Catherine J.recommendsOctober 1, 2023
Shady Grove Campsite
John is a super host! His camp is a piece of heaven for family, particularly with dogs. Our dogs ran around the camp as free as one can imagine. The boys loved the play structure. It is like having a private playground. The amenity is plenty, including full bath with shower, gas grill, large fire-pit with lounges, we highly recommend this camp for large gathering.
Dria S.recommendsSeptember 21, 2023
Shady Grove Campsite
10 stars out of 5
I visited John's Shady Grove Hipcamp for a weekend with 5 other friends and it's unanimous: each of us would give John and his camping site 10 stars out 5! I've been using HipCamp for about three or four years now, and Shady Grove is hands down my favorite hidden gem so far.
Shady Grove is so spacious, we had one tent nestled in an alcove of trees, another tent pitched in a field flanked by trees, and another tent hidden next to a playground and hammocks. Though we could all still see each other's tent, we were so spread out that even the lightest sleepers in our group weren't disturbed by the loudest snorers.
Shady Grove is a product of love and passion, John has put so much work into making the space welcoming with an outdoor shower, flushing toilet, gravel fire pit, excavated and flattened tent spots, and more. He's even mentioned potentially offering dancing lessons in the future -- something I'd happily sign up for! In fact, there's so much opportunity for fun on site, one doesn't need to leave the campsite! Plan ahead and pack outdoor games like Frisbee, bad Minton, baseball, croquette! You won't be sorry :) And if you do want to venture out, there are two beaches, shops, and a great paddle boarding park about 30min away.
John was a pleasure to talk to, I enjoyed his company when he was around, as well as the privacy of his space. It was just my group, the star-freckled sky, and the noticable absence of the city. No doubt about it, we'll be back next season!