01: That was quite uh the opening there, but I am thrilled to be here and uh could really talk about camping in New York all day long.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: So hopefully we can keep it right to the podcast.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, and keep it so it is, I say like a reasonable amount of time, but I get to decide and I'm sure we could go on for a long time.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: I'm so looking forward to it.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: But before we jump into New York camping, I want my listeners to get to know you as a camper, as an actual RVR camper.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: Where did your love of camping begin?
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: So uh, you know, again, in the interest of time, I'll I'll give you, as they say, the reader's digest version.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but I started camping as a Girl Scout, you know, what feels like a hundred years ago.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: I'm actually from Massachusetts.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: So, like many of your listeners, hopefully we will find a love uh for camping in New York like I did.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: So from Massachusetts, Girl Scout camping, did everything, you know, um weaved the sit-upons and learned how to build the fire and stayed in the tents and all that good stuff.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_01: So really loved it back then with friends.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and then it was an affordable way for my family to camp.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: My parents took my younger sister and I.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, I'll never forget the first time we went to a campground that had electric, and my dad brought a coffee maker and a little mini fridge.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_01: We were still camping in a tent, um, but I think I was 10 years old and it still stands out to me.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: I thought, wow, he brought a coffee maker.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_01: How cool is that?
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: You know?
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so then it just kind of became a fun way.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_01: You know, a lot of us do in high school and college, and it was just an affordable way to travel.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_01: But like so many, I caught the bug during the pandemic.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so I had two small children.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_01: My husband and I were going stir crazy in the house, uh, and we ended up getting a group of six families together.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, four of us bought our campers during that time.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, ours is a travel trailer, it's a 30-foot Jaco that hooks up to my husband's Ford F-150.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and we managed the pandemic as six families together.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_01: So I know it's a story like so many, uh, but it really helped us through that time.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and I'm sure I'll tell some more memories from that period throughout today.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: Love to hear more about it.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: Now, for me, I actually lived in Philadelphia for most of my life.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: I'd never camped.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: Camping was just not something my family did.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't get it.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't understand.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: You know, taking a little bit of a hike through the woods was about as much in nature as I've ever been.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: And like you, during the pandemic, I was in Las Vegas and my husband said, Let's sell it all and buy an RV and go RVing.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, I don't even understand.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: But I said, what the heck?
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: And we did.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: We were full-time for three years, and it's funny because we crossed the country three and a half times.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: I always wanted to go into the New England area and see the fall leaves and all the beauty that I knew and heard about, but we didn't get there.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_00: So I've just started visiting New York and I am hooked.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: I love it.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: People keep saying the summer's coming to an end, and my whole thing is no, not yet.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_00: Not yet.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_01: And like you said, fall is is just as beautiful in a different way across our state.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_01: So there's still so much to look forward to.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: And that is what I am looking forward to, are those fall leaves.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: So let's jump in.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: Tell us areas of New York.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna let you be the expert.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: New York is a huge state, obviously.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um so give us areas of New York and what is special about that area.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: I think that logically that helps break it down.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I'll try to touch on some, you know, maybe landmarks that people are familiar with, even if you don't tend to travel into New York too often.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, um we mentioned New York City and it's it's interesting.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_01: There actually are campgrounds outside of New York City that are a little bit more, you know, parking lot style, but with beautiful views uh, you know, of the city.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_01: But then you climb out of the city and you get into the Catskills, the Hudson Valley.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, those are just gorgeous in their own right.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_01: And what's really been popular in those areas is glamping.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_01: So we we do touch, of course, a lot on RV camping, um, but that area has really sprouted the cabins, the yurts, uh, you know, the the different types of trailers that you can rent because a lot of folks in the city, of course, don't have room for camping equipment, let alone RVs.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that's been a really great way and a beautiful area, tons of RV sites, but a great way to get folks that maybe don't think about camping to travel a little bit upstate.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_01: So we've seen a lot there.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_01: The capital Saratoga region, um, you know, it you have the Albany area, people come in for conferences and things, but we also have the Saratoga Racetrack.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_01: So if there are any horse racing fans out there, that is a huge landmark in this area.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um, there's also SPAC Saratoga Performing Arts uh Center.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: So we see a lot of RVers and campers go to the local campgrounds before going to the orchestra or a big concert.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's something uh, you know, about RVing, and I'm sure your listeners already do.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_01: You could be going to, you know, a child sports tournament, you have concert tickets, you want to go to some of these landmarks, look around for the campgrounds because they do provide resources, sometimes even transportation to get to some of these places.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, Adirondack's is very uh familiar to a lot of people, especially during leaf you know, peeping season, which is beautiful.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and then as we travel across New York, you know, Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, so many campgrounds around that location, finger lakes, wineries.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, you get out to the Buffalo area and Chautauqua with gorgeous lakes, and you're kind of on the Ohio border and the Pennsylvania border.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, there's there's just every region brings something different to the state.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: And I think for me, when we can talk about camping in New York, as I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast, you take a week and you can be in different areas of the state.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: You're still in New York, but you're experiencing and feeling something different.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's what's so unique about our area here.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: You touched on so much that I want to emphasize and talk more about.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_00: I, like I said, traveled full-time in an RV, but now for the last two years, I haven't had the RV, and I miss the whole camping experience.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: There's nothing like being in a campground.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: So I know for a number of my listeners, they're saying, someday I hope to go in an RV or someday.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I really encourage people to go into a campground.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: Like you said, there's glamping, there's clamping fence, there's Safari tents, there's, you know, RV rentals and cabins.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: And that is how I've been experiencing camping over the last couple of years, is really being able to go in, still be in the campground, the amenities, the activities, all the things you're talking about has been amazing.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_00: So I want people to know that camping isn't always taking everything with you and all of that.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: There are many options for renting.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: And I think, you know, it it's popular right now to do it the way that you're talking about that we've mentioned.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, it's no secret that gas prices are up and things are are expensive in different ways right now.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, it's kind of all about finding what's important to you and how it fits into your lifestyle.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but it is still an affordable way for people to travel, for people to vacation.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, especially here in New York, we're seeing the local travel is very popular too.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm sure wherever your listeners are, that's the case in their state.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, my family and I were just at a campground this past weekend.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_01: We did, of course, have our travel trailer, but every single cabin was booked, the tent sites were full, families were having a great time.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I think camping to some folks feels very rustic.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_01: And for some, that is their style, that is what they love to do.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_01: They want to be off the grid.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_01: Others want to have bingo in the pavilion and running water and air conditioning.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's, you know, so fun about the term camping is it's not a one size fits all.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so if you are interested in getting into what RVing and camping might look like, doing the rental, you know, there's there's the RV shares that you may have talked about on previous episodes where people can drop it off and set it up for you and you can check it out and make sure it's the right fit.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_01: So it's it's you know, not the same as talking about you know hotel travel.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: I think everybody kind of gets a feel for that, but camping is is just so many different ends of the spectrum.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_00: And let's talk a little bit about that.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: You mentioned the fact that not all campgrounds are for all people.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you have your rustic.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: When I started RV, I did not know, but we were in a we were in Lake Mead outside of Las Vegas.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: I wanted to be close to where we started because we did sell everything and we were going full time, and I needed that time to get settled and figure things out.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_00: Well, there was no electricity.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: Like that's it was boondocking.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: There was no, you know, we could fill up our tank with water and to dump it, we had to pack up and go up to the dump station.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: And I again didn't know.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you dove right in, didn't you?
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: I blindly.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: I think that I guess my husband at the time wanted me to get sort of the worst of it because it was, you know, then better from there because once I discovered full hookups, that's what I wanted.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_01: That's true.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_01: That was a good approach.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_01: I could see it.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: We and we were on Lake Mead, and it was beautiful.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: The campground was amazing.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: People were just so friendly and so helpful.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: And that's where I, for me, the biggest part of camping is the community that you just can't explain if you've never experienced.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: So we have the rustic and then we have your luxury campgrounds.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: Can you give a little bit of tips on how people kind of discover what is best for them?
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_01: Sure.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_01: So uh, you know, shameless plug for us here at Camp New York.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_01: We have a great website, we do a printed guide, like so many states do, um, that kind of map out the different amenities.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I think to your point, Patty, it's really kind of experiencing them firsthand and saying, Oh, is this something that's important?
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_01: It also depends on, you know, who are you camping with?
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um, do you have young children?
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_01: Do you have teenagers?
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_01: Are you do you not have children with you?
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_01: Do you have grandchildren?
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_01: Is it a large group that buddy sites that are important, you know?
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_01: I so you do have to try.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but there are resources out there that can help you filter what that looks like.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I think when we talk to people, when we go to different RV shows and events, no two families or folks or couples or individuals that come up to us have the same priorities.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, so I think making sure that you're kind of funneling out what those things are for you.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_01: Not every campsite is once, you know, one size fits all, and they may not check every box, but they might check most of them.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that is so important.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm gonna give a plug for Camp New York because the guide, first of all, it is free.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: There's over 165 campgrounds, and it is such an amazing resource.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: So I've looked at it, I think it's amazing, and I highly recommend it.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: And people could go to that by going to campnework.com, and I will definitely put that in the show notes because it is so it's important to have that.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_00: And like you said, and I'm gonna emphasize having been in this space for about six years, and people say, What's your favorite place to go, or what's your favorite campground, because they want to experience that same thing.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_00: And I always hesitate because I'll say it just depends.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: Like I have been in a campground where I'm out in nature.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I might have hookups, but it's a dirt site or it just has some gravel, but I want to be in nature, I want to be next to the water, and then there are times I'm in outside of Orlando and I have a cement pad, and that is what I want because I'm going back and forth to Disney.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_00: So that's my big caution, is not just looking at the Instagram pictures and what people say is, you know, wonderful of the best place.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: Choose what's best for you.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's subjective for sure.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: And and sometimes the campground is the destination, and I think that's important.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_01: You know, other times the campground is a place for you to really just stop and lay your head and get some rest before you're on to the next stop.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_01: So it really does shift based on your priorities.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_01: You know, certain campgrounds um they could be a little on the pricier side, and I have heard that quite a bit where oh, the sites per night were X amount.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_01: Well, are you staying?
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_01: Are you using the pool, the water park, the pickleball court, the movies, the boat launch?
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_01: You have to factor all of that into your price point.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_01: If you're going there just because you want to sleep for six hours, that's probably not the right destination for you.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_01: So it's really just determining, you know, kind of what your needs are per trip.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm gonna get a little bit, give a little bit of a plug.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: I did start working with Happy Grounds, and that's how we connected because they have 18 campgrounds, eight of them in New York.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: And I have been able to visit all of them actually in New York.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just trying to remember which ones I've visited and looking at each area.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_00: So we have campgrounds in Lake Champlain, we have campgrounds in, I can't even remember some of them.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um the capital region, you're I know happy grounds is everywhere.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_01: It's been such a great addition to our team, especially here at Camp New York.
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_00: Right, and it's really spread out.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: So I was in a campground that was in Connecticut, full of activity, full of kids, so much going on nightly.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it was just so a lot of energy, a lot going on, a lot of events planned all weekend long, which was great.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: I was there by myself.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's great with kids or couples or people that are going and, you know, they want to play pickleball or whatever it is.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_00: Great campground.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_00: And then I left there and I went to a campground called Glen Hudson, which is right on the Hudson River.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_00: It is quiet, there's not much activity-wise, beautiful campground, and it was just peace and quiet.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: I was like, okay, this is perfect right now.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_00: I sat in the Hudson River, and to me, that was just a great difference.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_00: And that what I'm saying is, what is it you need?
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_00: What are you looking for?
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_00: Is exactly what you're talking about.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_00: And again, I'm gonna say people using Camp New York Guide, 165 plus campgrounds, that's a great place, I think, for people to start after they kind of figure out what it is they're looking for.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and we're always happy to help too, because you know, if you're coming with a specific, I mentioned earlier these great destinations that we have, you know, concert halls and beautiful things going on really all year long.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_01: So maybe you have you start with a specific destination and then you're looking for the right fit for you.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_01: Or as I mentioned, sometimes the campground is the destination, and in every single one of our regions, that is an option too.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_01: So we we're happy to help.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: We have great partners in our campgrounds.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_01: There's every campground owner or operator wants to talk about their location and what they have to offer.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_01: So I think as you mentioned before, it's the community, and to never feel like you're kind of figuring this out.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I know there's a lot of resources out there.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_01: There's Chat GPT, there's Google, there's all these different things.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but there's nothing like the campground community.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_01: There's great, you know, Facebook pages and blogs that are out there, your podcasts, you know, ways that you can kind of narrow down where you at least might want to start and then figure out what you love from there.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, let's segue in hidden gems.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_00: Are there places in New York that you could think of?
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_00: Like I said, being on the Hudson River for me, the campground, yes, it's a plug for the Happy Grounds, Glenn Hudson Campground, because it is just this quiet, serene place.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_00: I could sit in, you know, the river and just get some sun and enjoy.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: And that was just exactly what I needed at that time.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_00: But are there hidden gems that you can recommend to people?
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I think the big places, it's easy to find, like George and, you know, places like that.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_00: But do you have any of those secrets to reveal?
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_01: I certainly have to be careful with 165 members.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_01: I don't want to to isolate anybody, but I think something, you know, the the Thousand Islands region, um, you know, sometimes gets overlooked.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_01: I think the Finger Lakes is popular, but think about the campgrounds that are near these wineries.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_01: They help get you to the wineries.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, those are some hidden gems there as well.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I mentioned the Catskills already, and they might seem, if you're just looking at a map or you put driving distances in and it seems, oh geez, it's 35 minutes off the highway, and that seems a little scary.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_01: Those are typically where you're going to find those hidden gems that are on the creeks, the babbling brooks, the gorgeous views.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_01: I would highly recommend don't be scared if it looks like something's a little bit off a major highway.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_00: And I agree with you because sometimes those places off the highway are the places that are beautiful, they're not as crowded.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_00: I happen to be traveling through the cat skills.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: I need to spend a little more time.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_00: I did not have enough time there.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: And as a kid, I heard about the cat skills all the time, but I had no clue.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_00: And then all of a sudden, there I was, and I'm like, oh yeah, this is what people were talking about.
• 21:16
  SPEAKER_00: Just beautiful.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_00: And I keep using that word.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_00: I need a bigger, stronger word because there are areas in New York.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I'm driving three, four, five hours to get from one destination to the other.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_00: And I don't, I'm not I'm driving in a car and I'm not used to driving that long that far.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_00: But the beauty is just incredible.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely incredible.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and it it is, it is hard to put into words.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_01: And I think, like you mentioned, some of the key points.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, everybody kind of knows the foliage that comes along with New England and the Adirondacks, and we have campgrounds that are close to the Canadian border, so you know, there there are so many different areas.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: Areas that you can go to.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_01: That's what the saying is, and it could just depend on what that means to each individual traveler.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but our our region broken up in or our state broken up into the regions that they are just gives you a different feel the minute you cross into that different area.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_01: It's hard to explain, so I can't wait for your listeners and followers to do it and be like, oh wait, I knew what they meant then, you know.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about one of my first trips.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_00: I flew into Vermont and drove into uh Champlain, New York.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_00: I've always heard of like Champlain, I've seen pictures.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_00: All I could say is wow.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_00: Just sometimes it's the feel of an area.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_00: And I can't really describe that, but you go into an area in the feel.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: I came over on the ferry across Lake Champlain, and it was raining that day, and it was still such a wow moment.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_00: And being up in upstate New York is now one of my I keep saying that's my favorite place, that's my favorite place.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_00: I do the same thing, Patty.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_00: And we have a campground.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_00: So again, I'm gonna give a plug for Happy Grounds because there is a campground in Lake Champlain.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_00: It is five or ten minutes to the border to Montreal, so it's just great.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_00: You could stay in the campground, you could enjoy Lake Champlain, you could take a ride into Canada.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I actually had somebody on from North Country Chamber of Commerce who talked about how to get into Canada.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_00: It is easy.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: She talked about it, it's so much easier than I expected, and that area just an incredible area.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_00: And then you come down into Osable area.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, yeah, which I had to learn how to say that word right.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but it's just there's so much, and that's where I feel like the summer is already like people keep saying the summer's ending, and I'm not ready for it to end because there's still so much I want to see and do, even though I am looking forward to the fall foil, the fall leaves.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, I that that one's a tough one to say.
• 24:23
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it my family and I did the same thing about two years ago uh for Niagara Falls.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, uh that's not a hidden gem, and I I don't pretend that that's hidden.
• 24:31
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, that's uh one of the wonderful things everybody knows about New York, but you know, to be at a local campground and be able to go, we did the American side of the falls, and then we were able to go right into Canada, experience that, came back through and went right back to the campground.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, it was it was a pretty remarkable experience.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_00: And that is so I always talk about a bucket list.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_00: I've actually done podcast episodes where, you know, I've really encouraged people to create a bucket list.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_00: But for me, creating a bucket list was this list I put aside, and I never really had a plan of checking anything off of said bucket list.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_00: And I think for a bucket list, it doesn't have to be all the huge big things.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_00: I agree.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_00: It could be the smaller, you know, visiting Lake Champlain, those kinds of things.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_00: Niagara Falls is definitely on my bucket list.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_00: Not sure if I'll get there this year, but if not, definitely have a plan for next year to get to Niagara Falls.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_00: And I want to see both sides.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_00: Highly recommend.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, people say one side or the other.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_00: I just had somebody say, Oh, you have to go to the Canadian side.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, no, I want both.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_00: I want to do it all.
• 25:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you have to experience everything.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I I understand that.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's the bucket list concept.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_01: I'm right there with you, and and I I do want to share a a story, if I may, um, about kind of how camping has checked one of the boxes.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_01: And my kids are are now 12 and 10.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we've been camping, as I said, for about six years or so.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um, full, you know, not full time, but pretty much every week in the summer and everything, they're getting busier with sports.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so bucket lists are becoming more popular for me in my brain to say, oh gosh, they're getting older.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_01: Did we do this?
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_01: Are we doing this?
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_01: And are am I doing enough?
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_01: And I I don't know if that resonates with a lot of parents and grandparents, but you, oh, time is is flying, right?
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_01: And you think you're not doing enough and spending enough time.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_01: And my kids went on a field trip with their summer camp earlier this week, and they passed a road.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_01: It was a little bit of a distance away from where we live, and they passed a road that leads to a campground that we'd gone to quite a bit early on.
• 26:45
  SPEAKER_01: And my son has a phone, and I'm sitting at my desk and talking about camping, and I get a picture, and it was look what road this is, what memories with the crying emojis and heart.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_01: Now, this is a pretty rough and tough 12 and a half year olds sending mom a picture of the road that led to the campground.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_01: And then I pick them up at summer camp and my daughter goes, Mom, guess what?
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_01: We passed, we passed the road to this campground.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I thought, all right, I think I'm doing okay with trying to create these memories.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_01: And I know we all do different trips and we go lots of different places, but to know that camping and being in the RV and it had such an impact that they were willing to tell those stories at their ages, I thought, all right, maybe the bucket list can be checked off.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_00: And I think what's important for me, and one of the things I was thinking about when I started this podcast was also letting people know that travel doesn't have to be far away.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_00: And I believe you there was a quote you had about that.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: If you can't travel to New York, if you can't go see Niagara Falls, there is something wherever you are within 30 to 60 minutes.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_00: It could be inexpensive or free.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_00: And I want to encourage people to go out and look at those things.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_00: If you can't go into campground and spend a whole week there, some of them will give day passes.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_00: Some campgrounds have passes, and then you can have the experience.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_00: So letting as a parent and now grandparent of five kids, you know, I do feel that.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: Did I do enough?
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_00: Am I doing enough?
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, I don't think we ever feel like we are.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, yes.
• 28:33
  SPEAKER_00: But you have to take those moments where the kids say, Hey, remember when?
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_00: And you're like, oh, okay.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_01: So it did stick, it did mean something.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_01: And and I just find that happens, and maybe I'm biased, right?
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_01: But I do find that that happens more with camping because you do slow down and you do sit around the fire, and you know, it's just not what you do at home.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_01: We're busy at home, and even when you go on some of these other types of vacations, you go to Disney, great memories, but you're on the go, you're busy.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_01: Where I think camping, you know, does kind of afford you that time and that pace, as you mentioned, the different regions.
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, and yes, we did a campaign of you don't have to go far to get away.
• 29:12
  SPEAKER_01: And it it's been uh, I think a really great reminder.
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_01: As I mentioned this past weekend, I chatted with a few people that were renting cabins.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, they were from 15 minutes down the road and they had never gone to the campground before, but they wherever they saw the advertisement for it, and they said, Oh, we thought we would come, we're having a great time, you know, doing these different activities.
• 29:32
  SPEAKER_01: So it was a great reminder that it could be in your backyard and it does still feel like you're taking that little bit of time away with your loved ones.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_01: Or by yourself if that if that needs to happen.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_00: And I agree that even if you're 15, it's like that whole, you know, people would do kind of a staycation where they go to a local hotel.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_00: It's that kind of same idea.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_00: You're getting out of the house, you're not looking at the laundry, the dishes, you know, everything you need to clean and do and things when you're home.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_00: And it really does kind of take you out of that.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_00: And I think a campground takes you even more so because being in nature, just sitting by the fire.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I'm not the kind of person that just wants to sit around.
• 30:19
  SPEAKER_00: I love to sit and read a book.
• 30:21
  SPEAKER_00: I've learned to sit quietly, you know, it's something I've learned over time.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_00: But fake a vacation for me always meant what are we doing next?
• 30:30
  SPEAKER_00: What's next?
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_00: Where where are we going tonight?
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_00: Where's dinner gonna be?
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you're always thinking about the next thing, and like you've been saying, being in a campground, just a little calmer, a little more quiet, easier.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_01: Even the busy campgrounds, and and I don't have the exact study on this, but there there have been studies done where sitting around the campfire, you do open up, you have more conversations, and I find, you know, I can kind of connect with our friends, with you know, my children, my husband, you know, you kind of just have those moments where you chat a little bit more, and it feels, you know, I don't know, less scary to to chat with somebody for for folks that don't like to do that.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm sure we could all Google it.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_01: There are those studies out there that say it.
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_00: But I totally see it.
• 31:15
  SPEAKER_00: And before I started RVing and camping, I would have been like, I'm I don't get it, I don't understand.
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_00: But the first time in Lake Mead, no activities there, no events, no amenities, no hookups, like just being there and you know, being in front of the fire and meeting people, it's just an experience that I highly recommend everybody try at least once.
• 31:43
  SPEAKER_00: How about that?
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_01: You know, and as for as much as we camp, you know, across New York, I'm still taken aback every time I look up in certain campgrounds where you know the trees just open and it feels like there's billions of stars and it's quiet, and you just kind of have that moment.
• 32:01
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel like we all need that these days.
• 32:05
  SPEAKER_00: I absolutely do.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_00: I think a lot more we're seeing for our mental health, quote unquote mental health.
• 32:11
  SPEAKER_00: I I definitely think it is a great thing to do, and you know, like we've been talking about, somebody could go somewhere local, just close by, give it a try.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_00: There's so many options, and I'm glad that you brought that up early on about clamping and tents and cabins.
• 32:30
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I've stayed in a yurt, I've I've seen safari tents, which are really cool, and they're safari tents that are right on the water.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_00: There are these cute little quaint cabins that I've stayed in, and again, it's knowing what works for you.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_00: I want running water, in all fairness.
• 32:50
  SPEAKER_00: That's what I need.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, there are cabins that are very rustical.
• 32:56
  SPEAKER_00: Non-negotiables.
• 32:56
  SPEAKER_00: I don't need, you know, too fancy.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_00: Some some of my family would disagree with that, but you know, sometimes being out in nature, you know, the the amenities are more rustic.
• 33:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm saying that because I want people to really look at what their non-negotiables are, because that's a great way to choose the campground and type of camping that they want to do.
• 33:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 33:21
  SPEAKER_01: You know, for some it's level sites, for others, it's, you know, making sure they're right on the water, uh, you know, a larger space that would have room for lots of friends or family to go with you.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, hidden gems too within a campground could also be that they can have events.
• 33:36
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I think that's something that isn't talked about quite enough, is maybe you're gonna have a family party, a graduation party, a birthday, and a lot of these campgrounds give you the option to have a gathering space at a pavilion or something along those lines, and then everybody can stay, you know, in whatever method, if they have the RVs, if they have tents, if they have cabins.
• 33:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that makes the campground a hidden gem in and of itself, is where it can be more than just a two or three hour birthday party.
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_01: You can really make it an experience.
• 34:07
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, that that the kids are then gonna remember.
• 34:10
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 34:11
  SPEAKER_00: I have coming up a couple different events that there are groups of people.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_00: So for people who don't want to travel by themselves as a solo traveler, you know, I am meeting up with these two different groups and they're doing a whole four to seven day event, yeah, which is a whole different experience.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_00: And a lot of times families will get together and do events, like you said, together.
• 34:36
  SPEAKER_00: But even people from all over will say, Hey, this is where we're meeting up, and then you get to meet people.
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's just really just another incredible part.
• 34:46
  SPEAKER_01: It goes back to that community.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_01: I'll tell you, my my aunt and uncle uh kind of came from Connecticut.
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_01: They're they're in their big rig, they're driving, they drove, drove across New York, stayed in New York, and then went into Canada.
• 34:58
  SPEAKER_01: They're all over and they're with a group that they had never met before.
• 35:02
  SPEAKER_01: It was a planned trip of a caravan of RVers.
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_01: And according to their Instagram, they're going to be lifelong friends.
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_01: And it just it's a different kind of community to travel like that together.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_01: So even if you don't start with that group of friends, you're going to gather them along the way.
• 35:19
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 35:19
  SPEAKER_00: And you hear that all the time.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_00: When we started full-time RVing, people said, What about, you know, socializing and meeting people and having friends?
• 35:29
  SPEAKER_00: Isn't it going to be lonely?
• 35:31
  SPEAKER_00: No.
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_00: It was more lonely being in the house on a street.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_00: I worked, you know, went to work, came home, dinner, kids going to school, activities that I didn't really know anybody on the street that I lived on.
• 35:46
  SPEAKER_00: And I go in an RV, and to this day, even though I'm not in the RV anymore, and they're clear across the country, they are lifelong friends.
• 35:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's just a connection.
• 35:57
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, I feel you back into a spot, even if when my husband was first early learning on how to do it, of course, that was stressful.
• 36:05
  SPEAKER_01: I'm sure we could do a whole episode on, you know, trying to figure all of that out on our own.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but I'll never forget the very first time he had to back into a spot instead of a pull-through.
• 36:15
  SPEAKER_01: And the people in the surrounding sites, we thought, oh gosh, they're all gonna stare at us.
• 36:20
  SPEAKER_01: We're fighting, you know, what's gonna happen?
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_01: They wanted to help.
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_01: Hey, let me tell open your windows, give me your cell phone number, I'll call you.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_01: How do we do this?
• 36:27
  SPEAKER_01: So it really opened our eyes to what the community is.
• 36:32
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 36:33
  SPEAKER_00: And if they're not helping, they are also staring.
• 36:36
  SPEAKER_00: So they might be here.
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_00: Just accept it, just be okay with it.
• 36:41
  SPEAKER_00: It's just part of our being.
• 36:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's just part of it.
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_01: One of my favorite memes, or sorry for what I said while I was trying to park the trailer, you know?
• 36:50
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 36:51
  SPEAKER_00: I actually met this incredible couple.
• 36:53
  SPEAKER_00: They travel full-time with their three kids.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_00: Their handles on social media is called road rabers.
• 37:01
  SPEAKER_00: And I have to give them a shout out because they actually talk about how they communicate as a couple to avoid those fights and arguments.
• 37:12
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we all joke about backing up and arguing and all of that, but sometimes it really affects people.
• 37:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so they talk about what they do and how they just stop.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, if they need to, they just stop and they talk to each other.
• 37:29
  SPEAKER_00: They they give each other a kiss after they parked their RV.
• 37:33
  SPEAKER_00: Like they had all of these amazing suggestions for how to make that a better experience.
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_01: Get through that.
• 37:42
  SPEAKER_01: That's great.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_01: That that's something I'll certainly look up and and we can pass along.
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_01: Because that's a big part of what, you know, for Camp New York, we of course have our listings, we have our members.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but you know, if anybody's so inclined to follow our social media, we also like it to just be what we're doing here.
• 37:58
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's a conversation, it's tips and tricks and fun and uh, you know, how to enjoy camping in general.
• 38:04
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, we want folks to come and visit us here in New York, but it's really the experience of the type of travel in general.
• 38:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so those are, you know, some pretty, pretty fun things I think to highlight because we've all been there, even if it's just early on.
• 38:16
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 38:18
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes it takes longer, you know, for others to get that down.
• 38:23
  SPEAKER_00: And that's okay.
• 38:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's not easy, you know.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_01: I also have some friends that drive separately for that reason.
• 38:29
  SPEAKER_01: I I know people if they can, they take two vehicles and someone goes ahead with the the trailer, the camper, whatever it is they're towing or driving, uh, and then their partner comes in a different way.
• 38:40
  SPEAKER_01: So hey, if that's the solution, that works too.
• 38:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 38:43
  SPEAKER_00: So when talk to people about the social media and how they can connect with Camp New York.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_01: So uh Facebook and Instagram, um, just both Camp New York.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_01: Everything is all spelled out.
• 38:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, we're really having some fun with some different lifestyle type things.
• 39:02
  SPEAKER_01: Should we share recipes, as we mentioned, some tips and tricks.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_01: We do spotlight some great campgrounds uh that work with us across the state if there's various events going on.
• 39:13
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, a big part of what we do is work with our local tourism boards uh and chambers of commerce because there's some great resources there.
• 39:21
  SPEAKER_01: If there are some fun events that are going on uh throughout the state, so we try to highlight that.
• 39:26
  SPEAKER_01: So it really is uh about New York and then the ability to camp uh to go visit and do a lot of those things.
• 39:33
  SPEAKER_01: So Facebook, Instagram, uh we're working on TikTok as well, uh, but definitely would start with Facebook and Instagram if anybody's interested.
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_00: And I'll put the links for those as well as campnework.com.
• 39:46
  SPEAKER_00: As I said, there's over 165 campgrounds, and it is free.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_00: It is a free, amazing resource.
• 39:53
  SPEAKER_00: So I highly recommend that.
• 39:55
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 39:55
  SPEAKER_01: I do want to mention for us at Camp New York, we are the independent campgrounds.
• 40:00
  SPEAKER_01: So there are fabulous state parks uh really across the entire country, of course, here in New York.
• 40:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um, there's beautiful state parks.
• 40:09
  SPEAKER_01: What we like to encourage uh for those that are staying at our independent campgrounds, you can still go and you know visit the beautiful state parks and experience everything that's there.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_01: There's waterfalls and hiking and trails and all sorts of great things.
• 40:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but our guide specifically and our website and social media focuses on the independently owned and operated, which do tend to have um more of the amenities and activities and things like that that are going on.
• 40:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but just wanted to clarify that and do shout out our gorgeous state park locations.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_00: I appreciate you clarifying that.
• 40:44
  SPEAKER_00: And again, a shameless plug.
• 40:46
  SPEAKER_00: I do work with Happy Grounds because I found this group of people that truly cares about the campground experience, maintaining the mom and pop feel of a campground while adding the amenities and the activities and events and all of those things.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_00: Like I said, we have eight campgrounds in New York.
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and some of them, all of them have been amazing and each one offering something different.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_00: They're not all for everyone.
• 41:18
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but yes, I highly recommend that.
• 41:20
  SPEAKER_00: And to your point, you had said early on that some of these campgrounds are getting filled up.
• 41:27
  SPEAKER_00: I would say don't let that, you know, discourage you.
• 41:31
  SPEAKER_00: It is August that you and I are recording, and this episode will go out near the end of August, but there's still time to book a campground, whether it's the RV or rentals or whatever you're looking for, and get out and see the fall leaves.
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_00: So can we talk a little bit about the fall leaves?
• 41:51
  SPEAKER_01: We can absolutely talk about the fall leaves.
• 41:54
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, there's great resources.
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_01: Actually, we put out, I have a great uh teammate, her name is Anne here in the Camp New York office.
• 42:01
  SPEAKER_01: We put out leaf peeping uh maps of where the best places are to go in New York, and we'll put the graphics out.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_01: So if you do follow us, you'll see where we're recommending you to go.
• 42:11
  SPEAKER_01: And actually, it might be a good time, especially if folks are just getting into uh kind of the camping or the RV lifestyle, is just do do a week, or if your schedule allows, you can work remotely, or if you're retired, go during the week in September.
• 42:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, the rates will be a little bit better, things will definitely be a little bit quieter.
• 42:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so you can definitely, you know, get an experience for it and start planning your trip for next year.
• 42:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but keep an eye out for some of those graphics because we do like to keep a lot of our travelers kind of in the know of where to go for the the peak, or if it's not quite peak, or if it's already passed, that way you're not booking something and you're disappointed that the leaves aren't orange and and red anymore.
• 42:52
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I have definitely downloaded that.
• 42:55
  SPEAKER_00: So I will be studying that for my next.
• 42:58
  SPEAKER_00: I have four more trips to New York and Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, uh, New Hampshire and Vermont.
• 43:07
  SPEAKER_00: I will be looking at when to plan my New York travel based on the colors of the leaves that'll be here.
• 43:14
  SPEAKER_01: I'll be following along with you, Patty.
• 43:16
  SPEAKER_01: That's for sure.
• 43:17
  SPEAKER_01: That sounds like quite the trip.
• 43:18
  SPEAKER_01: I I do my, you know, kind of trek across New York, but um, you know, we're also part of the Northeast Campground Association, and I love to follow what's going on uh, you know, in a lot of different areas.
• 43:28
  SPEAKER_01: New York, I feel very fortunate to be here.
• 43:31
  SPEAKER_01: We can get very, you know, to different places um pretty quickly, actually, you know, major city hubs and airports in Canada and across.
• 43:39
  SPEAKER_01: And um, for a lot of people, they'll reach out to us and say, hey, we're kind of passing through what should we do?
• 43:45
  SPEAKER_01: Where should we go?
• 43:46
  SPEAKER_01: Where should we focus?
• 43:47
  SPEAKER_01: And we're happy to be that resource for any of your travelers as well.
• 43:51
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 43:52
  SPEAKER_00: So now will you guys be at the Hershey RV show?
• 43:56
  SPEAKER_01: We will in a couple of different ways.
• 43:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so we work with brochure distribution companies that ensure that the guide that we mentioned, I'll show you the shameless, shameless plug for anybody that's watching us here.
• 44:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so we do um have our guides that are there.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_01: We're partnering with some content creators, uh, and we're planning on being there as well.
• 44:17
  SPEAKER_01: So Ann and I will pop around, and if any of your travelers are there, would love to say hello and answer any questions that they have about New York.
• 44:24
  SPEAKER_01: But it's it's a great show, it's a great resource.
• 44:28
  SPEAKER_01: I often get in trouble when I get home because I have a lot of RVs that I would like my husband to consider buying.
• 44:34
  SPEAKER_01: So he doesn't love when I head off to that show.
• 44:37
  SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I will be there as well.
• 44:39
  SPEAKER_00: I'll be there for the whole week.
• 44:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and some of the people from Happy Grounds will be there, and again, we'll be walking around.
• 44:47
  SPEAKER_00: Please feel free to meet up and you know, introduce yourself, say hi, ask questions.
• 44:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I can't wait to meet you face to face.
• 44:56
  SPEAKER_01: I know I'm so excited, and just kind of bringing Happy Grounds here in New York has been a great process already.
• 45:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yourself, your team there at Happy Grounds.
• 45:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, it's exactly what New York needs.
• 45:07
  SPEAKER_01: It it we really need to kind of continue the uh the intimacy, the feel of camping and what that community brings.
• 45:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm super excited about it.
• 45:16
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 45:16
  SPEAKER_00: We are super excited as well.
• 45:18
  SPEAKER_00: And as we wrap up, I just want to remind people they could reach out to you Camp New York, and that is on Facebook, Instagram, and campnework.com.
• 45:30
  SPEAKER_00: People have questions, they can ask that on the social media platforms.
• 45:35
  SPEAKER_00: People can reach out to me on Instagram and Facebook.
• 45:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it this will also be on YouTube and all the podcast platforms, and could reach out to me.
• 45:44
  SPEAKER_00: It's all on Dirt Inspired Travels with Patty.
• 45:48
  SPEAKER_00: And again, I can't wait to see you in just a couple of weeks, is the Hershey show.
• 45:55
  SPEAKER_01: I know it's so hard to believe.
• 45:56
  SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm really thrilled to have been here, and I can't wait to hear more about your travels.
• 46:01
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna visit some past episodes, and I'll certainly follow you in the future.
• 46:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, I just want folks who are listening or watching to just know that New York, uh, you know, the song New York State of Mind, uh, it's real, and there's so much to do, and there's so much to see, and we would love to be a resource for any of your travelers to come and join us here and see what it's like to camp New York.
• 46:25
  SPEAKER_00: Well, thank you for all the incredible information.
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_00: I really appreciate it, and I'm sure my listeners will get a lot out of this episode and your resources as well.
• 46:37
  SPEAKER_00: New York is just an amazing place to visit.
• 46:39
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for being on the podcast.
• 46:42
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for having me.
• 46:43
  SPEAKER_01: Really appreciate it.
• 46:44
  SPEAKER_01: Happy camping, everybody.
• 46:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, happy camping.