White Pines Campsites Review

White Pines Campsites is a gem of a campground located in the Northwest Hills of Connecticut. We first found out about this campground at the Hartford RV Show early in the year. As we walked through the countless booths of local campgrounds, White Pines stood out to us. The employees were so friendly and their enthusiasm made us want to visit the first chance we could.

It is an exciting time for White Pines Campsites as changes and improvements are being made under new management. It is clear that they have taken the time to find out what campers truly want, and are implementing new ideas into the campground experience.

Some of the recent improvements include new gravel roads and one of the best dog parks I have come across. The one thing that grabbed our attention most? The Kids Outdoor Adventure Program. This is one of the many things that separates White Pines Campsites from other campgrounds.

Kids Outdoor Adventure

Every Saturday morning during the season, parents can sign their kids up for an outdoor adventure lead by a counselor. It may be a hike in the woods, or other nature based activity. The week we were there was a bird watching adventure. The kids were provided books and a pencil to record the birds they saw. They also got to explore various plants and animals around the pond.

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Breakfast Cafe

When I heard about the Kids Outdoor Adventure program, my first thought was how much the kids would love to go off and explore. My second thought was that my husband and I could grab a cup of coffee and relax for an hour. A rare opportunity when camping with kids!

There is a wonderful little cafe serving breakfast in the morning and on certain evenings, items such as fried dough, wings, and fries . The food is absolutely delicious. Be sure to try the breakfast sandwich. It is quite possibly the best Bacon, Egg and Cheese I have ever had.

After breakfast, we sat and relaxed in the comfortable Adirondack chairs by the stone fire pit in front of the Camp Store. We could see the kids in the distance having a great time bird watching and exploring. The counselor was so kind to allow the them extra time, as they were having so much fun.

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Pool

The pool is huge and there is plenty of seating, including canopies for those who want to be in the shade. We were there during Music Festival weekend, so there was a DJ at the pool. It was such a fun and energetic atmosphere.

Crafts

Keeping with the music theme, the children’s craft was a CD sun-catcher. The kids loved decorating CDs into their own creation, and proudly displayed them in the camper.

Another thing I loved about this campground was the adult only craft. Don’t get me wrong, I love crafting with my kids, but I felt quite pampered when I saw the adults only bath bomb station being set up. The kids went back to the pool with my husband, and I got to pick out my colors and scents to make my own bath bombs.

Wagon Ride

What is more fun than a wagon ride?! Pulled by a tractor, wagon takes passengers all around the campground; Simple, old fashioned fun.

Playground and Sports

The sandy floor playground kept the kids busy for hours. They loved being able to take their shoes off and have their toes in the sand. Additionally, there is a swing set in front of the fishing pond and a full sand volleyball court in the field.

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Fishing and Kayaking

The pond is stocked with trout for your catch and release fishing fun. There are also kayaks to rent inside the camp store for a reasonable price if you want to take a paddle around the pond.

Camp Store

Forgot something? Craving Ice cream? Want to buy a souvenir of your trip? Need bait? The Camp Store has it all!

Internet Lounge

Located just off the camp store, the Internet lounge is where you can catch up on work, stay connected, or just relax.

Dog Park

That smile says it all. This is one of the best dog parks I have found at any campground. White Pines thought of everything here for dog owners. There are two separate fenced in areas. This is great if you feel more comfortable keeping your dog separate. Both fenced in areas have obstacles, shaded areas, water bowls, and waste bags with ample garbage disposal.

Entertainment

The pavilion is host to many different bands and events. We were lucky enough to catch Bootleg Band the weekend we were there. I am now a BIG fan. They had everyone up on their feet having a blast.

Their music line up was carefully thought out to please everyone. They had me at Brooks and Dunn’s Neon Moon and Johnny Cash’s Jackson, but they also had the crowd dancing to Play that Funky Music and singing along to The Beetles. Try to catch Bootleg Band when you visit White Pines Campsites, and be sure to check out their calendar to find out where else you can see them perform. Click HERE for Bootleg Band’s calendar.

White Pines Campground is a Grass and Roots Family Recommended Campground .

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