Great Vacation
family traveler, budget-conscious traveler, married, Mom of 4
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NOV
25
2007
My favorite camp site was and still is Hickory Run State Park. This was the place we went every summer to relax and take a vacation. Most of the kids in my classes in school went to amusement parks, relatives houses, to another state or country, but not us, we went camping. Almost every year, I was allowed to take a friend too. This was great. We would go collect kindling wood for the fire, go exploring, go play at the park or just hang around the campsite with my parents. I think this was the best vacation ever. Good family time and it was so relaxing. Hickory Run has so much to offer to new and returning campers. I know that this sounds funny for a state park because most mental pictures of a state park are of trees, bugs and deer. With Hickory Run, this is not the case.
At Hickory Run there are two main camping settings. There is the primitive section and the "comfortable" living section. In the primitive section, there are two wide open fields. In the one there is a playground the other is just grassy. Around the field is where you set up camp. The toilets there are just open pits in the ground surrounded by a few walls. Of course there are seats, but no flushers or anything fancy like that. There is also no showers over here. When my parents went camping by themselves, they stayed here. They didn't mind the smell of each other. In the open fields at night, you can look out and see over 200 deer all in one field. It is the neatest thing you have ever seen. Also at night, as long as it is clear, you can see a million stars. I tried to count once, but fell asleep.
The "comfortable" living section is a little different. The camp sites are basically right on top of each other in a thick wooded area. You have your own camping space, but you have a direct neighbor, amongst many trees, animals and bugs. You have the trees, animals and bugs in the primitive section too, but there seems to be more here in the comfort zone. Also in this section you will find flush toilets, bathrooms with mirrors and outlets, running water and showers. As I got older, I insisted that we stay in this section, so that I could shower. I hated to smell.
Also in the state park, there is a section that you can park your camper, equipped with outlets to plug it in. I don't know much about this section because we never stayed here.
The activities list is pretty extensive. They have an area they call the "ampitheater" and usually you can find someone playing a guitar by campfire there on certain nights. If you are interested in this, you can ask for a program that is going on the week you are staying. There is a camp store that is equipped with just about anything you could possible want or need, although the prices are extremely high. I suggest taking your own ketchup and ice. Almost everything is within walking distance and there aren't too many hills to climb.
They also have a man-made lake that you can go swimming in, as long as the weather is permitting. They have a shower house, outhouses, picnic tables, first aid stand, refreshment stand and lifeguards on duty. The swimming area is roped off and you can only go out to the 4.5 feet deep level. This isn't very good for the people that like to swim and get away from the rowdy kids, but it accommodates everyone nicely. The beach is sandy, not too many rocks and there is usually ample space to sprawl out and get a tan. In the summer, many people go there just to swim that aren't camping. We've done that a few times and there is a parking lot for this purpose. They also have pavilions available, but it's first come first serve.
Another great aspect of Hickory Run is that they have what's called "Boulder Field". It sounds kind of dumb and to some, it may be. What this is, is a a field of giant boulders, hence it's name. The great thing is that it is huge, a great place to climb and check out different kinds of snakes. My dad and I loved to come here. It is only available by car though. It is up a large mountain, and hope your car makes it that far. The view is fantastic though, check it out if you get there.
This pretty much sums up Hickory Run State Park but if anyone else has been there, please feel free to add on to my explanation. The fees to camp are pretty reasonable and you can have quests visit there as well. There is always a ranger station open and a welcome building with pamphlets if you want to drop in. There are also many different waterfalls, and hiking paths that I haven't explored yet, but I suggest you take advantage of this great state park if you get the chance. It is located in the Poconos and information can be reached at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/hickory.htm I hope you enjoy this park as much as I have.
Hickory Run State Park is recommended by palinkasx6
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