Saturday, August 14, 2010

A Day at Millersylvania Park

Our weather forecast wasn’t great….92F here in the Olympia area for today.  We decided to take a lunch and go the short distance from our RV park to the Millersylvania State Park.  It is located 10 miles South of Olympia, Washington. 
Millersylvania is 842 acres in size and has 3,300 feet of freshwater shoreline on Deep Lake.  A man named John Miller bought the land from Squire Lathum sometime after 1855.   The Miller family gave the land to the state in 1921, stipulating that the land must forever be used as a park. 
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Today the park is popular for walking on some easy trails through old-growth forests of cedar and fir trees, swimming, boating and fishing on Deep Lake, and for camping.  This was our first visit to this wonderful park.  There are kitchen shelters in the day use area and most of those were occupied today.  Near the swimming beaches was a concession stand and boat rental desk.
                                                           This is Deep Lake.DSCF5988
The sign at the entrance said all campsites were taken or reserved.  No surprise since this was a nice weekend in August.  We walked through one of the campsite loops to see how things looked.  Sites 1 thru 132 have no hook-up sites suitable for tents, tent trailers and small RV’s.  I took a photo of the W/E RV sites 201 thru 248 but for some reason that pic didn’t come out….blank….nothing on the disc.
                                                           One of the tent sites at Millersylvania.DSCF5995

                                                          The CG road running by one of the small, no hook-up RV sites.DSCF5994
The sites with W/E hook-ups (the pic that didn’t turn out) were all paved and level.  We saw RV’s up to 40 feet in that area.  Those sites had very few trees, but at least your satellite dish would work there. 
We took a walk on one of the trails that was quite shady and cool.  It was beautiful and although the campground was full, we saw very few people on the trail.
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                                                           Very tall trees keep the trail shaded enough to enjoy a walk.
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After our walk through the trees we went toward the day use area to eat the lunch I’d packed for us.  We always travel with our folding chairs and table in the back of the Explorer so we can set up for a picnic anyplace we want it to be.  I think Bruce looks like he’s wearing one of those glasses and nose disguises…..but he isn’t.   hehe
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We saw some men fishing from a short dock on Deep Lake.  Don’t know if they caught anything.  The water looked nice and clean and there were a few people swimming. 
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Dogs on leash are allowed on the walking trails.  Due to the heat today, we kept Annie at home.  She doesn’t like to be out in the heat and we weren’t going to make her go for a long walk.   These days she seems happier to stay in her RV home.  The price for a W/E site is $27.00 and the price for a general, no hook-up site is $21.00.  There is a 10-day limit from April 1 through September 30, 20-day limit the rest of the year. 
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Millersylvania State Park is located East of I-5 at exit 95.  It is open year-round.  It’s a great place to spend the night or spend the day. 
Until next time……so long for now!

13 comments:

Gypsy said...

The park looks nice and spacious - didn't look like everyone was crammed in. Love the walk through the trees!

Rick said...

Your photos today are exceptional (instead of that other word). That is a very nice looking campground. The photo with the tent amongst the trees is bound to be pretty nice with this hot weather we're having.

Happytrails said...

Millersylvania State Park looks very nice. I love that walking trail....thats the kind of trails I enjoy with the rich green ferns lining the trail.
A wonderful place for a picnic lunch. I love the idea of carrying your chairs and folding table with you. Great idea!!

Mike & Gerri (happytrails)

Carol K said...

Good review of the Millersylvania State Park, Margie. We've been to this one a couple of times. Washington has a lot of good state parks!

Travels with Emma said...

Are those Zypdee chairs you keep in the car? I still have a brown one that travels with me, and I bought it in 1987! :)

Kathy said...

Looks like another one to add to my list. Thanks for the tour! K

Sue and Doug said...

looks like the two of you enjoyed your day "off"..nice place for a picnic!!

Chuck and Anneke's RV travels said...

Thanks for the tour. We are currently planning to be in Washington in three weeks or so, and this looks like a great spot.

Margie and Roger said...

Enjoyed the review and photos. Looks like a very pretty place.

The Frugal Travelers said...

Loved your pictures, Margie. We hope to make it to Washington and all the west Coast states before we are through with this lifestyle. My brother's illness has kind of slowed our pace a little, but family does come first. Pidge

Dennis and Donna said...

As I read your blog and drueled over the photos, I had to ask myself.."Why are we sitting here in Illinois and NOT RV'ing in Washinton State?"...I asked myself, and received no acceptable answer....But, Hey, at least I can just visit the blogosphere and go there!! Thanks for taking me!

Sam&Donna Weibel said...

Had to look twice at the title of the blog, thought you had moved back east for a second, Millervania almost sounds like a place in PA. great pictures, looks like a nice park. be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Suzanne said...

Looks like the place is perfect for campers... I have friend who lives a couple of drive in the area and he is recommending it for a family camping trip. You made the place so wonderful in this blog and with those photos too, so I would definitely consider the invitation of my friend.