Tom Ridge Environmental Center

  The center has displays about the post glacial formation of the peninsula of Presque Isle, the many eco systems in the park today, and the history of the few industries that operated on what is now parkland.

  Everything is accessible. The elevator to the second level of the center and the tower is located outside to the left of the entrance doors. The view of the lake at the top of the tower is almost completely blocked for people in wheelchairs due to a tall fence made with a small mesh.

  The parking lot is large enough for any RV.  Center
42.10908, -80.1539

Presque Isle Bike Trail

  The first six miles of the bike trail is a wide, paved, dedicated path that is separated from the park road by grassy areas with trees and vegetation. The next portion, about seven more miles, is just a wide shoulder alongside the roadway.

  The dedicated path is on the bay side of the peninsula. The first two parking lots are small. A van or short RV will fit but larger RVs should continue along the road because the other lots are larger with plenty of room for RVs. The path ends at the Perry Monument.

  The path is also a good place to watch the 4th of July fireworks that are launched from a barge near the city of Erie. Trail
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Mill Run Recreation Area COE

  This is a small campground located on the south end of Youghiogheny  River Lake. It has a boat ramp, restrooms, a dump station, and fresh water but no electric hookups. The water faucets are not threaded to accept a hose.

  None of the campsites are accessible but most will work. The ground is hard packed dirt and stone. The tables have a short overhang.

  The entrance road is one lane with pullouts for passing. Some of the sites are long enough for large RVs but due to tight turns I wouldn’t recommend trying it with any type of RV longer than 25’. Campground
39.71533, -79.38439

Green Ridge State Forest–Dispersed Camping

   Green Ridge takes an unusual approach to dispersed camping. One hundred primitive campsites are scattered throughout the forest. Each has a table and a fire ring within a small clearing. Unfortunately there’s a $10.00 a night fee which must be paid before setting up camp and the only place to pay is at the  ranger station at exit 64 of I-68. Registering and paying on line would be a lot easier. Pictured above is #1 campsite which is just minutes north of I-68 on 15 Mile Creek Road. We took a short ride to check out some of the other sites. #1 is pretty nice but a RV larger than ours might have a hard time maneuvering between the trees,  #2  is on a slope,  #3 looks to be excellent, #4 looks good too and is a little less forested than the previous ones. MAP of the campsites.

  None of the sites are accessible but the ground is hard packed so rolling easy.

  The road is in good condition, a combination of chip seal, maintained gravel and asphalt pavement. The road is one lane most of the way with pullouts for passing oncoming traffic. Some of the sites will accommodate larger RVs.  Forest
39.6858, -78.45378

Fort Frederick State Park

  We stopped here for the campground but there is also a reconstruction of a 1756 fort, a visitor center, a very small CCC museum, and easy access to the C&O Canal Trail. The parking lot for the 23 mile, paved Western Maryland Rail Trail is located about 1/2 mile west. The campground has few amenitie , just fire rings, tables and portable toilets. We visited during the week and had the campground almost to ourselves so it was quiet except for  frequent train traffic on the tracks across the river.

  A couple of sites are signed as wheelchair accessible. The tables have a long overhang on one end. All of the sites have an unusual long skinny table in addition to the picnic table. The tables at the accessible sites are lower. We weren’t sure about the function of this table. Other than the tables the sites are all similar. Other sites may be better because they get used more so that the ground is packed down and easier to roll around on. The toilets are not accessible.

  The fort is not accessible because of steps up to the porches and into the rooms. The CCC museum has a step at the entrance. We didn’t stop at the visitor center or check the C&O trail.

The campground sites are large enough for any RV. Parking is limited at the fort but there’s plenty of parking at the visitor center and a paved trail leads to the fort. The rail trail parking lot is large enough for vans or small RVs. Park
39.60402, -78.00776

      
      

Antietam National Battlefield

  It’s hard to picture this beautiful, peaceful farming country as it was on September 17, 1862, the scene of a horrific battle between the Union and Confederate armies that left bodies heaped in the fields. Over 23,000 men were killed, wounded or missing. A small museum, movie, driving tour and trails explain the battle very well.

  Most of the park is accessible. The visitor center theater has wheelchair spaces  behind the last row of seats with movable benches for other people in the party. The museum is down a floor, accessed by a lift operated by a ranger. Most of the signs along the driving tour can be read without exiting your vehicle. Short trails are hard surfaced. The observation tower, which provides an elevated view of the Sunken Road, is not accessible.

  Several long pull-in parking spaces are available for RVs and buses. The pull offs along the driving tour are large enough for RVs. Battlefield
39.47365, -77.74498

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

  Free Ebook from Amazon - The Raid on Harpers Ferry as I Saw It

 George Washington established a federal armory and arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1796, the same one that John Brown raided in 1859 as part of his plan to overthrow the institution of slavery.  During the Civil War when the town changed hands eight times the armory and arsenal were destroyed. The destruction of the factory buildings plus numerous floods spelled the end of the town’s industrial heyday.The national park service has restored many of the buildings. Several are small museums. Some have displays that depict the former use of the building. Interpretive signs are located outside of the buildings and along the trails.

  An unescorted visitor using a wheelchair or scooter to get around will find visiting Harpers Ferry very challenging. The streets are cobble stone, the sidewalks are a combination of brick and uneven stone slabs, and some paths are loose gravel. Ramps are located at the back entrance of some of the buildings. Have a ranger mark which ones are accessible on the map.

 The parking lot is large with long RV spaces. Visitors must board a shuttle bus to get to the town. The bus has a wheelchair lift. You may also drive to town on a back road but parking is very limited (no spaces for RVs) and a steep slope must be navigated after parking. Park
39.3159, -77.75569

Thanks for Stopping By!

   I’m really happy that so many people have found my little blog. However you ended up here ,whether it was by following a link on an RV or wheelchair travel forum , or just by the serendipity of a random Google search , or because you’re one of our wonderful friends and relatives, welcome and thanks again for visiting!

  We’ll be wandering around in our home territory for the next two months. We’ll still be seeking out interesting attractions and places to stay overnight but posts will be less frequent because we have a lot of catching up to do!

  Have a great summer –on the road and off. :-D

Bull Run Regional Park

   Most of the time when we visit Washington DC we take advantage of the great camping spot in my sister’s driveway but we often stop at Bull Run Park to dump our gray and black tanks. Since dumping costs the same as camping for the night we always stay overnight. This is a good place to camp if you want to visit the city. After a short drive on backroads to get to I-66, it’s a straight shot into the city or you can park at the closest Metro station and ride in.

  None of the sites are specifically wheelchair accessible but many are useable. Ask for a fairly level one. The parking aprons are surfaced with large crushed stone which is a little hard to push along. The tables have a short overhang on the ends.

  There are sites that will accommodate any size of RV. Sites with full hookups may have to be reserved in advance.  Campground
38.80377, -77.47733

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

   A museum, a house built in 1794, and a six acre garden are included in the entrance fee. The house is undergoing preservation and is closed until 2014.  Julian Wood Glass Jr., a decedent of the original builder and founder of Winchester, Virginia, was the last resident of the house. He set up a foundation and stipulated in his will that the gardens and house be opened to the public and that a museum be built for his art collections. Besides the art collection the museum has displays covering the history of the Shenandoah Valley and examples of decorative arts made in the valley.

  The museum is mostly accessible but the admissions desk is very high. The only handicapped parking spaces are close to the gardens where there is a curb cut to the sidewalk. From there it’s an uphill push to the museum entrance. Parking closer to the museum requires using the street to get to a curb cut. The parking lot is surfaced with medium size crushed stone which is very hard to push through. The gardens are minimally accessible. The paths that have paving are uneven and many have steps.

The parking lot is large enough for any RV.  Museum
39.18623, -78.1804