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The 8 Coolest Campgrounds for Families

By U.S. News & World Report

Thinking about taking your family camping for the first time? Make the trip a success by booking a stay at a campground that will make your kids’ eyes pop when you pull up to check in. Science-loving kids will flip over a stay in Sky Catcher, an astronomy-themed cabin at Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort in Herkimer, New York. Or, for more hands-on activity, stay on a working farm at Gettysburg Farm RV Campground in Dover, Pennsylvania. Whether you plan to pitch a tent or stay in a deluxe cabin, there are campgrounds across the country that are perfect for all types of families. Take a look at eight of the coolest campgrounds to take your clan for wagon rides, s’mores, magic shows and more.

[See: 10 Memorable Camping Trips.]

Lake-in-Wood Camping Resort

Narvon, Pennsylvania

Located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lake-in-Wood Camping Resort offers a wealth of activities. Kids will love mini golf, shuffleboard, basketball and playing horseshoes, and that’s in addition to scheduled movie nights, wagon rides and arts and crafts programs. During the summer, look for a “Gnome Quest” scavenger hunt around the campground. Book a stay in a train caboose, a covered wagon, a treehouse, a double decker bus, a yurt or even a gnome home.

Frontier Town

Berlin, Maryland

A stone’s throw from Ocean City, Maryland, at Frontier Town, you may forget that you’re so close to the beach. Look for daily Wild West-themed shows, like a “Gunfight at OK Corral” and a “Bank Holdup.” There’s even a cowboy-themed mini golf course and a water park. There are new events every weekend too, including karaoke nights, family Olympics and dress-up contests. Book a cabin or bring your own RV or tent for a stay in cowboy country.

Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA

Granby, Colorado

Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA is in the middle of everything that you’d want to explore in Colorado and is less than an hour’s drive southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park. But, given all you can do at the campground, including archery, disc golf, horseback riding, summer tubing and mini golf, you may not want to leave. You’ll also want to check the weekly activity schedule for loads of free family programs, such as magic shows and science programs. Look for cabins, tent sites and a dozen on-site yurts.

Herkimer Diamond KOA

Herkimer, New York

You’ll find family-friendly cabins and tent sites at Herkimer Diamond KOA, but budding scientists will go crazy for the Sky Catcher, an astronomy-inspired cabin with its own observatory and high-powered telescope. Meanwhile, in the Professor Gadget’s Robotics Lodge, a deluxe cabin outfitted with motion-sensing lights, you’ll find a vacuuming robot and loads of robotic toys. There’s even a brand new Tree House Lodge for families looking to go out on a limb. During the day, check out the National Baseball Hall of Fame in nearby Cooperstown, New York.

[See: 15 Must-Visit National Park Attractions.]

Ventura Ranch KOA

Santa Paula, California

Just under 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the Ventura Ranch KOA sits at the foot of Ventura County’s tallest mountain, Topa Topa Mountain. The kids will love splashing in the pool, taking nature walks, flying down the zip line, racing up the rock climbing tower and watching movies under the stars. On Saturday nights, go on a Bigfoot Adventure Walk in search of signs of the elusive Bigfoot. Here, you can stay in one of several Sioux Indian-style teepees or reserve an upscale tent that includes a microwave and a minifridge.

Bend-Sunriver RV Campground

Bend, Oregon

At Bend-Sunriver RV Campground, an activities coordinator ensures that every family member is entertained all day long. Look for pickleball tournaments, candy bar bingo and even trail walks and scavenger hunts. Kids can also earn badges as part of the Thousand Trails Club Blazer program for young campers. What’s more, the campground offers close proximity to central Oregon’s Mount Bachelor, where there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, canoeing and fishing. In the evening, relax in your tent, RV or one of the on-site cabins or yurts.

Jellystone Mammoth Cave

Cave City, Kentucky

Explore the caverns of nearby Mammoth Cave National Park before bouncing on the Jumping Pillow, sliding down the 300-foot water slide and having a water balloon fight with other campers at Jellystone Mammoth Cave. The kiddos will love the theme weekends, which can involve competing in Olympic-style events and turning campground staff into a human sundae. From time to time, there’s even chocolate pudding wrestling for younger visitors. There are a variety of cabins and cottages to choose from, as well as tent and hook-up sites for RVs.

[See: 10 Cheap Summer Vacation Destinations.]

Gettysburg Farm RV Campground

Dover, Pennsylvania

Situated on a working farm, kids will love interacting with animals and learning first-hand about the crops at Gettysburg Farm RV Campground. Families will also love all the outdoor activities available, such as shuffleboard, basketball, fishing and horseshoes, among other pastimes. As a bonus, the campground sits just minutes away from the battlefields at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, enabling kids to brush up on Civil War history through ranger and living history programs. Don’t forget to earn a Junior Ranger patch and certificate when you visit Gettysburg.

More from U.S. News

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The 8 Coolest Campgrounds for Families originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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