City tenting isn’t for everybody, but when your tenting adventures take you to Washington D.C., you need to take your RV alongside, as one of many nation’s greatest campgrounds offers an ideal base camp for exploring town. Cherry Hill Park, positioned in Faculty Park, Maryland, gives an excellent tenting expertise and quick access to the nation’s capital.
Whereas my household had a prolonged debate whereas choosing our summer time highway journey vacation spot, as soon as we chosen Washington, D.C., we didn’t have a tough time selecting a spot to remain. Cherry Hill Park is a famend tenting vacation spot that guests brag on far and large. We have been desperate to camp at a park we had already heard a lot about.
Photograph: Kerri Cox
When tenting, my household (which incorporates my husband and two younger grownup sons) has three principal necessities: electrical energy, cell service and a secure, clear surroundings. Past these, our favourite campgrounds have run the gamut from rustic state parks to over-the-top resorts, as we simply discover issues to take pleasure in about every. Our objective is continually to seek out methods regulate our expectations for the kind of park we’re visiting.
After a fast verify on the Good Sam web site, it was clear that Cherry Hill Park ought to simply meet our preliminary necessities — and extra with excessive Good Sam scores on all elements. However would it not stay as much as our expectations in particular person?
Cherry Hill Park Campground Vibe
Upon pulling into Cherry Hill Park, it was clear from the beginning that this park goals to impress. The check-in course of was simple, the campground retailer was chock filled with enjoyable stuff, and the whole lot was vivid and clear. If I needed to choose one phrase for my first impression, it might be “tidy.”
Photograph: Kerri Cox
Going deeper into the park whereas heading to our spot, we seen how massive the park is; nevertheless, regardless of its dimension, the websites are largely well-spaced. Due to a mixture of curves within the highway, plentiful bushes, and colourful landscaping, the websites felt cozy and distinctive, in contrast to the cookie-cutter, sterile websites discovered at some massive resorts.
Cherry Hill’s environment jogged my memory of my childhood, rising up in a Nineteen Seventies suburban subdivision, the place the youngsters performed in one another’s yards till the road lights flickered on at nightfall. Within the campground, I noticed children swinging within the playgrounds, dashing by sprinklers on the splash pad, and biking the loops with siblings and buddies, as adults lounged round campfires.
Even with D.C. a brief drive away, it’s clear it is a campground the place households can spend time collectively. Whereas the handy proximity to town and family-friendly surroundings are plusses, they are often drawbacks to some vacationers. Cherry Hill Park is positioned simply off some main roadways, so one can find some highway noise. It is usually a busy park, with various site visitors.
If you’re searching for solitude and silence, this in all probability isn’t the park for you. Nevertheless, my household hung out exterior, gathered round a campfire with pals we had serendipitously ran into on the park. We didn’t discover the noise or exercise bothersome for our tastes. The bustle was simply what we have been anticipating at this family-friendly campground.
Campsites at Cherry Hill Park
Cherry Hill Park gives a mixture of RV and tent websites, cabins, and glamping lodging. RVers will discover full hookup websites, together with back-in and pull-through choices. Premium websites embody a charcoal grill, a brick patio, further desk and chairs, and handy areas within the park.
Photograph: Kerri Cox
If area and privateness are vital to you, name forward to see what websites are advisable, as some are smaller and tighter than others. Some are additionally positioned close to busy facilities, which could be a plus if you wish to stroll to them along with your children or a disadvantage in the event you choose much less site visitors. With a lot selection within the campground, it’s greatest to speak to a park worker to seek out the precise location for you.
We opted for a back-in premium web site on the sting of the park, figuring this may be a quieter, semi-private location. We appreciated the coral daylilies blooming alongside our terrace. Behind us, dense bushes supplied a style of nature, and we may simply hop on one of many park’s trails. Our campsite was fairly charming.
Amenities & Facilities
Cherry Hill Park is chock filled with facilities. Whereas many are gadgets that may be discovered at resort-level campgrounds throughout the nation, what makes this park particularly distinctive is the way it caters to D.C. vacationers in a number of methods.
Jefferson Memorial in spring. Photograph: Kerri Cox
Cherry Hill Park goals to make it simple to get essentially the most out of your D.C. go to. The campground gives data periods that present suggestions and methods for navigating town and its many sights. We determined to take the Metro into town from the close by Faculty Park station.
Cherry Hill Park additionally operates its personal categorical bus, which drops riders off close to D.C. sights within the morning and offers return transportation within the night. Or, you’ll be able to take one of many campground’s guided excursions, with quite a lot of sightseeing excursions provided seasonally.
Photograph: Kerri Cox
Whilst you would possibly spend a variety of time in D.C. whereas staying at Cherry Hill Park, it’s advisable to additionally plan some downtime within the park. Children will recognize the assorted swimming pools, playgrounds, splash pad, sport room, tractor rides, and miniature golf course. Teenagers and adults can benefit from the health areas, strolling trails, canine runs, golf cart leases, and onsite cafe (which even gives on-line ordering and campsite supply). Severely, the checklist goes on and on!
Photograph: Kerri Cox
My household was not solely impressed with the breadth of the facilities and actions, we have been additionally impressed with the standard. The whole lot is well-maintained and thoughtfully deliberate. We additionally discovered the customer support to be top-notch. This degree of care and consideration is what makes Cherry Hill earn these good evaluations that reached our ears lengthy earlier than we started researching our journey plans.
The Backside Line
Cherry Hill Park clearly caters to D.C. vacationers, however this campground is a vacation spot in its personal proper, particularly for households. This park deserves a go to, whether or not you’re touring the capital metropolis or not.
