Shenandoah Hills Campground

A Forest Setting for a Relaxing Vacation

110 Campground Lane | Madison, VA 22727
For Reservations Call: 540.948.4186
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Leveling Your RV

November 12, 2016 by Dave Witzel

There are lots of ways to level your RV and we see people who prefer one way over another. Some would rather use wood boards and others like plastic blocks. Still others carry both and decide which they will use based on the type of ground they are parking on and how much leveling needs to be done.

Level the RVWood is typically better in sand and dirt because you can use longer pieces to span the area, whereas plastic blocks tend to sink in to soft aggregate like that. Wood can age, rot, and split, however, so must be replaced occasionally. Plastic blocks are better when the ground is wet because wood has a tendancy to slip in that situation. Plastic blocks are more expensive and you have to be sure to check their weight limit. They can crack and break if you overdo the weight limits.

There is a new product on the market called the Anderson Leveler. It seems to be easy and addresses most of the concerns when leveling with wood or plastic blocks. It comes in two fitted pieces. The first is curved and sized from one inch to 4 inches high. You will be driving up on this piece until the RV is level. Then place the second piece behind it as a chock. The video below shows how this is done.

 

Regardless of what you decide to use in leveling your RV, it’s important to do it. Some RV refrigerators will operate better in a level environment and you’ll be much more comfortable if you’re not listing to one side in your chair at the dinner table.

Filed Under: Camping Tips

Best 90 Minute Humorous Books to Read From Your Camping Chair

November 5, 2016 by Dave Witzel

You may be someone who brings two or three books with you when you plan a camping trip only to go home with only having gotten through a few chapters. Your intentions were good but either you kept dozing off in the middle of a reading session or you found too many other things to do instead.

If you really do want to get some reading in you might try some fun, short reads that are currently listed on Amazon’s best seller list. There is quite a variety of topics and they can all be read at one sitting or at least between naps. They are 90 minute reads and very entertaining.

We're not the CleaversWe’re Not the Cleavers: A Collection of Award-Winning Shenanigans
This is funny stuff about family. Heather Davis tells the stories that we’ve imagined and feared might happen to us. It’s every day things we have all encountered but she makes it hilarious.

 

 

Lily TomlinLily Tomlin: The Kindle Singles Interview
Who doesn’t love Lily Tomlin? From the way she entertained us as Ernestine on “Laugh-In” to her recent role in the Netflix series “Grace and Frankie”. We get to see behind the genius of the amazing woman as she is interviewed and shares her perspective on life.

 

 

Sorry I Barfed on Your BedSorry I Barfed on Your Bed (and Other Heartwarming Letters from Kitty)
Cat lovers will laugh out loud as they read this perspective from the cat’s point of view. If you’ve been in the position of bowing to the majesty your cat believes him or herself to be, you will see yourself in many of these situations.

There is plenty of good reading to enjoy from the hammock this summer and we hope you find a few that entertain you for a short time of summer relaxation.

Filed Under: Camping Gear, Summer Fun, Uncategorized

Protecting Your Camping Gear From Mildew

October 29, 2016 by Dave Witzel

camping mildewCamping good weekend fun to many and some consider it a lifestyle. Either way, you want to protect your camping gear from damage and keeping it mildew free is the first place to start. Dew and humidity can play a big part in giving mildew a strong start so we are offering some tips for keeping it at bay.

The best way to prevent mildew is with sunshine and air flow. There is nothing that mildew likes better than a tightly closed up area in which to grow. You can use the sunny days for airing out your sleeping bags and other gear. Drape the items over chairs or lay them flat on the grass, flipping them regularly, to soak up the sun’s rays and be dried with a nice breeze. 

Take care with your wet towels and damp clothing. Don’t leave them on the floor or closely packed together. Dry them after each use and you should be able to enjoy them for many years to come. If mold does have a chance to take hold you can kill it with a few remedies. Adding lemon juice and water to a spray bottle is effective and will smell nicer than a bleach solution would. There are some commercial solvents that will work as well. 

The best way to fight mold is to prevent it from taking root in the first place. We hope you enjoy your camping stay with us and that your camping equipment remains strong and untouched by mildew.

Filed Under: Camping Gear, Camping in Virginia, Camping Tips, Planning & Preparation, Recipes, Uncategorized

Fun, Old Time Games For Kids

September 17, 2016 by Dave Witzel

Kids playing at RV ParkIt doesn’t always take the newest electronics to make a kid happy. Sometimes you can teach them one of the old games you used to play and they have a ball learning from you.

We remember a few you might like to try. How about those hand games we played with each other when we were small? Do you remember Miss Mary Mack? Kids think it’s a blast to learn and teach to their friends.

 

How about Cat’s Cradle? Were you one of those kids that could play this for hours? It begins with a simple piece of string. Who can argue with that? The kids will soon be competing to develop new moves to keep the game going.

And there is always a Cootie Catcher. These are fun because the kids can help make them and they can decide what gets written on them as well. Your only investment is a piece of paper. How cool is that?

These are a few old games that will be new and unusual for your kids. We’d love to see you having fun, teaching these games to the next generation. Camping games don’t always require batteries or WiFi.

Filed Under: Camping Gear, Camping in Virginia, Camping Tips, Camping with Kids, Family Camping, Planning & Preparation

Avoid the Heat When Camping

September 10, 2016 by Dave Witzel

Campers spend lots of time sitting around the fire, cooking over the fire, and baking in the sun so it’s smart to bring equipment to protect yourself from getting burned. Whether it’s sunburn, steam burn from opening a foil dinner pack, or a blister from stepping on a sparkler, we want to help you avoid the pain and experience more of the fun while you are here.

heat proof gloves A pair of heat proof gloves is very smart. When you are working with hot coals or propane flames the temperature can get very high. You’ll protect your hands if you keep a pair or two of these gloves around every time you go camping. Be sure to store them in a place you can always find them so you don’t have to search and risk burning dinner while you try to find something to protect your hands when you take dinner of the heat.

folding shovelKeep a poker or a folding shovel for stirring the coals of your fire without having to get too close to it. The temperature of a campfire can get alarmingly high so work as far away as you possibly can.

sunscreenWear sunscreen and reapply often. Save your skin from getting burned when you are camping. It is so easy to lose track of time when you are outside horsing around with the kids. Be aware of the sun and its effects on your skin. Make sure you have a brand for the kids and one for you and other adults. You can try spray on or lotion but what is most important is the level of SPF and your diligence in using it.

SparklersCover yourself with non-flammable clothing for 4th of July. Fire crackers, fireworks, even sparklers all come with a certain amount of risk so be prepared by keeping your skin covered. And there is heat exhaustion. If it’s the middle of summer, and the heat & humidity are high, take measure to get out of the sun and cool yourself down. It should happen relatively quickly and you should feel better right away.

Take care to avoid getting burned this summer. We want your trip to be filled with fun and lots of good memories.

Filed Under: Camping Gear, Camping Tips, Planning & Preparation, Summer Fun

Are You a Fan of Halloween Camping?

September 3, 2016 by Dave Witzel

Halloween Parade Shenandoah HillsIf you are, we have plenty of Halloween fun for you. We hold four Halloween camping weekends here at Shenandoah Hills Campground and there is something for everyone.

You’ll have four options for camping. You can choose any or all of our Halloween Haunt weekends; September 9, October 7, October 14, and October 21st. Lots of our campers are here for every one of them and others join us for one or two. 

We have something for you if you want to be scared out of your wits – the Kreepy Maze of Terror – or if you like your Halloween to be not-so-scary – Pumpkin Painting and Crafts. 

Sites fill up quickly so make a reservation soon if you want in on the Halloween fun. We look forward to seeing you here for some Halloween mayhem and simple trick-or-treating.

Filed Under: Camping in Virginia, Camping with Kids, Family Camping, Halloween Camping

Camping Journals

August 27, 2016 by Dave Witzel

camping journalWe see plenty of campers using their own form of a camping journal and the reasons why are many. Camping has a way of making you lose track of time. That’s a wonderful thing but it can be disheartening when you want to remember certain things about a trip or a campground you stayed in. Maybe you want to remember the names of your neighbors or how many miles you drove.

All of this can be accomplished with a dedicated journal. You can use a regular spiral notebook or make it special with a specially designed journal of your choice. We think it’s a great idea and rarely hear of anyone who isn’t glad they picked up the practice.

One camper explained it like this:

“So I am an “Oh look at this!” kind of person. I came across a really neat book at a camping store and I thought of myself (of course).

It was a camping log (or journal if you will).

So many times we have taken trips and said “so how many miles did we actually travel?” Or “what was the name of the campground that we liked so well and said we would go back to?” (or never go back too). Or “Where were we when we took that picture?” and “WHO is it that photo bombed that picture?”

So with this handy little journal, you can log the date, the weather, where you traveled from and to. Wrong turns, detours, etc. Beginning miles, ending miles, and times. You can even log things that you did that day (you know, you’re camping so eat, sleep, eat, sleep, s’more’s).

You can jog notes of things like folks you met and want to keep in touch with, or the expense of things like tolls, camping fees, etc. Everything in one handy spot and small enough to keep in your glove box.

I thought this was so handy that I bought another one to give as a gift to my family members.

We are getting ready to take a road trip and I will let you know how it goes for us. Now all I need to remember is to take it out of the glove box.”

You might like to try jotting down some notes about your camping excursions. It can be a lot of fun to read later on and laugh about your adventures.

Filed Under: Camping Gear

First Halloween Haunt is Just a Month Away

August 20, 2016 by Dave Witzel

kreepy maze of terror Shenandoah Hills CampgroundIf you love Halloween and you love camping, Shenandoah Hills is the place to be. We hold four fun Halloween Weekends for your trick-or-treating pleasure. 

We do it up right with hayrides, plenty of crafts, lots of food, trick or treating, good times with good people.

You can join us on any or all of the Halloween Haunt Weekends. 

Sept 30
October 7
October 14
October 21

And if you really like it creepy, prepare to be scared as you dare to go through our Kreepy Maze of Terror. You’ll start out on a hayride but then, be prepared, you’ll have to walk through the forest to get to the maze. And you never know what might happen along the way.

You’ll know you have found the Kreepy Maze of Terror when you start hearing the screams. Our campers love it and they come back bringing friends with them. 

Bring your best costumes, campsite decorations, and lots of candy. Prepare yourself for goose bumps, shivers, and a hair-raising experience. We look forward to scaring the bejeepers out of you and can’t wait to see your creative costumes.

Be sure to call and make your reservation soon. Sites fill up fast for all of our scary weekends. 

 

Filed Under: Camping Gear, Camping in Virginia, Camping Tips, Halloween Camping, Planning & Preparation

Protecting Equipment From Mildew

August 13, 2016 by Dave Witzel

prevent mildewThings can get humid in Virginia so we have seen a lot of remedies for keeping camping gear mildew free. Of course, the best action to take is a preventative one in warding off mildew before it gets a chance to take hold. We find the best preventatives of all are sun and air. Mildew is just begging for a dark, moist place to grow and fresh air & sunshine are the superhero elements that can foil its evil plans.

Make sure towels, jackets, and blankets are spread out to dry. If they are bunched up and even slightly damp it will give mildew just the environment it needs to take hold. If you are a tent camper be sure to spread the tent out as soon as you get home. Leave it in a sunny or breezy area for long enough to make sure it is completely dry before folding it up for storage. Most of us have had the experience of unwrapping a tent that had been put away wet and found how unpleasant that can be.

If you are in an RV you might want to consider a de-humidifier during the more humid months of July and August. It can cut down on mildew building up inside the rig which is not only annoying but can also trigger alergies in many people.

Once you have mold on your equipment and are attempting to remove it, it is necessary to give it a good scrub. You can begin with a soft brush but be careful. The mildew spores will fly and can cause respiratory problems in some people. We have seen people use bleach or ammonia, mixed with water (never mix bleach and ammonia together, though, because it creates a toxic chemical cloud) or lemon juice in a spray bottle. There are commercial solvents available and all of these will work to kill the spores though they may not remove the stain. Once you get the mildew out of the piece you can protect it from further assult by making sure it is good and dry before packing it away next time.

Filed Under: Camping Gear

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Shenandoah Hills Campground | 110 Campground Lane | Madison, VA 22727 | 540.948.4186 | Email Us

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