Yurt camping to remember, Tuscarora State Park, Pa.,…read more
Reservations were made in late February, 2014, for $114 for the 2 day weekend. Our camping dates were for May 30th and 31st, and this was the last day of spring that they allowed the weekend only bookings. Check their website for booking Yurts, and Cabins during the summer, or off season.
We had Yurt #1, and it appears that we picked the right one for us. It has good tree shade much of the day, with the sun on the yurt for about 3.5 hours.
The yurts sleep 5, a very nice kitchen with a 4 burner stove, a 5' refrigerator, but no water or sink. A sturdy table with 4 great chairs, a skylight that opens 6 inches, a fire extinguisher, smoke alarm, 2 windows and a solid lockable front door. Also cleaning gear in case it gets dirty, and a hardwood floor.
To beat the heat, bring along a 10' by 10' canopy/gazebo (light tan, silver or white color) to give you an outdoor shelter, away from the heat. In talking to barb, she agreed that maybe 2 - 10' x 10' shelters would be best.
Keep in mind that the Yurt is about 20 feet across, and that the deck is about 34' x 34'. Bring along a box fan that can be tilted, and has 3 speeds. With everyone under the shelter, it will help you cool off.
Look for our attached photos.
#1 Yurt - sun from about 11 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Trees on 3 sides, with yurt #2 up on the right side.
#2 Yurt - mostly sun all day, and it get a bit hot. Trees on back side, and other yurts down to the left and up to the right.
#3 Yurt - some shade during the day, morning to the early afternoon. Trees to the rear, and a yurt to the left and to the right.
#4 Yurt - gets mostly all day shade. There is a water pumping station nearby, that makes a slight humming noise. Basically a forest on 3 sides, and a Yurt to the left.
For us, the hum would not be a problem. We would take along a tilting box fan for inside the yurt at night, or outside as we sit in our chairs. (a smaller wall fan is already mounted in the Yurts.)
For all of our camping trips, one of these fans are essential for better sleep, cooling hot afternoons, filtering out evening noise, or let the kids use it as a super bubble machine. Just have them hold the wand in front of the outgoing fan air, and watch their eyes get big.
For all 4 yurts, the bathrooms are just 30 to 50 feet away. The outside bathroom doors are very quiet.
There are no changing bench in the showers.
In the bathroom, it is hard to press the wall button, to flush the toilets. I can barely do it, my wife can't do it, and neither can kids.
As for getting potable water? On the outside of the bathroom you will find a double wash station, for cleaning your dishes. That cold water faucet provided us with some of the finest, purest, clear cold water that we've ever seen.
Walking past Yurt #4, you can make a right turn, and follow the wide dirt path that takes you to the swimming area, the concession stand, and boat rentals for the lake. Along that dirt road, you will see smaller paths leading down to the lake's edge. Over several years, I caught and released many fish in those early morning hours.
As for the Yurts, you are allowed to drive up to its entrance location, drop off the items and people that you brought, and turn around and park your vehicle in the first parking lot that you come to.
Note - at the end of that first parking lot is a large children's playground.
As for Latino families? Living in Allentown, PA, we have put up with some of the worst that they have to offer. They were the reason we left center city, and moved to the outskirts. But, I must say this........there was a group of Latino's staying in Yurts 2 and 3 for Friday night.
7 kids total, and 5 adults, and they were the most respectful group that we have ever encountered. Music was played softly, no yelling back and forth, nothing destructive, no car alarms, and the children behaved like children. The only issue we had was on Friday evening, and that was because the smells from their grilled ribs, chicken, burgers and hot dogs were driving us crazy. And because of this, we gave that family group a 5 star rating.
Store and Food places in town and nearby. Walmart, the Beacon Restaurant, Rita's, and McDonalds are all near the same location just north of Tamaqua, on Rt. 309. I was also told that in Tamaqua, PA, near the 5 points intersection, is a really good Italian restaurant.
Read the rules about going out at night, and coming back late. The gates are closed at night, and you might have to park a little further away.
Also, a golf course is less than a half mile away.
And for the final tip? If you are interested in a cabin? Numbers 1, 2, and 3, (which are just on the other side of the bathrooms) have their front porches facing the lake. Take the time to go to Tuscarora State Park, and look at the locations of the Yurts/Cabins that meets your needs.
We hope that we have been of some help.
Cosmo
