GETTYSBURG, PA--CIVIL WAR HISTORY LESSON

 We spent 2 nights at the Gettysburg KOA---http://koa.com/campgrounds/gettysburg/---My husband wasn't happy with the last KOA we stayed at in Coatsville only because there were no woods or privacy but he read up on RV Reviews.com---http://rvparkreviews.com/-- and thought he would give it another try.  Very nice.  As always someone greets you as soon as you check in and escorts you to your site and helps you get situated into the site.  The KOA has a pool ( which is closed after Labor Day) play ground, cabin rentals, nice general store and fenced in dog park. Not a big park but is nicely laid out and the sites are semi private with some brush and trees between sites. 

We only have 1 day in Gettysburg so we decided to head over to the Gettysburg National Military Park, Museum and visitors Center---http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/10/getty-museum-and-visitor-center--- We had an awesome time and wish we had more time but will definitely be back.  It is definitely a more then one day stop coming here.  We went on a walking tour with a Park ranger of the Battlefield Cemetery also know as Cemetery Hill where one of the battles was fought.  The Park ranger was very interesting and enlightening and I decided any time I go to a Historical State Park I will take a walking tour--- I just love History--http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/national_cemeteries/Pennsylvania/Gettysburg_National_Cemetery.html

WEST BRANCH STATE PARK--OHIO

This was just an overnight stop for us...Very nice camp store, ample space lots and man made lake stocked with many species of fish and boat launch .  Every summer they have a fishing tournament there.  I give it a would go back if the opportunity presents itself. http://www.westbranchstatepark.com/

DON'T BE A LOSER... STAY AT kooser state park in somerset PA

We actually stayed at this site twice on this trip , once on the way out to Michigan  and once on the way back to reduce travel time. Kooser State Park---http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/kooser/index.htm--- is very small but nice, ample space you aren't on top of other trailers. There are only 22 spaces but it is well kept , camp hosts were nice and accommodating as was the park ranger who go us wood when we arrived past check in time.  Their sister park is Laurel Hill State park--http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/laurelhill/index.htm- about 6 miles up the road.  This was a much larger camp facility however they only offer electric and no full hook ups...So we decided to stay at Kooser and take the  few minutes drive down to Laurel Hill which is huge!!  Lots of hiking and biking trails, boat ramps, fishing, nice and big.   KOOSER STATE PARK and LAUREL HILL STATE PARK are close to  the house Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater  We decided not to go to the home being it was $25 per person to tour and most write ups said it was disappointing for the cost. If you are interested it's approx. 25 miles from the State Park ---http://www.fallingwater.org/82

Kooser State park also has year round cabin rental.  You can snowmobile and cross country ski.  The only downside to Kooser was the highway that runs next to the camp.  It's noisy in the evening if you want to hear just crickets and no highway noise this might not be the place for you.  We were pretty sure we heard coyote in the distance. 

MY HEART IS IN MICHIGAN.... We're on our way

My heart is in Michigan basically because so is my son.  Graduated from Rutgers University this past May 2014 with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering, he was hired by Ford Motors in Dearborn MI and 2 weeks after graduation packed up and moved on to a new job and location.  Hated to see him go but happy he has this awesome opportunity. 

This gave Mike and I a good reason/excuse to expand our CMU ADVENTURE travels off the east coast and headed west.  This is my first time in the middle of the country.  Our first stop was Kooser state Park in Pa.  --http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/kooser/ I would like to tell you more about this park but we really only did an overnight and by the time we checked in was too late to really explore trails or surrounding area.  Very nice what we saw.  Camper sites only have a handful that are full hook up and seem to be fairly close together and small although the pull through feature was nice.  Very close to the road  and a quarry so not very quiet.  If you don't have a problem falling asleep to ongoing traffic travelling by you will be fine...personally that doesn't bother me in the least.  When I'm tired , I'm tired and I fall asleep especially if I am out in the woods.  We basically chose this camp ground as a 1/2 way point / stop on the way to Michigan.  5 hrs ea. day with a total of 10 hours from NJ to MI.  It was nice not to have to get the BBQ grill dirty they had a nice fire pit with a grill section.  We weren't sure where we would get wood because we checked in after 5 pm , the office was closed but a park ranger greeted us and stopped by our site and helped us get some wood for the eve.