Camping
Staying With Harvest Hosts
Harvest Hosts members camp at many bucolic sites. The Kuklinskis overnighted at Backroom Brewery in Middletown, Virginia.
If you enjoy RV adventures off the beaten path, and you love bucolic settings, Harvest Hosts might be for you.
The Harvest Hosts membership camping network provides overnight RV stays at more than 1,150 farms, wineries, breweries, distilleries, museums, and other attractions across North America. No-hookup camping is available for free.
While camped at a property, RVers can enjoy lunch or dinner; sample vintages, spirits, or brews in a tasting room; or shop for produce or handmade items. Often, they get a glimpse into a facility’s operations. And, of course, they meet other RVers.
David and Angie Kuklinski, F451454, have belonged to Harvest Hosts for four years. Angie recently posted a blog about the membership program, sharing the couple’s personal observations and experiences. She noted “the friendliness and kindness” extended by owners and managers at various properties.
Folks curious about how things work can receive a firsthand education at a Harvest Host site. At Misty Acres Alpaca Farm in Sidney, Maine, for example, the Kuklinskis met the shy, quirky alpacas and fed a few, while the owner gave a bottle to one of the babies. At Old Nick Williams Company Farm & Distillery in Lewisville, North Carolina, they took a tour to learn about the whiskey-making process, did a tasting, and purchased David’s favorite spirit.
To join, RVers pay a $79 annual fee for a basic membership (a golf-course package is $119 annually). Harvest Hosts recommends that members purchase a product during their stay ($20 minimum suggested; remember, camping is free). Angie advises having a predetermined limit, lest you become caught up in the ambience of the place and spend more freely than your budget may allow. Of course, Harvest Host properties benefit from the increased traffic and economic boost that RVers provide.
Because of Harvest Hosts’ growing popularity, Angie advises arriving at a site early, as camping is first-come, first-serve. She also suggests studying routes to these sometimes remote facilities, for roads might not be easily negotiable for RVs. Camping is often on grass, so the couple checks the weather report ahead of time to learn of potential issues such as rain.
A Harvest Hosts video provides a few other suggestions: Be considerate, support the hosts, and enjoy your stay.
Learn more at www.harvesthosts.com. To further whet your appetite, peruse the gallery of photos submitted by RVers. Read Angie’s blog on the Kuklinskis’ website, www.outdoormoretoexplore.com.
Campground Spotlight
Lake Osprey RV Resort, Elberta, Alabama
Not far from Gulf Coast beaches and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Lake Osprey offers swimming, fishing, pickleball, and more.
Not every RV resort offers nearby entertainment on land, in or on water, and in the sky. But that’s the case for Lake Osprey RV Resort, a Roberts Resorts property near Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
Let’s start with the sky: The resort is only about 20 miles northwest of Naval Air Station Pensacola, the Florida headquarters of the United States Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron. Those who time their visit right can watch the Blue Angels practice from a viewing area at the National Naval Aviation Museum, located on the air base’s grounds. The museum’s website posts the practice schedule: www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/blue-angels/. The museum, by the way, also is worth a visit, and offers free guided tours daily. Even if you stay put at the resort, you might see the Blue Angels flying to or returning from a show. And for those who want to venture into the sky themselves, parasailing opportunities await nearby.
If you’re seeking water fun, white-sand Gulf Coast beaches are a short drive away, as are dolphin cruises, jet ski tours, WaveRunner rentals, and watersports such as paddleboarding and kayaking. The Lake Osprey property includes an 11-acre catch-and-release fishing lake, as well as a heated zero-entry (gentle slope) pool and a hot tub.
As for land activities, Lake Osprey’s three pickleball courts are quite popular. And, the resort is adjacent to an 18-hole golf course and driving range. Other Lake Osprey amenities include a fitness center; a clubhouse equipped with a commercial kitchen; a poolside tiki bar; and a free laundry. Guests have access to a variety of lifestyle activities, such as art classes, yoga, biking, line dancing, dance aerobics, and potluck parties. Restaurants and shopping are nearby.
Each of the resort’s 147 RV sites have 16-foot-by-75-foot concrete pads and full hookups, as well as cable, high-speed internet, and lawn maintenance. The resort is open every day, year-round.
Please note that because of the COVID-19 outbreak, some restrictions and closures may be in effect at the resort and area attractions. Also note that the resort has RV age and length restrictions, so please check before visiting.
Details
Lake Osprey RV Resort, C12164
12054 Gateway Drive
Elberta, AL 36530
(888) 436-6860
www.robertsresorts.com/resorts-locations/alabama/lake-osprey/stay-with-us
App File
Radio Stations
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