My family will be taking our FIRST trip to Fort Mountain over Labor Day weekend, thanks to ya'll! We are very excited. Thanks for a great website!
Joey and Family
 

I absolutely love your website. We have a travel trailer that we've had a little less than a year. We are still pretty new to camping with our travel trailer. We are going to Tannehill this weekend. We live in Prattville, Alabama and love that you have so much information on campgrounds close by. It is frustrating that so many campgrounds have very little info and pictures on their website. I've marked you in my favorites and plan on using it as a tool to plan upcoming trips. We have three kids and the information and pictures you provide really help us to decide what is a good place for our family. Thanks so much!
David and Family
 

"What a great website! We are new to RVing, and are leaving south Florida in the next day or two. You go to a lot of the places we will be visiting. Thanks for your guides. Here we go....."
Cindy and Alan
 

"Thanks so much for the article on the Crooked River State Park and Cumberland Island area! We just enjoyed a fun filled week! We saw so much wild life. We were close to the Okefenokee, Cumberland Island, St. Mary's, and too much more to mention! The park was super clean and the campsites were large. We definitely plan to go again! Thanks again!"
Lee and Family
 

"I wish I had many hours to sit here and read every piece of information and every adventure on your site! I love it and hope that I can visit/camp at some of the places the Richardson Tribe has ventured to!"
Kristin
 

I really appreciate your website. Your descriptions and pictures are so helpful in deciding our next place to visit. We had been considering Desoto (State Park) as our next camping trip, and your website, I think, has sealed the deal.

Marcie and Family
 

I have really enjoyed your website! It is inspirational!

Charles
 

Eventually the adventures became a major part of our lives, sometimes lasting several days at a time. In 2007, we began documenting our adventures on a family website. Much to our surprise, many friends and family members wanted to experience their own adventures or join us for ours. Such was the inspiration for this website.

Our mission is to make the planning of your adventures easy and predictable. We have done the research and have personally visited and reviewed all listed sites. The PB&J Adventures website features detailed information about places to go and things to do. Destination reviews include lots of pictures, campground or lodging details, fun and educational things to do in the vicinity, dates of local events, maps for directions, links to official websites and reservations, and most importantly, a personal account of a local adventure by a real family.

We hope you enjoy the website, and we sincerely hope your family experiences the same benefits we have. If you have questions about any of the sites or events we recommend, please contact us. 

Thanks for visiting PB&J Adventures.
 

The Richardson Tribe

Adventure Journal - Entry Date: March/April 2013 - More

Spring was almost here, and we'd made plans for camping in Alabama and Tennessee over a period of 10-12 days. The weather is always questionable this time of year, so we made some back-up plans just in case it rained. The first leg of our journey had us at Desoto State Park near Fort Payne, Alabama, and the rain came on our third day there.
 

Back-up Plan One was the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. It was about an hour and a half away, but we knew from experience it would be well worth the drive. We arrived late morning and almost immediately went into the unusual domed theater watch a movie about the Hubble telescope. The images were incredible! My only advice here is to get as high-up in the seating as possible and watch your step.

From there we entered the primary museum area. According to those that know such things, this museum has the finest collection of artifacts depicting the US race to  space. There are literally thousands of unique items: engines, space suits, aircraft, space capsules, rockets, simulators, more than I could list here. This part of the museum is a kind of old and showing a little wear and tear, but still an awesome place.

From there, we wandered outside to look at some of the rockets and military equipment. Fortunately, the rain held-off for the most part, sprinkling just enough to keep it interesting. There are a few amusement park-like rides here, and the kids enjoyed them thoroughly. Their two favorite rides were a centrifugal force demonstration and a rocket launch simulator. They rode both multiple times since there was absolutely no line whatsoever. I'd like to point out that, when visiting this area, the rides may or may not be operating. You may have to ask. In our case, they gladly ran the rides for our kids.
 

The next building was new for us. We'd been here a few years back, but the the "Saturn V Hall" was something like we'd never seen. The huge 68,000 square foot building houses one of only three real Saturn V rockets in the world. The exhibits are very interactive displaying capsules, a space station, a moon rock, and hundreds of other exciting goodies. Kids can climb into training capsules and flip switches like they're in the real deal. It was really a lot of fun for the kids (ahem...).
 

Back outside, we visited the space shuttle and took a picture of the kids similar to one we made on our last visit seven years ago. On the way back through the older building, the kids discovered a simulator that everyone rode and a rock wall that everyone climbed. Exhaustion, however, was setting in (and the kids were tired too). We certainly had a lot of fun, but had a difficult time exiting the gift shop. There were lots of things on sale, so we picked-up some shirts and such. What a great day! 

The museum has many interactive exhibits.

Only three Saturn V Rockets exist today.

One of the many outdoor exhibits

A Bucket Full of Memories - Rockhounding with the Family - More
Funny thing about rocks, you can find them just about anywhere. From mountain streams to the seashore, rocks have been revealed and eroded by wind and water, blasted out of the Earth by volcanoes, pushed from the ground by unseen forces, and exposed by construction and mining. You might assume that since rocks are so common, they must not be very interesting, right? Well, that depends on your perspective.

We initially began collecting rocks because one of the kids received a rock polisher for Christmas a few years back. It was cheap and didn't last long (Santa didn't know how to shop for a good quality rock tumbler, but that's another story).

Coincidentally, it was around the same time that we visited James H (Sloppy) Floyd State Park, a place with an abundance of collectible rocks and fossils. Quite by accident, while hiking to the park's abandoned marble mine, we found some very unusual rocks. After some research, we discovered they were agate, and they polished beautifully. On that same trip, we also found rose quartz, pink marble, and a few fossils. It was this trip to Sloppy Floyd State Park that inspired the purchase of a camper, and the rest is history.

What do we love about rockhounding? Our list is pretty long, so I'll try to be brief.

1- Rocks are everywhere, so no matter where you go or what you do, rocks can't be too far away. It's a relatively easy and inexpensive activity, at least until you start polishing the rocks.

2- Searching for rocks, minerals, fossils, and artifacts keeps kids entertained (distracted) on those long hikes resulting in fewer complaints about boredom or sore legs and feet. The twins were just three when we went on that hike to the marble mine at Sloppy Floyd, about a 2 mile round trip.

3- Searching for rocks (colors, shapes) encourages kids to keep their eyes on the ground so they can watch their their step (and watch for snakes).

4- It's educational. Every rock, fossil,  is a lesson in history, science, and mathematics. Learning how the various types of rocks and minerals are formed and why they are shaped or patterned the way they are is very interesting when you can hold the evidence in your hand. We let the kids take some of the rocks to school when they are covering Earth and geology. They are always a big hit.

5- Rockhounding can take you places you wouldn't have otherwise discovered. We have visited several really neat towns and remote areas based on research for rockhounding. Geocaching is also a great activity for finding new places.

6- Rocks you find at various locations will always remind you of that place and the things you did while there. It's kind of like getting a souvenir without the gift shop. I call our rocks a "bucket full of memories".

7- Rocks are beautiful. We have found some of the most astonishingly beautiful rocks in some of the most unlikely places. Semi precious gemstones are great, but some of the prettiest rocks in our collection are more or less worthless. That's ok, their value is much greater than any amount of money.

8- Commercial gem grubbing mines typically provide some pretty good inexpensive and not so clean fun. Give the kid a bucket of dirt and tell them to go play in the water. You won't get much argument. We spent two full days at Gold n Gem Grubbin in Cleveland, Georgia, Panning for gold in the creek and grubbing for Gems at the (nice place to camp too!).

9- Using the rocks and special wrapping wire, you can also learn to make jewelry. The pendant shown here, I made with square silver wire and a shaped and polished agate I found in Summerville, Georgia near Sloppy Floyd State Park.

10- The act of looking for and collecting minerals, rocks, and fossils, and gem grubbing and gold panning gives each and every family member something in common with their siblings and parents. The kids have learned about different types of crystals and rocks, and it gives them something to talk about. I can't tell you how many times I have had one of the kids come running up shouting Daddy, look at this rock I found. The kids will compare their rocks and brag about who found the best one.

Perhaps my favorite benefits of collecting and polishing rocks is the uncanny way they can bring back memories. Sometimes we pull the bucket out and spread the finely polished agate, quartz crystals, amethyst, chert nodules, garnet, and various other rocks and minerals out on a towel covered table. We'll turn the lights up and go through them one by one talking about where we found them and what we did while we were there.
 

So there you have it, 10, no 11 reasons we rockhound. We're making memories, and I'd be willing to bet the kids will fight over the collection when Mommy and Daddy are gone.
 

Fast forward 15 years. Now we have kids, four to be exact. The cost of an annual ski trip out west is not within this family's budget. We have taken a couple of trips to Cataloochee Ski Area near Maggie Valley, North Carolina where the kids have had lessons and learned the basics. Unfortunately, a southeastern ski trip like that can be pretty painful to the family pocketbook too.

So, one day we were eating at the Wildflower Cafe' in Mentone Alabama, and we started talking with a family that has just left Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort. They were laughing and talking about how great of a time they had, and they were skiers. It sparked our interest, and so we had to check it out first-hand.

One of our favorite campgrounds is located at Desoto State Park, just a few minutes from Cloudmont Ski and Golf, so we booked a long weekend around President's day. It had been unseasonably warm weather, but several nights of cold leading-up to the weekend meant they were making snow (they need 18 hours of temps 28 degrees or less to open). We were waiting at the ticket window when they opened that Monday morning.

We rented equipment for the kids and paid for all-day lift tickets. The lift is a tow rope, but that's actually pretty good for beginners because they can exit the lift at any elevation of the slope. As I mentioned, the kids have had a couple of lessons, but their ski-time was limited. Fortunately (for us), there were very few people on the slope that day, so the kids were able to ski all day long with no waiting at the lift. By the end of the day, they were all pretty good. John Micah was even skiing backwards.

Now understand, Cloudmont is no Rocky Mountain ski resort. There is a mere 150' drop on their two parallel running slopes. It is what it is, but it is a load of fun and a great experience for the kids (and grown-ups too). It's also very affordable (compared to other ski destinations). Kids under 12 can rent equipment and ski all day for less than $40. Check their website for prices because they vary based on weekdays, weekend, and holidays.

We've decided to make Cloudmont a regular stop in the winter, and maybe even other seasons. They have a very affordable golf course and there is even horseback riding available. Nearby Desoto State Park and a virtually limitless selection of other area attractions makes this an awesome destination. We give it six thumbs-up.

For more details including reviews of the destination's facilities and amenities, plus tons of pictures, visit the Cloudmont PB&J Adventures page.

Snow is snow, and this little slope has snow!

The kids spent the entire day on skis...


... and by the end of the day, they were skiers!

Moto Mountain ATV Park - Fairmount, Georgia - More
Moto Mountain ATV Park is located near Fairmount in North Georgia. It's very convenient to Atlanta and Chattanooga, just about 20 minutes off Interstate 75 from Calhoun. It is also near some of our other favorite destinations like Fort Mountain State Park and Carters Lake.
 

John Micah navigating mud on one of the tracks

The trails are perfect for four wheelers

The morning after - muddy, tired, satisfied

Check-in is at Motorcycle Bob's, a local icon situated on Highway 53 east of Fairmount. This little shop sells gas, rents motorcycles, ATVs, and helmets, serves food, and sells various other supplies and trinkets. The ladies behind the counter are very nice and eager to make your visit pleasant. Once you sign the release forms and pay-up, it's a short jaunt to Moto Mountain. As you enter the park, you will begin to see the many trails to your left. Pretty cool!

The area has obviously been logged, and I would assume many of the tracks are remnants of old logging trails. The large property is covered with snaking one-way trails that resemble motocross tracks in some places. There are mud bogs, jumps, and numerous play areas all for the powersports enthusiast. There are some places you may want to avoid with novice riders, but for the most part, the trails are in pretty good shape and not incredibly challenging. Don't get me wrong, when we first arrived for our visit, I was a little apprehensive about whether the kids could handle the mud and hill climbs, but they all came through wonderfully. It was actually a great learning experience for them. Additionally, all trails are one-way making riding much safer for everyone.

The environment itself is made for motorcycle and ATV lovers. There is a culture there that, if you are not familiar, could be a little scary at first. There is a lot of dirt and mud, and lots of machines running around, but it's all pretty safe. In fact, we camped at the back of the property near the Pee Wee Play Area and had a couple of nice long trails virtually to ourselves. Note: If you are a citified yuppy that doesn't like to get your fingernails dirty, STAY AWAY!

The folks that run Moto Mountain are down to earth good-old southern country folk (and I mean that in a good way) that bend over backward to make sure you visit is the best it can be. If you are camping, they'll come by and check on you, even dropping-off some firewood if you wish. Thanks guys!

Moto Mountain is a purpose-made retreat that is designed for one thing: riding. Yes, there are other amenities they offer like a zip line, but offroad riding is what it's all about. If that's what you seek, then you won't be disappointed. In summary., we can't wait to go back (but we'll need to save-up a little). We suggest a family plan!

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida - More

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is located on the west end of Highway 30A in Walton County, Florida near San Destin. In addition to providing an affordable stay in a very exclusive (expensive) area, Topsail features over 3 miles of pristine secluded beach completely void of homes. condos, shops, and hotels. Absolutely nothing but sea, sand, and nature adorn this small piece of Florida's coastline.
 

The beach is typical for the area (awesome). Fine snow-white sand and emerald waters inspire beach lovers. There are three methods of getting to the beach from the campground. You can ride a bike, walk, or take a shuttle that runs periodically. We like the bike option. You can coast most of the way down to the beach, and the ride back isn't terribly bad either. Just be aware, it's about a half mile bike ride down to the boardwalk that leads to the beach. If you plan to walk or bike to the beach, make sure you can carry your beach supplies!
 

Wildlife abounds at Topsail Hill Preserve. The park features over 1,600 acres of fish-filled fresh water lakes and sand dunes, some as as much as 25' high. Deer, raccoon, coyote, and snake are just a few of the land creatures in the park. It's unlikely you'll encounter any of these, but you might very well see their tracks in the dunes (no humans allowed). You might be more likely to see a sea turtle than anything else. They seem to know it's a safe haven for them.
 

The campground is nice. It's set-up like an RV park, but most sites are a respectable size. They have full hookups and a decent laundry facility, so it's painless to stay as long as you like. The pool and recreation area is exceptionally nice. It even features a shuffle board court.
 

There is no limit to local dining, entertainment, and activities near Topsail Hill Preserve. The park is just minutes from San Destin and Destin, and a relatively short drive to Panama City Beach. These resort areas offer numerous water parks, miniature golf courses, parasailing, personal water craft rentals, kayak rentals, bike rentals, deep sea fishing, golf, and much more. There is never a dull moment in this part of Florida. It's one of our all-time favorite destinations.

This RV site backs up to a small fishin' hole.


The endless beach is like a private resort.
 

If your business appeals to the traveling, camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and animal loving adventurous family, then an ad like this can offer great exposure for very little cost.  For more information, email or visit our Advertise page.