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The Quechee / Pine Valley KOA in Vermont had me at hello.  I had emailed the campground a couple of weeks before our visit asking for a list of family-friendly hikes, and the co-owner, Cindy, sent me a friendly email that became the blue print for our adventures. So I was predisposed to liking the place before we even pulled in.  But then we actually pulled in....

It took me about 20 seconds to realize that our whole crew was not going to like it here--we were going to love it.  The campground, which has an upper and a lower level, is lovingly manicured and the tall pines make it feel like a secret forest.  The camp store, with the bright yellow bike rentals out front, has that old school KOA charm that always makes me feel like a kid again.

My own kids ended up loving the playground, which was neat and tidy, and I ended up loving the pool, which was heated for Vermonts cool August afternoons. Our double pull-through sites also allowed us to camp awning to awning so that we could create that common area in the middle that we love so much for cozy campfires and shared meals.






The Quechee / Pine Valley KOA also passed one of my newest campground quality tests--the grounds are perfect for a deeply relaxing and peaceful morning or evening stroll.  The entire campground is wooded and the lower loop and the larger upper section are connected by a shady forest path complete with a wooden contemplation bench.






I met so many interesting people during my walks, including a couple from Wales who were nearing the end of a three month motorcycle tour of the United States.  They were lovely and engaging conversationalists who shared many of their adventures with me over the course of several mornings.

But perhaps most importantly, the owners and the staff were warm, welcoming, and kind.  Joe and I particularly loved chatting with a "Work Kamper" named Paul, a retired lawyer from Colorado who used to pack up his entire family for a month every summer to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada.  He said that when his kids get together for meals they still talk about all of their great family adventures.  His only rule while on the road? NO TV. EVER.  Paul was inspiring to talk to and he got Joe and I pumped to take some of those great, big trips out west that we have been dreaming about.

But there will be time for those trips later.  For a family with young children this trip could not have been more relaxing or more adventurous.  New England has its own magical places, and the Quechee / Pine Valley KOA is surrounded by them.

And then there are those magical places that travel with us wherever we go...