In this section, we will review different campsites and attractions we’ve visited so other families who may be interested in taking a trip across the U.S. in an RV can benefit from our experiences!

So here goes…

Jellystone Campground

Garrattsville, New York

Rating: B-

• No WI-FI and no cell signal…not a good place for a working couple!
• No sewer hookup on our site and no pull through
• Staff not too knowledgable and slow, computer system down.
• Great View!!  Clean!!

Cooperstown, New York

Cooperstown itself was beautiful.  Pretty town nestled in oceans of lush green hills and plenty of tall pines.

• Great place for lunch: Alex and Ika right off the main street. Fabulous meal!
• Things to do: Baseball Hall of Fame – opened in Cooperstown in June 12, 1939 and we were there to help them celebrate the Hall of Fame Anniversary.
• Luis Gonzales ( Gonzo) hero of the Diamondbacks World Series Championship in 2000 (A teammate at the time of our very own Curt Schilling)

We thought the Hall of Fame was very interesting and stayed for over three hours. Curt Schilling’s bloody sock was Ralph’s and my  favorite exhibit. Alex’s favorite was the display of the New York Yankees 27 World Series trophies.

Eli was bored to tears but was a good sport so that his brother and parent scoops read all the placards and see all the exhibits!  Thank you Eli!!

The Farmers Museum, a 19th century rural life museum and the Fenimore Art Museum an stunning collection of American Folk Art, came highly recommended by our friends the Lancey’s but we were out of time as we got such a late start Monday. I would come back to Cooperstown just to see more Hudson river art.

This is the downside of adhering to a schedule and having reservations but in this is what we feel we need to do being RV newbies and being so dependent on WI-FI and cell signals.

Summary

I’d recommend Cooperstown for a long weekend family vacation with children in the 4th grade and up. What a terrific area!  There are also several spectacular parks to explore, including the Glimmer Glass Lake (Lake Otesgo) of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales.  Guess what town was names after this famous author?

We watched the Bruins soundly defeat the Canucks on the worst TV signal I have seen in years!

So on to Niagara Falls, Canada…..following Route 90 West built along the route of the Historic Eric Canal.

Historical Tidbits:

James Fenimore Cooper was ( and still is) a popular Author of  The Leatherstocking Tales I and The Last of the Mohicans and many other works.  Great romantic author of the early to mid 1800s. His ancestral home was in, of course, Cooperstown, NY

American Economic History: The Erie Canal, New York Initiated by and brought to fruition by Governor Dewitt Clinton, the Erie Canal was built  during 1817-1825. It was used to connect Lake Erie in far off western New York to the Hudson River 363 miles, the longest canal and the most technologically advanced at the time of it’s completion, introducing an American invention, Waterproof cement (by American inventor Canvass White).

DeWitt Clinton is the persevering hero of this most profitable venture Which cost approximately $7.2 million to build but EARNED 17 times that ($122million) by 1883.  Wish our retirement fund would do as well!!

Great Book for the Kids:

Amazing Impossible Erie Canal by Cheryl Harness

What’s up Mr President?

Anyone who knows me has been bored to tears by my enthusiastic recitation of American Presidential Trivia.  Well, I have one for you…

Teddy Roosevelt was sworn into office in Buffalo, NY on September 14,

1901 immediately after President McKinley died after being shot while greeting  a receiving line of people after speaking at the PanAm Exhibition in Buffalo.  President McKinley was a good president however he is overshadowed by his very charismatic successor Teddy Roosevelt.  President Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest President to ever enter office, the first president ot use a telephone, ride an airplane and…he was . He was a trust buster, promoted conservation of our natural resources and wild places and won a Noble Peace Prize.

And don’t forget, he was the reason we have the Teddy Bear…instead of the Fred or the Ralph Bear.

I also recommend David McCullough’s Mornings On Horseback a fabulous read on the youth of Teddy Roosevelt.

Also available on audiobook!

Post a comment below and tell us what YOU think!