GPS Hike - Diever, The Netherlands
22/11/08 19:09 Filed in: Dutch
Outdoor
With the nice fall weather we decided to hike
near Diever, The Netherlands. I found the hike on the
Go GPS website. You can
download the route for your GPS here...
It turned out to be a very nice walk in the forest. A lot of variation and taking the unconventional routes. Sometimes we needed to climb over fallen trees, sometimes muddy and the need to jump over small waters. We only met a few people along the route.
The walk took about 4 hours with rest periodes. After the hike we dinned in nearby Diever.
It turned out to be a very nice walk in the forest. A lot of variation and taking the unconventional routes. Sometimes we needed to climb over fallen trees, sometimes muddy and the need to jump over small waters. We only met a few people along the route.
The walk took about 4 hours with rest periodes. After the hike we dinned in nearby Diever.
|
Winter In America
We made reservations for the Christmas holidays
of 2008. We will be staying 11 days in the New England
states.
We will be flying to New York and drive north to the White Mountains, New Hampshire. Familiar territory for us. A few miles outside the town of North Conway we will be staying at Sunny Brook Cottages. we have reservations for a cozy cabin next to the river.
We have been taking snowboard lessons in the last months. We hope to enjoy snowshoeing and snowboarding during our stay.
We will be flying to New York and drive north to the White Mountains, New Hampshire. Familiar territory for us. A few miles outside the town of North Conway we will be staying at Sunny Brook Cottages. we have reservations for a cozy cabin next to the river.
We have been taking snowboard lessons in the last months. We hope to enjoy snowshoeing and snowboarding during our stay.
US Customs
03/10/08 13:39 Filed in: US
Customs
You will find a lot of stories on the Internet about
the USA customs. People are scared about entrance
requirements and procedures. However you have nothing
to worry about and generally speaking you will have no
problem entering the USA. Just be sure to follow
certain guidelines and be prepared.
You might want to reconsider visiting the USA in case you have problems with providing the basic information. But understand you provide most of the information to other customs after requesting a VISA for another country, to the airline making a reservation or travel organization handling your hotel or car reservations. Taking a step, people protective about their privacy shouldn’t travel regardless of their destination.
Citizens of the European community don’t need a VISA for regular holidays or short business trips. You will be asked to fill out entrance forms asking for elementary information about your identity and the purpose of the trip. You will be asked
During your flight to the USA the forms are available from the airline. Arriving from Canada you will get the forms from the custom officer at the border. You only need a passport valid for 3 months and the complete address you will spend the first day.
You probably already have to provide exactly the same information during check-in for your flight. The so-called Advance Passenger Information (API) is collected by the airline and forwarded to the US customs before the flight departs.
You will also have to fill out a form for the Department Of Agriculture. You are not allowed to bring food, plants or drinks into the USA. Signing the form you state you understand and comply with the rules & regulations. You will have to show the form to the US customs officer. However you will have to keep the form. An officer from the DOA will take the form after passing US customs.
Sometimes you are forbidden to cross the state borders bringing fruit e.g. import apples into the state of California is prohibited.
In general the US customs officers are nice enough. Be polite and relaxed. Answer any question, but don’t elaborate too much. A good start is having your paperwork in order and clearly written.
First offer them the passports and the custom forms. You need a passport for each individual in your family e.g. for each adult and each child.
Normally the officer will ask you a number of straight forward questions:
Next they want to take a picture of each individual older than 12 years and take fingerprints.
Normally that’s it and you may proceed. You get the necessary stamps and they staple part of the customs form in the passport.
Since August, 2008 the US and Canadian customs officers are allowed to investigate any electronic device e.g. computer, iPod or MP3 player, iPhone or other mobile phone, USB sticks, photo camera’s, etc. They are even allowed to keep the device for an undefined period. They can look at the content of documents, your locally stored E-mail messages, check for illegal software, downloaded videos and music, other offensive material. They can forward information to other authorities without notice.
Don’t forget some information can be retrieved from trash can, history files or cache. Normally deleted information is still available on the hard disk. References are removed, but the files can be retrieved with the proper software utilities.
Understand US customs officers may have a different definition of offensive or suspicious material. In the “war on terror” they are very serious and extremely sensitive. Understand legislation in the US and Canada can be different from the legislation in your country. Some things may be allowed in your country, but are forbidden in the US and Canada. Don’t you dare to make fun of it, that is if you want to stay out of trouble.
All these measures bring additional inconvenience for travelers. It takes time, but you will have to manage without these devices after they are confiscated. The business traveler might have no access to his/her presentation for the marketing meeting the next day, no access to company E-mail. But business critical or sensitive information might get into the possession of parties with different interests e.g. US government or US competitors.
The measures could also impact your travel plans. As a result of the additional investigation you might miss your connection flight.
For some problems you have good alternatives. Leave documents or E-mail at home and make the accessible from the Internet e.g. the secretary can forward the documents to a trusted party by E-mail, you could arrange remote access to the document server and download the documents at your destination, you can use WebMail to read your E-mail or view appointments in your calender.
You might want to reconsider visiting the USA in case you have problems with providing the basic information. But understand you provide most of the information to other customs after requesting a VISA for another country, to the airline making a reservation or travel organization handling your hotel or car reservations. Taking a step, people protective about their privacy shouldn’t travel regardless of their destination.
VISA
Citizens of the European community don’t need a VISA for regular holidays or short business trips. You will be asked to fill out entrance forms asking for elementary information about your identity and the purpose of the trip. You will be asked
During your flight to the USA the forms are available from the airline. Arriving from Canada you will get the forms from the custom officer at the border. You only need a passport valid for 3 months and the complete address you will spend the first day.
You probably already have to provide exactly the same information during check-in for your flight. The so-called Advance Passenger Information (API) is collected by the airline and forwarded to the US customs before the flight departs.
Department Of Agriculture
You will also have to fill out a form for the Department Of Agriculture. You are not allowed to bring food, plants or drinks into the USA. Signing the form you state you understand and comply with the rules & regulations. You will have to show the form to the US customs officer. However you will have to keep the form. An officer from the DOA will take the form after passing US customs.
Sometimes you are forbidden to cross the state borders bringing fruit e.g. import apples into the state of California is prohibited.
US Customs
In general the US customs officers are nice enough. Be polite and relaxed. Answer any question, but don’t elaborate too much. A good start is having your paperwork in order and clearly written.
First offer them the passports and the custom forms. You need a passport for each individual in your family e.g. for each adult and each child.
Normally the officer will ask you a number of straight forward questions:
- The objective of your trip (business or pleasure)
- Where will you be staying (have the address prepared, the same address as you wrote on the customs form)
- Do you have enough money (having a credit card is good enough)
Next they want to take a picture of each individual older than 12 years and take fingerprints.
Normally that’s it and you may proceed. You get the necessary stamps and they staple part of the customs form in the passport.
August, 2008 - Additional Checks
Since August, 2008 the US and Canadian customs officers are allowed to investigate any electronic device e.g. computer, iPod or MP3 player, iPhone or other mobile phone, USB sticks, photo camera’s, etc. They are even allowed to keep the device for an undefined period. They can look at the content of documents, your locally stored E-mail messages, check for illegal software, downloaded videos and music, other offensive material. They can forward information to other authorities without notice.
Don’t forget some information can be retrieved from trash can, history files or cache. Normally deleted information is still available on the hard disk. References are removed, but the files can be retrieved with the proper software utilities.
Understand US customs officers may have a different definition of offensive or suspicious material. In the “war on terror” they are very serious and extremely sensitive. Understand legislation in the US and Canada can be different from the legislation in your country. Some things may be allowed in your country, but are forbidden in the US and Canada. Don’t you dare to make fun of it, that is if you want to stay out of trouble.
All these measures bring additional inconvenience for travelers. It takes time, but you will have to manage without these devices after they are confiscated. The business traveler might have no access to his/her presentation for the marketing meeting the next day, no access to company E-mail. But business critical or sensitive information might get into the possession of parties with different interests e.g. US government or US competitors.
The measures could also impact your travel plans. As a result of the additional investigation you might miss your connection flight.
For some problems you have good alternatives. Leave documents or E-mail at home and make the accessible from the Internet e.g. the secretary can forward the documents to a trusted party by E-mail, you could arrange remote access to the document server and download the documents at your destination, you can use WebMail to read your E-mail or view appointments in your calender.
Snowboarding
10/08/08 16:08 Filed in: Outdoor
| Snowboarding
Burton
We searched the Internet for a cabin near North Conway. We found a cottage with Sunny Brook Cottages.
We want to try snowboarding for the first time. To be prepared I have booked some lessons at Snow Planet. Snow Planet is the local indoor snowboard hall.
For now we got most stuff, but we needed the right pants. Fortunately the outdoor shops are selling their last year’s stock for 50%. As a result we could buy 2 Burton pants for the price of one.
Snowshoeing
04/01/08 13:37 Filed in: Outdoor
| Snowshoeing
Off-the-beaten path
Snowshoes can be used with any decent hiking shoe. The snowshoe required depends on the snow and the weight of the person. Snowshoes should prevent you from getting stuck in the snow. The snowshoe should have crampons providing grip on icy surfaces.
With snowshoes you get a good exercise. Especially in case you wander off-the-beaten tracks and get into deeper snow. But the snowshoes are also useful on steeper hiking trails covered with ice and frozen snow. Get more grip either hiking up or down with a backpack.
Schoorlse Duinen
01/12/07 17:27 Filed in: Dutch
Outdoor
Schoorlse Duinen
The "Schoorlse Duinen" offer great possibilities for hiking and cycling. You can rent bikes in the nearby villages. The landscapes is divers and offers sandy dunes, forests and grassy patches. From higher elevations you get a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.
You can start at various entrances near Schoorl and Bergen. Near Schoorl you will find the visitor's center "Het Zandspoor" for exhibition, information about the area and a map. In summer you can take a break at "De Berenkuil". You can have a drink and something to eat. You will find a playground for the children.
A good destination is the beach. Follow the road signs to the broad sandy beach. Take a book or play in the surf.
Our Favorite Outdoor Gear
09/11/07 12:43 Filed in: Outdoor
After years camping and hiking we like to tell you
about our favorites.
We use The North Face VE25 (see other story for details), but in the summer period we use the Sierra Design tent Mondo 5.
This bigger tent is suitable for adventurous family camping. The tent offers enough room for 3 persons and their luggage. Very easy to pitch and good ventilation. We like the big entrance allowing easy access. The tent withstood a thunderstorm in the Pyrenees, France last year without any problems. Minor drawback is the condense ripping from the outer tent through the ventilation gauze in the roof of the inner tent on the sleeping bags.
We have been sleeping on 3/4 length ultra light sleeping pads from Term-A-Rest. Needs getting used to each first night of the holiday. Inflating the pads correctly is the most important thing. A good guideline is "if you're sitting on the pad you should feel the ground underneath".
In general we use sleeping bags filled with goose down. We had them custom made by Demmenie, the Dutch outdoor store. You need to take care of them and return them to the store for cleaning and filling with down once in a while. A good sleeping bag will keep you warm even in colder weather and will dry easy after getting wet. For warmer regions we have a lighter alternative.
We have been using Lowe backpacks for years in various sizes. Our most used and favorite is the Lowe Appalachian 70+15.
Tip: Buy a protective bag for your backpack. Backpacks are treated badly. Transportation belts are known for to hurt your sack. The limited investment is worth any penny.
Most families take complete kitchens including cooking equipment with multiple burners. Most people cook using gas.
No problem in case you travel by car and have enough storage. However inappropriate in case you are trying to travel light, limited by baggage allowance flying to other continents or have to carry everything on your back. You also have to consider availability of fuel at the destination.
We have learned to cook almost everything on a single stove. The best choice is the Whisperlite International stove from MSR (Mountain Safety Resource). Very small and light, you can completely disassemble and clean the item. Good cleaning is essential traveling by air given security restrictions. Any part can be replaced.
Tip: After closing the valve the stove will continue to burn for some time. Just before the last flames die down completely, blow out the fire. Let the fuel vapor continue freely, it will clean the stove fuel pipe.
Another tip: The stove should be cleaned before you take the stove on board the aircraft. Take the stove apart the evening before you leave and clean the stove using dish washing detergent and some cheap eau de toilet. Let the parts dry.
Our most appreciated clothing item is the Patagonia fleece. The Synchilla T-snap Pullover available in various colors is warm and comfortable. The quality and color keep even after wearing the fleece years in a row.
We also love the tight R1 fleece pants. They keep you warm in the evening and can be worn underneath your regular hiking pants.
We have The North Face coats, water and wind proof.
We have been hiking a lot in the past twenty years. We have chosen hiking boots suitable for different terrain.
Our favorite brand is Meindl. I have the Borneo boots for several years. For more serious mountain climbing I use the Meindl Perfect.
Keep the boots in good condition by cleaning regularly and use SNO-Seal for waterproofing them.
We have bought the Katahdin snowshoes from Tubbs.
For our daughter we bought the Little Llama snowshoes from MSR. Lightweight snowshoes for kids up-to 41 KG and at least shoe size 36.
We use The North Face VE25 (see other story for details), but in the summer period we use the Sierra Design tent Mondo 5.
This bigger tent is suitable for adventurous family camping. The tent offers enough room for 3 persons and their luggage. Very easy to pitch and good ventilation. We like the big entrance allowing easy access. The tent withstood a thunderstorm in the Pyrenees, France last year without any problems. Minor drawback is the condense ripping from the outer tent through the ventilation gauze in the roof of the inner tent on the sleeping bags.
Sleeping
We have been sleeping on 3/4 length ultra light sleeping pads from Term-A-Rest. Needs getting used to each first night of the holiday. Inflating the pads correctly is the most important thing. A good guideline is "if you're sitting on the pad you should feel the ground underneath".
In general we use sleeping bags filled with goose down. We had them custom made by Demmenie, the Dutch outdoor store. You need to take care of them and return them to the store for cleaning and filling with down once in a while. A good sleeping bag will keep you warm even in colder weather and will dry easy after getting wet. For warmer regions we have a lighter alternative.
Backpack
We have been using Lowe backpacks for years in various sizes. Our most used and favorite is the Lowe Appalachian 70+15.
Tip: Buy a protective bag for your backpack. Backpacks are treated badly. Transportation belts are known for to hurt your sack. The limited investment is worth any penny.
Cooking
Most families take complete kitchens including cooking equipment with multiple burners. Most people cook using gas.
No problem in case you travel by car and have enough storage. However inappropriate in case you are trying to travel light, limited by baggage allowance flying to other continents or have to carry everything on your back. You also have to consider availability of fuel at the destination.
We have learned to cook almost everything on a single stove. The best choice is the Whisperlite International stove from MSR (Mountain Safety Resource). Very small and light, you can completely disassemble and clean the item. Good cleaning is essential traveling by air given security restrictions. Any part can be replaced.
Tip: After closing the valve the stove will continue to burn for some time. Just before the last flames die down completely, blow out the fire. Let the fuel vapor continue freely, it will clean the stove fuel pipe.
Another tip: The stove should be cleaned before you take the stove on board the aircraft. Take the stove apart the evening before you leave and clean the stove using dish washing detergent and some cheap eau de toilet. Let the parts dry.
Clothing
Our most appreciated clothing item is the Patagonia fleece. The Synchilla T-snap Pullover available in various colors is warm and comfortable. The quality and color keep even after wearing the fleece years in a row.
We also love the tight R1 fleece pants. They keep you warm in the evening and can be worn underneath your regular hiking pants.
We have The North Face coats, water and wind proof.
Hiking
We have been hiking a lot in the past twenty years. We have chosen hiking boots suitable for different terrain.
Our favorite brand is Meindl. I have the Borneo boots for several years. For more serious mountain climbing I use the Meindl Perfect.
Keep the boots in good condition by cleaning regularly and use SNO-Seal for waterproofing them.
Snowshoeing
We have bought the Katahdin snowshoes from Tubbs.
For our daughter we bought the Little Llama snowshoes from MSR. Lightweight snowshoes for kids up-to 41 KG and at least shoe size 36.
The North Face VE25
04/11/07 13:15 Filed in: Outdoor
We like to tell you about the greatest tent from
The North Face.
After all these years still in good condition. We bought our VE25 over 20 years ago.
The bright yellow color has faded over the years. The gauze meant to keep the bugs out shows some miniscule holes. We had to replace the vestibule pole after an accident. We stepped on the pole. The North Face replaced the item for free although the tent was already 6 years old.
Great tent for any season. Although we have another somewhat bigger Sierra Design tent for the summer period.
Enough room for two persons and their backpacks, but still good enough and cozy with our 7 year old daughter.
Don't forget to seal the seems of the outer tent. The North Face doesn't deliver the tent ready for immediate usage. After all these years I still wonder why... Sealing is not difficult, but not my favorite past time.
After all these years still in good condition. We bought our VE25 over 20 years ago.
The bright yellow color has faded over the years. The gauze meant to keep the bugs out shows some miniscule holes. We had to replace the vestibule pole after an accident. We stepped on the pole. The North Face replaced the item for free although the tent was already 6 years old.
Great tent for any season. Although we have another somewhat bigger Sierra Design tent for the summer period.
Enough room for two persons and their backpacks, but still good enough and cozy with our 7 year old daughter.
Don't forget to seal the seems of the outer tent. The North Face doesn't deliver the tent ready for immediate usage. After all these years I still wonder why... Sealing is not difficult, but not my favorite past time.
Fall Foliage
13/10/07 19:01 Filed in: Outdoor
During the fall months you should visit the New England
states. During the months of September and October the
trees will change color.
Combined with fall weather, sunny days and crisp nights, the right period for a short trip into the mountains.
Every autumn, nature puts on a brilliant show of color in many parts of the United States. From bright yellows to vibrant reds, the leaves transform, showing their rich and vibrant hues.
Tree leaves at all stages of life contain multiple pigments, though these are masked by the dominant green of chlorophyll during the spring and summer seasons. Chlorophyll is an important element in the production of the plant's nutrition, a process that comes to a halt by fall. In non-evergreen trees in this season, the chlorophyll breaks down, allowing the latent orange and yellow pigments to finally appear. Additional chemical changes produce the reds, purples, gold and bronze, for an endless palate of fall colors. Ultimately, the combination of colors is dependant on many factors, including the type of tree, its elevation, the temperature, and conditions during the summer.
Kancamagus HighwayFrom the Northeast United States, to the
Southeast and Midwest United States, the foliage season
begins in early September in the northern regions and
ends in southern locations in late October or early
November. People travel to these areas to take in the
fall foliage, to catch a glimpse of the colors.
Mention the words “fall foliage” and New England immediately comes to mind. Indeed, the traditional leaf peeping in the United States has always been focused on Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
We have visited the states several times and in particular experienced the colors in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. You can get a good idea near the Kancamagus Highway, but near Crawford Notch Park you can view the speckled mountain sides.
These trees are normally near evergreens, so the foliage displays contrasting colors. The appearance of fall color varies, due to elevation.
River In The White MountainsThe colors begin peaking in early October in
Glacier National Park. The colorful trees include
maples, larch and aspen. Maple trees usually dot hiking
trails, and they turn to hues of yellow, orange and
red. The larch and aspen trees turn to bright yellows
and gold.
Late-September to mid-October is typically the best time to view fall foliage in Northwest Montana.
Blazing Reds & YellowsIf you want great views of Glacier National Park
or Flathead Valley and Lake, head to the summit of Big
Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The Summit Trail
is eight miles long and 7,000 feet high. Here, you will
see golden hues of larch and aspen along with red hues
from Montana’s huckleberry bushes.
The foliage experience in the Rockies is characterized by the golden colors of the white-barked aspen trees, mixed with the greens of the evergreens.
In Colorado they named towns and streets after this tree. In fall these aspen’s quaking leaves turn brittle and gold.
Red & GreenThere are those who think that Colorado has a
monopoly on the beautiful yellow leaves of the aspen
trees each fall. But Southern Utah should not be
overlooked. Places like Cedar City offer one of the
most dramatic fall foliage backdrops in the
country.
Check-out Cedar Breaks National Monument with cliff faces eroded and brightly colored rock layers. Alpine Ponds Trail takes you through trees, meadows, flowers and wildlife for spectacular foliage viewing. Another location is Kolob Canyon is located in Zion National Park. It also offers nice canyon views.
The North Cascades forest is always a great place to enjoy a scenic drive, along with some outdoor recreation. Options for outings are the two major scenic byways that run through Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie; both are excellent choices for your fall foliage drive. Or drive the North Cascades highway from Wintrope westward.
Combined with fall weather, sunny days and crisp nights, the right period for a short trip into the mountains.
Every autumn, nature puts on a brilliant show of color in many parts of the United States. From bright yellows to vibrant reds, the leaves transform, showing their rich and vibrant hues.
Tree leaves at all stages of life contain multiple pigments, though these are masked by the dominant green of chlorophyll during the spring and summer seasons. Chlorophyll is an important element in the production of the plant's nutrition, a process that comes to a halt by fall. In non-evergreen trees in this season, the chlorophyll breaks down, allowing the latent orange and yellow pigments to finally appear. Additional chemical changes produce the reds, purples, gold and bronze, for an endless palate of fall colors. Ultimately, the combination of colors is dependant on many factors, including the type of tree, its elevation, the temperature, and conditions during the summer.
Kancamagus Highway
Mention the words “fall foliage” and New England immediately comes to mind. Indeed, the traditional leaf peeping in the United States has always been focused on Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
We have visited the states several times and in particular experienced the colors in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. You can get a good idea near the Kancamagus Highway, but near Crawford Notch Park you can view the speckled mountain sides.
These trees are normally near evergreens, so the foliage displays contrasting colors. The appearance of fall color varies, due to elevation.
Montana
River In The White Mountains
Late-September to mid-October is typically the best time to view fall foliage in Northwest Montana.
Blazing Reds & Yellows
Colorado
The foliage experience in the Rockies is characterized by the golden colors of the white-barked aspen trees, mixed with the greens of the evergreens.
In Colorado they named towns and streets after this tree. In fall these aspen’s quaking leaves turn brittle and gold.
Utah
Red & Green
Check-out Cedar Breaks National Monument with cliff faces eroded and brightly colored rock layers. Alpine Ponds Trail takes you through trees, meadows, flowers and wildlife for spectacular foliage viewing. Another location is Kolob Canyon is located in Zion National Park. It also offers nice canyon views.
Washington
Another surprise fall foliage choice is the state of Washington.The North Cascades forest is always a great place to enjoy a scenic drive, along with some outdoor recreation. Options for outings are the two major scenic byways that run through Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie; both are excellent choices for your fall foliage drive. Or drive the North Cascades highway from Wintrope westward.
Camping In The USA & Canada
30/09/07 17:46 Filed in: Outdoor
Camping in the USA and Canada is more fun and an
outdoor experience.
Most people visiting the National Parks stay at the campgrounds with a camper or tent. However don't overlook the campgrounds in the State Parks or State Forests. Enjoy the tranquility, the campfire and stars.
Guadalupe State ParkYou will find great campgrounds in most State
Parks & State Forests. These campgrounds are
usually pretty nice and are geared more towards the
tent camper. These campgrounds offer limited
facilities, but you will get enough space to pitch your
tent, a place for a campfire and pick-nick table. They
have drinking water and at least basic (pit) toilet
facilities. Nowadays a lot of them have always have
showers and flush toilets, and sometimes have
electrical hook-ups at selected campsites.
Burlingame State ParkCamping fees here range from about $10 to $18 or
so, depending on the level of facilities provided. You
pay the park ranger or leave the fee in an envelope at
the self-registration station near the entrance.
If you want to camp in a State Park, National Park or National Monument, you have to stay in the designated campgrounds. Either at the campground or at the more primitive back-country sites. For back-country sites you need to register at the park office as sites are limited and reservation is required.
We enjoy staying in State Parks because we like the facilities in combination with the relative primitive nature of the campgrounds. You will experience the silence and the darkness of the forests. Although the moon and stars offer enough light to find your way around. Quiet hours are respected most of the times, people retire early and get up at the break of dawn. In some areas you will come across wildlife e.g. deer or elk, raccoon, porcupine, an occasion moose or bear.
Franconia State ParkNational Park campgrounds are almost always
crowded in the summer months so we advise to avoid
them, especially on summer weekends. National Forest
campgrounds are similar to State Park campgrounds. They
usually have drinking water and each site will have a
table, fire ring, but not much else.
The AAA (American Automobile Association) issues campground guides, but you can check availability or make a reservation for most state parks.
Most people visiting the National Parks stay at the campgrounds with a camper or tent. However don't overlook the campgrounds in the State Parks or State Forests. Enjoy the tranquility, the campfire and stars.
Guadalupe State Park
Burlingame State Park
If you want to camp in a State Park, National Park or National Monument, you have to stay in the designated campgrounds. Either at the campground or at the more primitive back-country sites. For back-country sites you need to register at the park office as sites are limited and reservation is required.
We enjoy staying in State Parks because we like the facilities in combination with the relative primitive nature of the campgrounds. You will experience the silence and the darkness of the forests. Although the moon and stars offer enough light to find your way around. Quiet hours are respected most of the times, people retire early and get up at the break of dawn. In some areas you will come across wildlife e.g. deer or elk, raccoon, porcupine, an occasion moose or bear.
Franconia State Park
The AAA (American Automobile Association) issues campground guides, but you can check availability or make a reservation for most state parks.