Campground Review:
Red Top Mountain State Park is located in Acworth, GA. The park is located around 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona, which made it perfect for summer camping. The park has about 15 miles worth of shaded trails for hiking and mountain biking. The park also has RV, yurt, and cottage options for camping. We rented a first come first serve RV/Tent campsite during our visit, and the price was $35 for one night. The campsite was gate access and had electric/water hookups with 2 car spaces, a BBQ grill, picnic table, and a lot of trees. We had access to a public restroom, showers, and laundry. There were also primitive campsites available to rent, which were closer to the lake. Our group decided to stay at this park because we wanted to utilize the lake. The lake is beautiful; however, it was very crowded the weekend we went. The park overall has a lot of “things to do” and is family friendly, but it was given 4 stars because of how busy and crowded it was during our visit.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At this campground, I had the opportunity to test the Tentsile Flite +, which is a tent and hammock fusion. I was super excited to use this product because I am a hammock camper and there are times I wish I had the option of tent camping. The design and uniqueness of Tentsile Flite + is amazing, and I would consider it more of a tent instead of a hammock, because of how flat it lays when suspended in the air.
Pros:
- Comfortable to lay in and no need for sleeping pads or cushions.
- If you are a hammock camper, you can share this tent with another person comfortably.
- The rainfly is clutch and depending on preference it can be attached to the tent, staked to the ground, or tied to the trees.
- The Tensile Flite + is light and can be ideal for backpacking.
- The tent roof is all netting which is great for having ventilation during the summer, keeping bugs out, and also good for sky gazing.
Cons:
- Setup time and the difficulty of getting the right angle and tension.
- It was difficult finding the right trees suspend to.
Overall the Tentsile Flite + is perfect for someone who loves hammock camping, but want to enjoy some of the features tents have. I love the design and the wow factor it has on people. Also the company’s mission is very noble and how they help people in need and the environment.
Chewalca State park has a lot of activities for anyone in the area to do. They have one the best mountain biking trails in the area; however, I did not get to try it out during my visit. I enjoyed the trail which loops around the lake and has an area where I could see the water fall. I also was able to find a spot to setup my hammock and enjoy the mist coming off the water fall. The park was good, but I wanted more challenging and exploring hike. This park is great if you have children and pets. The trails needed a little more work.
Desoto State park is a must for anyone who loves history, exploring, swimming, and hiking! I have camped several times here and always find new areas to swim, hike and camp. My camping experience was awesome because of the cool nights. I camped in my hammock and enjoyed a fire with my closest friends. The next day I was able to hike to the falls on a trail that was made earlier this year. The trail was difficult on the way back because of it being all incline. There were about 6 caves that I came across and a handful of swimming holes. The best swimming hole was the one with the water fall. The pictures added will show a visual on my experience. I would recommend this area to anyone and all ages.
Cheaha State Park is a absolute must visit if you're living in Alabama or visiting. I finally had the opportunity to explore the highest point in Alabama and the beginning on the Pinhoti Trail, which connects Alabama to the Appalachin Trail. However, I am going to describe my hiking and camping experience on the Rock Garden Trail. The trail can be done at the bottom of the mountain or from the top. I started from the top and enjoyed some beautiful views. There were places were I could repel and places where I can set up my hammock and enjoy the beautiful Alabama sunset. This experience has been one of my best thus far since I have not hiked outside of the south eastern area of the country, it was hot during the day, but very cool during the night which allowed me to sleep spectacular. The hike was difficult in areas because there were parts that were straight incline going up the mountain. I would definitely go back.