Smoke Rise Campground

The Great Outdoors

While enjoying your campervan rental near Brandon, you should travel a few miles down the road to Taconic Ramble State Park. This park is one of the newest parks in the state and consists of over 200 acres of steep hills, fields, and woodland on the slopes of the Taconic Mountains. One of the most intriguing features at the park is the Japanese gardens, which can be accessed by following a challenging hiking trail. Once you've found the gardens, you'll be treated to vibrant wildflowers and lush meadows covering the nearby rolling hills. This park is ideal for hikers looking for beautiful views and a steep climb.Alternatively, you may want to visit one of Vermont's best-known parks. Coolidge State Park is one of the biggest parks in the state and features steep hills and dense woodlands in the center of Coolidge State Forest. There are several miles of trails to explore, which lead by streams and through the forest. These streams are ideal for fishing, and many come to the park to try to catch rare brook trout. During your hike, you may want to try some nature watching, with lucky hikers spotting moose, barred owls, and even black bears. If you'd prefer to relax, there are lots of picnic tables around the park, including a rentable pavilion.If you're looking to engage in some watersports while camping at Smoke Rise Campground, consider a trip to Lake St. Catherine State Park. This park covers over 100 acres of woodlands around Lake St. Catherine, and this calm lake is ideal for a variety of activities. The lake is known for having beautiful sandy beaches, which are perfect for taking a freshwater dip. Kayaking, canoeing, and waterskiing are popular too, and there's a boat launch for easy access to the water. If you're looking to cast a line into the lake, you can expect to catch rainbow trout, yellow perch, a variety of bass, and much more.

Exploring the City

Brandon campers will likely want to take a trip to some of the region's biggest cities. Albany is about two hours' drive away, and New York's state capital is full of intriguing attractions. The New York State Museum is very popular. It contains many exhibits concerning art and history, which give insight into local history. Some of the most impressive ongoing exhibits at the museum include a full mastodon skeleton, a dazzling collection of minerals, and stoneware artwork created by local people.Albany also features some unique historical museums, such as the USS Slater. A part of U.S. history, this Destroyer escort boat was active during World War II and is now open to the public. Visitors can take an hour-long tour of the boat, see original artifacts used during the war, as well as sleeping quarters, the engine room, and much more. This unique museum is the perfect way for any history buff to learn firsthand more about naval warfare during World War II.If you'd prefer to stay in Vermont while RV camping near Brandon, consider taking a short drive to Burlington. One of Vermont's biggest cities, Burlington has some great local attractions, including the ECHO Leahy Center. This museum is full of interactive exhibits with over 100 different displays. The museum has over 40 species of fish, amphibians, and reptiles, some of which are local to Lake Champlain, including lake sturgeon, freshwater drum, and box turtles. There are also exhibits about indigenous people, local history, and much more.